Go Versus - Go website for online competitive play

[rbrcurtis]

Hey all,

I just started playing Go a few months ago, and, being a web developer by profession, I decided to make (yet another) Go website with an associated android app so you can play against others online.

The site/app is fully realtime, meaning you can play against others and get updates immediately on screen when your opponent moves, and its all HTML5 meaning you don't have to install any software to use it (which seems to be kind of novel), though you DO need to use a recent browser (preferably Chrome, seconded by Firefox. IE doesn't do well with cutting edge tech. I expect Opera to work fine but haven't tested it).

It also sends email notifications and android notifications when its your turn (the emails are a little chatty I think, and I'm working on making it so it doesn't email you when you're online).

There's also opponent matching based on rank, and rating is done using the Elo system.

The AI is crap, since you all know how to play Go, I suggest against using it other than to figure out how the site works.

You can find it at https://go-versus.com, or on the android market at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mut8ed.go

I'll be watching this thread for your feedback, problems, suggestions etc, and you're welcome to email me at ryan@go-versus.com if you'd prefer.

Let me know what you think or what features this thing needs.

Thanks,
Ryan

[Uberdude]

I have to click on the board and then the tick to play a move? That's annoying...

[rbrcurtis]

Yeah, I guess that does seem annoying on the web. On mobile it makes sense since the screen is so much smaller that you are likely to accidentally tap the wrong point. I can add code to disable it on the web.

[rbrcurtis]

I have to click on the board and then the tick to play a move? That's annoying...

Just changed it so that on the web you don't confirm your moves.

[Xa17u]

Have you looked into kaya? It's partially open-source, has a solid foundation and they welcome collaborators.

[rbrcurtis]

Have you looked into kaya? It's partially open-source, has a solid foundation and they welcome collaborators.

No, but it looks nice. I actually started this primarily as an android project, fwiw. The future is mobile after all.

[lobotommy]

... And kaya works great on mobile. At least on iOS devices.
Go versus has some issue with registering on iOS (?) - can't mark a checkbox.

[LocoRon]

Have you looked into kaya? It's partially open-source, has a solid foundation and they welcome collaborators.

No, but it looks nice. I actually started this primarily as an android project, fwiw. The future is mobile after all.

fwiw, I'll keep on eye on this one, since I refuse to use kaya.

[CnP]

Hi, just a few comments, I hope they're helpful.

- guest login would be nice rather than require people to enter their email address just to have a look around.
- on an Android runing tablet pc placing stones is difficult - tap once to highlight a region, then the green tick to place, but it doesn't always register for me.
- the board needs to show hoshi points, personally I'd prefer a lighter board and solid black lines for the grid.
- on the Android marketplace, you can only find this app by searching for "go versus". Searches for 'weiqi', and 'baduk' should also find it since you'll never have people stumble onto it whilst searcing for these terms (as I do occasionally).
- on my screen format there's a lot of grey space around the board even on the shortest dimension of the screen.
- check out the anDGS app for a nice way of dealing with placing stones on a mobile phone - one tap to zoom one tap to place, though the KGS app also uses a place and confirm method.

cheers, John

[CnP]

..also, you are aware that pretty polished Android apps are already on the market, right? KGS does mobile real time Go very well and OGS and DGS clients do turn-based Go very well, all with the substantial user bases required for success.

[rbrcurtis]

Thanks for the tips. I updated the android listing to add 'weiqi' and 'baduk'.
I'll add hoshi points shortly and look into fixing the confirm functionality.
As for the grey border, are you on an android tablet or what are you using?

[CnP]

Hi, sorry for the slow reply, I was using my android tablet. I do understand that means there are a lot of screen configurations to think about.
Thanks

[zazen5]

Thanks for your work on this and advertising it too. It appears you got it right for move submission on cell phones. No, DGS clients dont work so great on all tablets. I have a Nexus 7 tablet and the AnDGS client doesnt work so I just go to the website, although my favorite Go site is www.wuzheng.me if you want to check for comparison, this site is great!

[oren]

anDGS has no problem on a Nexus 7 that I could tell.