Larry Smith wrote on Sun, Apr 4, 2004 09:57 PM UTC:
Let me deviate a little and discuss the concept of balance in Game Design.
Most would assume that a perfectly balanced game is the optimal, and this
is often demonstrated by comments about the placement of Bishops (long
diagonal movers) in games.
In a square playing field, there are two distinct diagonal patterns, and
FIDE has offered a Bishop for each of these. But in Shogi initially the
Bishops occupy only one of these patterns. Both games are considered
good. Whether or not a game has Bishops occupying each diagonal patterns
is not the sole foundation for its evaluation. In fact such imbalances
can be considered a potential factor in the overall strategic dynamic of
the game.
Both diagonal patterns can be occupied, one diagonal pattern can be
occupied or opposing diagonal patterns can be occupied, the game will
still have the potential of being good. In fact, there could be no
Bishops in a game, like XiangQi(excluding its Elephants).
'Now now, perfectly symmetrical violence never solved anything.'
----Professor Hubert Farnsworth, Futurama, The Farnsworth Parabox