ChessNET - Online Chess Game (Release 1)

CYBER_Aeon has posted an entry into the Neoflash Coding Contest:

Nickname: CYBER_Aeon
Project name : ChessNET
From : United States
Division : NDS Game
Original enter : YES
Support Motion : NO
In last NEO Compo this project have won in the top 10 : NO
Project description:

The first homebrew chess game for the DS to feature online play! (And, surprisingly enough, more than one player. >.>)

CHESSNET REQUIRES FAT SUPPORT TO PLAY ONLINE OR SAVE LOCAL GAMES.

MAKE SURE TO CONFIGURE WFC DATA TO GET ONLINE PLAY WORKING.

Due to an extreme shortage of development time - (40 hours of work and college finals) - Release 1 was forced to cut a lot of corners. Some of the less important menus are missing (About, Options) and the Online menus look pretty terrible. HOWEVER, Everything should be working!

ChessNET writes all of it's game data to _ChessNET.sav on your cards root. On it's first connection to the server (if you decide to play online) it will request and store a unique ID for your DS. If you delete _ChessNET.sav, you will essentially lose your account. Make sure to keep a copy if you plan on trashing the file.

ChessNET is designed in play-by-mail style. So instead of real-time online games, there's a long time for players to make their moves. Days, even. This allows for players to make well formulated and studied moves. In addition, you don't have to wait on the one game. ChessNET supports up to 128 online games at once. (Since none of the data is recorded to the DS, but instead to an online server)

For local play, two players may share a DS to play a hotseat game of chess. Multiple game slots allow for up to 10 games to be saved at once, and the DS will automatically save after every move - In case of power loss or other trouble.

You may play using the D-pad and buttons or by using the stylus. I've found from play testing that if your opponent has his or her own stylus handy, it's a nice way to play - You just have to slide the DS back and forth.

Future features will include an interactive move history (Using the R/L shoulder buttons or stylus buttons to easily navigate the replay), online messaging and buddy lists, and much more.

I'm already logged in, and for every user that fires it up on their card and signs online will increase the player base. So come join me for a game of chess.

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