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Subject: Re: ... a problem in the making

Author: Robert Hyatt

Date: 05:31:15 07/02/02

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On July 02, 2002 at 05:02:02, GuyHaworth wrote:

>The boundary between 'what is a PC' and 'what is not a PC' needs careful
>definition:  perhaps this has been done already.
>
>For example, there are several initiatives to make chess-oriented
>application-specific FPGA chipsets.  In fact, it looks like there is a race on!
>
>Question is - "Is a PC with a bunch of FPGAs a PC or not".
>
>I guess WMCCC could fall back on some definition of 'street-standard processor'
>with 'allowable mods', e.g. refrigeration and over-clocking ... or even invite a
>supplier to provide standard kit.
>
>g


The ICCA has _always_ been very vague here, and very inconsistent.  For
example, 1980 Belle was _not_ allowed to play in the WMCCC events even
though its host processor was a simple 16 bit Digital PDP 11/70.  It wasn't
allowed because of the PLA hardware it also had.  Now, it seems, the ICCA
has forgotten this past precedent by allowing "Brutus" to participate in
a WMCCC event (I am not sure this has happened however, as I could be
mistaken about which event(s) it played in to date).

The WCCC has always been "open hardware" but not the "micro" events...

WMCCC events have been specifically "commercial micro only".  I think there
is good reason to continue that tradition, otherwise only "big buck ventures"
will be able to compete...  An event for the "average person" is really
important as well to keep interest alive and progress moving in the right
direction.



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