The 81-Square Universe

I think it will be a good idea to replicate KGS if it's truly the best practive right now.

Isn't it really the best practice among the playing servers of boardgames to be played by two players? I assume the best one should exist among the chess servers not amoung Igo ones though I don't know much about them. I would like to hear what do you think the best chess playing server is and how KGS is better than that.

Why you think so???

Nevertheless, I made a short google search ("best chess server") and found FICS at the top.

When I was playing a lot of chess in internet, I used FICS (Free Internet Chess Server). It's working simply by telnet, where you can use a GUI. At that time I remember, there wasn't many programs and I always played with WinBoard.

But today there are exists a lot of client programs.

For example you should take a short look at the screenshot of the program BabasChess
Would be great to have similar for shogi - dreaming ...

As far as chess clients are concerned, I am very impressed with http://chesscube.com. If you haven't seen it yet, you should sign up and check it out. It's free.

I've been learning ActionScript3, so making a flash client is something that's definitely within our reach.

As far as the FICS clients are concerned, I like some of them. I liked a few Windows clients, but I typically use a Mac so I don't use them as much. There are some decent java clients, but they are missing essential features (I'm looking at you, Jin!).

The features in the KGS CGoban3 client have definitely been fine-tuned over the years, and it shows. It's a good starting point for us.

Yes, I think I agree with most of hirohiigo's comments.



That might be one of our options, but actually I prefer a website that has its own interface. The reason is if everyone plays with his own interface on his PC, it doesn't make me feel that we're connected. It's like we're still apart. But if the server has it's own interface, it makes me feel that everyone is gathering in a same place, having fun together. (for example, being in a same game table room and chatting, etc.)

So why don't we think about 81SU's own interface by java or flash, and think about compatibility with other interfaces later?

Well, come to think of it, an original interface would be great, the best option so far in terms of marketing. If it's an original or unique it will basically sell (since prospective players won't think of it as a rip-off of some server).

If we could make something better than KGS or any other gaming program already out in the market, the better.

OK.
I started this topic not only because I'm seriously thinking about the necessity of a new playing website, but also because I wanted to know if there are anyone elses who can get serious about launching 81SU online game system.
And although I'm not yet too confident we're all pretty serious about it, I think I'd present some plan of how we can actually proceed it, since I see many people at least interested in this project.

My idea is, "why don't we split the work?". I think maybe it can be split into:

A: Graphical user interface of the game table. (plus its working algorithm for such as piece movement, timer action, etc.)
B: Graphical user interface of the waiting room. (how we show the name list and table list, etc.)
C: Network system (building communicating protocols, sever storage and security system for individual data, etc.)
D: Give opinions, requests, ideas, anything to the persons in charge of A to C.

One can do more than two at the same time if he'd like to, of course.
On the other hand, each of these could also be split into even smaller works.

I see there have already been many good suggestions so far.
But the most important thing, I believe, is that we get to have the new system RUNNING as soon as we can. So, I think we should give it a go as soon as the minimal required features are built.
We can think about adding other attractive features (such as "teaching mode" and "my page" some of you suggested) later, because once we get it running, hopefully more people get interested in improving the website, which means we get more people to help us.
(In order to improve it and add new features to it later, the program must be such that it's configurable, just as shogi4fun suggests)

What I'm worrying is if we need to expand the disk space, it would cost hirohiigo some additional payment. I think I should share part of the cost (as I'm the one who brought it up ), and hopefully, if we get more people playing at 81SU, hirohiigo could recover the cost by implementing advertising section or something.

Since we'll be splitting the effort, are we going the Java route first? I really like the chesscube flash interface, but if there are no other flash developers around, maybe Java is a better choice. That is, we build a PlayOK mini-clone, and concentrate on polishing the user interface.

I think if we're going to mimic any java-based applet, we should mimic one that has a good interface instead of PlayOK. Shogi Club 24 or igGames Center have pretty good interfaces.

Hi,all.
I'm a Japanese shogi loving programmer.
And I guess i can make some contribution to actually building up a online shogi-playing site.

I have work experiense in ruby,PHP,Flash(Flex) and java, and I'm currently thinking of making the server side with ruby, and the client with Flex.

Also, I'm thinking of developing the program in open source style. Maybe using an open repository on git-hub.

I believe I can release the first proto type with minimal features in one or two months.

How do you guys think of my plan?
Any suggestions, especially on the chice of programming languge ,are welcome.

Kota Fujiwara a.k.a Koudayu

Hi Kota,

That's great! Maybe we could work on a Flex GUI after all. As far as the server side, I already have something done in Google App Engine. So maybe this weekend I should polish up what I have and put it on github.

What's your github page, by the way?