The Two (Painful) Ways to Play on Zoom
- Holding a Board Up to the Camera: You balance your physical board toward the webcam and shout "I'm moving my knight to the right." The other person then tries to copy the same move on their own board. (Pure chaos!)
- The Screen-Sharing Ordeal: A war between browser tabs. One of you opens an online board and shares the screen. The other dictates the moves while the sharer plays on their behalf. Where's the fun in that?
Why Is It So Hard? (Zoom's Limits)
- No Referee, No Clock: Moves are manual and keeping time is impossible. The margin for error is huge and "Take that move back!" squabbles are inevitable.
- Constant Distraction: Video in one window, chessboard in another. Your attention is forever split in two.
- Closed to New Faces: You can only play people you've already sent a meeting link to. Matching with a random stranger and starting a brand-new story is impossible.
Table Showdown: Rovian vs. Zoom
| Feature | Rovian | Zoom Meetings 🥱 |
|---|---|---|
| Everything on One Screen | Video, chat and board all in one | You get dizzy switching windows |
| We're the Referee | Clock, rules and moves automated | Manual moves, endless disputes |
| Finding New Opponents | Match in one tap, turn on the camera, play | Only the people on your invite list |
| Flow | Rematch or Skip in one tap | Setting up screen sharing from scratch |
| Setup | Opens instantly in the browser, effortless | Apps, accounts and invite links |
Drop the Limits with Rovian — Join the Laughter
Everything you try to patch together on Zoom, we've combined flawlessly at a single table. Video chat, a smooth chessboard, a clock and automatic matchmaking… they're all waiting for you in your browser. Hit "Play Random" or "Create a Private Room" from the menu, and leave the rest to Rovian.
Frequently asked questions
How do I keep two boards in sync on Zoom?
You can do it by hand and lose your mind — or come to Rovian and enjoy everything syncing automatically within milliseconds. The choice is yours.
Do I need Zoom running in the background to use Rovian?
Absolutely not! High-quality video chat is already at the heart of Rovian. You don't need a single extra app.
Can I send my friend a link like a meeting invite?
You can do something even easier. Hit Create a Private Room and send the link to your friend. The moment they click, they appear in the seat across from you.