The return of Ghost Chess
Added 2023-08-06 09:54:54 +0000 UTCA few years ago I made a video about the Square Off automated chess set.
I shot the video in one day and edited together the next. That video went on to receive over a million views.
Today I’d like to show you the sequel to that video and chess set. This is the Square Off Neo.
I recorded this video across a few days, the multi-layered editing was a bit of a multi day headache and given current YouTube trends, this one will be lucky if it gets a fifth of the views of the first.
Times move on, tastes change. it seems it’s not just automated chess sets that are getting smaller and quieter.
Nevertheless I’m fairly happy with the video and I do like my new chess set. Whether I’ll ever find the time to play it though, I’m really not sure…but at least it fits on a table now.
Have a good week and take care.
Swapped out the video - hopefully it’s a tad simpler with slightly less chat and slightly more chess.
UPDATE - A couple of last minute fixes to adjust some edit timings and add on an addendum section at the end.
Comments
I used to play chess in my teens but stopped as I was getting rather obsessed with it. My father had a nice wooden set, on the big side. And smalled wonderful. I used to play alone in a small magnetic plastic one. Now being so rusty, I am more ashamed of playing than worried about that e obsession. Such it is I never played in Internet or phones ( it all came later) But I'd like to teach my kids how to play. I liked this thing though I liked the original more. Yet it was very large. I also agree on this app thing. It is not great to depend on the.
Raul Ramos
2023-08-14 14:27:37 +0000 UTCI was a big fan of chess at one point but none of my friends were into it at school and my family were never in the mood to play more than one game every so often, so if id had this as a kid I would have been absolutely over the moon. Not so much these days though; the most I would pay is maybe £20 for a used set if I was that bothered about playing nowadays, which I’m not really.
Sam Parsons
2023-08-12 17:04:04 +0000 UTCThere is something just magical about physical pieces moving instead of just playing on a screen. Obviously the previous gigantic model was more impressive. But if you don't have the space for it and it had to be packed away, that impressiveness does you no good. I hope this version keeps you playing and learning.
Oscar C
2023-08-11 07:45:59 +0000 UTCThis is interesting. I used to have a fancy glass chess set on my fancy glass coffee table… but my skills were crap… and not very fancy. Now I’m (hopefully) a little more mature and a little more knowledgeable, I think something like this would be interesting to try. Cheers Matt.
Lee Coles
2023-08-09 09:32:53 +0000 UTCJust love that ghostly movement of the chess pieces and your demonstration of it. Personally, I never had the attention span for chess, nor the mental capacity to plan more than a move or two ahead. Wordle is about my limit these days. Have a good week Mat - enjoy your upcoming holiday!
Roland Bogush
2023-08-08 08:07:13 +0000 UTCThis video may be in the right place at the right time, because chess is on YouTube's latest list of top culture trends: https://blog.youtube/culture-and-trends/july-culture-trends-2023-rizz-permission-to-flex/
VWestlife
2023-08-07 23:36:11 +0000 UTCOi! I still think of shirts from 2019 as fairly new but then I keep forgetting that it wasn't last year.
Stephen Cairns
2023-08-07 21:59:59 +0000 UTCThe rapid short beeps remind me of a Geiger counter.
VWestlife
2023-08-07 21:38:04 +0000 UTCAgreed.
Peter Rogers
2023-08-07 17:32:08 +0000 UTCThere is also a Go Rubik's cube. A little marvel. And the reason I wanted their take on a chess automaton.
Kurt Hansen
2023-08-07 11:21:53 +0000 UTC1k Chess on the ZX81 was a thing, incredible when you think about it and it only used 672 of the 1024 bytes available. I think the app exists to run the chess AI, it either does it on the phone or it runs on the servers.
Giles Jones
2023-08-07 07:56:33 +0000 UTCWhen I used to see them I wondered how they worked. When I found out that you had to move the computer players pieces I lost interest.
