Media Coverage

August 13th 2006: Article in the Trinidad Sunday Express Mix section on the All Fours Computer Game.

Animae Caribe 2005:
The All Fours computer game was showcased and played by the public for the first time on 15th September 2005 at the University of the West Indies. Interest was strong and the game was showcased with the help of GATT. More information on the festival is available at www.animaecaribe.com

Pictures from Animae Caribe 2005

Television Coverage:
‘Mako’ show on Gayelle: 5-6pm, 28th July 2005
Included a 30 minute-long interview with Alexander Paddington and a showcasing of the game on television.

Articles featured in the:

Trinidad Sunday Express Mix: August 13th 2006
Trinidad Guardian: 20th July 2005, September 2005 along with coverage of Animae Caribe 2005
Trinidad Newsday: September 2005 along with coverage of Animae Caribe 2005
Trinidad Express: 23rd February 2005
Government of Trinidad and Tobago’s website: 12th April 2005
Fatima Yearbook: June 2005
London Mission: Volume 6 April 2005, The Newsletter of Trinidad and Tobago High Commission

Article done by Trinidad Guardian. 20th July 2005

By Sherwin Long
Twenty-year-old Alexander Paddington feels he has the Trinidadian alternative to computer solitaire.

On July 14, at the Guardian office, St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain, his fingers jabbed at the keyboard of his Dell laptop while he played computer all fours.

Paddington, who attends Harvard University in the US, came up with the idea for the game while taking a computer course.

He admitted the first version of the game was basic, but with programmer Jeff Bazanson on board, the game’s new version has been polished for commercial use.

“This can stand up with games like solitaire and hearts,” Paddington said confidently. “We have options they don’t have. You can change the game’s background with pictures of you, your family or even nature.”

To prove his point, he clicked on the settings bar for the game and changed a bland green background to real life pictures of Balandra Bay, Maracas Beach and a football match between T&T and the US.

Paddington, son of photographer Bruce Paddington, also enjoys playing all fours in his spare time.

For the game, he researched by observing the Flying Angels All Fours League in Arouca.

He noted that there would be rule variation options in the game as there are different rules in T&T such as the Tobago rules and the force follow suit rule.

Despite the popularity of computer games world-wide, Paddington is still gearing the game towards specific markets.

“It is definitely a difficult game to learn. After a few games with the computer you could get it, but we are aiming for a T&T and Caribbean audience,” he said.

The main obstacles affecting Paddington so far, revolve around corporate sponsorship and production of the game.

He said the cost of advertising the game and producing playable copies was $100,000 and upwards.

According to Paddington, banner space would be provided for companies to advertise within the game.

Paddington was also not against one company buying the rights for the game and using it as a promotional tool.

He said the game would be sold for between $40-$80 and wants to release it on August 21 at the

Gaming Association of Trinidad and Tobago’s (Gatt) Gamecon exhibition.

With the online game-play a main attraction among gamers, Paddington said he was working with

Gatt to develop a server for unlimited online play through his Web site www.allfoursonline.com.

For Paddington this game will facilitate two favourite Trinidadian pastimes.

“All fours is a social game and Trinidadians love to lime. This is an opportunity to make a little liming spot with your friends over the computer. Same difference.”

Features of Computer all fours

Ability to form teams online

Instant messaging support and support for signals to be sent within teams.

Advance artificial intelligence for off-line play.

Different off-line play modes: two human versus two computers, one human with three computers, human human human versus one computer

Rule variation options in the game

Interactive card and board backgrounds

Animation of key events and statistics provided for each hand played

Easy interface, click cards and action buttons to play the game

Installable on all PCs, requires minimum computing power

Production of CDs with individualised codes to prevent piracy and duplication

True T&T game with trivia and Trini sayings.

For more information on the release of the All Fours game contact: Alexander Paddington at paddingt@fas.harvard.eduor www.allfoursonline.com

About All Fours

All Fours originated in England during the 17th century.

The game remains very popular in Blackburn, England, where it is traditionally played in pubs. It is still organised into pub teams who play on Sunday nights.

In America it is known as old sledge or seven up and usually played by two players with the full pack of 52 cards, with the ace being the highest and the two the lowest. The game, however, is seven points.

There are four different items which count towards the score, hence the name all-fours.

High—the highest trump out, scoring one to the original holder.

Low—the lowest trump out, scoring one to the original holder.

Jack—the knave of trumps, scoring one to the dealer, if turned up; if otherwise, to the winner of the trick to which it falls.

Game—scoring one to the ultimate holder or the more valuable cards in the tricks won by him, according to the following scale:

For each ten (trump or otherwise) 10, for each ace four, for each king three, for each queen two, for each knave one.
(Source: www.answers.com)
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*Scholarship winner creates computer version of "All Fours"*
by Government Information Service
Posted: Apr 12, 2005 21:43 UTC

PORT OF SPAIN - Trinidad and Tobago's 2003 National open scholarship
winner based on the GCE A' Level results, Alexander Paddington, created
the first electronic version of the card game, "All Fours", as a
computer science project at Harvard University where he has taken up his
scholarship.

The card game that originated in England, in the 17th century, has
become very popular in Trinidad and Tobago. "All Fours" became very
popular in North America in the 19th century and continues to be played
in England.

Paddington's project was programmed last year after he found no online
evidence of the game. He is hoping to work with developers to perfect
the game and is currently aiming to develop a commercial version, making
it more professional and as easily available worldwide as the popular
computer game Solitaire.

The name "All Fours" derives from the fact that four points can be won
(high, low, jack or game) after the dealer has finished dealing. The
object of the game is to score points by winning tricks, a round of
cards dealt, with valuable cards. A standard 52-card pack is used.

Normally there are four players in two fixed partnerships where partners
sit opposite each other at a table. It is possible, but less common, for
two people to play. When the cards are dealt the dealer turns the next
card face up to indicate the trump suit. The dealer's team may score
points for the trump card.

The popular game, frequently played in local bars usually generates
raucous excitement. The thrills of the live game are absent, but
Paddington, a former Fatima College student hopes to enhance the current
bland "congratulations" message with some cartoonish graphics.