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        Arimaa >> Site Discussion >> JavaScript Client
        
(Message started by: omar on Jul 14^th, 2006, 10:43pm)

Title: JavaScript Client
Post by omar on Jul 14^th, 2006, 10:43pm

For the last several weeks I've been using any free time I get to work on the JavaScript version of the Arimaa client. I've just completed the first phase of three phases. The client can be used to view previous games. I've linked it into the 'Recent Games' page. Give it try. Some of the new features include:

* Viewing from different sides without having to close the client.

* Turning sound on or off.

* Controling the speed of the piece movement.

* Link to the game comments window.

* Link to open up the game move list.

* Timers show the time used on moves and reserve remaining.

* Tool tip help messages when you hold the cursor over buttons or labels.

Let me know if you notice any bugs. Thanks.

Im going to take a little break before I start on the next phase which will be to add self play mode.

Omar

Title: Re: JavaScript Client
Post by seanick on Jul 15^th, 2006, 12:33am

I like it. I like it a lot.

the new animations look cool too. and the trap sound is cool. (what about a scream and a thud though, that would be a cool variation of the trap sound hehehe)

Only thing missing is comments.

I really like the fact you can see the time, change the direction by 90 degrees, and go directly to the comments and move list of the game.
very cool.

Title: Re: JavaScript Client
Post by seanick on Jul 15^th, 2006, 12:34am

note: the plan button doesn't work yet.

Title: Re: JavaScript Client
Post by chessandgo on Jul 15^th, 2006, 12:47am

com'on Nick ! Maybe Karl would have wanted to say publicly that he hated the new interface, Ryan that the button worked or I that changing speed was useless !!! ;D

Seriously, it rocks, Omar ! I don't think there is anything to add now that Nick has revealed our secrets thoughts ...

Title: Re: JavaScript Client
Post by omar on Jul 15^th, 2006, 11:58am

Im glad to hear that everyone who has tried it so far likes it.

I forgot to mention that the 'Plan' mode won't work yet. I need to add self play mode before that can work. Self play mode allows the person to play against themselves by moving for both sides.

Title: Re: JavaScript Client
Post by DorianGaray on Jul 15^th, 2006, 3:40pm

If it's not too much trouble could it be possible to let the old version available even when the new one will be installed totally? I think I might get nostalgic for it after a while. :)

Title: Re: JavaScript Client
Post by Fritzlein on Jul 15^th, 2006, 6:36pm

Thanks for the faster animations, Omar. Also I like the tooltips, because it allows you both to have smaller (i.e. more) buttons, and because it allows more description per button.

Seanick's idea to allow for replaying the game at the speed it first happened is intriguing. That would be like a re-broadcast of a sports event. I'm not sure I would have the patience for it, but it suppose some people would enjoy the drama.

Dorian, the old interface seized up on me again today when I tried to open a postal game. It will take a lot to make me nostalgic for that! However, it appears that you can still manually type the URL to replay games the old way: http://arimaa.com/arimaa/gameroom/replayFlash.cgi?gid=25532
for example.

Title: Re: JavaScript Client
Post by Fritzlein on Jul 16^th, 2006, 10:06am

Omar, there seems to be a glitch in the way the client calculates reserve times in games it is replaying. For the games with no max reserve time, the calculation seems to be working fine, but for games with a max time it isn't.

I can see how the calculation would be difficult, because you have to do it move by move, capping after each move if appropriate. In particular, you can't just sum the total time a player has used, subtract that from the total time they would have been allotted by then, and cap the reserve at the end. In a blitz game with a capped reserve, it makes a difference whether my move times were 45, 45, 45, 5, 5, 5, 5 or they were 5, 5, 5, 5, 45, 45, 45.

Maybe it's a small enough glitch that it isn't worth fixing, but I thought I would point it out. It would recapture the drama of certain games to accurately re-create how low the players' reserves were.

Title: Re: JavaScript Client
Post by chessandgo on Jul 16^th, 2006, 10:59am

and do you plan to add a "take back" button, Omar ? To me, it would be a very good idea, even if it should be forbidden in tournament games ... For free games it seems it would prevent a lot of games to end brutally by blunder ... :)

Title: Re: JavaScript Client
Post by RonWeasley on Jul 17^th, 2006, 8:16am

I like the new client. One problem I have is that at speeds S2 and higher, the move sounds don't keep up with the movement. This doesn't induce motion sicknes and make me have to hurl, but I find I'm happier if I view muted. This behavior may be peculiar to my connection.

Title: Re: JavaScript Client
Post by Fritzlein on Jul 17^th, 2006, 8:44am

on 07/17/06 at 08:16:47, RonWeasley wrote:

One problem I have is that at speeds S2 and higher, the move sounds don't keep up with the movement.

Maybe there is enough variety in the animation speeds people are comfortable with, there could be four speeds: Keep the two fast ones at present, but split the slow one into a medium-slow and a slow-slow. Having four speeds doesn't make the interface any more cluttered, just the code. :-P

Title: Re: JavaScript Client
Post by omar on Jul 20^th, 2006, 11:12pm

on 07/16/06 at 10:06:14, Fritzlein wrote:

I noticed that too; and tried to fix it. Let me know if you see anything else.

Title: Re: JavaScript Client
Post by omar on Jul 20^th, 2006, 11:13pm

on 07/16/06 at 10:59:41, chessandgo wrote:

Yes, definitely. As with the current client, it will only work in unrated games.

Title: Re: JavaScript Client
Post by FritzlForMaster on Jul 20^th, 2006, 11:42pm

on 07/20/06 at 23:13:32, omar wrote:

Yes, definitely. As with the current client, it will only work in unrated games.

Oh ! I didn't know the current takeback button worked !

Title: Re: JavaScript Client
Post by omar on Jul 20^th, 2006, 11:47pm

I added a fourth speed level. But just can't get the sound to sync with the motion at the fast speeds.

Title: Re: JavaScript Client
Post by omar on Jun 17^th, 2010, 11:39am

Rolled out several changes to the JavaScript client; including the ability to check the total reserve time by hovering cursor over reserve area. Some other changes are: wider move list area; repositioned some buttons to below the move list; coordinate labels on the trap squares; auto playback of moves when reviewing games; and help messages.

Title: Re: JavaScript Client
Post by leo on Jun 20^th, 2010, 9:35am

I've switched back to using the javascript client as an effort to help promote the open standards :)

Here's some feedback:

It works great in chrome and firefox on vista.

I miss an option for permanently displaying the coordinates along the board edges, especially during live game comments and discussions.

In chrome I can't select or copy the in-game chat text, possibly because the textarea is disabled instead of just read-only. (In firefox I can though, so maybe it's just a chrome bug)

When watching a game live the whole vista task bar blinks all the time. It's the first time I see such a thing and I have no idea why it would do so. Is the window title refreshed frequently? I'll test whether firefox does the same when I find a live game running.

EDIT: the blinking doesn't happen anymore today. Maybe it was a one-time thing.

More to come.