[Gandalf Parker]

The game does have those features. But they are part of the basic PbEM game on Linux setup so they dont tend to get explained well for people on Macs and Windows. Its not on the menu, so they dont think its a feature of the game.

The pbem setup means that the turns are a seperate file.
To get a spectator view of a game, simply ask to have someones turns emailed to you also.
To get a replay function (or backups), simply arrange for a turn file to NOT overwrite the previous turn file each time. (some people have written utilities to make that easier)

With direct-connect games it can be more difficult to do both. Such as, if care isnt taken then a spectator can save a turn to the server. But it can be done if you really know your way around the windows program (by setting permissions).

Hmmmm Im thinking that there might be a way to insure at the hosts end that only the correct file gets used. Maybe I will think on that abit and see about setting up a spectator game. We could have the experts on IRC play a game against each other and allow everyone to watch it. (allow direct connect for watching but only emailed turns from the real players get swapped in by the preexec prior to running host?)

Gandalf Parker