Author: Matthew Hull
Date: 13:30:11 07/09/04
Go up one level in this thread
On July 09, 2004 at 15:53:50, GuyHaworth wrote: > >I assume your concern is that Playchess.com is not O/S-independent, rather than >that it is 'proprietory'. Without the commercial engines, you would not be >enjoying excellent chess from the likes of FRITZ, JUNIOR and SHREDDER, or the >audio/video feeds you are getting via Chessbase. Without the non-commercial engines, you would have FRITZ, JUNIOR, and SHREDDER for a WCCC tourney. > >I have logged the 'non-O/S independent' concern, and others that have come up on >CCC. > > > >I would be interested to survey which CCC-members complaining about the >webcasting of the ICGA event are actually ICGA members, and which not. How about a principle participant, Bob Hyatt. How many Chessbase viewers are members? How do you expect to generate interest in ICGA from non-Microsoft viewers? Can a person in Cambodia afford a MS license. Maybe not, but everyone can afford a Linux license. > >Those who would like better real-time coverage might like to say what they would >be prepared to pay for this per event. CCT6 did not "cost" anything. Furthermore, anyone can pump out RealPlayer content with Helix for next to nothing, and serve the whole Earth. > >For comparison, I paid $25 to watch the America's Cup in realtime via a >simulation and that was good value. America's Cup is not a computer-based event. Computer chess tournaments are cheaply held and observed all the time. The only exception are ICGA events. They are still held manually and broadcast only to a Microsoft market on a medium that is supposed to be accessible to all. Ironic. > >Those who just want a better 'free ride' should realise that they are not Even if I had paid, I would still be excluded from watching because I am not on the Microsoft tax roll. The internet was not designed to be a Microsoft-only playground. It is for everyone. ICGA don't see it that way, I guess. When accepting "freebees" from Chessbase, you should still ask them how they are going to generate interest in ICGA from non-Microsoft users. When you don't do that, you are sending the message that people need to pay Microsoft/Chessbase AND the ICGA in order to participate. >proposing a 'sustainable model'. Please assume that someone else has >articulated the less-than-convincing "I'm not joining the ICGA because the >real-time relay of their events is less than perfect". "Less than perfect" does not accurately describe "zero accessibility" on a medium known for, and created for, universal access. > > > >'World class computer chess' was one of the ten goals set for Artificial >Intelligence by the historic Dartmouth Conference of 1958. Arguably, this is >the goal that has most clearly been reached. World class tournaments are not 11 round Swiss tourneys with only 14 participants. A world class computer event for 14 participants would be at least a round robin, with computer auto-playing on a chess server. You could easily play two rounds per day and double the quantity and validity of your "World Class Computer Chess". > >To celebrate this, the ICGA has an ambitious programme running up to the 50th >Anniversary in 2008. I am stating the obvious in saying that the best way to >support the ICGA is to join it or sponsor it. One would hope that this "ambitious programme" includes advancing into the 21st century, in terms of networking, automation, and access for _all_. > >Putting aside concerns about the lack of non-Windows realtime feeds, >consideration of the excellent event which the ICGA and the event sponsors have >worked long and hard to set up might encourage readers to do just that. I hope >so. I would consider joining if I thought my dues would pay for better decision-making in the technology and accessibility department. As things stand, it looks like 1974 will be the technology standard for play and "limited broadcast" in this "Internet Age". > >www.icga.org provides an online method. > >I hope you all enjoy the rest of the event as much as you have so far. > > >Guy Haworth, VP, ICGA
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