Seems that it is almost going to waste. I can not believe that HG created it for just one small blitz tournament a month. Seems like it could be a good place for the ACCA or any other group to hold events. Of course I can not read HG's mind about this, so I hope that he may give his wishes here!
Regardless, it is FREE and it is a shame that there is just the same three engines logged on all the time. Anyway, I'll give the sample Winboard command line that allows RomiChess to be there.
If you are on a sidewalk and the covid goes beep beep
Just step aside or you might have a bit of heat
Covid covid runs through the town all day
Can the people ever change their ways
Sherwin the covid's after you
Sherwin if it catches you you're through
I guess there is no real need for another free ICS for the Chess community, because there is already FICS. My interest is mainly in testing the server software; I don't have the ambition to gather a large crowd of human users.
For computer-computer games the ICS has some nice features that are not found on other ICS, though. For instance, if you e-mail games to yourself in PGN format, the kibitzed score/depth info of both engines is included in the PGN. There are still some points that need attention, though. For instance, the mamer TM that came with the ICS software completely sucks.
The main aim of the ICS is to support a wider range of variants, though. The Xiangqi (adjudications) and Shogi (promotions) implementations still need some work, though. But I haven't had much time to work on the ICS lately: too many projects. But at least Gothic Chess and Knightmate seem to work flawlessly, not to forget Superchess and Great Shatranj.
Fics is a great server, however there do not seem to be that many players there. I have to wait much longer to get a game there than I do at chess assistant club which is free as well.... Of course there is the time zone issue as I believe most players at chess assistant are Russians.... Chess assistant is more advanced IMHO. Fics still operates like a DOS program IMHO even tho there are many interface choices at Fics. Chess Cube is ok as well... I hope I am not breaking any charter rules.... If so please feel free to delete.
Nimzovik wrote:Chess assistant is more advanced IMHO. Fics still operates like a DOS program IMHO even tho there are many interface choices at Fics.
Note that to play an engine on an ICS you will always need a client, and that ICS that do not use the FICS protocol are in general completely useless, because no clients are available.
Note that to play an engine on an ICS you will always need a client, and that ICS that do not use the FICS protocol are in general completely useless, because no clients are available.
The probably want you to use their own client. It's called vendor lock in.
Seems like it could be a good place for the ACCA or any other group to hold events. Of course I can not read HG's mind about this, so I hope that he may give his wishes here!