Giles Jones
2023-08-07 07:53:50 +0000 UTCI can remember being fascinated by these things as a kid whenever we’d go to a fancy department store. I wonder how they’d hold up against these newer machines? http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/milton_bradley_phantom.html
matsimpsk
2023-08-07 06:28:32 +0000 UTCI know that sliding a magnet under the board with a two-axis robot is the simplest and most practical way to do this. But I still would want a robot arm moving the pieces. Ideally something tailor-made, not a sloppily-repurposed Russian industrial robot capable of breaking its opponents' fingers.
Andy Ihnatko
2023-08-07 03:42:46 +0000 UTCYeah. In addition to being annoying, the piezo beeper makes this $300 chess board seem cheap, and old-tech. But I imagine that manufacturing this to sell at $300 was a minor miracle.
Andy Ihnatko
2023-08-07 03:35:18 +0000 UTCFascinating device, like you I only know the absolute basics of playing chess (one of the few things my elder brother and I bonded over as kids, he is an excellent player) but it's been on my bucket list to learn for a long time. Buying something like this would be good motivation I think.
Chris Horry
2023-08-07 01:13:41 +0000 UTCAlthough a ZX81 could indeed play chess, I might believe that the app could incorporate the latest trends in chess moves (if there are any, I don't play), and keep the experience fresh. But you're right about ending up with an orphan if the company decided to go out of business. I've experienced a few products that became useless becuase of that.
john black
2023-08-06 23:52:22 +0000 UTCI didn't want to make you re-edit your video!
john black
2023-08-06 23:49:06 +0000 UTCCool record! The bungled chess set means that everyone wins 😁.
Grace Robbins
2023-08-06 22:22:46 +0000 UTCI'm no chess player either, so I obviously own an instructional LP that comes with its own board with press-out pieces. With this and your random race record, no-one need ever go out again! https://ibb.co/1nnLN7H https://ibb.co/S6XvpQV Oh, and spot the error with the board my nephew got one Christmas... https://ibb.co/84GHnx9 (Apologies for links, but phone won't let me imbed images.)
Brad Jones
2023-08-06 22:02:56 +0000 UTCI know exactly where you’re coming from - I’m still not sure if I’ll enjoy playing the game. Fortunately I’ll probably never play it enough to find out.
Techmoan
2023-08-06 20:14:11 +0000 UTCI didn’t know they did a referral program. Perhaps I should read up on it. Thanks.
Techmoan
2023-08-06 20:09:58 +0000 UTCI test drove a Toyota today and was surprised there was no indicator sound. I actually find it useful as a reminder to turn them off if self cancelling doesn't register.
Duncan
2023-08-06 20:06:46 +0000 UTCAs an original backer I’m waiting for mine. Just yesterday I got a check for my address and from what I’ve understand it’ll take approx 2 months to get mine delivered. I also have the “go cube” en “go dice” but skipped the “go chess” because I’m waiting for this one to get delivered. I like your review and looking forward to play chess with / against it (I’m a poor chess player as well).
Bram Kessels
2023-08-06 19:39:23 +0000 UTCI totally agree with you regarding the beeps, I was at a music festival a few years ago and the machine scanning the tickets made a low frequency beep sound and my heart sank I asked what was wrong and they said "Nothing, it scanned fine." I really thought there was an error with the scan, but nope, the machine just made an error-like sound when it positively scanned.
Martipar
2023-08-06 19:23:17 +0000 UTCAh, brings been memories of the Kasparov travel chess my dad bought from the Dixon's bargain bin back in the 90s. Must've been ex-display as it never had the cover and those pieces were so difficult to press into the board
Lee Lavery
2023-08-06 18:22:18 +0000 UTCI love chess sets. I love chess apps. I see cool examples and I want to have them. I just wish I had any interest in actually playing chess!
