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Subject: Re: Little Goliath / Download

Author: Alessio Iacovoni

Date: 14:43:44 09/03/98

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On September 03, 1998 at 12:24:58, Michael Borgstaedt (GOLIATH CHESS) wrote:

>On September 03, 1998 at 09:41:55, Claudio Bollini wrote:
>
>>On September 01, 1998 at 10:01:12, Michael Borgstaedt (GOLIATH CHESS) wrote:
>>
>>>Little (Light) Goliath is now available from
>>>
>>>  ftp.pitt.edu/group/student-activities/chess/PROG/
>>>
>>>Archive: GOLIATH.ZIP (about 3.2 MB)
>>
>>I had been very interested in Mr.Borgstaedt announce of his new-brand program,
>>and noticed about latter problems with Goliath distribution. So, I immediately
>>downloaded goliath.zip = "little (light) Goliath", and looked around.
>>
>>Putting aside the light version itself, much weaker than the complete version
>>according the "readme.txt", what really shocked me was Mr. Borgstaedt's claims
>>in the same file.
>>
>>After giving his version about what happened with Goliath prog, and the withdraw
>>of his windows programmer, he dares to state that: "The engine of GOLIATH CHESS
>>is (perhaps) the strongest available", and that he expects "that the program
>>will immediately top the swedish rating list" (!!!)
>>
>>But since "a windows interface is lacking", he urgently needs a windows
>>programmer to release the comercial version. "Releasing the engine
>>(commercially) is impossible without a nice interface. Besides, large and
>>complex database functions belongs to the engine and are ready to use" (...)
>
>I was been contacted by two windows-developers who are interested in building
>the interface. Perhaps, I hope so, we will find an agreement regarding
>cooperation.
>
>>
>>Sure? I have my doubts... If it is true that he owns the *strongest* engine
>>available, why not to release a comercial version with a modest interface
>>like Dave Kittinger with his Wchess, 4 years ago? If the engine is that
>>worthy it will have a great comercial success, without any "nice interface".
>
>I expect that a strong program, but without a state-of-the-art interface,
>will be bought by a few freaks only. Perhaps 150 to 200 sold units ?
>This will be an alternative only if I fail to release an interface.
>
>>
>>Anyway, what do he use to test his engine and build his risky asertions? There
>>must be some operable interface. Please, Mr. Borgstaedt: release it, and if the
>>reviews confirm its hyper-strenght, people surely will buy it for 120 bucks or
>>more.
>>
>>Thank you,
>>Claudio Bollini
>>bollini@cnea.edu.ar
>
>Best regards
>Michael

May I just say that i downloaded it and must note that :

1. The engine is *extremely* crippled. It lost more than one against
gnuchess!!!! (In the help text it says that it is crippled by 80%).

2. It has a very bothering shareware note that pops up... that a good enough
reason not to use it.

3. Of course it's freeware.. but personally the two above reasons are enough not
to delete it from my hard disk (and never buy any copies).



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