[pygame] pggo

[Dan Stromberg <strombrg@nis.acs.uci.edu>]

I've put an initial release of pggo, a pygame interface to gnugo and
other programs that can speak the recent GTP protocol, at
http://nis.acs.uci.edu/~strombrg/software/pggo.html .

Gnugo is a GPL'd artificial intelligence opponent for the game of go.

Go is an addictive, ancient Eastern game extremely rich in strategy.  It
is sometimes also known by its Chinese name, Weichi, or its Korean name,
Baduk.

In the East, there are numerous people who make a living by playing go
professionally - taking prize money at tournaments, writing books about
the game, selling lessons...  And many more who just wish they were good
enough at the game to do so themselves.

The game engages both the analytical and creative portions of your
brain, and is said to have a positive effect on brain development in
children similar to studying music.  Milton Bradley himself (Mr. board
game company) is a big advocate of teaching go in schools to children -
this is certainly a person who knows his games.

Unlike with Chess, computer programs do not excel at go.  Go is simply
too rich in strategy to computerize well, despite the long-term promised
reward of a high-dollar prize to the first program that plays really
well.  A fairly average go player can defeat the best go programs.  I
find it pleasing to play a game where computers haven't yet bested
humans, and may never unless great strides are made in machine learning.

Info about go for beginners is
at http://nis.acs.uci.edu/~strombrg/go-start.html .  Without a little
initial study, you may find pggo frustrating.  I recommend the Kiseido
tutorial first (on the intro links page mentioned above) if you want to
dip your foot in the ocean.

-- 
Dan Stromberg                                               UCI/NACS/DCS

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