I downloaded, acttivated and played Mahjong Epic last year June 14, 2008. Now all of a sudden, I open it up to play and it tells me that I need to buy it or I only have 9 more plays. I don't understand. After a year, does it all of a sudden go to a trial version. I had not played for about a month, but last time I played it was just fine. Now it wants a registration code. Anyone know how to fix this?
Mahjong Epic issue
(18 posts) (4 voices)-
teenybop61
MemberPosted 15 years ago # -
Whiterabbit-uk
Games GuruHi Teenybops61. I've never come across a game that's unregistered itself, but then again I format my disks a couple of times a year so don't have a lot of the games I downloaded last year. Some don't write a code to the registry, so they have survived my formats.
If you've used any sort of registry cleaner recently, or at least since you last played Mahjong Epic, it could be that the games registry entry has been deleted. There's nothing to be done unless the game is repeated some time in the future. We've not had many Mahjong games, so there's every possibility that we will get it again.
In the mean time if you go over to the games discussion forums you're likely to find loads of decent Mahjong games for free. The following are what I could find with a quick look at the games synopsis; (which I've also linked to at the end of the post). I do hope that one of these will fill the gap you've now got since Mahjong Epic unregistered itself. :(
90+ freeware Mahjong games: (an amazing collection
http://home.halden.net/vkp/vkp/freeware.html
Mahjong Infinity 1 & 2 (plus a link to Mahjong City)
http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/4320#post-46366
Mahjong City: (Once you've followed the link below, look to the bottom of my post for the links to the game because I've posted several games via that thread)
http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/4588#post-49134
you can get a copy of Mahjong City from freegamespick, a free games distributor similar to gametop.
Check out my second post below for some information about such sites before you decide to download and install the games - freegamespick has similar policies to gametop with respect to toolbars etc.
http://freegamepick.com/en/screenshots_mahjongcity.html
I hope you can find one that suits your taste from the ones I've linked to above. You may find more in the games synopsis. I've only linked to those that start with Mahjong. The synopsis is alphabetical, so you'll have to search through the 700 plus games to see if there are any more. :)
Games Synopsis:
http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/4534
regards
Whiterabbit
Posted 15 years ago # -
Whiterabbit-uk
Games GuruYou can also get a great 'commercial' quality Mahjong game called Mahjong Solitaire (6.9Mb) from Gametop. When installing the game watch out for those tick boxes that if left install toolbars and hijack your browser (if you don't uncheck them), also with gametop games, once the game closes down, your browser is opened to gametops home page. Once you close that down there's no more problems. All gametop games come with this minor annoyance, and it's quite safe.
Mahjong Solitaire:
http://www.gametop.com/download-free-games/mahjong/
there's also links to a couple of online Mahjong games called Great Mahjong Online and Mahjong Online, which you can play via the two links I've posted below:
Great Mahjong Online:
http://www.gametop.com/online-free-games/great-mahjong-online/
Mahjong Online:
http://www.gametop.com/online-free-games/gameteam-mahjong-online/
Posted 15 years ago # -
WhiteRabbit, are FreGamePick games ad-supported or clean running? What's the catch?
teenybop61, I had a similar situation happen with Hyperballoid. It wasn't the registry cleaner, it was a registry defrag. I checked with the company that made the registry software and they swore it was not possible for it to remove a registry item like that but it did! A system restore put the registry AND Hyperballoid back in normal action. The compression was minimal anyway so I have not run that kind of "cleanup" since then! In your case, if you didn't remove the key very recently, a restore isn't going to help any.
Posted 15 years ago # -
Whiterabbit-uk
Games GuruHi Dragonlair,
No they aren't ad supported - the catch - nothing really. The games does open up your browser once you close the game down, but only to take you to the home page and is not a browser hijack as your home page isn't changed. Once you shut the browser down, that's it. They are sponsored by Forex, a financial corporation. Freegamepick and Gametop games are well worth having, though they are increasingly using toolbar and browser hijack methods, but thankfully, so long as you watch when you're installing the games these can be avoided via the checkboxes; i.e. Uncheck them. :)
Regards
Stephen
Posted 15 years ago # -
Thanks, Stephen,
I did try one. After the install, the actual shortcut kept trying to install the ask.com toolbar and when I wouldn't let it, just hung!
I set the explorer options to view hidden files and found "game.exe" which was the actual game and created a shortcut from that. It still opened the home page in Firefox upon termination but at least I got past the ask.com garbage. I usually have firefox running anyway!
These game companies are very bad about hiding their real executable files to force you through their garbage. I learned how to get around that years ago when Real tried it. Real no longer requires their game manager so the first trouble maker is now clean!
Now that it's clean, I'll try more! Thanks a lot!
Posted 15 years ago # -
Whiterabbit-uk
Games GuruI remember that post. I must find it as I'd like to do the same. :) Thanks for reminding me Merri.
regards
WR
Posted 15 years ago # -
Merri,
Since the manager is not involved at all, I see no reason why you cannot remove it. However, I kept it for ONE reason. Any future download uses the manager so it's faster if it's already there! I just don't use it unless I'm getting a new freebie from them!
I'm glad my experiments and experiences have been helpful to people here! I'm just a teacher at heart!
Posted 15 years ago # -
Whiterabbit-uk
Games GuruHi Dragonlair,
Can you remember where the original post is w.r.t. taking the BFG games out of the manager? Thanks in advance.
Regards
Whiterabbit
Posted 15 years ago # -
Stephen,
The original description is here: http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/5439
For anybody experienced with PCs, my basic instructions are very simple:
Don't use the shortcut created during the actual installation
Turn on the option to view hidden files (if not already on)
Don't use the shortcut created during installation
Go to the folder where the game is installed
Create a shortcut from the actual executable (shows as normally hidden - pale)
Use THAT shortcutResult - no game manager coming or going.
It's the least I can do to thank you for all your reviews!
Diane
Posted 15 years ago # -
Whiterabbit-uk
Games GuruThanks Dragonlair. That's easy, :)
regards
WR
Posted 15 years ago # -
Merri,
I found it because I knew it was my post initially so I just looked back through them. :)
It's amazing how many of these installs use hidden files. Don't they think we know about them?
Actually, I have to make an admission here - I knew about the trick from RealArcade years ago but the exact one from BigFish THEY told me. I was complaining about needng the manager going but not needing it coming and they told me about the hidden files.
Sometimes going to the source helps. Not always, but sometimes. I was complaining about their Cache folder at the root level and did not succeed getting that moved. I hid it myself.
Diane
Posted 15 years ago # -
Alianthia
MemberDiane, You have a good memory then!
YES it is ODD that these companies assume no one will know anything about hidden files, etc....
That is funny that the Bigfish people were upfront about them though; gives me new respect for the company!
Thats what I love about computers; always new things to learn, and here in this forum, always kind people to help!
:)Posted 15 years ago # -
Merri,
I complained to Real once about the ability to move the default install location of the games. They claimed that when you updated the software, you were given that option. I was not! Then they said it could not be changed now. I proved them wrong but I don't recommend my solution to the novice PCer. I had to go into the Registry and change the record there of where it was to be installed. It worked! I now download and install Real games directly without having to do any moves or other games like above. That is an improvement over earlier years with Real games.
It just goes to show that they don't always know the answer or they are not willing to divulge what is needed.
Diane
Posted 15 years ago # -
Alianthia
MemberThat is great as you know what you are doing and can fix things to suit you!
I am reluctant to mess with my registry...YES it is weird the way they aren't willing to divulge...
I think that they want to have control and see what games one gets (and when one has the manager they can find out I think?)
;)Posted 15 years ago #
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