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Subject: Re: Chessmaster 9000 Beta Report

Author: John Merlino

Date: 22:25:41 05/08/02

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On May 08, 2002 at 18:58:28, Fernando Villegas wrote:

>John,  I am sorry to say this, but since a long time CM does not change more
>than the neccesary amount to sell another time branded as "new version". In fact
>what we have year after year is basically the same product. Not even the engine,
>whose improvemens must be measured with several decimal points. It is amazing
>how much scace of imagination are the guys in charge, the powers-that-are, as
>you would say.
>Yes,  I will purchase anyway the stuff because I am sick, as everybody here, but
>in my ocasional moments of mental health I realize I am being somewhat cheated.
>Ubni Soft just wat the money. Probably the guys over there are so interested in
>chess as me in clasical chinese.
>My best to you and wife.
>fernando

You are certainly not alone in this judgement. It is very difficult to decide
what to put into a new version, let alone to decide what can be accomplished
given our deadlines. And, of course, like with any other chess program, it is
STILL "just chess". Chessmaster 5000, admittedly, probably had enough features
to please today's "typical user". But we keep trying to improve/expand the
program to try to please a few more people with each version.

Of course, we are probably reaching a point of diminished returns, where each
new feature doesn't add much when compared to the whole. But, the new 3D really
looks gorgeous (far better than we hoped for), and the Blunder Alert and Endgame
Databases and (etc. etc. etc.) DOES make this next program better than the one
before.

The question is, as always, "is it worth the price if you have ANY previous
version".

Well, time will tell, I guess....

jm

p.s. Best to you and yours as well. I think my wife might have a few more
amusing little things to send you soon (she was very pleased that you even
mentioned it!)



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