From: "'Marc Theeuwen'" <Marc_Theeuwen <at> AMSINC <dot> COM>
Date: 1 feb 2000
Subject: Re: to play shogi on the net

>I am passing along these suggestions to the game developers at the MSO.

>I would also like to discuss with the list sometime, to what extent methods
>for nabbing new players can change the look of the game.

>For example, there are discussions at the MSO about trying shogi viewers
>with black and white pieces, boards with alternating color squares,
>different piece symbols, etc.

>I have always thought a little pain at the beginning (just use the real
>equipment) and then you are up to speed, but i find more and more that
>people feel that visual "training wheels" could be a big help in getting
>people to make the biggest, first step of learning the game.

>I know that breaking with tradition is always a touchy subject in shogi,
>but I would be very interested is some feelings about these topics.

In my opinion, there would be not a too severe opposition when players would
have a choice in the style of their shogi pieces. When my opponent plays with
black and white pieces with more easily recognizable pictures and on a board
with colored squares, and I can play with a "Japanese style" formatted board and
pieces, both can be happy.

What could make life a lot easier for beginners would be if the squares a piece
(both your own and those of your opponent) can move to would be highlighted when
your mouse is above it. Similarly, when a piece can promote, it would be helpful
to show what moves the piece can make in their (un)promoted state.

When I visited a tournament in Hythe, England, organized by John Campbell, I saw
a shogi set designed for Western children. It showed all kinds of animals (like
colourful Tigers, Panda Bears and Elephants) plus schematically the moves they
could make. I am not sure who was the producer of these sets (George Hodges?)
and it would be interesting to hear whether it was actually far easier for
children to learn shogi this way.

Similarly, the Swedish Shogi Association has made Shogi sets sponsored by Toyota
that depict various car models. Perhaps Martin Danerud or Carl Johan Nilsson can
relate on the relative ease for new players to be 1) attracted and 2) to learn
the game.

Even when using pictures instead of Japanese characters, I would still suggest
to depict a small Japanese symbol to make it easier to go to Japanse style board
and pieces afterwards.


Cheers,

Marc Theeuwen