Warning: X1.0 Program Going Commercial

[Thomas Lagershausen]

Please do something serious with your time. Are you an adult?

[fern]

Great ideas. I will work on them for the 1,1 version.

My best
fernando

[fern]

Of course. That's the reason I like to make some jokes from time to time. Full seriousness, as you know, is an adolescent kind of thing.

My best
Fernando

[nczempin]

Okay, so let's see which parts I already have or which are easy to achieve:

Fernando, I wonder if your engine has the essentials to succeed in today's computer chess scene:

Its own forum

Easy, I already have the server, and I even got PHP working again.

A highly publicised match against a GM (which needn't actually happen)

Hmm, with the help of CCC I should be able to get that, especially if it doesn't actually need to happen.

An integrated mp3 player

I can always just integrate one of the open-source ones. Of course I'll provide their source!

A funny-sounding East European name

How about this one: "Ctvrt". Yes, this is actually a word in Czech (if you place the Haceks in the right places, which I'm far too lazy to do right now). Vasik could even pronounce it.

Accusations of cheating against it

Somewhere else I have already thought up a scheme on how to "pass" all those tests that are used to detect clones. Much easier would be of course to simply cheat.

128-bit support

I can always just claim it; who's going to disprove me?

The ability to run at full strength on a Casio watch

I'm sure there are Casio watches that can be hacked, that have a PIC or something. As long as you don't define how strong "full strength" has to be...

No understanding of FRC castling

This one's easy, my engine already has this feature!

Its own GUI with as many random coloured squares and arrows as possible

Okay, this would actually take some work, but is well within range of an experienced professional coder.

A higher price for the single processor versions (because they are now a minority, specialist interest)

Well, as long as I don't actually have to sell any copies...

No knowledge, and no use, for underpromotion

Okay, I would have to take that out. But underpromotion really is only to get 1 or two points extra on those test suites, when does it ever really happen in a game?

The voice of Alekhine, from beyond the grave, passing comments on the moves

Okay, this feature will have to wait for version 2.0

A printed instruction manual (a stick-it note will do)

Once I figure out how to get those postits into the printer I can work something out. You didn't mention usefulness so I guess that's not a requirement for the manual.

On the retail box, a picture of Kasparov being beaten over the head with a chessboard

Well, could we settle for a "Kasparov likeness"? Or we could keep this part separate and leave it to the publisher.

On opening the box, the distinct smell of a dead fish

[/quote]

I'm not sure if todays CD manufacturing plants are set up, but I could inquire...

Finally I have a list of things of requirements I can work towards with my engine!

Truly funny. Thanks.

Nicolai, if your engine can do all that- you can name your price! Money wont be a consideration.

The Best,

So can we agree that aside from a few major points it is all achievable?

Thanks for giving me permission to embark on this interesting project of naming my price. You never said anything about paying it, of course, but that's a secondary concern.

[nczempin]

Please do something serious with your time. Are you an adult?

In German, we have a saying, of which I'm sure you, Thomas, are aware, but perhaps not the others:

Some people go to the cellar for laughing.

[AGove]

On the retail box, a picture of Kasparov being beaten over the head with a chessboard

I was thinking of this one from 15/April/2005 in Moscow:

[geots]

Please do something serious with your time. Are you an adult?

Of course we are adults, just a bit mentally impaired.

[Ovyron]

Its own GUI with as many random coloured squares and arrows as possible

Okay, this would actually take some work, but is well within range of an experienced professional coder.

Would the final result be something like this?:



Or does it need more randomness/arrows?

[nczempin]

Its own GUI with as many random coloured squares and arrows as possible

Okay, this would actually take some work, but is well within range of an experienced professional coder.

Would the final result be something like this?:



Or does it need more randomness/arrows?

Well, we need more creative arrows like the green one for the black king...

[AGove]

Ovyron, Is that a screenshot of Chessmaster 11? I'm impressed. It looks like it has a very, very deep understanding of the position.