Go Game - AI Update

Hey Go enthusiasts!

We've been listening to your feedback and have rolled out some significant updates to enhance the AI and provide more control for our power users. Here's what's new:

1. Smarter, More Decisive "Expert" AI:

• The "Expert" AI now thinks harder and longer! We've significantly increased its internal "search depth" (MCTS iterations) and given it more time to consider its moves. This should result in noticeably more challenging and credible play.
• Knows When to Fold 'Em (AI Resignation): Our AI is no longer a stubborn mule! If it determines its position is overwhelmingly bad for several turns in a row, it will now resign, just like a human player might. This makes for more realistic game conclusions in lopsided matches. You'll see a message if the AI resigns.

2. AI Configuration for Power Users:

• You're in Control: We heard you! For those who love to tinker, we've exposed two key AI thinking parameters directly in the Settings menu:
  • MCTS Iterations: Basically, how many "what if" scenarios the AI runs through for each move. More iterations generally mean stronger play but take more time.
  • MCTS Time Limit (ms): The maximum time (in milliseconds) the AI will spend thinking per move.
• Fine-Tune Your Challenge: You can now adjust these settings to balance AI strength with how long you're willing to wait for its turn. Find the sweet spot for your computer and patience!
• Helpful Guidance: We've added a "Learn More" link in the AI configuration section of the settings and updated the main Help dialog to explain what these new options do.

3. Streamlined Settings (Behind the Scenes):

• While we added new AI controls, we also simplified some internal AI difficulty settings. The game now focuses on providing a strong "Expert" baseline that you can then fine-tune with the Iterations and Time Limit settings.

What This Means For You:

• A More Formidable Opponent: Expect the AI to put up a better fight, especially in Player vs. AI and AI vs. AI modes.
• More Realistic Game Endings: AI resignation prevents games from dragging on unnecessarily when one side has a clear, insurmountable lead.
• Tailored AI Experience: If you're a power user, you now have the tools to customize the AI's thinking process to your liking.
• Clearer Information: The game log will continue to show AI evaluation scores, giving you insight into its "thoughts."

We're excited for you to try out these improvements. As always, your feedback is invaluable as we continue to refine the game!

Happy Playing!