File this under: Games as an art form. While I do not often find myself playing Chess (read: I suck at it), I do like to play when I find a game that offers something besides the mere basics. Thinking Machine 4 is just such a game.
In response to each one of your moves, the Java applet creates a breath-taking display of beauty as the AI maps out future potential moves whilst deciding upon the best one to make. As each move is presented by an arc connecting two squares, yellow for black and green for white, a window into the soul of the machine is opened for all to see. And while the computer contemplates the possibilities, some often several moves ahead, a network of color is formed with the brighter arcs drawn representing moves the AI thinks are better for white. It is fascinating to watch the machine think 'out loud' as it determines each move, and those who are astute might even learn something in the process. Click.
Created by Martin Wattenberg, with Marek Walczak. The authors state that the goal of the piece is not to make an expert chess playing program but to lay bare the complex thinking that underlies all strategic thought.
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Comments (may contain spoilers)
Words fail me. Wow.
Posted by: Carlo | December 2, 2004 1:40 AM
The computer is so damn smart, or maybe I'm just dumb, k, not so smart.
Hey Jay, did you ever mention that Scholastic/educational game here on your site... uh, what's it called... Mortal Kombat???
:-)
Posted by: Robert | December 2, 2004 8:18 PM
Robert, that wasn't an educational game, it was a desert topping. Silly wabbit.
Posted by: jay | December 3, 2004 7:23 PM
I totally found a few bugs in the game. like.. your king can not reach the other side of the board.. its really weird (see- this is why i had a guy at work whos good at chess help me =P)
Posted by: Dave | December 7, 2004 3:52 PM
So cool. Wish I'd thought of it. The pieces are horrible, though, and it plays really poorly. Impressive that they wrote their own chess engine, I guess, but you could use gnuchess and save yourself the effort, and look into the mind of a master instead of a fish. Does anybody know any way to make it think longer on each move?
Posted by: Halibut | May 2, 2005 10:58 PM
That's actually quite scary, seeing it calculating like that. It makes you feel pretty pathetic. I couldn't stand more than a few moves. I'll leave that one to the chess experts!
Posted by: Talps | June 2, 2005 3:57 PM
There is a bug in the game though. Sometimes it won't let me make a perfectly legal move, and I can't figure out why.
Posted by: Koosje | August 12, 2005 10:53 AM
it dosnt start for me, its just a black/gray screen
Posted by: henry | August 14, 2005 6:11 PM
Henry, you need to have Java enabled in your browser for this to work. (I'm not knocking having Java disabled; indeed it's quite wise.)
Posted by: christine | August 24, 2005 3:20 PM
i also found a bug.
the king cant be put in the upper line of black reign.
i tried, but it wont let me, so i moved another figure. Then black started thinking endlessly, without result.... Also some of the lines seemed to make a curve OUTSIDE of the board... weird
but the game is fine, and brilliant idea
Posted by: georgem | October 4, 2005 9:32 AM
Congrats, it's gorgeous.
Posted by: Edgar Reyes | December 6, 2006 2:10 PM
Why my pawns go on the 5th rank and why does it suddenly change to a checkmate position while I'm thinking?
Posted by: hi | May 13, 2007 12:24 AM
horrible game...i wonder if its possible to win?
Posted by: Todd
|
June 16, 2007 12:42 PM
The only or if not, one of the only things that could beat this guy would be the BlueGene/L, one hell of a supercomputer, pit them against each other and watch.
Lol that would be a sight to see.
Posted by: Reaver | September 14, 2007 3:54 AM
man, that thinking machine is so easyy! i beat him without a sweat and i'm only 15!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't understand why people say it's impossible to beat.
Posted by: Emil Sadykhov | October 27, 2007 6:40 PM
For some reason, it wouldn't let me land on/conquer the other player's pieces.
Posted by: Dewed | November 16, 2007 1:43 PM
how many moves in advance does it think??
Posted by: Anonymous | December 6, 2007 1:22 AM
"I do not often find myself playing Chess (read: I suck at it)"
so... where do we read about you sucking at Chess?
[Edit: You misunderstood. The phrase in parentheses is a translation for the previous sentence. You can replace "In other words" for "read" and it means the same thing. -Jay]
Posted by: chris | January 20, 2008 12:48 PM
Geez! No wonder I never beat a computer at chess. I don't think about it, I just do it.
note: for taking an opponent's piece you need to drag+drop
Posted by: xdrngy
|
January 22, 2008 7:03 PM
ermm this is chess right?
i moved my pawn then my queen and somehow in 2 turns it moved its pawn out moved its bishop in like three spaces towards left bottom corner and three spaces to the botttom right corner took my queen and put its pawn back into its position...
Posted by: Iceguize | February 23, 2008 11:46 PM