Author: Mike Hood
Date: 05:38:56 12/20/01
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On December 20, 2001 at 06:54:21, Georg Langrath wrote: >The death of computerchess. > >In older days every tablechess was a piece of art. You talked about the design >and features as much as strength. Later came PC. Now you could talk about design >and features of interfaces instead beside strength. >Nowadays it seems as interfaces and new features are dying. Look at Fritz 7. It >looks like Fritz 6 if I haven’t misunderstood. It has one big development, and >that is communicating possibilities via Internet. >And Century 4. I have it. Although I like the interface it is the same as in >Century 3 in every detail. And it has some small new features. >That means that the important thing about buying new PC-chess nowadays is that >it perhaps is a little stronger. Often not more than as best 50 ELO. >I am not a strong chessplayer, but strength isn’t a problem for most of us >today. All programs are more than strong enough. Strength can be of importance >in analyze, but for few of us that important, that you are willing to spend 60$ >for an uncertain increase of perhaps 20 to 50 points. >And ordinary people are less interested in strength than those in CCC. >Perhaps there isn’t so much more to develop in features and design of interfaces >more, but I think that this means that most people will loose their interest in >buying new chessprograms. >Anybody that agree? > >Georg Although I agree with your comments in general, take a look at Chessmaster. The emphasis is put on the beauty of the program's layout, rather than the playing strength. (Yes, I know Chessmaster's chess engine is strong, but the last two Chessmaster updates were made without upgrading the engine -- it would be unthinkable for Fritz 8 to be sold with the same engine as Fritz 7!) It's the same as all those fancy chess sets. You know the ones I mean, those chess sets with Star Trek characters as pieces, or those weird modern-art sculptures, or whatever else. They're nice to put in a cabinet and admire, but just try playing with them. Before you make a move you have to ask yourself "Does Mr. Spock move diagonally or in a straight line?" Fritz 6/7 has a very solid looking interface. Do you want more variety, more beauty? Or do you want something immediately recognizable without any distractions? I definitely want the latter, but it's a matter of taste. Chessmaster has been outselling Fritz for years, so I assume most people disagree with me.
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