Author: John Merlino
Date: 11:47:12 03/21/01
Go up one level in this thread
On March 20, 2001 at 20:54:13, William Penn wrote: >If it were me, I would take a designer's scalpel and remove 75% of the CM8000 >code immediately, then remove maybe another 5-10% after further examinations. >The result would be more like CM5000 or CM6000, than CM8000. It could be >debugged much more easily. So that's my suggestion for the future. > >Where to start? In my opinion none of the 3D chessboard graphics works. Chess is >a 2D game, and so the chessboard should be 2D. One good 2D chessboard with a few >customizing options is enough. > >I would also excise most of the "rooms". One room for the chessboard and all >associated operations. One room for the database and all associated special >operations. And although it doesn't interest me, maybe a room for the opening >books and associated special operations. > >I would also do away with the notion of "Mentor engines" or multiple engines >running simultaneously, as well as compatibility with winboard. Those things >don't interest me and only cause problems. Also getting the ax would be the >movie, and anything that requires DirectX. Do away with the latter and you'll >make a lot of users happy! > >The result would be a lean, mean fighting machine, with very little glitter or >extras. Would it sell? The best always sells. > >As is stands, I can use CM8000 but only by making some non-standard >manipulations. For example when I want to use a personality, I substitute it for >Chessmaster.CMP using Windows Explorer. It's the most problem-free method I've >found. > >Best Regards, >and Good Luck in the buy & sell gameworld!? >WP All of your suggestions have merit, of course. But I would probably classify all of them under "you are certainly entitled to your opinion, but you aren't our typical user". And I would venture to guess that our "average" user would probably disagree with you on all counts (with the exception of the movie -- although I have had several users report that they were sad that their machine was not fast enough to see it). If you "ax" DirectX, you lose all audio and Internet play. That would totally alienate at least 90% of our users. The rooms have been well received, compared to the "all features in one room" design of CM6000 and before. And you are the only person who has suggested that Winboard compatibility is not useful. The purpose of Chessmaster is NOT to be a "lean, mean fighting machine"; it is meant to appeal to the majority of computer chess users. Your arguments against the product (which, once again, I would defend your right to voice) just go to prove the old adage "you can't please everybody". jm
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