Author: Chessfun
Date: 15:40:41 09/07/00
Go up one level in this thread
On September 06, 2000 at 17:19:44, John Merlino wrote: Well since I am in Canada it's only 7c US but I think generally it don't matter where you live the features asked about many times even before CM7K are still issues. Whether we are the target audience or not, I find a little odd as we are people who will talk to friends, relatives and post all over the internet what we think of the new CM8K. Word spreads....as you say maybe a little of the lost buzz with CM7K was in part caused by the chess communities of the internet. Having said that I am appreciative that you take the time to post what features you think will be in or out. I just wish I understood terms like "somewhat likely", "time will tell", "May be possible" and "still not entirely out of the question"...a little better than I do. I guess with my eyes a simple yes or no is much clearer than 1/4 chance in a patch?. I can't believe at this date decisions like that couldn't have been made and are still being decided. >This first section contains answers regarding all of the questions (in no >particular order) that I got from users of this forum: >------------ >Q: Is there going to be a major improvement in Chessmaster's opening book? >There was only 40,000+ positions on 7000 and the lines were bad. >A: At this time, the opening book that is shipping with CM8000 is identical >to the ones that shipped with CM7000, although it is still possible that a new >book will magically appear. ><< It is also possible that some VERY minor modifications may occur to the >CM7000 book in making the new CM8000 book. It is now also somewhat likely >that there will be a new class of opening books that are specific to a given >opening, such as Sicilian.OBK and King's Indian.OBK, since many users have >requested them. The number of these books depends on the amount of space that >is available on the CDs (which were pretty full in CM7000), but there may be >as many as 50 (or more) books that are strictly dedicated to a certain >opening. >> I assume book learning is out? >------------ >Q: How strong will Chessmaster 8000 perform, when it will be released, and what >will be the cost when it is released? >A: It is believed that the new King engine is stronger, although Johan's >favorite saying is "time will tell". So far, the development team has only >performed very limited testing of the new engine against the old one. >The cost will be typical of initial releases of previous versions of >Chessmaster, about $40. Will the development team release games played by the new CM8K in mush the same way other companies do?. >------------ >Q: There was no endgame tablebase on the previous Chessmaster versions. Is >there going to be any on Chessmaster 8000? If not, Can you improve endgame play? >A: There are no plans to include endgame tablebases at this time, although it >might get dropped in at the last minute or in a subsequent patch. Therefore, if >the endgame play is improved, it is likely to be only found in the engine. ><< It is now SOMEWHAT likely that Nalimov's tablebases are going to be supported >in a patch (doubtful that the program will ship with support for them given the >current time frame and the testing needed). If so, then it would be an option >that will be personality-specific, like hash tables. I give it about a 1/4 >chance. Stay tuned.... >> What is the development teams opinions overall on the importance of Tablebases.? to what extent will this improve the engines performance. Chessbase's opinions are clear. As currently are Rebel's. >------------ >Q: I'd like to know whether there will be auto232 support. >A: It keeps getting pushed to the back burner. Very doubtful for this version, >although it MAY be possible that you will be able to connect on any internet >connection with a computer personality, meaning that you can have two computer >personalities play each other over the net (TCP/IP, LAN, modem and the dreaded >MPlayer). Auto232 is still ENTIRELY not out of the question at this time, >however. I see this as a huge disapointment. I cannot believe much development is required in order to make it possible. If CM as it seems to edges on the fringe of being a program taken seriously this is the reason. This one feature would be all that IMO most would ask for. >--------------- >And now for the general "spoiler" list covering things that were not >specifically asked about: haha I thought that list was the first set :-) >------------- >AND (drum roll please....) there will be a third sub-window for infinite >analysis from the Chessmaster personality (which will be available only if >Chessmaster isn't already playing in the game). This would be my #2 choice for most important. But it is good to see it will be included. >------------- >The ratings for the personalities are being completely recalculated based on >the extensive Engine Test that was mailed out to about 110 USCF rated players. >These testers were rated from below 600 to almost 2400, and the average rating >for the testers is probably going to be around 1500, although I do not have >final numbers yet. >Each tester played 30 games (6 games against 5 different opponents, 3 each as >White and Black) at a time control of Fischer 5/10. I know that there are at >least 2500 games in the development team's database so far, so that's over 80 >testers who have returned their games. >Against 10 testers rated above 2000 (60 total games against an average rating of >2153), the Chessmaster personality is +57 =1 -2. >The development team has told me that this has been a fascinating exercise, as >some personalities that had a rating of N when playing only against other >personalities have ratings of over (N-300) when playing against humans. They >believe the new ratings for the personalities will be much more accurate this >time around. ><< The final tally of testers who returned their results was 95, but one was >still provisionally rated, so only 94 test results were used. The average rating >of the players was approximately 1520. Many of the mid-range to low-range >personalities (in terms of rating) look like their ratings are going to be >adjusted fairly drastically. Ex: Lacey (a bane among humans), previously rated >around 1500, is being lowered to approximately 1350. Some are being adjusted >over 200 points, and almost all of the major changes are going to result in >LOWERING of ratings, as expected. >> Will any of these games be downloadable at any point?. >I realize that most people here couldn't care less, but, to be blunt, you guys >aren't the target audience. ;-) Hmmm maybe we all should start bugging Matel to see if we can become more of a target audience. >-- There will be new exercises similar to those found on ICC, in which you try >to mate with a given set of pieces: KQvK, KRvK, KQvKN, KRvKN and KQvKR are the >ones planned at this time. However, unlike on ICC, you will not be told how many >moves it (ideally) is to mate, since endgame tablebases are not being supported >at this time. You said above they may be 25% chance in a patch, if so would the patch then also tell you how many moves to mate. As I see no possible benefit for some kid trying to learn to mate with KQ V KR without the feature. He could just as well set up the position on the board without iusing the feature. What about KBB V K? that seems a basic one to learn. >------------- >Unfortunately, due to the powers that be at Mattel Interactive, CD 1 MIGHT be >required EVERY TIME you start up the program, rather than the "CD Refresh" >feature that was present in CM7000 and before. This is because it has been >mandated that all new products use a copy protection scheme called SafeDisc. The >development team is trying to get around it, but this year they just might not >be able to get it under the radar. This last is terrible. One step forward two steps back. Thanks. Sarah.
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