WyeSoft Chess v1.21 (freeware) ------------------------------ http://www.wyesoft.com/ ----------------------- Copyright © 2009-2017 WyeSoft. All rights reserved. ---------------------------------------------------- Designed and created by Matthew A. Wood In memory of Kendrick Hein --------------------------------------- Originally released 29 March 2009 This version released 7 September 2017 -------------------------------------- Disclaimer ---------- Download and use our software and webtools at your own discretion. WyeSoft cannot be held liable for any harm resulting from the use of our software or webtools or from the viewing of our website content. By using WyeSoft Chess, purchasing WyeSoft Chess game slots or purchasing WyeSoft SMS credits you are agreeing to our disclaimer and our terms and conditions, which can be found at http://terms.wyesoft.com/ Introduction ------------ WyeSoft Chess is an online chess game that allows you to play against other players over the internet or locally (with both players on the same computer). You can also choose to play against bots with multiple skill level settings. WyeSoft Chess supports both live games, where you make your moves quickly, and long games, where you might only move once every few hours, days or even weeks. You do not need to keep WyeSoft Chess running for your games to continue. You only need to log in to move if you wish but, if you stay logged in, you will be able to tell when it is your move in a game or if someone has requested a new game with you. The system tray icon will turn yellow if you have unanswered game requests or green if it is your move in one or more of your chess games. You can also configure WyeSoft Chess to alert you by playing a sound and you can even turn on e-mail and SMS alerts for each game. Getting started --------------- The most important thing to know when getting started with WyeSoft Chess is that all of its different windows can be accessed from the tray menu (right-click the tiny pawn icon near the right-hand side of the Windows taskbar). Most windows can also be accessed by clicking the relevant buttons on the My Games and Requests window. By default, the My Games and Requests window will pop up whenever you launch WyeSoft Chess, though this can be disabled in the Settings window and it must then be accessed from the tray icon/menu. Normally, double-clicking the tray icon will pop up the Game Window if it is your move in one or more games (when the icon is green), or the My Games and Requests window if it isn't (when the icon is red or yellow). The Settings window includes an option to change this so that the My Games and Requests window always pops up when double-clicking the tray icon, regardless of its colour. Starting a game --------------- There are multiple ways to start a game. The quickest way to start an internet game is to open up the Public Requests window from the tray menu or the My Games and Requests window, select a game request from the list and click "Accept Request". You can make your own public requests or request games with specific players by following the instructions in the "Requesting a game" section below. To play against one of the bots, either accept one of their public requests, or open up the Play Bot window from the tray menu or the My Games and Requests window, choose your desired settings and click "Start Game". Local games are now supported, allowing you to play against friends on the same computer as you. Simply open up the Local Game window from the tray menu or the My Games and Requests window, choose the game type and move time limit, and click "Start Game". Requesting a game ----------------- 1. Open up the Request Game window from the tray menu, the My Games and Requests window, or the Scoreboard if you have a player selected. 2. If you want to request a game with a specific player, enter their WSID in the "Request game with" field, or simply select it from the dropdown box if you've played them before. If you want to make a public request (i.e. one that any player can accept), just leave the field blank. 3. Select the type of chess game you wish to play from the "Game type" dropdown box. 4. Select which colour you would like to be (white always goes first). 5. Select the maximum time you wish to allow yourself and your opponent to make each move, under "Move time limit". The limit can range from 10 minutes to 4 weeks. 6. Click "Request Game". Now all you have to do is wait for your opponent (or anyone in the case of public requests) to accept your request. Guest logins and WSIDs ---------------------- WyeSoft Chess now supports guest logins, which means you do not need to create an account to play. You will automatically be assigned a temporary guest username when launching the game. This will be displayed in the tray icon and floating indicator's tooltips, and the title bar of the My Games and Requests window. If you play regularly you may wish to create a WSID, which is a permanent account for use with WyeSoft's online services. Creating one does not take long. Click "Create New WSID" on the Settings window and enter your choice of WSID (username) and your email address. Entering your real name is optional. If you heard about WyeSoft from a friend, don't forget to enter their WSID in the "Referred by" field. Please read our disclaimer and terms and conditions (click the respective buttons) before clicking "Create WSID". When you've done this, an email containing your password will be sent to the address specified. Once you receive the email, you just need to enter your login details in the Settings window. Game slots ---------- Everybody begins with 5 game slots, allowing you to play up to 5 games at the same time. If you have created a WSID, you can purchase additional game slots by clicking one of the "Purchase Game Slots" or "Purchase Slots" options/buttons on the tray menu, the My Games and Requests window, or the Settings window. You can also earn free game slots by referring people to certain WyeSoft services. Current referral system details can be found at http://refer.wyesoft.com/ The Knight's Tour ----------------- WyeSoft Chess now comes with a singleplayer chess-based puzzle game called The Knight's Tour, the aim of which is to move a single knight around the board, visiting each square once and only once. The Knight's Tour can be launched from the tray menu, the My Games and Requests window, or the WyeSoft section of the Windows start menu. Firewall settings ----------------- No port forwarding is necessary in order to play WyeSoft Chess but, if you are using a software firewall such as Windows Firewall, you will need to add an exception for "WyeSoft Chess.exe" (located in the folder you selected during installation) so that it can connect to the WyeSoft server. The option to do this will usually pop up when you launch WyeSoft Chess for the first time. If not, please refer to your firewall software's user manual for instructions. Change log ---------- v1.21 ----- - Updated included version of The Knight's Tour to v1.01 - see Knight.txt for change log - Changed title bar text for local games to include "Local Game" instead of "[name] vs. [name]" - Changed "Show game" dropdown box text for local games to include "Local Game" instead of "vs. [name]" - Fixed bug which sometimes prevented public requests made by the user from registering as their own requests ----- v1.20 ----- - Added Local Game feature, allowing two users to play against each other on the same computer - Added Play Bot window, making it easier to set up games against bots - Added separate The Knight's Tour application (also released as a standalone game available for download) - Added option to highlight possible moves by selected piece on the Game Window - Added support for guest logins and made this the default setting for new users - Added option to Request Game window to prevent request from being accepted by guests - Added WSID / guest username display to tray icon and floating indicator tooltips, and to My Games and Requests window title bar - Replaced password encryption with hashing algorythm for improved security - Replaced old tray menu with standard Windows tray menu, added new options and rearranged menu order - Added buttons for new options to My Games and Requests window - Fixed bug which caused program to crash when Scoreboard or Public Game Requests windows were minimised - Split WyeSoft SMS credit displays into free and purchased credits - Replaced mobile phone number field on settings window with button that directs users to the WSID settings web page - Made first name and last name fields optional on the Create New WSID window ----- v1.10 ----- - Author renamed from Lamer Productions to WyeSoft - Program renamed from LP-NetChess to WyeSoft Chess - References to WyeSoft SMS fixed (renamed from LP-Text) - Lag issues which caused program to lock up fixed - Client now requests updates periodically to keep socket open - Game type info ("?") button added to Request Game window - "Play Bot" and "Settings" buttons added to My Games and Requests window and buttons/clock rearranged - System tray menu rearranged, "Web Interface" option removed, "Play Bot" and "Chess Variants" options added - "Version" column added to Scoreboard - Some windows resized and spacing changed to allow for new game type, wider borders and longer titles - A few more minor bugs fixed