Welcome to the Go page. This particular page is dedicated to the ancient game of Go and my facination with it.
What exactly is Go?
Go (also known as Igo or Wei Chi or Baduk) is a board game that originated in China about 3000 years or so ago but flourished most in Japan and Korea. In Go, players take turns placing small black or white stones on a board with a grid of 19x19 lines (although 13x13 and 9x9 lined boards are also used for beginners). The object of Go is to control more territory than your opponent. This is done by placing your stones and trying to claim the stones of your opponent. It's a game whose rules take less than ten minutes to learn, but the game itself takes a lifetime to master. It has been compared to chess in terms of analytical skill required to play it. And in my humble opinion, it is one of the most fun (not to mention addictive) board games I have ever played.
Want to learn to play Go?
I am considering creating a program to teach Go since I could not really teach you unless I were teaching you face-to-face in real life. Until then, check out this website for learning Go here.
Want to buy a set of a Go board and stones?
Go board and stone sets come in all degrees of quality and price ranges from cardboard boards with plastic stones in plastic bowls, to real wood boards with glass stones in wooden bowls, to portable magnetic Go boards. You can usually find mediocre to standard quality Go sets in gaming stores like Wizards of the Coast. You can also find them sold at Uwajimaya. For a higher quality, you might try looking online and search for various sites that sell Go boards. Some sites may have some somewhat steep prices though so search arround. I personally own a wooden Go board with glass stones and works fine for me.
Want to play Go against other human players online?
You don't need a board and a set of stones to play against other people (although it certainly helps). You can play Go with people from arround the world thanks to the Internet. Two great places that offer Internet Go (available in 9x9, 13x13 or 19x19 games) in particular are Yahoo! Games and the MSN Gaming Zone. In addition to these places, if you play Furcadia, you may be familiar with the Challenge map. Not far south from the portal back to the Vinca are some stairs that lead down to a room that has an 11x11 Go board played with pillows. The correct set of stairs are clearly marked with the word "GO".
Looking for Go roms?
As you may know, video game versions of Chess, Checkers and Mahjong can be found a dime a dozen. Video game versions of Go are much rarer, which is where this page section comes into play. The rarity of Go programs is partially due to the sheer complexity of attempting to create a realistic computer Go opponent. The following files are roms of Go games released for console systems. You will need emulators to run them. They're uncommon as far as roms go, which is why they are hosted here. True, the AI of these roms pale in comparison to that of an actual human player, but they're small, fun and great sources of free computer Go.
Note: All of these roms are in Japanese since no Go console games were ever made for the US. You don't need to know much Japanese to play them, in fact you can learn what most of the menu items do by trial and error. Just keep this in mind. Also Note: If you have a Go rom not listed here, don't hesitate to let me know about it. Just keep in mind that this part of my site will never ever be a place for finding general roms of mainstream games, just Go roms. Got it?
Famicom (NES) Go Roms
| A Go game by Hector. Actually, this isn't really much of a game as much as a program for teaching Go. There are two modes, one where you can see replays of Go games and a test mode where senarios are created in front of you and you have to use your knowledge to determine what are the best choices. It doesn't actually allow you to "play" per se. Still, it's good for learning and it plays "Sakura" when you start it up. :) Recommended emulator: NesterJ. Download rom here. (26 Kb). |
| Another Go "game" from Hector. This is the first title in Hector's Igo Shinan series but it looks and feels exactly like Igo Meikan (as does the rest of the Igo Shinan series). The only real difference here is that another mode for the scenario test mode. Recommended emulator: NesterJ. Download rom here. (31 Kb). |
| Next title in the Igo Shinan series. More replays but nothing else much new. Recommended emulator: NesterJ. Download rom here. (57 Kb). |
| See above. Recommended emulator: NesterJ. Download rom here. (61 Kb). |
| You can sort of sense a pattern here, can't you? Recommended emulator: NesterJ. Download rom here. (65 Kb). |
| Last title in the Igo Shinan series. Amazing how Hector was able to make six difference Go titles for the NES where you don't actually play Go, huh? Recommended emulator: NesterJ. Download rom here. (59 Kb). |
| A Go game from Namco. This title allows you to play Go against a computer opponent or even against a second player. Recommended emulator: NesterJ. Download rom here. (32 Kb). |
