Zarf & BamBam's Gobans
The gobans at the Go Center are produced by Zarf and BamBam. They feature natural play that feel just like a fine, wooden goban.
Features
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Play
Markup & Review
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Craftmanship
Web Integration
Accessories
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Purchase
Gobans can be purchased in the pro-shop. They are sold on a "pay-what-you-want" basis. The vendors will sell you a goban for whatever price you choose to pay them. Accessories are included with the goban.
Rezzing
If you've purchased a goban, then you'll need to rez it, and set it up. Follow these easy steps:
1. Drag the goban from your inventory (in a folder called "BamBam & Zarf's Goban") to the surface where you want it.
optional
2. The table goban comes with a low table (in the same folder), you may want to rez that too.
3. Using the Move or Edit tool (in the Tool menu), position the goban where you'd like it.
optional
4. To rez the accessories (bowls, game clock and zabutons), press the power button on the side of the goban, choose "Utilities" from the blue dialog that appears, then choose "Rez Helpers" from the second dialog.
full goban only
5. Now, rez the stones by pressing the power button on the side of the goban, choose "Utilities" from the blue dialog that appears, then choose "Rez Stones" from the second dialog.
Now you are all ready to play go on your new goban!
Register
If you register your goban, it will get its own web page where you can find all recorded games played on it. You can choose to have the goban listed on our gobans page.
To register your goban: Press the power button on the side of the goban, choose "Utilities" from the blue dialog that appears, then choose "Register" from the second dialog. Finally, choose "Private" or "Listed" from the third dialog. The goban will register, and then say the URL for its web page. You should copy and bookmark that URL. If you ever forget it, you can just re-register the goban and get it again.
Moving
If you move the full goban around a little, the stones should follow, but if not, use the Utility dialog again and choose "Align Stones". If you move the goban a larger distance, you'll need to rez the stones again.
If you need to take up the board, or move the board a long way, just take the goban itself, and delete the accessories. Then when the goabn is in its new location, use it to "Rez Helpers" again.
Starting
On the side of the gobans there is a small, metal power button. Touch this button to reset the goban and start a game. You will be presented with a dialog box. Choose Restart (if a game was left on the board) or Play Go.
In a few seconds, the following will appear on the to top of the goban:
Game Settings
First choose the settings for the game in the section labeled ➊ by touching the stones next to the options:
Size: 19x19, 13x13 or 9x9
Mode: Normal games are recorded on the website. Teaching games are also, but marked as "teaching" games, and anyone can play moves. Unrecorded games are not sent to the website.
Scoring: Area scoring uses Chinese counting: surrounded territory plus stones on the board. Black has a point subtracted for each handicap stone except the first. The results are the same as AGA rules.
Territory scoring uses Japanese counting: surrounded territor less prisoners. Be aware though, that eyes in seki count as territory.
Even Game: The komi is given to White. Area scoring defaults to 7½, Territory defaults to 6½.
Handicap Game: Set the number of handicap stones. In all cases the komi is set to ½.
Placement: In a handicap game, the handicap stones can either be fixed or free. Fixed stones are automatically placed in the tranditional positions on the hoshi points. Free stones are placed by Black before White's first move.
Begin Playing
After the settings have been chosen, each player needs to touch the stones in section ➋. This sets who will play which color and begins the game once both have picked. Changing the settings in the first section clears these stones and they have to be touched again by both players.
Playing
When it is your move, simply touch the intersection where you want to play a move. In a teaching game, either player can play the next color's move.
There are several commands you can say during play. Say them in chat without the quotes:
"undo" - Takes back the last play. The board supports undo of multiple moves.
"pass" - Pass. Two passes in a row ends play and proceeds to counting.
"resign" - Resign the game.
"markup" - Enter markup mode. See below for details.
Counting
After play stops, the dead stones on the board must be identified. Touch a stone to mark it and connected stones as dead. They will be removed from the board and added to prisoners. Either player may mark dead stones of either color.
If there is disagreement about the dead stones, or if a mistake is made, say "resume". The removed stones will all be replaced, and play resumes from before the final two passes. Play as needed and pass twice again to restart counting.
Once both players are satisfied with the removal of the dead stones, each must say "done". The board will be counted and the score announced.
Ending
You can just leave the gobans as they are when you are done. If you prefer, you can clear them by touching the power button and choosing Quit or Restart from the dialog box.
Markup Mode
In markup mode, points on the board can be marked by touching them. Initially, touching an intersection will place an ×. The markup can be changed by saying:
"x" - set markup to ╳
"circle" or "o" - set markup to ◯
"square" - set markup to ▢
"triangle" - set markup to △
"clear" - clear all markup on the board
"resume" - clear all markup and return to playing the game (if entered markup while playing).
Placing Stones
In markup mode, stones can be placed, by first saying either "black" or "white". Clicking intersections will place black and white stones alternately.
While placing these stones, the game rules will be followed and captures computed. However, these stones are part of the markup, and won't affect the game. Saying "clear", resuming play, or stepping to another move (during review) will clear these stones and restore any captures.
Review Mode
After a game is over, the play can be reviewed. Say "review" to enter review mode. The board will return to the beginning of the game.
Step forward through the moves by saying "next" or "n". Step backward by saying "back" or "b". Any of these commands can be followed by a space and a repeat count. For example "n 10" steps forward 10 moves.
In review mode, touching points will mark them. The markup mode commands are active for changing the markup symbol and placing stones. Stepping forward or backward automatically clears the markup and any placed stones.
Note
In markup or review mode, anyone can participate, not just the players.
The game controller accessory has buttons for all markup and review commands, and makes these modes much easier to use.
Bowls
The bowls that come with the boards will show the capture counts, once stones have been captured. The bowl with white stones shows captured black prisoners and vice-versa. Please note that the bowls may not be positioned next to the correct player, depending on where the players chose to sit.
Zabutons
Sitting on the zabutons (cushions) both animate your avatar into the traditional saiza pose, and position your camera looking down on the goban. The zabutons are "mod" so you can change them to match your decor.
Note: If you have manually placed your camera, then you need to hit the ESC key one or more times to refocus on the goban when sitting on the zabuton.
Controls
The gobans come with a controller that servers both to make using the more advanced features of the gobans easier, and provide optional game clocks.
The buttons on the top change to reflect the available commands the board understands. All commands that can be spoken are available as buttons on the controller surface.
Game Clocks
The front surface of the controller is a game clock. To set the clocks, simply touch either clock face and pick a time setting from the blue dialog that appears:
Untimed - Turns the clocks off. This is the default.
Blitz - Must make every 25 moves in 3 minutes (Canadian timing)
15 min. - 15 minutes main time, then 3 Byo-yomi periods of 10 seconds.
20 min. - 20 minutes main time, then 5 Byo-yomi periods of 20 seconds.
30 min. - 30 minutes main time, then 5 Byo-yomi periods of 30 seconds.
Once the game is in progress, the clocks will automatically register moves made on the board. There is no need to touch the clocks after each move. Be aware that the clock faces switch from showing minutes to seconds when time is close to running out.
During play, touching the clocks will bring up a menu offering you the ability to Pause, Resume, or Turn Off the clocks. When paused, simply playing the next move will automatically resume the clocks.
When a player's clock runs out, they lose on time. If you decide you want to keep playing, then say "resume", or touch the Resume button on the controller. The game will continue, untimed.
Note
When the goban rezzes these accessories, they are automatically paired with the goban. However, if you take them into your inventory and then later rez them yourself, then they will need to be re-paired. Follow the accessory's spoken instructions to re-pair it with your goban:
1. Touch the accessory to start pairing.
2. Touch the power button on the goban.