Igowin Pro app for iPhone and iPad
4.6 (
4736 ratings )
Games
Board
Strategy
Developer:
Smart Games
4.99 USD
Current version:
1.2.2, last update: 6 years ago
First release : 01 Jun 2010
App size: 24.65 Mb
Bring the ancient strategy game of Go into the 21st century and the palm of your hand with Igowin Pro! With the most powerful Go software available for the iPhone or iPod Touch, Igowin Pro will challenge you no matter what your level, and keep you at the top of your game, on small boards or full size.
Igowin Pro uses the same Go engine as The Many Faces of Go, the three time world computer Go champion. It draws on more than two and a half decades of experience, a massive knowledge base and the newest research, as well as modern Monte Carlo techniques to help you learn and grow as a player. This is, hands down, the strongest Go engine available for the iPhone or iPod Touch.
Igowin Pro supports play on 9x9, 13x13, or 19x19 boards. This flexible program lets you set your rank as you like. Game parameters can be set up automatically based on your playing level, or you can choose whatever opponent strength or handicap you want.
A built in “magnifying glass” helps you put your move exactly where you want it. Smart move technology snaps your stone into the correct position. The convenient "instant-undo" feature lets you reset a mis-tap without waiting for the computer to finish thinking.
Games can be saved, commented, and emailed as attachments for later study to help improve your play.
Igowin Pro has the most comprehensive tutorial of any app of its kind. You can learn the game basics quickly and begin playing immediately. You can ask for a hint or an estimate of the current score anytime during a game. With no complex menus and just a few basic controls, the game is easy to navigate.
All AI levels are calibrated by actual play, on an online server. That means that the ranking Igowin gives you is very close to what your real-world ranking would be, rather than an arbitrary number that only applies within the app.
Igowin Pro uses the traditional Kyu ranking system to measure your performance. The engine automatically adjusts its level of play to match yours. By using the calibrated rankings within the Go engine, it can play a 9x9 even game, with no handicaps, against any player, from beginner all the way up to 3 Dan level. 19x19 even games automatically adjust from beginner to 3 Kyu.
Whether youre a rookie looking for a fun way to learn and play the game of Go, or a crafty veteran looking for a challenge, Igowin is the app youve been searching for. Take Igowin Pro wherever you go, and play it whenever you have a few minutes to burn. Its always ready for a quick game, or a long session.
With Igowin Pro on your iPhone or iPod Touch, youre ready to start playing the 4000 year old game that takes a few minutes to learn, and a lifetime to master.
Pros and cons of Igowin Pro app for iPhone and iPad
Igowin Pro app good for
Awesome for Beginner/amateur practice and learning tool especially when no human opponent is available (no computer program can offer a real Go challenge and experience better than playing face to face.)
Still the most solid Go AI of all the Go programs I have played (PC or App), and does appear to play more human like.
Would be nice to see a pass-and-play feature to play a person when a board wouldnt be practical. The save game replay is lacking the option to jump into play from a specific turn allowing the player to experiment with different sequences and such.
Overall I found this purchase to be worthwhile.
Much better than other iPhone Go apps but its weak. I am 9k and can beat the app set to 5k or whatever it strongest level is.
They should add a few things to the next version:
A) you should be able to use this as a board against a human opponent.
B). You should have the option for more undos so yiu can try out diff things
That said this thing is a good solo time waster.
Some bad moments
Could be better, its sad to see that Im a 6k and I can beat this on 4 stone handicap. The go ratings on this is a total LIE!
I bought this purely based on the name of Many Faces. The game engine may still be good. But I have no luck of checking it out due to its clumsy input mechanism. Any moves I tried are just like throwing darts toward a target 20 feet away. The landed everywhere except your intended place. The magnifier is a joke. You lose your sense of the area around your target. Until they change the input method, this game is useless.
Ive been playing the 9X9 version of this for the past month or so. Its definitely the first good enough go software Ive ever played (Im about 13 kyu) -- good enough for me at any rate. It rarely makes stupid moves. This Pro version allows you to play 13X13 or the full 19X19. I was surprised to find how rarely I miss my mark on the 19X19 grid. I hold my iPod Touch in one hand and use my thumb of the same hand to tap an intersection. For some reason I almost never miss -- maybe one out of fifty moves or so I have to "undo" because of a bad aim, whereas with the 9X9 version I found myself having to undo every 25 moves or so, at least once a game.
If theres a better Go app out there, Id like to know! This is a hoot.
The AI is some of the best on the iPhone. Unfortunately it is hard to enjoy due to the poor user interface. Too often I misplace a stone and the magnifier is no help. I highly recommend Smart Go Pro over this.
Fantastic AI that fine tunes itself to your ability, making every game just about even. Its especially great if you want to play full 19 x 19 games but rarely have the time for one on IGS. Ive gotten 4 stones better just by playing Igowin.
Im a beginner and the AI is a good challenge. I own both this and SmartGo Pro. Smartgo is great for the tsumego, but Igowins 19x19 board is great practice.
