Author: John Merlino
Date: 16:42:42 09/07/00
Go up one level in this thread
On September 07, 2000 at 18:40:41, Chessfun wrote: >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. > You have no idea.... ;-) Actually, the MAIN problem with deciding what goes in and what doesn't comes from the VERY short development time frame that the team has to work with between versions. CM7000 was released about 11 months ago. A couple of months are then devoted to working out bugs and creating patches, at the same time as discussing and designing completely new features. This leaves approximately 7 months between the beginning of coding and reaching the Alpha stage, in which all features are SUPPOSED to be final. Sadly, this is nowhere NEAR enough time to do everything that the team wants to do every year. This year, the big thing was the huge process of rewriting the code to support WinBoard engines. Considering that there are only two full-time programmers (this year -- last year there were four -- this is due to all of the financial problems with Mattel Interactive), there is obviously only so much that can be done. Hence, the development team has to perform a sort of triage, where things that they REALLY want to do, but are not considered that important to the AVERAGE user (i.e. NOT the people here, but Mr./Mrs. Smith who buys the game for little Timmy -- approximately 80% of the copies of the latest version of Chesmaster that are sold are sold to first-time buyers), must be put on hold. This means that they are either relegated to the next version, or decided to be added in a patch. Hence, when I say 1/4 chance of something happening (for example), then I'm really giving you my best guess. Saying "yes" or "no" would not be accurate, no matter which one I chose. Would you prefer that I say "no", and then have you all get a pleasant surprise later? > >I assume book learning is out? > You assume correctly. > >Will the development team release games played by the new CM8K in mush >the same way other companies do?. > None of the test games will be released. The games with the human testers will not be released because that would be cruel ;-). What other "companies" release their test games? > >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. The development team would VERY MUCH like to get in tablebases. As for the "importance" of them, I really don't think that matters. SUPPORT is what matters, and let the people who want them use them. I guess, though, that since the development team wants them in, they feel they are important and are likely to improve the engine's performance in certain situations. I really do not know the details, since I haven't spoken with Johan directly about this. > >I see [lack of auto232] 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. > Once again, I am not aware of the technical problems involved in adding auto232 to the program. I believe this is one of those issues that just keeps getting put on the back burner, due to time contraints. Once again, I just suggest hoping for it in a patch.... > >Will any of [the test] games be downloadable at any point?. > As stated above, these games will not be available for downloading. > >Hmmm maybe we all should start bugging Matel to see if we can become more of a >target audience. > Too late. Mattel Interactive (the entity that used to be known as Mindscape) is about to be sold yet again -- probably within then next few weeks. I'll let you all know when that happens and who the NEXT huge company is going to be that is going to take over this little program.... > >You said above [egtbs] 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. > Even if SUPPORT for egtbs was put into the patch, the actual FILES would have to be downloaded by the user. They will NOT be available for sale. I suspect, though, that if the appropriate tablebase(s) existed for the exercise, then the user would be told the number of moves to mate. I will mention KBB v K to the development team and I'm sure they will put it in (see how these things go now? ;-) > >[Requiring the CDs at all times] is terrible. One step forward two steps back. > Well, we can hope that, once again, the development team will buck the system and you will only have to live with the "CD Refresh" system that was there in CM7000 (which, admittedly, wasn't too popular either). >Thanks. >Sarah. No problem, that's what I'm here for, jm
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