Major Additions - Chess

Chess for vbulletin.

This mod turns an existing forum into a forum for playing chess in. Members can then play games against each other as easilly as posting a new post in a regular forum.

NB: the beta version of this dosn't enforce the rules of chess so illegal moves are possible - this does have the advantage of allowing handicap matches and variations on standard chess rules.

beta

This mod is a beta mod, this means that i have all the functions working on my board however there may be unforseen problems and conflicts on different vb setups. I'm 95% confidant that there are no major isseus left in the core code, the only issues that may arrise are from the new ajax features. If this is a problem for you, you can disable the ajax features in the admin cp.

Demo

A live demo can be seen here: http://www.giveupalready.com/forumdisplay.php?f=349 (running v1.0.1 till i've time to upgrade it)

Screenshots

Screen shot shows new UI

Version History

1.1b (beta): current version
- improved user interface (if you've changed the chess template you will need to revert/apply the changes manually)
- back/forward buttons for local moves (unsaved. Full backward/forward movement will be added in a later version)
- highlight for currently selected square.

1.0.1b (beta):
- fixed a couple of misisng TABLE_PREFIX's
- fixed table spacing issue

1.0b (beta):
- forced quick reply to be enabled.
- added reset board link + javascript to reset the board without reloading.
- ajax posting of moves.
- board updates itself every 10 secs via ajax.
- added option to flip layout of board.

0.2b (beta):
- added some javascript to update piece replacments instantly.
- templates are now fully phrased.

0.1b (beta):
- added faq entries to product file
- (hopefully) improved compatablity with vbseo
- modified instal instructions to avoid potential javascript problems.
- changed version numbering scheme.

beta:
- re-exported product file to contain all the settings fields.

alpha:
- changed image paths to allow for customised images.

Known Issues

- Table sizes are inconsistant
- If min post length is greater than 7 moves wont post without a comment.

Compatability

This mod was written on vb 3.6.0 and has been tested on 3.6.7 compatablity with other versions is unknown. Reported working on 3.6.8

Instalation

1. Backup your Database
2. Upload images into your images directory.
3. new for v1.0b Upload Chess.php to your main forum directory.
4. Turn your board off.
5. Create a new forum, browse to it and make a note of its forum id.
6. Disable Html, bb code,smilies,[img] code and post icons in this new forum
7. Import the chess product
8. In the vbulletin settings change the forumid to the new forum you created. You can also change the piece colour to better match your forums style.
9. (Optional) Create a link forum to point to the chess faq which explains how to play.
10. Turn your board back on
11. Click installed.

Upgrade from < 1.0b

1. Backup your Database
2. Upload Chess.php to your main forum directory.
3. Import the chess product (allow overwrite must be set to yes)
4. Check the new settings are set to your liking.

Upgrade from 1.0b

1. Import the chess product (allow overwrite must be set to yes)

Support

As all of my boards have been upgraded to vbulletin 4, I am no longer actively maintaining any of my vb3.x mods. Free support for all of my 3.x mods is being removed from the 31st of March 2010 after this date, I will only be offering paid support for 3.x mods; downloading and usage of the mods will remain free but unsupported.

For support of 3.x mods, please pm me as I won't be checking the threads very often.

Liscense
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE REGENTS OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

You may modify this software to suit your own purposes but may only distribute said modifications within this thread and with my approval.

Credits

Images were modified from icon files downloaded from http://www.enpassant.dk/chess/grafeng.htm

Checkers

Untill i get arround to coding and releasing a checkers game you can play checkers using this mod using the following instructions provided by one of my forum members:

(b8,b8)(d8,d8)(f8,f8)(h8,h8)(a7,a7)(c7,c7)(e7,e7)(g7,g7)(a1,a1)(c1,c1)(e1,e1)(g1,g1)(b2,b2)(d2,d2)(f2,f2)(h2,h2)(c8,bR)(e8,bR)(g8,bR)(b7,bR)(d7,bR)(f7,bR)(h7,bR)(a6,bR)(c6,bR)(e6,bR)(g6,bR)(b1,wR)(d1,wR)(f1,wR)(a2,wR)(c2,wR)(e2,wR)(g2,wR)(b3,wR)(d3,wR)(f3,wR)(h3,wR)

Just copy the code when you are making the first post. Simple as that.

