Sargon I

Third in a series of chess games.

Origin The original SARGON was written by Dan and Kathleen 'Kathe' Spracklen in a Z80-based computer called Wavemate Jupiter III[1] using assembly language through TDL Macro Assembler. The name was originally written entirely in capitals because early computer operating systems such as CP/M did not support lower-case file names. Introduction SARGON was introduced at the 1978 West Coast Computer Faire where it won the first computer chess tournament held strictly for microcomputers, with a score of 5-0.[2][3] This success encouraged the authors to seek financial income by selling the program directly to customers. Since magnetic media were not widely available at the time, the authors placed an advert in Byte Magazine and mailed $15 photocopied listings that would work in any Z80-based microcomputer.[1] Availability of the source code allowed porting to other machines. For example, the March–April 1979 issue of Recreational Computing describes a project that converted Sargon to an 8080 program by using macros. Later the Spracklens were contacted by Hayden Books and a book was published.[4] Commercialization through electronic media When magnetic media publishing became widely available, a Navy Petty Officer, Paul Lohnes, ported Sargon to the TRS-80, altering both graphics, input, and housekeeping routines leaving the Spracklen's chess-playing algorithm intact. Paul consulted with the Spracklens, both living in San Diego at the time, to make the TRS-80 version an instant success with the help of Hayden Book's newly established software division: Hayden Software. Paul was not involved in further refinements to the TRS-80 version due to his reassignment to sea duty shortly after signing the deal with Hayden Software. In the early 1980s SARGON CHESS was ported to several earlier microcomputers, i.e. NASCOM (by Bits & PCs, 1981), Exidy Sorcerer, Sharp MZ 80K,[5] and many others. A complete rewrite was necessary later for the Apple II port, made by Kathleen's brother Gary Shannon. Both were published by Hayden Software. Sequels The Spracklens made significant improvements on the original program[1] and released Sargon II. In 1978 it tied for third at the ninth North American Computer Chess Championship despite being seeded ninth of 12 entries. Sargon finished only behind Belle and Chess 4.7, and defeated AWIT—running on a $5 million Amdahl mainframe—amazing the audience.[6][3][1] That year they published a series of articles in BYTE on computer chess programming,[2][7] stating "we think it would be nice if not everyone had to reinvent the wheel".[6] Sargon II was ported to a variety of personal computers popular in the early 1980s.[8] The game engine featured multiple levels of lookahead to make it more accessible to beginning chess players. BYTE in 1980 estimated that Sargon II had a 1500 rating at the highest tournament-time difficulty level, and speculated that it was the best chess program on sale, including dedicated devices.[9] Sargon 2.5, sold as a ROM module for the Chafitz Modular Game System, was identical to Sargon II but incorporated pondering.[10] It received a 1641 rating at the Paul Masson tournament in June–July 1979, and 1736 at the San Jose City College Open in January 1980.[3] Sargon 3.0 finished in seventh place at the October 1979 North American Computer Chess Championship. The competition had improved, but 3.0 drew against Cray Blitz and easily defeated Mychess, its main microcomputer rival. In December 3.0 easily won the second microcomputer championship in London.[3] In 1980, the Spracklens' Reversi game finished in first place at a computer tournament at Northwestern University, and in 1981 it finished in third place at the Santa Cruz Open Othello Tournament.[11] Sargon III was a complete rewrite from scratch. Instead of an exchange evaluator, this version used a capture search algorithm. Also included was a chess opening repertoire. This third version was written originally for the 6502 assembler and was commercially published by Hayden Software in 1983. Apple contacted the Spracklens and, after a port for 68000 assembly, Sargon III was the first third-party executable software for the Macintosh.[1] After the demise of Hayden Software, later chess programs were also released under the name Sargon, including Sargon IV (Spinnaker Software), Sargon V (Activision) and a CD-i title simply named Sargon Chess. The Spracklens concurrently wrote the engines for the dedicated chess computers produced by Fidelity Electronics, which won the first four World Microcomputer Chess Championships.

The Official digital adaptation of the best-selling board game.

Championship Chess from Expert Software is a chess game that includes all of the features you would expect. It is a single player game with both 2D and 3D views, 6 chess sets and 5 boards. The background music is quite good and accents the various themes.

