'Go' should be made into a video game

I'm surprised it hasn't happened already somewhere in the world. If Othello (aka Reversi) can get a video game version made for the Atari 2600 and the NES (among others) then, why not Go? This ancient game is the personal favorite of Atari founder (and Father of the video game industry) Nolan Bushnell and can be infinitely challenging and complex. In fact, this game's deceptively simple nature helped Mr. Bushnell develop his #1 rule of video games: Make them easy to learn and difficult to master. If nothing else, that rule definitely applies to Go.

Here's a few links explaining the game's rules, history and unique terminology...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_%28game%29

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_terms

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rules_of_Go

I'm not surprised that Mr. Bushnell never made a version of the game for the Atari 2600 or arcades while he still owned/controlled Atari. The very nature of arcade games are usually very fast-paced games that don't last more than a few minutes at a time. Go wouldn't work in a situation where the machine's proprietor is trying to get as many of the kid's quarters as possible.

The technology didn't really exist to make a truly good video representation of Go for home consoles until later 8-Bit consoles like the NES came around. (The Colecovision, Intellivision, Atari 5200 and Atari 7800 may have also been able to do it as well but, the NES would have done it best. It had much more system RAM and far superior controls.) Even the version of Othello that was made for the 2600 was a bit simplified compared to the actual board game.

Fortunately, the technology to make a good representation of the game does exist now. I can easily see it going to the WiiU (being played on it's Gamepad controller), Nintendo's DS and 3DS lines, Android and/or iOS devices. An online feature where you play against others across the world would make it infinitely better. I'm not sure how the 3D functions of the Nintendo 3DS could be utilized (or if it's really necessary for an adaption of a 2,500 year old board game) but, it does bring intriguing possibilities to mind. The most obvious being a 3D perspective view of the game board and pieces in motion.

And now, if you all will excuse me, I am going to look up a cheap copy of Go on Amazon so I can one day buy it, play it, study it and develop a video version.

- Lord Publius

Addendum:

Apparently, there was also a Windows 95 version of Othello made by Hasbro Interactive, the company that bought the rights to Atari's home division in 1998. Sure are a lot of video game translations for a board game that most casual board game players (families on game night, party-goers, et al.) don't even know exist...