CSTAL property rights

[fern]

I have been informed that the rights of Cstal, that has originated some discussion here for a while, are in the hands of a company named "Zing Magic".

My informer asked about his plans and they answered that they are engaged in mobile phones software, no plans for any PC stuff, including Cstal.

So, forget all about a miraculous renaissance...

Fernando in a sad mood

[mclane]

i wonder if this is kind of CSTAL clon for palm OS.

http://zingmagic.thezpace.com/home/zview/page/chessPOS

[fern]

It could be.
In any case Cstal has appeared with other name under a spanish software filial of Purple. I have it and it is Cstal II, for certain, just translated to spanish in the texts.
They call it FXChess.
In any case, I have seen you have the exe. of Cstal III.
Cannot something be done with that?
I imagine you operate it with the use of some GUI...
Or just as console?

Fernando

[chrisw]

i wonder if this is kind of CSTAL clon for palm OS.

http://zingmagic.thezpace.com/home/zview/page/chessPOS

I doubt it, see here:

Also available as part of the Backgammon, Chess and Chinese Chess mega-value triple pack.
Size, approx 235K.

too small size probably, and most likely developed from the Intelligent Strategy Games pack which used small engines. I'm guessing of course, but think CSTal engine very unlikely to have been used. Too big and too much work.

[chrisw]

It could be.
In any case Cstal has appeared with other name under a spanish software filial of Purple. I have it and it is Cstal II, for certain, just translated to spanish in the texts.
They call it FXChess.
In any case, I have seen you have the exe. of Cstal III.
Cannot something be done with that?
I imagine you operate it with the use of some GUI...
Or just as console?

Fernando

Guessing - but I suspect that was probably a recompile in Spanish (we had translation technology porting all very much under easy to do status, possibly it was already in Spanish actually) of CSTal2, no idea which engine version or date. Probably done done by my old support programmer before he quit Purple and went and worked elsewhere. Guessing again but I would think they lost a lot of the capability to effectively produce bug-free and functioning versions after he left.

Chris

[mclane]

there were several clones under several names.
FXchess only ONE of them.
also the CSTAL Version from AIfactory did only 1/2 of the NPS the original CSTAL2.03 did. e.g. the internet-download versions often miss the big book or tablebases that came with the old CSTAL2.03 version.

[mclane]

i am using the new GUI that was nearly finished and should be named as CSTAL3.

it allows to switch between CSTAL2.03 (the old non bitboard version)
and the bitboard engine CSTAL3.

the NPS difference is nearly 3.5 times bigger for the bitboard version.
therefore the search depth is also very different.

helps against todays programs although bitboard version is from 1999 !!!
so a pity this version was never sold.
in 1999 it could have been a nice thing...

[fern]

Damn, Thorsten, so you tell to all of us that in fact THERE IS A CSTAL III capable of functioning?
And you tell it just like that...?
Can you imagine what I would do to put my hand on it?
Everybody here?
You are courting death, my dear pal.
Your task is to see a way to make of Cstal III something capable of at least be in our hands.
There are many ways.
I leave it to your conscience.

My men are already on the way regards
Fernando

[fern]

I do not perceive any crippled functioning in the FX thing, BUT after your words I will do a simple check of exe. files size in both versions, yours and FX.

Regards
Fernando

[mclane]

look i have this version since 1999.
chris and i were testing it and then he sold his company any i was - of course - disapointing about this "end".

of course i try to make this version beeing alive.
but it is not that easy ...

in the moment all i can do is to play some games manually and to post them IF this is interesting for some people here.
i am working on a solution.