| A Go game from I'MAX. This program features a friendly interface and it teaches, quizes and allows you to play Go against a computer opponent. If you download one NES Go game, download this one. Recommended emulator: NesterJ. Download rom here. (86 Kb). |
Super Famicom (SNES) Go Roms
| Hector (creator of Igo Meikan and Igo Shinan) strikes back with their first and only SNES Go game. This game features two modes. The first mode allows you to actually play Go against the computer (complete with save and loading feature). The second mode allows you to watch the replays of many different recorded Go games in tradition of Hector's other Go games. My only gripe about this title is that the music, despite sounding athenticly Japanese is repetative and gets old after awhile. Recommended emulator: Snes9X or ZSnes. Download rom here. (331 Kb). |
| A rather cool Go game from Naxatsoft. In addition to allowing you to play against a computer opponent or a second player, you can choose between a 9x9, 13x13, or 19x19 board. Tournament and quiz modes are also included. Recommended emulator: Snes9X or ZSnes. Download rom here. (260 Kb). |
| A Go game from Bulletproof Software (the guys who published the Gameboy version of Tetris). In addition to the ussual staple of SNES Go games (not to mention two player mode), this game features three different player slots. Recommended emulator: Snes9X or ZSnes. Download rom here. (379 Kb). |
| Another Go game from Bulletproof Software. It's pretty much the same as Goliath save for better graphics and the ability to choose board sizes. Recommended emulator: Snes9X or ZSnes. Download rom here. (388 Kb). |
| A Go game from KSS and an interesting one seeing as how it is endorsed by KyuDan Takemiya Masaki. You can play against one of five different computer opponents (the last one being the KyuDan himself) or play against another player. Surprisingly, the game offers no extra options which is a bit of a pity. Recommended emulator: Snes9X or ZSnes. Download rom here. (381 Kb). |
| A Go game from Ask Dondansha. Another endorced game, only this one is endorced by KyuDan Rin Kaihou. This game includes lesson, quiz and playing modes (against a computer opponent or a second player). Recommended emulator: Snes9X or ZSnes. Download rom here. (437 Kb). |
| A wonderful purely Go game from J-Wing. This title allows you to play Go against a computer opponent or a second player and allows you to save your game and load it later. It even includes two different songs to play during matches. Recommended emulator: Snes9X or ZSnes. Download rom here. (329 Kb). |
| An SNES Go game made by Taito. This is my personal favorite title thus far. This title features multiple modes and options with the ability to play against a computer opponent or a second player. A teaching mode is also included, although the language barrier might prevent you from actually learning from it. The menus are very easy to navigate through, and all of the graphics are quite astecticly pleasing. Recommended emulator: Snes9X or ZSnes. Download rom here. (570 Kb). |
Hikaru no Go
Whether you are interested in Go, or just a really good anime and manga series, you might be interested in Hikaru no Go. Hikaru no Go is the story of a boy named Shindou Hikaru (the boy with the blonde highlights) who one day while cleaning his grandfather's attic finds an old Go board. A ghost who inhabited the board is awakened and then inhabits a corner of Hikaru's mind. The ghost turns out to be Fujiwara no Sai (the one with the tall hat), a former court member, Go tutor and master from the Heian period who never passed on to afterlife. Still with a strong desire to play Go, Sai convinces Hikaru to play Go for him (since Sai cannot manipulate solid matter being a ghost and all). While Hikaru is reluctant at first, Hikaru quickly grows to enjoy Go and learn from Sai. And it is through this that Hikaru meets new friends, rivals and begins his own quest to become a master of Go.
It's a surprisingly addictive anime series and is without question my favorite anime series right now. So where can you watch or read Hikaru no Go? Well Viz, the company that brings you Shonen Jump has the rights to distribute the manga of Hikaru no Go, so you should be able to get the graphic novels from them. As for the anime series? Well, I have not heard anything about the distribution of the series in America. However, Elite Fansubs did a fansub of all 75 episodes of the Hikaru no Go anime series back before Viz acquired the distribution rights. So if you look hard enough, you just might strike paydirt. *wink wink*
Looking for some Go links?
Ah yes. The obligitory collection of links.
The American Go Association A good resource site with plenty of Go goodness like books and resources for teaching.
The British Go Association Sorta like the above one only British... and with other different things like software and a library.
An Introduction to Go The name says it all. Chances are if I didn't provide an answer, this site will.
Yutopian's Go Game Page Yet another place with a lot of Go resources.
Yahoo! Games Go IMHO, the best place to play Go against other people from around the world for free!