Author: Micheal Cummings
Date: 15:51:07 03/30/99
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Plain fact is that Mindscape already rules the chess market in regard to other programs. And if the other companies want to make more money, they are going to have to do better than just aiming their product at people who play chess allot, and analyse their games. You have to know that most of the people who would buy chessmaster would only ever put it on and play against the computer, they use none of the other features. I know 5 people who have CM6K as their only chess program. They are not serious buffs to chess, but none of the have ever even heard of any of the other top programs. You talk about keeping prices up to keep the quality up, well thats no good if youare not selling enough programs to cover your cost in the first place. and if people know they can get a strong engine for 1/3 the price, then no one will but the more expensive ones (not the mass market) Ed from Rebel realised this and cut his price in half. He can see the way the market is. And since he will not allow the SSDF to rate his program, I think he is even in a worse position. The catalog I get from my chess dealer when it advertises chess programs always give the SSDF rating and position or where in came in some chess tournament. And even though I know the programs, if I do not see something that impresses me, I will really not give it a fair go. Chess programs especially Haircs7 are a rip off in my view, even though it seems to be a strong program. I am not going to pay nearly 4 times more than what I bought CM6K for, and twice what I got Rebel 10 for, to get that program. IF the companies want to keep their prices up, then I think you will see less quailty work, because they will not sell enough programs, they will have to cut their R&D and staff. And they will instead of bring an update out every year, will start turning into three years. And eventually they will just die, where as the makers who know how to market and sell their product will survive.
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