Go Game UI Refresh - Better Info at a Glance!

Hey Go Players!

We've just rolled out an update focused on making it easier to see important game information without having to hunt for it. Here's what's new:

Introducing the "Game Status & Log" Panel:

You'll notice that the right-hand side panel (where you see game controls like "Pass" and "Undo") now has a much more comprehensive "Game Status & Log" section at the top.

• What it is: We've combined the old "Current Turn" and "Captures" boxes into this single, streamlined panel.
• Why we did it:
  • All-in-One: Key game info is now in one convenient spot.
  • Clearer View: It provides a more organized way to see everything that's happening.
  • Room for More: This new layout also gives us space to show you even more useful stats!

What's Inside the New Panel?

This new panel now clearly displays:

1. Current Turn: Who's up, along with their stone color. If it's an AI's turn, it'll also tell you if they're "thinking."
2. Game Mode: Reminds you if you're playing Player vs Player, Player vs AI, or watching an AI vs AI match.
3. Player & AI Info (When Applicable):
   • If you're playing against the AI, it will show what color you're playing as and the AI opponent's difficulty.
   • In AI vs AI mode, you'll see the difficulty set for both AI Black and AI White.
4. Move Number: Tracks how many moves have been played.
5. Komi: Shows the current Komi (compensation points for White).
6. Stones on Board: A live count of how many black and white stones are on the board.
7. Captures: This is still here! You can easily see how many stones Black and White have captured.
8. Number of Groups: An estimate of how many distinct groups of stones each player has. This can give you a quick idea of how connected or scattered a player's stones are.
9. Estimated Territory: A live, rough estimate of the territory each player is controlling. This is a great way to gauge who might be ahead in area control as the game progresses!
10. AI Evaluation (Player vs AI & Hints): When the AI is thinking (either for its move or when you ask for a hint), this section will pop up to show you:
    • Whose position the AI is evaluating (B for Black, W for White).
    • The AI's "score" for that position (a number usually between 0 and 1, representing its confidence in that player winning).
    • How many "iterations" or calculations the AI performed to come up with that score.

What Happened to the Old Info Boxes?

They've been merged into this new, improved "Game Status & Log" panel. We think this makes the overall layout cleaner and the vital information more accessible.

Why these changes?

Our goal is to make the game more intuitive and informative. By centralizing this data and adding new stats like territory estimates and AI evaluations, we hope to:

• Help you better understand the flow of the game.
• Provide insights that can help you improve your strategy.
• Make it easier to see, at a glance, the current state of play.

We hope you enjoy these enhancements! As always, we're keen to hear your feedback.

Happy Go-ing!