Why is it so important? Does what you learned from the game change over time? if not, then you have lost nothing. If it does, then rating will not retrieve it.

Game weight has a half life of 15 days for weaker players, 45 days for stronger players. Details here:
http://senseis.xmp.net/?KGSRatingMath

What might be argued here is that "real time" might not be the best way to "age discount" older data << assuming that game data should be age discounted >>

Number of games ago approximates time aging for players who are playing games at the average rate (per day, per week, etc.) but would also work for those playing at either a faster of slower rate.

I think what the OP wants to know is when the game will count as being finished - as of the date the win was awarded, which in the case of a forfeit can be months after the game had been played, or as of the date of play, in which case it would have less weight with respect to his current rank.

I think what the OP wants to know is when the game will count as being finished - as of the date the win was awarded, which in the case of a forfeit can be months after the game had been played, or as of the date of play, in which case it would have less weight with respect to his current rank.

It's not that it's important so much as it is that I'm curious about how the kgs rating system handle such things. I've heard different answers from various sources before, so I was hoping I could get a definitive answer to my question here on this forum, not another question.

this interaction reminds me of when I'm at the bus stop, waiting for a bus...

often people will approach to ask me if i know what the schedule is, or when the next bus will arrive. They are usually shocked to discover that not only do I not know, but also that I don't seem to care to know.

Why should I care what the schedule is, or when the next bus will arrive? I still have to wait for it, either way. What possible difference could it make what time that will be?

will that win still count as much it would've had my opponent resigned when the game was first being played? If so, why is that the case?

Silly me, commented twice and ignored the original question...

Your kgs rank will be calculated the same. KGS ranks don't have a "memory" in the sense that Elo does (where you have your history summed as a number, that is shifted with each game), they are calculated by looking at all your have results in the last six months and finding a most likely rating to explain them.

So, if I'm understanding you correctly, Mef, KGS only looks at the past 6 months of rated games that I've played and gives me a rating based on those results. The results of those rated games are given a value of either x, y, or z (x for if I've beaten a stronger opponent, y for a player of equal strength, and z for someone weaker) and uses the total value of x, y, or z to tabulate a rank that the system deems appropriate for me. The value of x, y, and z are constant throughout the 6 months that KGS uses them to estimate my rank, regardless of how far back in the 6 months that game was played.