**Snipped personal attacks directed at Obscure and arrogance about IP knowledge**

Being familliar with the USPO, you should know that just because you can be granted a patent for something, that in no way means you patent is really useful/valid.

For example, many people hold patents on obvious/previously-known programming concepts, like double-clicking, the linked-list, the emoticon (smiley), etc, etc... I know one US games company that holds a patent on the use of the 16:10 aspect ratio within their particular genre of games! My ex-wife holds the US patent on the 20-sided dice FFS -- you think 20-sided dice were really invented a few years ago?
The USPO granted all of these patents (and happily took the fees), but if challenged in court, none of them would hold up.

The USPO does grant gameplay patents, and some of them have even been used in lawsuits, but I've never heard of any of these cases actually making it to court (there's usually a settlement). There's past precedence from some board game cases though where gameplay ideas have been rejected as being patentable.


But anyway, you're acting like an angry child in this thread, which actually does impact your credibility, and may have something to do with why no-one is taking you seriously.

[quote name='creatip' timestamp='1296018548' post='4764901']
**Snipped personal attacks directed at Obscure and arrogance about IP knowledge**

Being familliar with the USPO, you should know that just because you can be granted a patent for something, that in no way means you patent is really useful/valid.

For example, many people hold patents on obvious/previously-known programming concepts, like double-clicking, the linked-list, the emoticon (smiley), etc, etc... I know one US games company that holds a patent on the use of the 16:10 aspect ratio within their particular genre of games! My ex-wife holds the US patent on the 20-sided dice FFS -- you think 20-sided dice were really invented a few years ago?
The USPO granted all of these patents (and happily took the fees), but if challenged in court, none of them would hold up.

The USPO does grant gameplay patents, and some of them have even been used in lawsuits, but I've never heard of any of these cases actually making it to court (there's usually a settlement). There's past precedence from some board game cases though where gameplay ideas have been rejected as being patentable.


But anyway, you're acting like an angry child in this thread, which actually does impact your credibility, and may have something to do with why no-one is taking you seriously.
[/quote]

really? So when was the last time YOU were taken "seriously"? I admit that I have a bad temper and I explode unreasonably fast, but there are so many imbeciles on this planet that I really have to take pills to not puke every time I turn on my laptop. You're OK, so you have to admit that's no easy job to survive on this planet of imbeciles ...

and BTW: it's USPTO (with "T" from Trademark ...)

ok

AND (email directly to Intel)

"so how come BilliChess made it to the Winners' List with such catastrophic comments ([color="red"]4 comments outta ... [color="red"]11 judges ??!!!)?

May I know the name of the eINSTEIN that said, "Basically incomprehensible. I couldn't figure out how to even move a piece on the chessboard."? That clown either has a lower IQ than my neighbor's hamster, or he has a lower IQ than my neighbor's hamster. I'd really like to find him where he's posting and ask that albert some questions"

Remember when in my response I said you should be calm and rational when approaching your complaint? A calm message clearly explaining your complaint might be effective if you can get it into the correct person's hands. This sort of rant is unlikely to result in anyone trying to help you out, and should you later choose to try taking the matter to court may end up working against you. It also isn't the sort of response likely to gain you public support.

[quote name='creatip' timestamp='1296615280' post='4768282']
AND (email directly to Intel)

"so how come BilliChess made it to the Winners' List with such catastrophic comments ([color="red"]4 comments outta ... [color="red"]11 judges ??!!!)?

May I know the name of the eINSTEIN that said, "Basically incomprehensible. I couldn't figure out how to even move a piece on the chessboard."? That clown either has a lower IQ than my neighbor's hamster, or he has a lower IQ than my neighbor's hamster. I'd really like to find him where he's posting and ask that albert some questions"

Remember when in my response I said you should be calm and rational when approaching your complaint? A calm message clearly explaining your complaint might be effective if you can get it into the correct person's hands. This sort of rant is unlikely to result in anyone trying to help you out, and should you later choose to try taking the matter to court may end up working against you. It also isn't the sort of response likely to gain you public support.
[/quote]

what can I say? I basically agree with you. But that line made me go ballistic. And you know what? -- I don't give a damn on BilliChess, I'm totally disgusted by this planet of imbeciles. But still, I want to know who was the cretin that wrote that line. Here are all the judges: http://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/level-up-2010-judges/?cid=sw:LU2010RHN4

I need to know who is the sucker that dared to post that line. Intel won't tell me, but I need to find out. That retard has to pay a price for what he did

Maybe "that retard" really was unable to move the chess pieces? Maybe there was a bug in the code for your demo that caused his mouse input to not function? Maybe his feedback was honest and correct?

