Zappa Mexico UCI going commercial

[Kaj Soderberg]

Just saw on the CSS forum that Zappa Mexico UCI is going commercial. There was also text from Anthony Cozzie:

From Anthony:

Retirement
I put up my retirement notice on 8/2006, and at that point I stated that it would be quite some time before the next Zappa version. One year and two versions later, I feel the need to make a small explanation. When I was approached for a Zappa-Rybka match in Mexico City, I figured that I sort of owed it to sponsors to do a little work on the engine. Since I have qualifying exams this semseter, that turned out to be about 8 days of work, which means I'm still 97.8% retired. So perhaps the new statement should: retired unless receiving expense paid tournament invites to exotic locations.

After I finished, I was going to release this version for free after the match, an idea that I have been flirting with for some time. However, in the end I decided it would be silly to turn down a little free money. Also, my opening booker quit his job for a month to work on the book for the Mexico match, and I didn't want him on the streets begging for crusts of bread. A significant fraction of the proceeds go to this. I do not expect there is a big improvement between Zap!Chess Zanzibar and Zappa Mexico - perhaps 25 elo, at most 50. I simply didn't have the time to test everything, and one can only do so much in 8 days of part-time work. However, this version does have a few advantages: UCI and Linux compatible, plays legal chess moves, lowers blood pressure, and reduces global warming. Unfortunately the name is not nearly as cool (it's hard to follow Zanzibar). I wanted the Applesque "Zappa X" but was outvoted 2:1 for "Zappa Mexico", which partially makes up in clarity what it lacks in style.

[Spock]

That's good - it will be worth it for a UCI version !!

[Tony Thomas]

Yes, I would definitely buy it if there is a UCI version. I hope that it is not a chessbase only release.

[mclane]

that sounds brilliant.

[Graham Banks]

Yes, I would definitely buy it if there is a UCI version. I hope that it is not a chessbase only release.

Agreed - it would be nice to be able to use it under all GUIs.

Regards, Graham.

[Eelco de Groot]

Yes, I would definitely buy it if there is a UCI version. I hope that it is not a chessbase only release.

Agreed - it would be nice to be able to use it under all GUIs.

Regards, Graham.

I believe Erdo will sell the Mexico version of Zappa himself, so it is not a ChessBase native version. Maybe a version will also run on Apple IMacs, Erdo pointed out Anthony also uses a Mac. Price-indication from Erdo on CSS forum: € 59,-

Sounds good, although Zappa Zanzibar is also still a fair deal compared to the other Chessbase products.

Eelco

[Tony Thomas]

Yes, I would definitely buy it if there is a UCI version. I hope that it is not a chessbase only release.

Agreed - it would be nice to be able to use it under all GUIs.

Regards, Graham.

I believe Erdo will sell the Mexico version of Zappa himself, so it is not a ChessBase native version. Maybe a version will also run on Apple IMacs, Erdo pointed out Anthony also uses a Mac. Price-indication from Erdo on CSS forum: € 59,-

Sounds good, although Zappa Zanzibar is also still a fair deal compared to the other Chessbase products.

Eelco

I was hoping that Anthony would let Erdo sell it. Boo Ya, I better cut back on my 15 dollar per day junk food/muscle milk adiction.

[Shaun]

UCI - fantastic news...

Shaun