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Subject: Re: Why are chess engines so expensive?

Author: Steven Schwartz

Date: 07:06:31 05/12/99

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On May 12, 1999 at 09:30:04, William H Rogers wrote:

>On May 12, 1999 at 00:36:43, Lawrence S. Tamarkin wrote:
>
>>With the large number of availble engines now availble for both Fritz &
>>Millenium Chess Genius, I can't help but wonder why they are so expensive.
>>$59.95 for Zarkov5, or Shredder3 or WChess, or $45 for Hiarcs6, (with Hiarcs7
>>coming), or Junior5 (to be used in Fritz5, or the same interface).  And then
>>there is the Chess opening books you can buy seperately.  I guess only
>>relatively small books come with the program?  Anyway, after having been
>>addicted to this buying this or that engine, opening book, training software or
>>whatever for several years now, I think it is a little too much for the maker's
>>of this stuff to want more than say, $15.95 per item, (about the price for a new
>>music CD), for any single one of these products. I mean, hell, maybe they really
>>do have enough of an extensive customer base (World Wide?), to still be making a
>>profit on this stuff, but I wonder, how many of us software addicts! are there,
>>really?
>>
>>We've seen the average cost of a new playing program come down from around $150
>>per program, (In 1992, I think), to around $50 currently.  Can it be much longer
>>before supply and demand requires these prices to be much less that that, even
>>for the manufactuers to continue their product line.  I don't suggest this out
>>of resentment, but more out of the realization that my desire to keep buying
>>these products will continue, even though I certainly don't use all of the
>>programs I have, or need all of the programs I want.  And I do want to keep
>>buying to support companies like Rebel, but am always mindfull of my limited
>>funds - Opinions?
>>
>>
>>mrslug - the inkompetent chess software addict!
>
>Have you ever purchased another computer game.
>i.e. Doom $49.95 Doom2 $ 49.95 Mist $49.95 all were prices when they were new.
>Now the secret is out. I play other games besides chess.
>Besides at $49.95 that equates to about $10 in the 1960's.
>My first commercial chess program was Larry K's MChess Pro at $500.00

You mean Marty Hirsch's MChess Pro (Larry was Socrates and Rex),
but MPro never cost $500?!
Are you speaking of Marty's AI Chess which Reiner Rickford (that
dear, sweet fellow) was selling for $500 at one time?
- Steve (ICD/Your Move)



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