Andy Ihnatko
2023-08-06 17:44:49 +0000 UTCI mentioned it was *unlikely* they'd ever want to sell a stand alone model as the upsell in the app would be a revenue stream they'd miss. It's the same reason why years ago I could get a proper Yahtzee game on the App Store for £2.99. However now when I look they're all 'Free' with forced video adverts and you earn coins that buy you games or you pay for more coins and get special dice and all that guff. I'm just commenting on the way of the world. Things have gone 'services' and 'subscriptions' - because over time it earns more than one off payments. As far as creating a stand alone model being any kind of issue - you could buy 1K Chess on the ZX81 - so it doesn't really require much in the way of computing power to play a game of chess. Nevertheless - since this comment in the video has created consternation - I've removed it and re-edited the video. I still believe that any company that can earn regular income from a revenue stream will be unlikely to turn off that tap - but perhaps I'm mistaken in this case.
Techmoan
2023-08-06 17:09:15 +0000 UTCI can bearly play draughts let alone chess, but I still kinda want one of these. Probably a moot point given that the Kickstarter closed 3 years ago.
OzRetrocomp
2023-08-06 16:12:57 +0000 UTCMatt, you mentioned that they force the app on you because they can then upsell you with it, Makes sense, but I kinda get the impression that the board doesn't know how to play chess, the app does, and it's your phone telling the board what to do. So they can use your computing power and the board really is just a fancy upside down plotter.
john black
2023-08-06 16:00:53 +0000 UTCReference link: https://youtu.be/DYVMeyGEWes
Grace Robbins
2023-08-06 14:31:22 +0000 UTCI do remember Your Christmas tree with fancy LED illumination, that was dependant on an app was it not ? Do You stll have it ?
Staffan Ahlstrom
2023-08-06 14:28:43 +0000 UTCGreat vid Mat.. I think that, apart from the Harry Potter magic appeal, this is the wrong solution in the 2020s. A little heavy base with an articulated arm that lifts & places pieces is the way to go. You could use your own board with pieces of any size & style, a camera mounted on the arm would identify the piece, it could set the board for you and placement of pieces within each squares wouldn't matter. If you've seen those robot chefs, you'll get that this is quite feasible for current AI tech., it could play other games apart from chess and would be convenient to transport & store.. I agree completely that forcing you to use their app/marketing-platform dooms this to obsolescence. The dome/arm combo will of course utilize natural-sounding speech synthesis and feature voice recognition for natural language chat. That is how the company will connect with their customers, not via R2D2..
Gordo
2023-08-06 13:44:51 +0000 UTCI can't tell if you'd want to do the Square Off Plus for a referral benefit.. It says $100 for each referral, but they probably don't expect a YouTuber (...do you like being called that? D: ) to refer people. It's tempting to get one. Probably space issues here too.. I didn't like the previous one so yeah a smaller one is appreciated.. Probably would aim for the swap.. And would be tempted to get two tbh and give one to my dad. Probably too wistful a scheme anyway though. It's kind of weird how the link to the product works, but it's generally published on their site.. Edit: also the iPad version works on Apple Silicon Macs. So I'd be curious how feasible it is to have the board that distant from the computer.. Still would need bluetooth range I guess which would be ok. Maybe would vaguely help the "need an app" angle if it's a program on a computer. or that might just be me :P Edit 2: hard to tell how much of the negativity online is related to delays from the event, but it does kill enthusiasm about these things...
PKFC
2023-08-06 13:12:48 +0000 UTCOoh, I can hear the buzzing in my head!
Bruce Grembowski
2023-08-06 13:00:59 +0000 UTCI'm guessing it would barely fit in the garage with no room to sit and play - but forget the car, piano is greater.
Grace Robbins
2023-08-06 12:27:16 +0000 UTCExcellent video, love the professional look of it. For a moment I thought I was watching "ESPN's Wide World of Chess." I agree, the perfect size of board to sit on a table in the living room. Makes your home look 'upscale'. By contrast, the old electric football (American) game that I've got on my coffee table just looks pathetic... sigh.
