+-------------------------------------------+ | Itsu Demo Doko Demo Dekiru Igo: AI Igo DS | | FAQ by ChanchaiNS (chanchains@mac.com) | | version 0.45 - March 12, 2006 | +-------------------------------------------+ ======================= TABLE OF CONTENTS ======================= x.0 Version Updates 1.0 Introduction ...1.1 What is Go? ...1.2 About AI Go DS 2.0 Controls & User Interface ...2.1 Controls ...2.2 User Interface 3.0 The Menus ...3.1 The Main Menu ...3.2 The Play Menu ...3.3 The Computer Setup Menu ...3.4 The Options Menu ...3.5 In-Game Menu ...3.6 Completed-Game Menu ...3.7 Multiplayer Menu(s) 4.0 Igo Guide Summary 5.0 Tips: Getting More Out of AI Igo DS 6.0 Go Related Information ...6.1 The Rules of Go ...6.2 Basic Concepts ...6.3 Go Information Online 7.0 Frequently Asked Questions 8.0 Legal & Copyright Notes -------------------------- x.0 Version Updates -------------------------- 0.45 - 03/12/06: First release of this faq. Covers most aspects of AI Igo DS' single player features, including: Menu Translations, Explanation of the Controls and the User Interface, Igo Guide (in game) Summary, and Links to Other Go Resources. Yet to be completed are explanations of how multiplayer works, an explanation of one of the option menu's items, and the rules of Go and an explanation of basic concepts. ----------------------- 1.0 Introduction ----------------------- 1.1 What is Go? ---------------- Go is an ancient board game which is also commonly called Igo (Japan), Baduk (Korea), and Weiqi (China). In the western world, it is usually referred to as Go. Nobody knows the exact origins of the game but it is thought to have originated at least 4,000 - 5,000 years ago, according to the US Go Association. Today, there are many Go players around the world, especially in East Asia where the game has had a strong place in Oriental culture and professional leagues in Korea, China, and Japan have nurtured the world's greatest players and a very strong following. Go is a board game that is rich in strategy and tactics.The game is played typically on a board made up of a grid of 19 vertical lines intersecting 19 horizontal lines. Players take turns placing stones on the intersection of the lines representing them as either black or white. The objective is to establish and fortify more territory than your opponent. The game ends when both players pass on the same turn (this occurs because playing anywhere at the end of the game only ends up costing territory). If Chess is an intricate battle, Go can be seen as a war that contains many battles, all of which eventually contribute to the final outcome. Each territory dispute is a small battle that can add to the player's territory count at the end of the game if won. Furthermore, won positions can also fuel the efforts of battles happening nearby. But it should also be noted that even lost battles can create positive outcomes in the course of a game, because the effects of battles ripple across the theatre of war. One never really knows the outcome of the war until it is over. Go is a game of a particular balance and discipline. Greedy players may find themselves going for more territory, but not adequately securing such territory when they spread themselves thin. However, passive players are often no better if they over-fortify the territory they've established while their opponent happily takes other areas of the board with ease. The true enemy in Go is often one's self. 1.2 About AI Go DS ------------------- <<>> ------------------------------------ 2.0 Controls & User Interface ------------------------------------ 2.1 Controls ------------- D-Pad -- Moves the Cursor on the Board and in Menus START -- Access the Game Menu in Game SELECT -- Access the Go Guide for Reference in Game A -- Place a Stone Where the Cursor is/Select a Menu Item B -- Closes a Menu and Cancels a Selection (no function in game) X -- Take Back a Move in Game Y -- Pass L -- In the Igo Guide, Scrolls the Page Back R -- In the Igo Guide, Scrolls the Page Forward Touchscreen -- Play a stone by touching and letting go where you want to place a stone. If you keep your stylus on that point, it won't play the stone yet, but it will put the cursor there. This simulates the rule that you don't officially play a