Super Jinsei Game is a video game adaptation of Milton Bradley's The Game of Life board game. Takara, the Japanese license holders for the game, commissioned a number of video game adaptations of the Jinsei Game (as the board game is known in Japan). This particular game is the first of three Super Famicom games, and is followed by 1995's Super Jinsei Game 2 and 1996's Super Jinsei Game 3. Geo Factory worked on Super Jinsei Game, but KID would go on to develop its two sequels. Up to four players take turns moving around the board, encountering events that either increase or decrease their current status. They must travel through childhood and various schools before they encounter adult problems like university and finding work. The player who earns the most money at the end is deemed the winner.

Super Jinsei Game 2 is a Miscellaneous game, developed by Kid and published by Takara, which was released in Japan in 1995.

The game is backed by grand chessmaster, Garry Kasparov. Players can create a personal profile using their own name, MSN nickname for online/network play, country and a facial icon. Select a side black or white and game type: "Local" against the computer or other human to either no time limit or specified; "Online" via MSN Game Zone or over a computer network; and "Kasparov Chess Club" of 45 club members in a single "exhibition" game versus any member or "championship" to become Club Champion against all members each has different abilities and ratings ranging from Bronze to Gold with "hints" available during play. Actual play has accessible "history" record of all movement, option to "resign" or "draw" a game. The chessboard is viewable in 2D or 3D and styled as Staunton Black & White, Staunton Rosewood or Modern set with notation in algebraic or figurine. Movement is instant or adjustable by a slide for fast or slower paced game. For a novice unfamiliar with Chess, the "training" (tutorial) segment covers basic rules of play to winning. Strategies for openings and defenses to middle/end games. Useful tips, possible traps and problems. Review a selection of 64 historical games played by the grandmaster himself, Kasparov including famous matches against various top chess players to IBM's supercomputer Deep Blue. Install or synchronize the game using a handheld device: Palm OS 3.5 or PocketPC docked in the cradle from Windows PC CD-ROM.

Enter the relentless world of underground Chinese mafia! The Gang of Four card game embodies an endless battle for supremacy - where the weak perish and the strong dominate! Play your cards with cunning and tactics to snatch the victory!

The princess has several suitors... but which of them will manage to charm her? Choose a strategy, be it through bluffing or power of deduction, to win your beloved's heart. The official adaptation of the renowned card game. DRAW, PLAY AND BLUFF, FOR ONLY ONE SUITOR WILL BE ABLE TO WIN THE HEART OF THE PRINCESS You and other suitors are prepared to do anything to get your love letter to the princess. She's shut herself inside her palace, so you're forced to use go-betweens to deliver the message. Guards, princes, the king, the countess... Who will turn out to be the best ally to help win your beloved's heart? You only ever have two cards in your hand. Draw and play your cards to get closer to the princess. Everyone staying in the castle could aid you in their own way: guards and princes can help discredit letters from other suitors, priests will give you precious information about your rivals while the handmaiden will protect your letter at any cost! As the game progresses, you'll have to think strategically, bluff and try to read your opponents' game. When the deck is used up, the card in your hand will be the character holding your letter for the princess. The strongest card, i.e. the character who's closest to the princess, wins! Send the other suitors packing, gain the advantage and win the game. Let's get started! Features: Simple rules and quick turns in this game adapted from the multi-award winning card game Love Letter 1 to 4 players Play in single-player mode against the computer, against your friends in private multiplayer or face suitors from all over the world in online mode 16 cards representing 8 types of characters found at the Court: Guards, Priests, Barons, Handmaidens, Princes, King, Countess and of course the Princess Available languages: French, English, Spanish, Italian, German, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Russian.

Chess was written in March, 1980 and converted to IBM PC in December, 1981. This is probably the very first chess game running in MS-DOS. Taking it's age into account, it's no surprise that the game features only text-mode graphics. The chess board and the pieces are drawn using ASCII characters. For the same reason, it's also no surprise that the user input is based just on keyboard commands. In Chess there is no multiplayer mode - you play only against the computer. As usual, in this kind of game, you can select the A.I.'s skill level. The game offers 24 difficulty levels.

Spin the wheel and choose your path – the possibilities are endless! Stay single or say "I do". Retire rich or lose it all. Anything can happen in The Game of Life

Play the Quantum Chess RTS against an easy AI. Expect chaos.