USING SOFTWARE IN GAMES

I have webtv. I cannot use the software that I hear about where players are able to use to help their games. this is in my opinion very "unfair" to the players who do not have the benefit of such software. why doesn't these players only play against the other players who ARE using it????

To the best of my knowledge, the software they are using are online dictionaries or simple word-lists, so, we are all really working from the same thing. A word list simply omits definitions.....

i think what we webtv users are saying is that we can't download
we can't acess any word list or dictionary that needs to be downloaded
so we have less f an advantage as computer users do
scrabble.com and dictionary.com seem to be ones we can use
but dictionary.com isn't always reliable alot of the rds aren't excepted in the word game

This means you would want an official distinction between players using a electronic word list and people who don't. (a paper dictionary or word list is not so interesting, since you can't use the computer to fins certain combinations.) I think it is a great idea, only very hard to incorporate (even if we assume honesty of all players)

i don't see the problem in using any means to fond words for point value

i find it very challenging to play against players like BBW and the thers even though i am only on webtv
makes me want to try harder in finding words and try to atleast stay with 20 points

I suppose this makes me sound like a poor loser and I am far from that. I try my best in all my games and this game is not one of my favorites. I was just wondering if I was the only person who felt like they were not at the same advantage because of the ENABLE SOFTWARE. some ppl probably will say or feel like saying "hey get a computor" lol that is a solution but not possible.

I don't think you are a poor loser. I was wondering myself about it. It is a hard question of ethics, in a certain sense. I think it is true it is no fun if you almost know others use more then their brains.

Maybe now is the time for some player rules to be established. ??? - Other sites have adopted a no "electronic aids" policy for all games on their sites, so it seems that something similer should be posted here.! Since us webtv users are possibly misunderstanding how Enable is used can someone explain how this helps.??? --- A possible solution besides Pattys is to state which sites r only allowed to be used in GWG. I do understand that trying to "Police" these rules would be practically impossibe but it may reasure us that its a "level playing field".

I'm not sure if everyone knows what ENABLE is, so here is what ENABLE is: It is just a list of words which is free for people to use - and is what this site uses. =====================================================================================
Well I personaly do not use any computer software in finding any of my words - all I use are on-line dictionary. Is anyone actually using software for the computer? - - - - - - - I do think I have a small advantage over webTV users, but very small - and that is only for the fact I can have 2 windows open - 1 window is the game board, the other is the on-line dictionary. (Solution for webTV: Grab a dry-erase board, quickly write out your game board - go to on-line dictionary, find words, then go and play it.) =================================================================================================== Here is a site that you can search the ENABLE word list: http://www.puzzlers.org/secure/wordlists/grepdict.html (And Choose the Enable Scrabble disctionary.) ** BBW **

Thanks BBW. :) ------ Moving onto chess. ----- At the moment if someone uses a chess computer/software to play their games for them, then technically theres nothing to stop them rule wise.!!! Any ideas on how such a rule might be enforced.???

Yea, Chess is something that someone on a computer can easly cheat in (one of the reasons I don't play much chess on IYT - or here) But other then asking people not to use programs for those, I'm not sure there is any way to stop anyone from doing that! **BBW**

Ian, it would be difficult to enforce. After the game is over with, the game could be analyzed with some of the stronger chess programs available. A high percentage of identical moves would certainly indicate a strong possibility of computer assistance, especially if this player had several such games. The problem is that a player would probably not use his/her computer program to make moves for the whole game... just for a few key moves of the game... making it even harder to prove a player had help.

I think the fact we only play for fun should be a key. I don't consider it possible that anyone enjoys winning here knowing that it is in fact a computer program that won the game... Of course... nerds exist...

Thanks all. :-)

Tournament rules on IYT says:
----------------------------------------
Computer Software Assistance: You may not use computer software that tells you the best move to make. There is no prize money at stake in our tournaments, so you have no reason to cheat. However, you may consult reference books or a database of moves.
-----------------------------------------
So looking at ENABLE would be correct. But prohibited would be use of specialized program to find the best word in given situation.

---
I don't which tools for searching in wordlist (like Ctrl+F in Wordpad) can be considered as fair.

Thanks BBW for the dry erase board idea
im gonna seek one of them out

i got a really good laugh for the day

someone suggested hooking up a second webtv for dictionary use only
i thought for a minute okay cool
but then estimated the cost of running two webtv's
between webtv monthly membership and isp monthly payment and tieing up both my phones
i'll take BBW's advice its cheaper in the end and less trees used
Thanks again BBW

bump