Feedback required on my new correspondence project!

[Eurig Jones]

Hey,

First of all, apologies as this isn't exactly your typical first introduction post

I've been working on a correspondence chess app for Android devices for the past 9 months now! It's been a long hard slog up to now in my spare hours on weekends and evenings, and just a few days ago I finally managed to release it! It's gained some good feedback up to now (as well as some criticisms of course), but as well as many other things on my todo list, one of my prime aims is to to attract a stronger (and possibly less casual) type of player to use this app.

Its in its infancy at the moment and I need feedback from players who have a real passion for correspondence chess! I feel like I'm designing the right thing for me here, but I really don't know if I am until I hear what others think of it and how I can improve on what I'm doing.

Anyway. If you are an android user, and if you do have the time to give it a go then I'd really appreciate your thoughts! The website is www.chesspresso.net, and you can download it from the Android Market.

Thanks!
Eurig

[Eurig Jones]

Maybe not then! lol

[Rob Thompson]

i think a day is a little short to ask people to download, use and comment on this. Give it time and you may end up with some useful feedback.

[LozCooper]

i think a day is a little short to ask people to download, use and comment on this. Give it time and you may end up with some useful feedback.

Agreed. It's probably not seen as a "hot topic" and it may take time for people interested in correspondence chess etc to comment, especially over a weekend. At least on here you can see how many peole have read the posting even if few have responded yet. Over 300 so far, which is more than I tend to get reading my international round-ups

[Carl Hibbard]

I have an Android phone and will have a look but probably not until the weekend now, sorry...

[Eurig Jones]

Yes you're right. apologies Cheers all.

[Adam Raoof]

I haven't downloaded the app, as I don't have an android phone. However can I suggest that the term 'correspondence chess' is perhaps outdated? Sites like Gameknot and ChessWorld offer play by mail services, and county level and international chess is being played on mail servers via the ICCF.

[Eurig Jones]

Ok, interesting. So 'Postal chess'and 'play by mail' is more modern?

What would you search for on the market if you were looking for a similar app?

The app is strongly tied to my backend server so there is no plans to integrate with more official servers at the moment. If there is demand I would consider it.

Thanks.

[Rob Thompson]

Whilst the software itself looks pretty, i am already a member of chess.com and use the mobile app for that, so don't need nor want another. I wish you the best of luck with this though

[Eurig Jones]

Rob Thompson: I understand. But there has to always be competition Apart from being a member, what ties you to Chess.com over any other? Thanks!

[Rob Thompson]

Rob Thompson: I understand. But there has to always be competition Apart from being a member, what ties you to Chess.com over any other? Thanks!

Absolutely nothing, except i have many games in progress there, i am a member of a lot of groups etc etc. Basically, the time and effort to change is too large unless there is another that is significantly better. This is my opinion on it, anyway. My annoyances are more to do with my phone's dubious GPRS that with the actual app, something which i doubt you are able to solve

[Eurig Jones]

Absolutely nothing, except i have many games in progress there, i am a member of a lot of groups etc etc. Basically, the time and effort to change is too large unless there is another that is significantly better. This is my opinion on it, anyway. My annoyances are more to do with my phone's dubious GPRS that with the actual app, something which i doubt you are able to solve

Sorry for sounding like a questionnaire LOL

Is the group / team features important to you, and a lot of others do you think?
Are tournaments an important part of your game?
Is keeping your rating in one place important?

[Rob Thompson]

The group + team features I really like, and i think that this "social" aspect marks it out from other sites i've seem. The tournaments, however, are completely irrelevant to me personally. This is only my opinion, others will no doubt differ as tournaments are still remarkably common. Keeping my rating in one place is nice, but not that important, as it will soon find my standard if i start to play elsewhere.