Go Game: New Ways to Play & Smarter Opponents!

We're thrilled to announce some major new features designed to make your Go game experience even better! We've been listening to your feedback and working hard to bring you more flexibility and a more engaging challenge.

1. Never Lose Your Progress: Introducing Game Save & Load!

What's New?

Ever been in the middle of an epic Go match but had to step away? Now you can! Our new Save Game feature lets you store your current game exactly as it is. Later, use the Load Game option to pick up right where you left off.

How it Works for You:

• Save Your Masterpieces: Click "Save Game," and your current match (board, who's turn it is, captures, and even your game settings like mode and AI difficulty) will be saved to a small file on your computer.
• Resume Anytime: When you're ready to play again, click "Load Game," choose your saved file, and you'll be prompted to confirm or adjust settings like who you're playing against (another player or the AI). The board and game history will be perfectly restored.
• Flexibility: You can even choose to continue a loaded game in a different mode (e.g., switch from playing a friend to practicing against the AI from that same position).

Why We Built This:
We know life happens! This feature gives you the freedom to play longer, more thoughtful games without worrying about losing your progress.

2. Become the Master of Past Games: Continue from Any SGF Move!

What's New?

Love analyzing famous Go matches or reviewing your own past glories using SGF files? Now, you can do more than just watch! While reviewing an imported SGF game, you can now choose "Play From This Position."

How it Works for You:

• Step into History: Import an SGF game and use the review controls (Next, Previous, etc.) to find any interesting point in the match.
• Take Over the Game: Click "Play From This Position." You'll then be asked how you want to continue – against another player, or challenging our AI from that exact board state.
• Learn by Doing: This is a fantastic way to explore "what if" scenarios in famous games or to try different strategies from a critical point in one of your own reviewed matches.

Why We Built This:
SGF files are a treasure trove of Go knowledge. This feature transforms passive review into an active learning and experimentation tool.

3. A Smarter Challenger: Meet Our New AI Opponent!

What's New?

Get ready for a more cunning opponent! We've upgraded our AI using a sophisticated technique called Monte Carlo Tree Search (MCTS). This means the AI "thinks" ahead by simulating many possible game outcomes to choose its best move.

How it Works for You:

• More Realistic Games: The new AI plays more strategically and can recognize more complex situations on the board.
• Adjustable Difficulty:
  • Easy: A good starting point, the AI thinks quickly but might miss some deeper tactics.
  • Medium: A balanced opponent, offering a solid challenge.
  • Hard: The AI thinks longer and explores more possibilities, providing a tougher, more thoughtful game.
• Better Practice: Playing against a stronger, more human-like AI is a great way to improve your own Go skills.

Why We Built This:
A good AI opponent makes for more rewarding solo play. Whether you're learning the ropes or a seasoned player, our new AI aims to provide a more satisfying and challenging experience.

We're excited for you to try out these new features! As always, your feedback is invaluable as we continue to improve the game. Happy Playing!