Observing games

[Edward Cherlin]

While talking with Josh Waitzkin about the chess software he would
like to donate, I realized that it would be very helpful if there were
a way to share games on XOs not just with players, but with observers,
including kibitzers who want to comment on a game in progress, or have
a discussion with the other observers. This function is provided on
most game servers, with the players unable to tap into the discussion
channel. Chess TV in Russia especially, and weiqi/go/baduk TV and
xiangqi/janggi/shogi TV in China/Korea/Japan also have expert
commentators discussing games in progress, and there is a market in
DVDs of commented games.

What would we have to do to the XO collaboration model to make that happen?

If we can do that, what would it take to extend it to games with
multiple players or even teams online? Chaturanga, the earliest form
of chess, was a four-way battle. Many combat card games permit fairly
large matches, although I haven't seen any larger than eight players.
World of Warcraft has team voice communications that the other team
doesn't get to hear.



-- 
Edward Cherlin
End Poverty at a Profit by teaching children business
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