Thank you to the person who left the scathing anonomous review on Apple App Store. I have been wanting feedback to help make JLMahJongg better. I suspect you may be a developer of one of the competing options. Part of the reason JLMahJongg looks dated it uses the Godot 2D engine with its origins in the 80’s. Also, I have been developing game apps since the 70’s, so maybe 80’s does not look so bad to me. I also developed user interfaces for military equipment and wonder if those now look “Modern”, like XBox games.

But I actually decided to use the 2D graphics for a number of reasons. As Einstein said: “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.” The MahJongg game does not really require 2D graphics. The main element in the game is the tiles. Originally was going to make 3D tiles and a 3D table, but decided that would only make it harder to read and use on a smaller display. The 3D MahJongg games I have tried prove to me that is true. Those games also do not feel like a real American Mah Jongg game. I wonder if the developers every played an American Mah Jongg Game in Real Life.

I am biased, obviously, but I like the tiles I designed. If you don’t like them, you can easily change to the standard tiles. The JLMahJongg standard tiles are better than any of the other tiles I have seen in other apps. Not as good as some of the designer sets, but I was unable to get permission to used those. Also, If you don’t like the voices, you can turn them off or record your own voices.

Anyway, thanks for the feedback and I will continue to try to make the graphics, interface, and features better. Hopefully someone will eventually want to use our app. If not, Lisa and I like it and that is what matters the most.

John & Lisa

P.S. Some important aspects of the app can’t be seen. JLMahJongg uses detailed calculation of the odds of winning each possible hand to drive the Computer Players (CP or Bots) play. You can see the odds when you view the recommeded hands. I have not seen any other app do this. You can learn by watching the best play possible when competing against our Bots at the Pro level. I had to make easier levels because it was too hard to win against the Pro bots. Also, our main display is similar to Real MahJong because it is optimized for easiest American Mah Jongg play.