CrimsonPig808
2023-08-06 12:24:57 +0000 UTC• Your skill level at chess matches mine - and nobody to play games with, either. Same reason I want to play poker using the chips set and cards I bought, but it's back to playing on an app. • There's something about chess pieces and board that is both timeless and ancient, and I like that. • We must have lost McMullet and Blowhard to the event. • When you wear the same shirt as Mat c.2019 💙 • Mini MatAdvisor on the little ladder made me smile. • I enjoyed the multiple camera angles and filming locations and your nice new lounge furnishings. • Despite the process giving you a headache, the end result is very nice, editing wise. I do admit to being confused at several points while watching, but I chalk that up to my own dense morning bleariness. • When you said 'table' instead of 'board' I didn't notice it was vaguely inaccurate until MatAdvisor piped up. • Headphone HeadBoy looks groovy in his shades. As always, sincerely... take care. 🤍
Grace Robbins
2023-08-06 12:23:31 +0000 UTCLet's be honest, Sam would probably make Furby or Teletubby chess at the moment as he has lot of both kicking around! Good use for an old CNC bed if you don't mind the noise.
Matt Tester
2023-08-06 12:13:16 +0000 UTCJust re-watched the original video--had a wonderful chuckle at the Supervillain vs. Superspy chess match parody again. It just struck me that it would be cool if there were an automated chessboard using Tonies as the game pieces ("Granddad Mat" would obviously be The King). If "Look Mum, No Computer" can build an organ out of Furbies, he should be able to make a chessboard with Tonies.🤔
Mark Hesse
2023-08-06 11:50:31 +0000 UTCI agree there's not much of an excuse for a single beep these days, much like there's no excuse for car indicator sounds to still be annoying clicks or beeps. Interesting that it's a Kickstarter item, I've been watching the LG Duobo coffee machine and I'm tempted, because it's ridiculous and squats over your coffee up to relieve itself of coffee.
Matt Tester
2023-08-06 11:48:51 +0000 UTCPerhaps I’ll try that one in the future too.
Techmoan
2023-08-06 11:36:59 +0000 UTCI supported GoChess on Kickstarter* and honestly I think that board looks a little bit better than this. Self-moving pieces naturally make the board a lot thicker and I don't really like that. Chess boards ought to be fairly flat. Meanwhile, more of these chessboards are on the market or under development. I thought it was a nice video, so thanks, Mat and happy travels. *) Now on Idiegogo as well, it seems. It does annoy me, though, that a well-established brand keeps relying on crowdfunding, while they must surely be able to invest some of their profits in R&D. But well...
Kurt Hansen
2023-08-06 11:23:09 +0000 UTCCheck.
Techmoan
2023-08-06 11:17:02 +0000 UTCNice mate! Thanks, and don't call me mate!
Alistair Boyer
2023-08-06 11:12:54 +0000 UTCYeah, I'm up way too early here in the middle of the US, but the bonus is that a new Techmoan video was just released and it's a sequel to a previous video which is a bonus in itself. Glad to see you've now gotten something that is closer to what you wanted with the first one (got to go watch that one again now). Here's hoping that someday soon you'll get that affordable, full-size player grand piano that you've wished for. Will you have to keep it in the garage? Yes, but at least you'd have bragging rights as the only(?) person in the neighborhood that's got an actual grand piano.😁
Mark Hesse
2023-08-06 10:49:56 +0000 UTCNice vid! I've always wanted an automated chess board with this kind of playability. Not yet available in Australia but I'll keep an eye out. Spoken words would be better than a beep, agreed.....and stand alone w/out app would be great. I played chess competition and this would be a great addition to the games room.
AUXILIAM
2023-08-06 10:46:51 +0000 UTCYou don’t have to wait long.
Techmoan
2023-08-06 10:24:31 +0000 UTC*pulls out bingo card* Can't wait till 'needs an app' is mentioned... I know someone who bought a £500 litter tray that uses an app...
Novel
2023-08-06 10:17:20 +0000 UTC
