[pbmserv-dev] Gigamic games and GIPF project games.

["David GLAUDE PBEM" <dglaude@gmx.net>]

>From: miges@wanadoo.fr
>
>2) I obtained authorisation from Gigamic Editions to implement all their
>games on this server (quixo, quarto, quads, pyraos, etc.)
>Are you interested by theses games?

I love most of the game from Gigamic, and now I even love the company.
Most of their game are already available in .ZRF (Zillions of Games)
however not on the www.zillions-of-games.com web site, but in some fan page.

About those Gigamic Editions http://www.gigamic.com/ games:

* QUARTO is fun but games are very short. Also the concept of giving
your opponent the piece he is going to play trouble me always.
Given the simplicity of the game and computer power nowdays,
you PC is already world champion an is going to beat you anyway.
One of the problem for PBeM is the ASCII representation of those 16 pieces.
But we have ASCII artist arround.

* PYLOS is really amazing if you take advanced rules, the only problem
is that nothing in the rule prevent against loop were the same position
get's repeated again and again. Maybe rules like in Chess should be
introduce.
It is sad since it make the game not properly define. (like Abalone)
The problem I see fo this game is the ASCII 3D representation, good luck.

* QUORIDOR is maybe the best game they made. It is well balance and clearly
computer are not ready for this game, where player of every level get fun
and
suspense with it. There is a kid version but the rules are exactly the same
as the original. I have play many competion in Belgium and even with the
board
limited size it has always been challenging to win, even against beginners.
To get the full complexity from the game and understand the strategy,
you need a few games or good advice. You can indeed make your path easy or
make
the other dificult. You can give a dificult choice to your opponent or
simplify
your situation by closing one of the alternative given to you. You can also
avoid your opponent blocking your path/one of his path by playing a
defensive
move. It is always amazing. It is also a game that seems computer hard.
ASCII won't be fun, but is should be possible.
If noone start working on the PBeM version of this game I will (contact me).

* QUIVIVE is especially interesting since you can play in family
with 4 or 5 players. It is still not clear to me if I like it or not,
but a two player game that can be extended to 3,4,5,... is always something
of an interest.

* BUNKER the only thing I know is that we used dice and this make me hate
the game like every other game where luck is involved. But I have seen
peaple enjoying playing the game.

* QUADS difficult to say, the plastic version of this game is rather uggly
compare to the quality of the other game from the family. It is a matter of
cost,
I know, but it break the charm. I won the game but one piece was missing so
I gave it back (after having try to understand how to play). It might be
related
to TRAX, Caterdral and a few german board game were you build the board.
The biggest problem is to keep in mind all the piece still available.
It is a matter of vision of the game.

* BATIK is not for PBeM. This is a game based of the physical gravity and
the best way to "store" equipment in your truck. It is kind of a Tetris
but with triangle. It is very nice to have and display in your home,
but I don't know if it is playable and fun for abstract game addicted.

* BATACLAN is not for PBeM but if you are looking for dice, this could
be a good game for you.

* BALLAST I don't know but it look like BATIK to me.

* DUO is Checker we have it.

* SIXTO is chinees checker and we might have it already.

* SOLO is "Solitaire" I don't know if it is english or french version but it
is
that sily game where only one should remain on the board.

* MAESTRO is Chess

Please not I am not working for them, It just happen that I have most of
their interesting game and played many of them at competition level.

Now I want to make sure Gigamic did give the authorisation...
Did you receive an e-mail? snail-mail? writen? spoken?
I did try to contact them in the past for the game Zenix, but got no reply.
Also I wonder if we need authorisation from the game inventor too?

I have already wrote Zenix but without prior authorisation I used
the name Xeniz for the game. You can find a page talking about it
on http://glu.freeservers.com/zenix.htm at the bottom of the page.
For the source code, you can download it from my printer friendly
page at http://www.geocities.com/dglaude/zenix.htm.

I am about to rename it to the proper name Zenix and then send it to
Richard for inclusion in PBeM server.

As for PBeM friendly games author I should also mention that I am
working on DVONN the last baby from the GIPF project http://www.gipf.com.
I have the author first green light, he want to see the result
to verify if the notation system is compatible with what he want.
Also when Zenix and DVONN are finish I plan to work in Zertz11
the new version of the game Zertz but this time with 11 extra position
(extended board).

David GLAUDE

PS: Now please make sure we continue this conversation
    on the pbmserv-dev@gamerz.net mailing list.