New Features & Fixes - May 3 2009

No vaction should cut down on lots of bitching, some by me. I like this addition.

Thanks,

Videos should be for basic members also because  cost of production does not go higher if more and more members would watch. Videos should be for all.

agreed.

I've never understood how to use an FEN string. Maybe someone can explain? I only ever download the pgn of my completed games, so this seems like a very reasonable 'upgrade' to me. Anything that makes cheating less convenient is a good thing.

I use games explorer by copying the 'link to page' box at the bottom right hand corner of the screen (under the stats for each available move) to my notes on the game and updating it each time I use it - that way I can copy the link into a new window and go straight to the correct move in the DB. Useful if we are 14 moves deep into the French Tarrasch!

So far so good with the updates - I mean to make good use of these videos. Keep it up chess.com - I still have never regretted upgrading to a diamond membership!

Thank you!!!

Tactics Trainer is all weird now...very choppy on my connection...is there a way to turn the new stuff off?

I'm definatively disappointed with the removal of PGN and FEN strings, especially since it doesn't actually hurt cheaters at all, since it takes any one of several free software downloads to save the game files as they go, and the database I use actually happens to include an engine!

What it DOES do is stop me from loading up the positions into databases, which I thought Chess.com was ok with, and/or actually encouraged!

I've done a lot of video training (specifically for I.T. work) and am always annoyed at the poor audio quality of many of them. They sound like they're using a cheap telephone headset. I get better sound quality on long distance phone calls to Taiwan. However, these videos sound like you actually rented a studio for these players. How'd you do it? Did you rent local studios where the players live? I'd love to hear about that in the next episode of Building Chess.com.

Please can we go back to the old move numbering system as mentioned in a previous post? Thematic opening positions are not recognised in the game move list and this is quite confusing.

Again, thanks for the updates - don't mean to be negative.

I like the sliding pieces, personally - but I can see the value in being able to turn that off as an option.

The 3d is also cool, though I find the old 2d way more playable, at least for now.  Maybe I just need to get used to it.

Way to go on upgrading!  Now, just to wait for the iApp....!

Erik, there are many good new features but I am incredibly pleased with the 2.5D piece style! Chess.com is the first website to include this and I've been wanting it for years.

I hope in the future even more wood styles (http://www.msbsoftware.it/delfi/snap.jpg less shiny like this) will be included but this is already looking amazing and I'm very pleased. Great job and thanks!

BTW: Will this be in Live Chess 2.0 or perhaps even as a piece style for the videos?

To be clear, I understood that the restriction on FEN/PGN downloads was only on games in progress -- once the game is complete it will be available.

Also, the no-vacation option for tournament settings is not a downgrade, it is a feature.  Nothing has been removed: you can still start tournaments with vacations enabled, but the option to direct a no-vacation time tournament is now available should you choose to use it.

Right.  But I now need to save my ongoing games in my database as well, to be able to load the FEN/PGN strings, to plug into online databases.  The database I use to save my games, though, (which now will be used for ongoing games as well) has a "Analysis Engine" button, which has an engine analyze the position. So any cheaters that keep a database of games aren't harmed or slowed down at all, and it might lead previously innocent users into cheating, since its EASIER for them to cheat.

Ahhh the 3D pieces don't work for live chess... :P ... can't have everything I Guess!

I don't get this idea that not having the fen available will make it harder to cheat.  How long does it take to set up a position from scratch, less than a minute i should think.  I don't see that it's going to stop anyone cheating if they want to, nor make it substantially harder to do so.

Love the look of the video library! Between those and Chess mentor the diamond membership is fantastic value.

I have one minor quibble:

"- Removed FEN and PGN fields until after game is over"

Since databases are allowed, not giving these features makes things more difficult. I usually put the game (if in the opening) into ChessBase and now I have to do it manually. Perhaps it would be less of a problem if there were a link to immediately go to the game position in the Game Explorer. However, I do not think it does anything against cheating anyway.

Hey. I encountered a couple small problems with the insert board feature in messages.

1) Comments no longer show up in the notation where it's easy to keep track of them. Instead you have to play through the moves to find where you put the comment.

2) Create game from FEN and Start from a blank board features are broken. On the blank board screen you are unable to use the "Clear board" button or move pieces.

3) create puzzle from PGN feature creates a full game instead of a puzzle.

I have problem with the deletion of the PGN viewing until after the game. I like to download the PGN file into my PGN reader on my PC.

I can then play over the game numerous times, study some long lines, annotate the game while it is still in progress, create a diagram at home if it is hard position, and ultimately decide on my best move.

The analysis and note pages are not adequate for my copious notes that I make for each game.

It is harder to study the game if I have to add a single move to the PGN reader each time I or my opponent makes a move.

And while it is not common, but certainly not rare, there are times when I and my opponent blitz off moves during the course of a few minutes. This blitzing occures mostly when moves are forced, or in the opening when we both want to a get to a certain position (and not necessarily the same position!) How do I add multiple moves when my opponent and I "blitz"?

Far from being an "improvement", the loss of a downloadable PGN while the game is in progress to players is a hinderance to myself and other players.

I ask chess.com to reinstate this part of the game.

Barefoot_Player

PS -FYI : I just upgraded my account to "GOLD". I was expecting all the basic features to remain the same or improved.

Ooh, call off your feedback everyone!  AnthonyCG's happy already.  Don't make him self-quote again.

I used to be able to walk onto an airplane with water to keep me hydrated during my flight, but a bunch of jerks ruined that for me as well.

Sometimes everyone has to give a little something up for the greater good.