Computer Chess Club Archives


Search

Terms

Messages

Subject: Re: Fritz

Author: Odd Gunnar Malin

Date: 08:30:29 04/29/04

Go up one level in this thread


On April 29, 2004 at 10:05:58, Vincent Diepeveen wrote:

>On April 29, 2004 at 09:43:02, Peter Berger wrote:
>
>>On April 29, 2004 at 09:27:18, Vincent Diepeveen wrote:
>>
>>>Basically you say i should target at those 1000 guys who want to run other
>>>software under their chessbase?
>>>
>>>
>>>And if i'm real lucky then a small part of those users will buy DIEP, if it
>>>would get sold?
>>>
>>>What planet do you come from?
>>
>>I think you might have a point here. This week there is a (very nice) review of
>>Shredder 8 and Junior 8 at ChessCafe by Kjell Arne Brekke:
>>http://www.chesscafe.com/Reviews/books.htm
>>
>>While he does a good job of highlighting all the general effects of the programs
>>all using the same interface and the outdated helpfiles in general for an
>>ordinary user( who isn't puzzled when Shredder calls itself Fritz 6 in the
>>chatter?), his basic conclusion that he can't think of any reason why one should
>>get one of the others, if he already owns one of them (Fritz, Junior, Shredder)
>>sounds even more convincing.
>
>I feel Kjell has shown one of the keypoints here.
>

Well, I don't see a keypoint here.
No chessplayer whithout special interest in computerchess will buy two or three
chessprogram within a year, if it is very different or not. Also when he first
have bought a playingprogram he will most probably stick with it and upgrade it
when there have been enough changes. For Fritz etc. I would guess a Fritz 5.32
user could look for a new version, if not the playchess thing have appeal, then
you could stretch back to a Fritz 6 user.

The highest potensial would be with firsttime buyers, or them who upgrade their
PC so they can't play with their dos-program anymore.

I have bought very few playing program from ChessBase and when I should buy one
last time my choice landed on Shredder 6. The only reason for my choice was that
I could plug it into Chess Assistant. Else I only wanted a program based on
Fritz 7.

I get some mail throughout the year where people ask for advice before buying a
chessprogram, only once I have heard any mention of engine-engine strength. This
was when Shredder had won the WC in London (2000). Else I don't think many even
know about SSDF-list or other rating list for computer.

>If you run under that interface, it's only Fritz that counts. The rest is
>peanuts.
>
>Then if you play a match fritz versus your engine, things are not done sportive;
>there are protocol issues which cause for some weird reason each new version
>that your program has a disadvantage. I do not say this is done deliberately (i
>would get sued otherwise for saying that) but it sure has its effect. The effect
>is you just get nailed for whatever reason.


>
>That already is enough reason to not release your engine in a protocol that
>chessbase can read.
>

Again your main concern is engine-engine matches, so now I agree that your only
selling potensial are the so called 'nerds'.


Odd Gunnar



This page took 0 seconds to execute

Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700

Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.