From: Andrew Okun GLOWWORMPUB COM> Date: 27 jun 2002 Subject: Re: Yahoo USA shogi lounge I learned of the Yahoo! English language shogi page a couple of weeks ago from a Yahoo! staffer during an online Go tournament. They have had it ready for some time but have not linked to it yet because they do not have the ancillary text ready, including the "how to play" page. I offered the free services of you all on the Shogi list in the most generous way, saying we could supply a good how to play text to their chosen length in a jiff. He commented something like "give us a chance." My impression is that they have a tiny staff and while the Games page is wildly popular, with more than 100,000 people playing at any given time, they need to concentrate on revenue generating things first, like the solo games that companies sell nicer versions of and the Yahoo! All Stars memberships. Yahoo! generally is trimming back offerings and staff and trying to bring revenues and expenses closer together. Nonetheless, Yahoo! Games is remarkably easy to use, much easier than any other game site I have tried. This is why they have so many players all the time. I play Go on Yahoo! a lot and notwithstanding one truly awful programming blunder, (No byo-yomi... In a game with no check-mate and that ends by mutual agreement of the players, this offers idiot 12-year-olds a way to win a timed game: Just keep dropping dead stones and never pass) it is a remarkable evangalistic tool. There are many people who pass through, start games and after a few dud moves, ask "how do you play this game." If you type some instructions quickly, it is possible to get them going and convince them of the merit of the game. Granted Shogi has more rules, still with Shogi players ex-Japan numbering, generously, in the thousands, something that could add a new novice player every few days would make a significant difference to the game. Perhaps they will be inspired to link to the Shogi rooms if we play on there a bunch. Andy Okun Entertainment Law Digest Glowworm Publishing LLC 10951 Pico Blvd., Third Floor Los Angeles, CA 90064 Phone: 310-448-3124 Fax: 310-448-3125 E-Mail: aokun glowwormpub com Website: http://www.entlawdigest.com