Forum - View topicINTEREST: Saki Anime Blu-ray Box to Bundle Mahjong Set
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TarsTarkas
 Posts: 5936 Location: Virginia, United States |
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A bit pricey, but I guess not for Japan. Pity they are bundling a normal mahjong set.
I might fork out some money for a Saki themed or anime themed mahjong sets. Though there doesn't seem to be a market for that, unlike there is for trading or poker cards. |
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Megiddo
 Posts: 8360 Location: IL |
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I'd really love to own Saki. But for me pretty much the only way that is possible is if Sentai, Media Blasters, or Nozomi licenses it. Unless there's a legit Taiwanese release with English subs?
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PetrifiedJello
Posts: 3782 |
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What a twist of coincidence. I was just looking at the price of a good Mahjong set just a couple of weeks ago. For $626 (to be discounted), I'd be saving money and get Saki thrown in (though I'd not be able to enjoy the Japanese-only language option). My search came to an end when a family member brought over a set they wanted to sell... for $1. I bought it. Now, if only there were a decent 360 game to actually teach me how to play it. The one that's in the catalog now sucks. I want to be able to scream "Kong! Tsumo!" just like in the series. 
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Cecilthedarkknight_234
 Posts: 3820 Location: Louisville, KY |
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hmmm .. seems to be a nice idea however.. oh nvm
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TarsTarkas
Posts: 5936 Location: Virginia, United States |
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Seems like all the Mahjong games in the U.S. are the tile matching ones. I haven't seen one, where you actually play Mahjong. |
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The King of Harts
 Posts: 6712 Location: Mount Crawford, Virginia |
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There's a pair of nice art boxes, but no English subs on the Taiwanese discs. English subs on Taiwanese releases is so rare that you probably shouldn't even consider it if that's the straw that breaks your back. If you want nice art boxes (occasionally) or really cheap releases of shows not available in the US/UK/AU, then yea, Taiwan is the way to go. If you have the capability, being able to stream from your computer to your TV is really helpful in a situation like this since you could just download the fansubs and have the DVDs be like trophies. |
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darkarcon
Posts: 18 |
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For those with a PS3, Yakuza 3 and 4 have a very accurate Mahjong minigame using japanese rules and various options like omitting red doras. |
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davecabrera
ANN Columnist
 Posts: 132 |
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I guess I should say something since I'm the mahjong nerd on staff.
Buying from Yellow Mountain Imports on Amazon is your best option if you want a Japanese MJ set with red doras and all that. Other options are either exorbitantly overpriced or simply inconvenient. As MJ sets are heavy as hell, buying a set directly from Japan, while certainly possible, is extremely expensive and not recommended. For otaku sets like Saki and Touhou this will be your only option. (I did this before Yellow Mountain started selling sets and I paid a ludicrous amount) If you are lucky like me and you have friends who often come and go from Japan, see if they'll go to Don Quixote and pick you up a Take set. It's just 3000y or so. This is the set I play on with friends. It's not expensive and it feels better than anything else I've used. Not that you can't buy it from Japan, just expect to pay more like $100+. Auto tables like you see in Saki are not really intended for home use, but rather to be used in parlors. As such, the prices are kept very, very high. My friends and I talk about getting a table all the time but it's just completely infeasible. The most bare-bones model, intended for home use, costs two grand, and the high-end machines cost 10K. I'm pretty sure it has nothing at all to do with the cost of the machinery and everything to do with the nature of the establishments the tables are sold to... If you only have a PS2, the mahjong minigame is in Yakuza 2 as well. |
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Alan45
 Village Elder Posts: 10032 Location: Virginia |
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Back before I got into anime, I collected some table top games. As a result I have two mahjong sets.
In the 1920s there was a mahjong fad in the US. Both sets date from that time. The tiles are made of bone and bamboo dovetailed together. One is in a fancy wood box with brass corners and drawers to hold the tiles. I think I paid about $30 each for them. Now if I just could find someone local who knows how to play... |
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TarsTarkas
Posts: 5936 Location: Virginia, United States |
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@ davecabrera
That Touhou mahjong set looks nice, but I am not into Touhou. At least not now. Wish there were other anime related mahjong sets like the Touhou one. That Saki auto table was cool. @Alan45 That is why I wish there was an English PC version of the game, but all we get is those tile games. |
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Kikered
Posts: 3 |
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@TarsTarkas
Rules/tutorial: http://www.japanesemahjong.com/reachmahjong/intro.htm Practice (vs CPU): http://www.gamedesign.jp/flash/mahjong/mahjong_e.html |
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enurtsol
 Posts: 14889 |
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Eh, learned to play mahjong when I was 8......... Haven't really been playing since. That's probably why I still can't read tiles upside-down without looking.
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caaraa
Posts: 26 |
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Looks like all the Mahjong games in the U.S. are the tile matching ones.
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PetrifiedJello
Posts: 3782 |
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It's interesting you specifically mention this company. I avoided it because the price seemed ridiculously low compared to others, which usually sets off a warning sign of cheap quality. The comments about streaking paint didn't help. I suppose if one is looking for a cheap set just to get some friends together to learn and play, it would be an option. Unfortunately, this game is more niche than anime and even trying to entice 4 friends to play it would be a challenge in itself. This is why a 360 (et al) game is needed outside that Funtown Mahjong version (which is a decent primer, but goodness no as a full-fledged game). As for the tile matching game... the result of laziness to one who just didn't want to learn how to play the game. My theory, anyway.
Kong. Tsumo. Best I'll get for now. 
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TarsTarkas
Posts: 5936 Location: Virginia, United States |
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You would probably have to find current players of the game. If you have asian grocery stores or restaurants in your area, you will probably find players for the game. I know the game is played in the Hampton Roads area, usually for money (small poker antes). Also, if you can find people playing asian card games, there will probably be Mahjong players amongst them too. |
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