stone until you are no longer touching the stone you played. To cancel your move, before it counts, slide the stylus away and off of the cursor and then let go. 2.2 User Interface ------------------- IN-GAME UI (TOP SCREEN) Move List -- Takes up almost half of the screen and shows the last 5 moves. Next to the stones are the coordinates represented as: --The column (from left to right) number in english numbers. --The row number (starting from White's side of the board) in chinese numbers Territory Graph -- This is the long strip across the top screen. It shows a very good estimate of the balance in territory between Black and White (with Black on Top and White on Bottom). This graph is a good guide to see how influential a move was when it was made. Clocks -- These are simple clocks, one for each player. From top to bottom, they describe: --Player Color and Name (against the Computer, it simply says "You" for your name) --Amount of Time Used for the Most Recent Move --Total Amount of Time Used So Far --Enemy Stones Captured IN-GAME UI (BOTTOM SCREEN) Board -- The playing area where you place your stones. IGO Guide (Top Button) -- To the left of the board are two buttons. The top button accesses the Igo Guide which was also accessible on the Main Menu. In-Menu -- The second (bottom) button accesses the In-Game Menu. ==================== 3.0 The Menus ==================== 3.1 The Main Menu ------------------ [Play] [Igo Guide] [Options] 3.2 The Play Menu ------------------ [Play Against the Computer] [Play Against Another Person] 3.3 The Computer Setup Menu ----------------------- [Select Computer Opponent (Difficulty, 4 levels)] [Board Type (19x19, 13x13, 9x9)] [Rules Set: 2 Options = Even Game --[Handicap (***This is not an option if you play an "Even Game")] --[Your Color (In an Even Game, you can choose "Nigiri" to select color)] --[Set Komi] 3.4 The Options Menu --------------------- [Atari Warning Toggle] --When this is on, you will get a warning when your opponent plays a move that threatens to capture a stone or a group of stones on the next move. [Sound Effects Volume Slider] --Adjust the volume of sound effects in the game. [Background Music Volume Slider] --Adjust the volume of the game's background music. [Last Move Indicator Toggle] --When this is on, you will see a cursor-like marker on the last move played helping you to figure out where your opponent just moved (or where you just moved if it is the opponent's turn). [??? Slider] --<> [??? Load] --<> [??? Options Load] --<> [??? Options Save] --<> [Return (to Main Menu)] 3.5 In-Game Menu ----------------- [Suggestion/Hint for next move, press A or B to resume play] [Show Territory Estimate] [Take Back a Move] [Pass] [Resign] [Options Menu] [Quit to Main Menu] [Edit Board] --[Place Black Stone (can also replace white stones as black stones)] --[Place White Stone (can also replace black stones as white stones)] --[Place Auto Colored Stones (this will alternate between Black and White)] --[Remove Stone] --[Undo All Edits] --[Finish Editing] --[Keep Changes Black's Turn/Continue Editing/Keep Changes Opponent's Turn] -- --[Are You Sure You Want to Cancel Changes? Yes/No] [Replay] NOTE: The replay feature uses the move list created by the game. Because of this, editing board positions in the middle of the games will mess it up. --[Go to Opening Board Position] --[Go Forward One Move] --[Go Back One Move] --[Go to Final Board Position] --[Auto Replay Backwards] --[Stop/Pause] --[Auto Replay Forwards] [Save Game (50 Slots)] [Load Game] 3.6 Completed-Game Menu ------------------------ [Save] [Return to Main Menu] [Show Territory (and make corrections if needed)] [Options] [Start a New Game] [Show Opening Board Position] --[Move Forward One Move] --[Move Back One Move] [Show Final Board Position] [Replay Backwards] --[Pause Replay] --[Replay Forwards] 3.7 Multiplayer Menus ---------------------- ======================= Igo Guide Summary ======================= AI Igo DS supplies a beginner's guide to Go in the game. However, while it is a nice digital introduction to Go and some of the basic principles, it isn't interactive. The following list is a list of the topics (and sub- topics) covered in the guide. [Basic Rules & Concepts] --[Place Stones on Intersections -- not in squares or on lines] --[Board Diagrams for 19x19, 13x13, and 9x9. Names of the Star Points] --[Explanation of Territory] --[Capturing a Stone, Can't Play Suicide, Liberties] --[Escaping Group Capture--(possibly leading to ladders?)] --[Capturing, Capturing on Side/Corners, Situations where Turn = Capture, KO] --[???Illustrates the value of connecting] [Setting Up the Game (protocol) & Fundamental Concepts (Basic)] --[Full Text explanation of Nigiri (determining who goes first)] --[Handicap Stone(s) Placement] --[Joseki Basics] --[Hiraki (Extensions) & Shimari (Enclosures)] --[Shuban (Endgame)] --[Counting Score] [Basic Plays] --[Shicho (Ladders)] --[Gate - A capturing shape] --[Oiotoshi (chasing and capturing)] --[Uttegaishi (snapbacks)] --[Double Atari -- weaknesses of diagonally lined up stones] --[Two Eyes (making definite life] [Glossary (in Japanese Alphabetical Order)] [Return to Main Menu] ============================================== 5.0 Tips: Getting More Out of AI Igo DS ============================================== ================================= 6.0 Go Related Information ================================= 6.1 The Rules of Go -------------------- 6.2 Basic Concepts ------------------- 6.3 Go Information Online -------------------------- There is a lot of information (in English) about Go on the internet. Following are some links I would personally recommend: http://senseis.xmp.net/ SENSEI'S LIBRARY This is an online wiki for Go information. It's a valuable resource whether you want to just lookup specific information that has anything to do with Go, learn the basics of the game, or even engage in Go-related discussion. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND CHECKING OUT THE "PAGES FOR BEGINNERS" section/link that's shown on the front page, which pretty much teaches people how to play Go and explains the fundamental concepts. Even if you've only heard the Korean/Japanese/Chinese term in Go and you're curious about what it means, chances are you can enter it into Sensei's Library and you'll find your answer. http://gobase.org/ GO BASE An excellent resource for the serious Go player. Go Base keeps updated with professional news in the Go world as well as housing a database LOADED with professional games and some excellent articles. It's free to register and I highly recommend it if you're into Go. http://www.usgo.org/index.asp U.S. GO ASSOCIATION If you find yourself interested in Go and you live in the US (yeah, I know, Gamefaqs is global), consider the U.S. Go Association. http://kgs.kiseido.com Kiseido Go Server A free internet Go server that's loaded on features. KGS is a great place to begin your Go adventures and it's an opportunity for finding a community of Go fans (especially in areas that don't have Go parlors). KGS is free and what makes it unique is the community aspect and the ability to do teaching games and game discussions properly, variations and all. Very feature-rich. http://www.pandanet.co.jp/English/ THE INTERNET GO SERVER Sorry for the caps, but I had to stress that if one were to declare an official Internet Go Server, this one is as close as you get. It has many features (though not as much as KGS), but as far as I know, it is the most popular internet Go server out there. Furthermore, it is consistently loaded with people and even the pros play on here from time to time, so you can watch them (or play against them). ===================================== 7.0 Frequently Asked Questions ===================================== ================================== 8.0 Legal & Copyright Notes ================================== This faq is copyright (c) 2006 Nicholas Saenguraiporn, the author. This faq is free to distribute unaltered so long as the distribution is in no way related to a commercial operation. It is free to distribute unaltered on a personal one-to-one level as well. Any distribution of this faq related to any commercial activity or with alteration requires the personal approval of Nicholas Saenguraiporn through direct means. Mr. Saenguraiporn can be reached via e-mail at: vf_chanchai@hotmail.com. This faq may be distributed on GameFAQs. All trademarks and copyrights contained in this document are owned by their respective trademark and copyright holders.