[quote name='jbadams' timestamp='1296624899' post='4768338']
This sort of rant is unlikely to result in anyone trying to help you out

I basically agree with you. But ... I need to know who is the sucker that dared to post that line. Intel won't tell me, but I need to find out. That retard has to pay a price for what he did[/quote]So you agree that sending offensive hate mail to Intel isn't go to help you find out what you want to know, but your plan to find out was to send them offensive hate mail? Notice how when I suggested you were acting like an "angry child", you immediately took up the defensive to reflect my words back at me? Doesn't it follow that when Intel receives your hate mail, they too would immediately enter a state of mind which will in no way help to achieve your objective?

Ever think maybe you fit in on this planet of imbeciles? Maybe we're all imbeciles? Maybe if we only see that everyone else is an imbecile, and never choose to engage in honest self reflection, maybe we'll always be angry and disappointed with the world? Maybe if we relax and realise we're just as fucking stupid as the rest of the world we'd be a bit happier and able to get on with life?

I need to know who is the sucker that dared to post that line. Intel won't tell me, but I need to find out. That retard has to pay a price for what he did

Perhaps there is a genuine problem and the person in question was simply giving honest and correct feedback?

If, however, it is as you say blindingly obvious how to move a piece and the feedback is nonsense, then it should be blindingly obvious to everyone else as well -- in which case they will discount such a ridiculous claim about your product out-of-hand -- in which case no damage has been done.


Do you see any way in which potentially (I would go so far as to say probably) damaging your relationship with additional personnel at Intel could help you?


I would strongly suggest you either let the matter drop, or try to approach it more calmly. Other than letting off steam there is no potential benefit to the approach you're currently taking, but it does have significant potential downsides in time-wasted, loss of credibility, and bridges burnt with potentially useful contacts. Your reputation is valuable -- don't further damage it trying to strike back at a single comment that made you angry.

to Hodgman and jbadams:

yeap, I probably blew it. Apparently it’s never a good idea to send me bad news when I had too much Courvoisier …

But BilliChess is not only 100% original, but also the smartest* game in the history of video games. For a judge – that was supposed to read the Abstract and check the Tutorial on YouTube (the link for theTutorial was provided in the Abstract) – to say "Basically incomprehensible. I couldn't figure out how to even move a piece on the chessboard." is absolutely unacceptable. Many people played BilliChess (the MP version is up and running) and nobody complained but that … “expert”

*Chess is the game of Kings and Queens, widely considered the most intelligent game. A game of chess with an (intelligent) extra-challenge can’t but be the smartest game in the history of video games. Why did BilliChess deserve that comment from that “expert” is (still) beyond me …

If I were you I would worry about finishing the programming, graphics, sound, testing, documentation, etc. before I would what % of a cut people are going to take. It's been ~6 months and you are no further along then when you started the contest. You need to simply take a step back, clear your head, and go in with a fresh attitude. You may be onto something, I do not know, but acting the way you are is going to get you nowhere. All of that hard work you just invested is slipping away from you... I think you may have entered the contest unprepared. If you are this stressed out now then how are you going to manage everything once it get's going? The judge from Intel was trying to help you by giving you constructive criticism... You didn't like to hear anyone saying anything about your precious though. Remember one thing, not everyone is going to have your same taste. A lot will love your game and a lot will hate it; that's just the way it is.

Best of luck

If I were you I would worry about finishing the programming, graphics, sound, testing, documentation, etc. before I would what % of a cut people are going to take. It's been ~6 months and you are no further along then when you started the contest. You need to simply take a step back, clear your head, and go in with a fresh attitude. You may be onto something, I do not know, but acting the way you are is going to get you nowhere. All of that hard work you just invested is slipping away from you... I think you may have entered the contest unprepared. If you are this stressed out now then how are you going to manage everything once it get's going? The judge from Intel was trying to help you by giving you constructive criticism... You didn't like to hear anyone saying anything about your precious though. Remember one thing, not everyone is going to have your same taste. A lot will love your game and a lot will hate it; that's just the way it is.

Best of luck

thank you. Well, as I've already admitted, I blew it: I shouldn't have exploded yesterday. I wasn't mad at Intel, that judge was temporarily hired for the contest. And now I'm mad with myself. Oh well, so be it ...