From: Hugh Denoncourt HOPPER UNH EDU> Date: 30 oct 1995 Subject: Re: Internet Shogi Server > is important to the future popularity of shogi in the world. Why does not a > separate internet shogi server exist? Playing shogi on the go server does > not work, really. Everyone there thinks that you like to play go. The chess I've never tried playing Shogi on the Go server because I never found anyone to play with. To have a functioning Shogi server, someone would have to create shogi server software(modifying the Go or chess server source code would be much easier than creating one from scratch) and shogi client software(not totally necessary, but most people prefer a graphical interface to ASCII and VT100 screens of letters and coordinates). Then, someone in charge of some machine on the net would have to agree to put the shogi server software on their machine. Chess, Go, Chinese Chess, and Backgammon servers have been on the net for quite some time. Since the server software running these was not programmed for any money, I would guess that a programmer who played such a game created the necessary software in their own spare time. A similar thing would be necessary for a Shogi server to go up. > servers and the go server are very successful. I would guess that several > hundred shogi players outside Japan, and several English speaking players > from Japan as well, would be interested. An internet shogi server would be > much more useful to all the shogi players spread out over the world than > endless discussions about "King in check" or "Shogi variants", even though > those topics may interest a few people. I totally agree. It was by playing Shogi that I became interested in the game and only if more Shogi is played will it become more popular. The Internet is probably the best medium for people across the globe to play Shogi. I think its good that there is a medium for shogi discussion of anything pertaining to Shogi such as this mailing list but you are right - a server would do much more than a mailing list in exposing the game. Just my thoughts, Hugh