Building a computer opponent is very difficult. That won't be a feature.
Do you mean the existing iphone app is accessible with FICS, so there's not
really a need?
--------- Original Message --------- Subject: [SPAM] Re: [SPAM] Re:
[blind-gamers] Developing a Chess Game to be Played on Command Line
From: "Charles Rivard" <wee1s...@fidnet.com>
Date: 3/2/18 7:59 am
To: blind-gamers@groups.io
There is one iPhone app that can be used with FICS, but another one that
will hopefully make the setting of time for the game would be a VERY good idea.
If your app will also serve as an electronic chess opponent, that would be a
plus as well.
If you think you're finished, you! really! are! finished!!
From: Marty Schultz
Sent: Friday, March 02, 2018 8:35 AM
To: blind-gamers@groups.io
Subject: Re: [SPAM] Re: [blind-gamers] Developing a Chess Game to be Played on
Command Line
I was thinking of modifying my blindfold checkers game into a chess game, but
instead of coming up with a computer opponent, hook it up to the FICS server.
Any thoughts?
--------- Original Message --------- Subject: [SPAM] Re: [blind-gamers]
Developing a Chess Game to be Played on Command Line
From: "Charles Rivard" <wee1s...@fidnet.com>
Date: 3/2/18 7:12 am
To: blind-gamers@groups.io
Just a thought: When I play chess either against humans or machines, I
always use a separate chess board and men that are designed for blind players.
I decide my moves using the tactual set, then enter the moves into the chess
program or tell the human what my move is.
If you think you're finished, you! really! are! finished!!
From: john
Sent: Friday, March 02, 2018 7:56 AM
To: blind-gamers@groups.io
Subject: Re: [blind-gamers] Developing a Chess Game to be Played on Command Line
Wow, you're really going for the gold ribbon here, good for you!
Accessible computer chess is something I've thought about from time to time,
and always found rather complicated. The problem is that in order to really
play the game you need to see the whole board, not just one line at a time. Its
impossible to trace lines of attack/defense between pieces (or at least
difficult) unless you can access all of them at once.
All this said, here's my thoughts:
How you design your output should differ based on whether the user has a
braille display active or not (or if you want to presume they do). With a
screen reader, its far faster to have each square be represented as a single
character. With a braille display, you can include more information and
separate the squares with a space. Examples (again the first three rows, speech
first):
abcdefgh
1rnbqkbnr
2pppppppp
3.-.-.-.-
Now for braille. This is designed for a 32-cell display. You have the option
of including more data on higher cell counts, or even designing multiple
display modes for different sized displays if you want. Each square gets four
cells. I'm also going to skip the header rows for the sake of simplicity.
wr wn wb wq wk wb wn wr
wp wp wp wp wp wp wp wp
b- w- b- w- b- w- b- w-
For those without braille displays active (or who don't care to drag one out),
each piece is represented by either a b or w (black or white) and then a single
letter code. Its also surrounded on either side by a space, meaning that the
first piece is indented one cell from the left of the display, and there are
two cells between each code.
In speech mode, your idea of capitalizing one color of pieces would work very
well. I'd avoid it in braille though, because of the way capital symbols work.
You may end up taking up more cells than you want.
I hope this helps, or at least gives you some ideas. Best of luck!
John
From: Lanie Molinar
Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2018 4:38
To: blind-gamers@groups.io
Subject: [blind-gamers] Developing a Chess Game to be Played on Command Line
Hi, everyone. I'm taking a computer programming class, and one of my projects
is to develop a chess game rather than the graphical games my classmates are
developing. I'm trying to figure out the best format for displaying the chess
board. I have a couple ideas and want to get your input on them. This game will
be played right on the command line. I have a couple ideas and just want to see
which one you would prefer, or if you have suggestions for other ideas. Here
are the options I've come up with. For either option, capital letters will
indicate white pieces and lowercase letters will indicate black pieces. I can't
think of a way to indicate the color of the square, but I'll provide a way for
the player to look it up if they're not sure. The first way involves using |'s,
-'s, and +'s to form squares around each spot on the board. My worry with this
is that there would be a lot of output, and it might be confusing or irritating
to navigate through it all with a screen reader. The second idea I had might
look something like this, with .'s to indicate empty squares:
A B C D E F G H
1 R N B Q K B N R
2 P P P P P P P P
3 . . . . . . . .
Those are just the first three rows. It would be simpler to develop, but I'm
not sure how well it would work when playing. What do you all think? Please
also let me know if you have any other ideas. I would really appreciate it if
someone could answer this as soon as possible. Thanks.
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