The iPhone DGS client looks good and has enough features to keep mobile go players happy--for now.
Every once in a while I search the iTunes app store for go related items. I typically find a variety gnugo-playing apps and study guides. I already use many of these. The one thing missing is a dedicated client for DGS or the Dragon Go Server–until recently, that is!
I’m busier than ever before and my go playing is suffering because of it. And while I don’t second guess my priorities in life, I would love to play more. For me that means DGS. I rarely have an hour for a good online game, but I can always squeeze in a few turns here and there on DGS. In the past this meant turns made on a computer or through the iPhone using the mobile Safari browser. I’ll admit I’ve made DGS moves on Safari before, but it’s too much of a hassle to do all the time.
With Justin Weiss’s new DGS app, I can now make moves from my iPhone with ease.
With Justin Weiss’s new DGS app, I can now make moves from my iPhone with ease. I’ve been using Justin’s app DGS for about a week now. I’ve made 750+ moves in that time and frankly, it’s got me excited about turn-based go again.
So, here’s what this modest but long-awaited DGS client offers. It has a zoom-to-move interface, which I prefer to the magnifying-glass style interfaces found on David Fotland’s Igowin series of apps. The app allows you to see the games where it is your turn to move, but not all you running games, nor your finished games. Finally, it also allows you to place games in the DGS waiting room, but only allows for board size, komi type, main time, byo-yomi settings and comments. An that’s it! And I’m okay with that. It’s enough to do the job. If this is all that is ever released, I’d be grateful, especially as this is a free app!
One important thing to note is that you need the 4.0 iPhone OS. I know this is slowing down folks with 3G and 3GS units that are hesitating to make the jump to the the new OS. Hopefully, the issues will be worked through soon.
The app’s creator’s web site (http://dgs.uberweiss.net) lists the features like this:
- See the games that are waiting for your move
- Tap-to-zoom makes it simple to play the right move, every time
- Supports the entire game flow, from placing handicap stones to scoring
- Post new games that Dragon Go Server users can join
Here’s what is noticeably missing:
- In-game comments
- The ability to view the DGS waiting room and join games
- The ability view all running games and finished games
- The ability to send messages/invites to other users
- The ability to view user profiles
- A number of options normally available when setting up a new waiting room game
- And a few other things
Let me be clear that I’m not complaining about what isn’t there. I’m just stating the facts so that those interested in the app will set accurate expectations. I’ll admit that I am hoping that Justin is working on more features. But there is definitely enough there to make DGS players smile. I see no need to wait for an update to begin enjoying this app.
However, if I had to ask for only one thing, it would be the ability to see messages and send messages during games. If I were so greedy as to ask for a second upgrade, I would request the ability to join waiting room games (just in case you’re reading this Justin . . .).
The list of games waiting for moves refreshes every time to pull up the app.
The DGS iPhone app is a must-have for mobile go players
I’m happy to say that I’ve gone from mostly inactive on DGS to happily making 50+ moves a day, all thanks to this new app! I’m making moves all the time:
- At the gym–no more wasted time on the stationary bike, eh?
- Waiting for my children after school, after work, etc.
- At the airport and even in the plane right up until the stewardess threatens to vaporize me for using my phone.
- In the car (of course, only if I’m a passenger–duh!)
- And just about anywhere else that I can thumb my phone on and make a quick move or two.
I’ve even checked for waiting moves while drafting this blog post (since I do some of my writing via the WordPress iPhone app). I’m also playing more short time limit games, ones that I used to avoid because I was unsure if I’d move often enough to stay out of trouble with the clock. So, if you’re and iPhone owner and you’re up for a game, download this app and then leave me your DGS name as a comment and I’ll send an invite.
A nice looking game screen gives you what you need to quickly and easily make moves on your DGS games
The tap-to-zoom interface offers the easiest way to may quick and accurate moves
Filed under: Go Technology, Product/Book Reviews | Tags: IGS, Internet Go, iPhone, Tetsuki
Any time, Any place - Tetsuki mobilizes go players
Ain’t technology the greatest? WooHoo, this go geek is happy now. I’ve been happy with my iPhone from day one, but when I saw Kris Van Bael’s Tetsuki on the iTunes App Store I was intrigued. After installing it, I grew more excited, and now that version 2.0 is out with full chat capabilities, I’m happier than ever.
The full board is easy to see and other controls are intuitive and easily accessible.
I struggle to find time to play as much go as I would like. Now with Tetsuki, I can play at times and in places that were not possible before. For example, I’m downstairs in my study and one of my children wants the computer. No problem, I’m playing on my iPhone. I’ll just go upstairs, pausing along the way to make a move after I hear a click indicating that my opponent has just moved.
You might think that even with this type of mobility, that a bigger screen and full mouse would be desired and that the scenario above just wouldn’t happen that often. Not true for me. Mr. Van Bael’s interface makes using Tetsuki as easy to use as any traditional program. When the weather warms up, I’m going to be playing go at the park on the internet!
Obviously, I’m a fan of Tetsuki. Let me tell you a bit about some of the features it includes. First the graphics are high quality and that is important. If you can’t feel the stones and wood, you should at least get some eye candy.
Game information, such as captured stones, komi, etc. is available via a button in the top right of the screen. Chat and zoom capabilities are easy to get to in the control bar just below the board.
Figure 2 - Tetsuki's auto-zoom-in and auto-zoom-out feature preserves my mental flow.
One of the things I like most about the interface is that as you are playing, auto-zoom-in and auto-zoom-out feature doesn’t require any thought on the players part. The game flows easily and I am able to concentrate on the game, not the interface.
Your opponent’s moves are easy to spot and when it’s your turn you can easily scan the entire board and choose your move. Then to actually place your stone, you simply touch the general area that you want to move in and the display zooms in (see Figure 2) and you’re can then easily touch the correct spot to place your stone. (I actually make fewer ‘mis-clicks’ with Tetsuki than I do with the KGS interface when I fat-finger my mouse.) Then after you place your stone the display smoothly zooms back out giving you a full view of the board. This allows you to again study the board while waiting for your opponent without breaking your mental stride by having to remember to zoom out or scroll.
When I make Dragon Go Server (DGS) moves using the Safari browser on the iPhone, I find it annoying to have to constantly focus on zooming in and out. For this reason, I only make moves on DGS from the iPhone when I have to.
Figure 3 - The Tetsuki Players screen makes it easy to see the status of who is online.
Just as with other internet go clients, you can observe games, invite others to play, and of course accept invitations as well. The Players screen (see Figure 3 (follow the ‘More’ link )) is easy to navigate thanks to the powerful iPhone touch-screen interface and Tetsuki’s competent programming. You can view all players or only those available for matches. Symbols next to each player’s name show if they are accepting games, looking for a game, refusing games, or already playing. (It would be nice to be able to see if someone is observing a game, as well, so that one can avoid inviting people engaged in watching another match.)
Setting up your IGS account settings is a piece of cake, as is adjusting your status, thanks to an easy to use settings screen (see Figure 4 – (follow the ‘More’ link)). You can login with multiple IGS accounts, but there is no way to store multiple user account information, as there is with the multi-user version of Panda. While this would be nice to have, it is just that, a nice-to-have. (more…)
