From: ccdarg@dct.ac.uk (Alan Greig)
Newsgroups: uk.misc
Subject: Re: new groups, how?
Date: 18 Nov 92 14:48:35 GMT
Distribution: uk
Organization: Dundee Institute of Technology

In article <IDF.92Nov12172655@fat-controller.cs.bham.ac.uk>, idf@cs.bham.ac.uk (Ian Fitchet) writes:
> Hi,
> 
> 	With the new uk.bcs.* groups I am wondering what happened to
> the old procedure of having a month of voting etc etc.  This also

Well if anyone would care to explain exactly how this voting procedure
works in the uk domain... It was discussed in uk.net and nobody pointed
out any pre-existing procedure. In the control message creating the
groups I apologized if I'd bypassed anyone and still nobody pointed out
any 'protocol' violation. I did try... 

One thing I was *not* going to do was to have a worldwide vote in
news.something with the same voting figures needed as for a worldwide
group.

> follows from the appearance of rec.games.abstract which appeared
> (here) today/yesterday with half the (100 or so) postings asking what
> the newsgroup was for => no-one knew it was coming.

Pay attention there... Nothing unusual about that group.

$! Relay-Version: VMS News - V6.1 24/02/92 VAX/VMS V5.4-2; site dct.ac.uk
$! Path: dct.ac.uk!uknet!mcsun!uunet!uunet!tale
$! Newsgroups: rec.games.abstract
$! Subject: newgroup rec.games.abstract
$! Message-ID: <BxGBon.HF9@uunet.uu.net>
$! From: tale@uunet.uu.net (David C Lawrence)
$! Date: 9 Nov 92 13:48:22 GMT
$! Sender: tale@uunet.uu.net (David C Lawrence)
$! Control: newgroup rec.games.abstract
$! Organization: UUNET Technologies, Inc
$! Approved: tale@uunet.uu.net
$! Lines: 59
$! 
$! rec.games.abstract is an unmoderated newsgroup which passed its vote for
$! creation by 287:64 as reported in news.announce.newgroups on 2 Nov 1992.
$! 
$! For your newsgroups file:
$! rec.games.abstract	Perfect information, pure strategy games.
$! 
$! The charter, culled from the call for votes:
$! 
$! 	The newsgroup would be for discussion of abstract games where
$! 	strategy, tactics and player skill are paramount.  This includes
$! 	the major category of perfect information, pure-strategy
$! 	(deterministic) games, i.e. those with no element of chance (e.g.
$! 	no dice), and where all information is available (unlike card games
$! 	and Scrabble, for example, where players' hands are hidden).  The
$! 	games under consideration are characterised by a simple board and
$! 	pieces, with a small number of rules.  The cliche `a minute to
$! 	learn, a lifetime to master' is often applied.
$! 
$! 	o	discussion of less mainstream abstract games,
$! 		which do not warrant a group of their own.
$! 
$! 	o	design and implementation issues for computer players.
$! 
$! 	o	develop generic code for computer programs,
$! 		such as board widgets, alpha-beta and other algorithms.
$! 
$! 	o	introduce each other to new games, thus finding new
$! 		opponents.
$! 
$! 	o	discuss strategy & tactics for human players.
$! 
$! 	o	what makes a {good,fun,hard,popular} abstract game?
$! 		Will playing X be detrimental/beneficial to my Y playing? etc.
$! 
$! 	o	ask `experts' for rule clarification.
$! 
$! 	o	catalogue known abstract games, variations, genealogy,
$! 		sources of equipment, literature, clubs.
$! 
$! 	o	maintain a list of email opponents for various games.
$! 
$! 	o	catalogue available computer programs for these games.
$! 
$! 	o	maintain a FAQ, outriggers could be posted to other groups,
$! 		get a mention in appropriate FAQs.
$! 
$! 	o	propose and discuss new games or mechanisms
$! 
$! 	o	puzzles for games other than chess et al.
$! 
$! 	o	organise tournaments for various (obscure) games.
$! 
$! 	o	organise an ftp archive, where useful information and games
$! 		programs can be held.
$! 
$! 	o	vote for the best and the worst abstract game of the year
$! 		(or month or ever!)
$! 
$! 	o	generally have fun in a decent way
-- 
Alan Greig                            Janet: Alan@UK.AC.DUNDEE-TECH
Dundee Institute of Technology	   Internet: Alan@DCT.AC.UK
Tel: (0382) 308810                 Int: +44 382 308810
              -- There is only one true conspiracy --
Newsgroups: uk.misc,soc.culture.celtic