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Subject: Re: Little Goliath / Download

Author: Michael Borgstaedt (GOLIATH CHESS)

Date: 04:48:40 09/04/98

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On September 03, 1998 at 20:32:54, José Berdiñas Bonefua wrote:

>On September 03, 1998 at 17:43:44, Alessio Iacovoni wrote:
>
>>On September 03, 1998 at 12:24:58, Michael Borgstaedt (GOLIATH CHESS) wrote:
>>
>>>On September 03, 1998 at 09:41:55, Claudio Bollini wrote:
>>>
>>>>On September 01, 1998 at 10:01:12, Michael Borgstaedt (GOLIATH CHESS) wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>Little (Light) Goliath is now available from
>>>>>
>>>>>  ftp.pitt.edu/group/student-activities/chess/PROG/
>>>>>
>>>>>Archive: GOLIATH.ZIP (about 3.2 MB)
>>>>
>>>>I had been very interested in Mr.Borgstaedt announce of his new-brand program,
>>>>and noticed about latter problems with Goliath distribution. So, I immediately
>>>>downloaded goliath.zip = "little (light) Goliath", and looked around.
>>>>
>>>>Putting aside the light version itself, much weaker than the complete version
>>>>according the "readme.txt", what really shocked me was Mr. Borgstaedt's claims
>>>>in the same file.
>>>>
>>>>After giving his version about what happened with Goliath prog, and the withdraw
>>>>of his windows programmer, he dares to state that: "The engine of GOLIATH CHESS
>>>>is (perhaps) the strongest available", and that he expects "that the program
>>>>will immediately top the swedish rating list" (!!!)
>>>>
>>>>But since "a windows interface is lacking", he urgently needs a windows
>>>>programmer to release the comercial version. "Releasing the engine
>>>>(commercially) is impossible without a nice interface. Besides, large and
>>>>complex database functions belongs to the engine and are ready to use" (...)
>>>
>>>I was been contacted by two windows-developers who are interested in building
>>>the interface. Perhaps, I hope so, we will find an agreement regarding
>>>cooperation.
>>>
>>>>
>>>>Sure? I have my doubts... If it is true that he owns the *strongest* engine
>>>>available, why not to release a comercial version with a modest interface
>>>>like Dave Kittinger with his Wchess, 4 years ago? If the engine is that
>>>>worthy it will have a great comercial success, without any "nice interface".
>>>
>>>I expect that a strong program, but without a state-of-the-art interface,
>>>will be bought by a few freaks only. Perhaps 150 to 200 sold units ?
>>>This will be an alternative only if I fail to release an interface.
>>>
>>>>
>>>>Anyway, what do he use to test his engine and build his risky asertions? There
>>>>must be some operable interface. Please, Mr. Borgstaedt: release it, and if the
>>>>reviews confirm its hyper-strenght, people surely will buy it for 120 bucks or
>>>>more.
>>>>
>>>>Thank you,
>>>>Claudio Bollini
>>>>bollini@cnea.edu.ar
>>>
>>>Best regards
>>>Michael
>>
>>May I just say that i downloaded it and must note that :
>>
>>1. The engine is *extremely* crippled. It lost more than one against
>>gnuchess!!!! (In the help text it says that it is crippled by 80%).
>
>How are you disable the think of Gnuchess in opponents time ??,
>I can `t do , and Goliath very slow with this!!
>Sorry my english.
>
>José
>>
>>2. It has a very bothering shareware note that pops up... that a good enough
>>reason not to use it.
>>
>>3. Of course it's freeware.. but personally the two above reasons are enough not
>>to delete it from my hard disk (and never buy any copies).

Pondering MUST BE disabled for both programs.
Goliaths time level (moves/time) has a bug, so it stops the search after
reaching the 4th iteration (sudden death level is OK, but you may not enter
time with seconds, e.g. 1:30).
This is an ugly bug which will be repaired. An update with some modifications
(EPD2DIAG compability, LOG-file will be released by this weekend).
As Goliath is weak in playing blitz games, using too fast time
controls (3 minutes / game) is no good idea.

Best regards
Michael




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