Playing Go on the Nintendo DS
A note on playing strength For all practical purposes, these Nintendo DS offerings probably achieve no more than 10 kyu, if that — on the amateur martial arts scale from 1 to 30 kyu, where 1 kyu is great (for an amateur) and 30 kyu is absolute novice. On the other hand, maybe the availability of programs such as these are what helps Japanese kids achieve single-digit levels quickly!
CAUTION! All of these game cartridges are in Japanese language ONLY.
Translator's note Igo, written as two characters, is the Japanese word for Go, the ancient 19x19 board game played with black & white stones. I try to use Igo in Japanese contexts, and Go in English.
[I WANT! I WANT!! I WANT!!!]
Umezawa Yukari's Easy Go
Umezawa-san, a 5-dan professional, is well-known for her beginner's Go lessons at the end of Hikaru no Go episodes.
Link.
Unfortunately, this game seems to be popular in a pirate edition. Some dual screen caps (a password dialog, some Go problems) may be found here.
[HMMM. CHO CHIKUN... OK!]
Cho Chikun's Go Problems
Simple for Everybody
Technically, tsumego means "life & death problems" although the term is not used exclusively. Most American Go players simply adopt the word into English. I say they're Go problems. Aimed at the mid-kyu amateur, too easy for strong players.
Another link.
[HMMM. DAVID FOTLAND... YEAH.]
AI Igo DS
Play Go Anytime, Anywhere
Sensei's Library asserts AI Igo is based on David Fotland's Many Faces of Go. One presumes any comparison between Fotland's ginormous (and venerable) old Windows XP program and its Nintendo DS derivative would be a bit like Horton Hears A Who. Note that the title is not "Dekiru Igo," which means (Someone) can (play) Go. The stuff in front of dekiru Igo is a subordinate clause: Anytime, anywhere. You unwind Japanese sentences and clauses in proper SOV order, newbie.
[I WANT! I WANT! I WANT!]
Ginsei Igo
Get strong at Go with Ginsei Igo!! Ginsei means "Silver Star"; you may see both or either listed by vendors or reviewers. The Japanese home page is here — if your web browser supports the Flash demo, check out the neat Go clock this thing can turn into!
[I NOT WANT!]
Gensen Table Game DS
Wi-Fi Ready
Deeply discounted at Play-Asia.com
Sorry, I don't know much about this one, except that it's an anthology of board games, one of which is Go. And Sensei's Library found the gameplay a bit braindead, "regularly adding useless stones to dead groups, failing to respond well to ko fights, and making unreasonable attacks."
[WTF!!? ENGLISH LANGUAGE! BUT... NOT YET RELEASED ... MAYBE HAS GO]
Ultimate Brain Games DS
Judging by box art, this DS version of the old GBA anthology seems to include some sort of Go, but details are sketchy. It hasn't been released yet, and the product description posted at Amazon.com was just copied verbatim from the GBA puff — it doesn't mention Go at all!
Please note I don't necessarily endorse or recommend Play-Asia.com as the sole vendor of these games in North America. I plead ignorance, and would personally welcome learning where else to buy these and similar Go games for the Nintendo DS — cheaper, if possible.
CAUTION! All of these game cartridges are in Japanese language ONLY.
Translator's note Igo, written as two characters, is the Japanese word for Go, the ancient 19x19 board game played with black & white stones. I try to use Igo in Japanese contexts, and Go in English.
[I WANT! I WANT!! I WANT!!!]
Umezawa Yukari's Easy GoUmezawa-san, a 5-dan professional, is well-known for her beginner's Go lessons at the end of Hikaru no Go episodes. Link.
Unfortunately, this game seems to be popular in a pirate edition. Some dual screen caps (a password dialog, some Go problems) may be found here.
[HMMM. CHO CHIKUN... OK!]
Cho Chikun's Go ProblemsSimple for Everybody
Technically, tsumego means "life & death problems" although the term is not used exclusively. Most American Go players simply adopt the word into English. I say they're Go problems. Aimed at the mid-kyu amateur, too easy for strong players.
Another link.
[HMMM. DAVID FOTLAND... YEAH.]
AI Igo DS Play Go Anytime, Anywhere
Sensei's Library asserts AI Igo is based on David Fotland's Many Faces of Go. One presumes any comparison between Fotland's ginormous (and venerable) old Windows XP program and its Nintendo DS derivative would be a bit like Horton Hears A Who. Note that the title is not "Dekiru Igo," which means (Someone) can (play) Go. The stuff in front of dekiru Igo is a subordinate clause: Anytime, anywhere. You unwind Japanese sentences and clauses in proper SOV order, newbie.
[I WANT! I WANT! I WANT!]
Ginsei IgoGet strong at Go with Ginsei Igo!! Ginsei means "Silver Star"; you may see both or either listed by vendors or reviewers. The Japanese home page is here — if your web browser supports the Flash demo, check out the neat Go clock this thing can turn into!
[I NOT WANT!]
Gensen Table Game DSWi-Fi Ready
Deeply discounted at Play-Asia.com
Sorry, I don't know much about this one, except that it's an anthology of board games, one of which is Go. And Sensei's Library found the gameplay a bit braindead, "regularly adding useless stones to dead groups, failing to respond well to ko fights, and making unreasonable attacks."
[WTF!!? ENGLISH LANGUAGE! BUT... NOT YET RELEASED ... MAYBE HAS GO]
Ultimate Brain Games DSJudging by box art, this DS version of the old GBA anthology seems to include some sort of Go, but details are sketchy. It hasn't been released yet, and the product description posted at Amazon.com was just copied verbatim from the GBA puff — it doesn't mention Go at all!
Please note I don't necessarily endorse or recommend Play-Asia.com as the sole vendor of these games in North America. I plead ignorance, and would personally welcome learning where else to buy these and similar Go games for the Nintendo DS — cheaper, if possible.
posted by Grikdog at
3:08 PM
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