Notes:
1. When you jump a piece, you must also double-click on the piece that you jump to get rid of it. If you write out the code manually, just write the code twice. [ex: (f4,f4)]

2. To get a king piece, use the same code as you would to promote a pawn.
[ex: (a1,bK)]

3. If you double jump, please put in the full syntax and not just the finishing move. This will help your opponent see all the jumps that you made.

Custom Images

You can add image sets by uploading a gfx for each piece identified by its initial into a new directory within the /images/chess/ directory and then changing the image settings in the admincp.

If anyone has any custom image sets that they can legally distribute pm me a link and i'll link to them in this post.

Feature requests
- Leader board
- Other games (checkers, monopoly,risk, go)

[BlueNinjaGo]

Can i ask if there is a reason the board must be turned off during installation? The only time I can turn off the forums is during peak hours, and I'd like to avoid that...

[Carnage]

There's no technical reason that you need to turn the board off during installation. It just helps - one thing i hate is when members play with things I'm half way through installing and setting up. Setup should take no more than a minute or two, so either way your site would only be down for 5 mins or so.

[koke]

run fine in 3.8 vb.

[Digital Jedi]

It's not quite running right on my 3.8. Previously created games look a little wonky, and new games don't generate the proper postibt. Could be a mod conflict, but I'm not sure. I guess I'll just turn that forum off for right now. Look forward to the new version.

EDIT: Also puts this at the end of replies: Posted via Mobile Device

Can't imagine where that's coming from.

[willy888]

Any update about vbulletin 3.8.3 ???

[Itchy Nips]

3.8.3 is working for me

[willy888]

<i>Warning: implode() [function.implode]: Invalid arguments passed in [path]/showthread.php(2167) : eval()'d code on line 131</i>

I have this error on 3.8.3

[imported_silkroad]

Originally Posted by Carnage-

i
ZeK005: if you want to add an option to enforce legal moves, feel free; I could add a hook location or two to allow you to create it as an addon, if you let me know where you want them.

It'd be good if it could be controled by an additional option with three selections:
allow all moves
allow legal moves only
thread based move legality.

Where by the last option would allow a parameter to be specified to enforce legal moves or not.

I have purposfully not included this feature myself, as i've never believed it to be nessisary: your home chess set dosn't do it, yet you can still play chess. .......

Hi Carnage,

We disabled this mod a long time ago because it does not enforce legal moves, and, more than likely, will use the chess program in The Gameroom (MOTM) because it does enforce legal moves.

Your counterargument to this "your chess set at home does not do it" does not apply because when you are sitting in front of your chess set, you and the other player can easily manage things. This is not the same when folks are on the other side of the net, and they might not even be playing at the same time.

In practice, an on-line chess program MUST enforce legal moves, and the option to set up the board is important as well. However, Chess is about a set of rules and without those rules, it is simply not Chess !

So, we tried and tried to get his mod to work, and all our member-players, some rated higher than 2200 in the "real world" complained strongly.

Our only alternative, since you refuse to take this seriously and continue to argue that since it is possible to move pieces anywhere, you don't need to enforce rules, shows that you simply do not listen to your mod users, experienced players, and folks who have installed it (and removed it).

Since there is now a (alternative) vB mod that includes Chess and enforces the rules, there is an option for people who actually love Chess and want a reliable and playable Chess program for the members.

We will certainly select The Gameroom Chess program over this one, because of one reason, it is more reliable and enforces rules. You mod is "prettier" but is basically unreliable. I have seen too many games ending in frustration with this mod.

[imported_silkroad]

OBTW, For folks who want to play Chess, and have rules properly enforces, recommend you look here:

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=219483

- Chess
--- Standard chess rules, with legal moves enforced.
--- Alert on Check and Checkmate
--- Tracking of the 50-move rule and Threefold repetition rule
--- Passwords for private games

If you don't want all the other games, you can just turn on Chess and turn off the others.

[Carnage]

Most of my development on mods has ceased in anticipation of vbulletin 4.

My intention with this mod is to discontinue it. I will be instead working on a far more featured mod, which will include several games (chess, checkers and a few others once i've checked copywrite status on them) The mod will also probably feature a ladder system (which will inevitably require the rules of the games to be enforced)

The mod you link to there, seems on the face of it much different to this one. This mod is play by post which means games can go on for weeks if people only have the time for a move or two a day. Whereas the mod you linked to seems (without having installed it) to use live play.