Hong Kong

Overview

Hong Kong is a mahjong solitaire game released by Tokuma Shoten Intermedia Inc. for the Family Computer Disk System in Japan on March 23, 1990 (with a release for Disk Writer kiosks on April 6, 1990).

The first installment of the Famimaga Disk series (in which game ideas were solicited by readers to the Family Computer Magazine), Hong Kong is a variant of the classic mahjong solitaire game and, similar to Shanghai and its derivatives, is named after a region in China (Hong Kong). The game includes 10 different patterns, a built-in pattern editor, and the ability to use three-letter codes for randomized seeds.

As a mahjong solitaire game, players must attempt to clear a pattern of mahjong tiles on the board by matching tiles. However, rather than removing tiles in pairs from the edges of the pattern, players now select any tile on the board that matches the next requested tile as long as it doesn't leave any other tile "floating" (where it is not at the bottom-most row and there are no tiles directly underneath it). Tiles are no longer stacked on top of each-other and the game only includes multiples of seven types of tiles (consisting of the three dragon tiles and four wind tiles). The game is also score-based, with riskier removals generating bonus points.

The game was later ported by Onion Software to the Game Boy on August 11, 1990.

Gameplay

Rather than removing tiles in pairs on the edge of the pattern in order to access buried tiles, as is the norm in games like Shanghai, the player can select any tile on the board as long as it corresponds to the tile the game requests and it doesn't leave any other tile "floating" (where it is not at the bottom-most row and there are no tiles directly underneath it). There are multiples of seven types of tiles (consisting of the three dragon tiles and four wind tiles).

Optionally, players can enable a time limit for increased difficulty (3 minutes, 5 minutes, or 10 minutes).

Scoring

Points are scored for each removed tile based on how many other tiles surround them from both the sides and above, with tiles underneath not counting.

• 20 points if surrounded by no tiles.
• 40 points if surrounded by one tile.
• 80 points if surrounded by two tiles.
• 160 points if surrounded by three tiles.
• 320 points if surrounded by four tiles.

Higher-scoring removals can create difficult (and sometimes unwinnable) states, requiring players to balance between clearing the board successfully and earning a high score.