Morphy

Morphy Encore / Morphy Edition master chess
Morphy Encore Morphy Edition master chess Modul
Hersteller	Applied Concepts / (Sandy Electronic Vertrieb Deutschland / France double R in Frankreich)
Markteinführung	1981
CElo	1450
Programmierer	Aker, John
Prozessor	6502
Prozessortyp	8 Bit
Takt	2 MHz 4 MHz (Destiny Mega-4 GGM) - nie offiziell erschienen
RAM	2 KB
ROM	8 KB
Bibliothek	50+ Opening Lines
Einführungspreis	598 DM (Morphy Encore) 898 DM (Modul mit GGM)
Rechentiefe
BT-2450
BT-2630
Colditz
Verwandt
Zugeingabe	Tastatur
Zugausgabe	Alphanumerisches Display
Display	8 stellige alphanumerische Anzeige
Stromversorgung	10V / 830mA
Spielstufen	9
Maße
Sonstiges
Programm-Modul nicht austauschbar / 4 MHz Tuning möglich / Identisch mit dem austauschbaren Morphy Edition Master Chess Modul
Level Info
Bedenkzeit	Level
30 Sek. / Zug	Stufe 3
30 Min. / Partie	Keine Stufe für gesamte Partie!
60 Sek. / Zug	-
60 Min. / Partie	Keine Stufe für gesamte Partie!
Turnier	Stufe 8 (40 Züge in 2 Stunden)
Analyse	Stufe 6

Anfang 1981 erschien das "Morphy Edition master chess" Modul als Nachfolger des Sargon 2.5 Moduls für Modular Game System (MGS) und Great Game Machine (GGM).

Die Produktpalette des Herstellers Applied Concepts umfaßte neben dem "Morphy Edition master chess" Modul auch ein Gerät mit fest verbautem Modul und identischem Programm unter dem Namen "Morphy Encore".

Morphy war die kommerzielle Version eines Prototyps, der unter der Bezeichnung Boris Experimental bzw. Boris X an den Mikrocomputer-Turnieren in London und San Jose Anfang September 1980 beteiligt war. Dieses Programm (Modul) war aber nichts anderes als ein verbessertes und weiterentwickeltes Boris/Sargon 2.5.

John Aker aus Shawnee (Kansas) war freier Mitarbeiter des Herstellers Applied Concepts und bezeichnet sich selbst als Programmierer des Boris X. Nach seinen Worten macht dieser prinzipiell die gleichen Züge wie Sargon 2.5, der Unterschied liegt in der Verbesserung des Zeitfaktors. Boris X - sprich Morphy - verbraucht wesentlich weniger Zeit. Das wirkt sich auch auf das Lösen von Problemen und Mattaufgaben aus, wobei das neue Programm bis zu viermal schneller ist. Außerdem kann es im Mittelspiel Lösungen finden, für die Sargon 2.5 keinen befriedigenden Zug kennt.

Gegenüber dem alten Programm Boris/Sargon 2.5 besitzt Morphy einige Neuheiten:

• Mittels Audio-Taste ist ein Abstellen des Tons möglich.
• Zwei Spielstufen (7 und 8) wurden ergänzt. Leider liegen sie in ihrer durchschnittlichen Rechenzeit nicht, wie zu vermuten wäre, über der alten Stufe 6, sondern in etwa bei der Turnierstufe 4.
• Die Eröffnungsbibliothek wurde aufgestockt.
• Durch Straffung des Programms werden wesentlich schnellere Lösungszeiten bei Schachproblemen möglich.
• Die Läuferbewertung scheint gegenüber dem Springer nun höher zu liegen, so dab, das Programm nicht so oft wie bei Boris/Sargon 2.5 den Tausch Läufer gegen Springer vornimmt!
• Die Kommentare wurden bis auf die Mattansagen gestrichen.

The levels and their meanings are as follows:

• Level 0 - A special beginner's level or used for speed chess. Morphy Encore finds any mate in one at this level.
• Level 1 - At power-on Morphy Encore is set to Level 1. A fast paced game. Playing strength is about USCF 1000.
• Level 2 - The whole game should last about 1 hour. Playing strength is about USCF 1200.
• Level 3 - Morphy Encore can solve any mate in two problem at this level. Playing strenght is about 1400.
• Level 4 - Morphy Encore should have no trouble making 40 moves in 90 minutes at this level.
• Level 5 - Morphy Encore can solve any mate in three problem at Level 5. For the patient player, Morphy Encore provides solid chess approaching the 1800 level.
• Level 6 - At level 6 playing Morphy Encore is more like postal chess. A single game could last up to a month. At this level Morphy Encore can find some mate in four problems.
• Level 7 - Tournament Level designed to play 30 moves per hour.
• Level 8 - Tournament level designed to play 40 moves every two hours.

Description Morphy Encore:

• Portability - The Morphy Encore is a compact unit that can be carried with you everywhere. It has a self-contained storage bin for the chess pieces, and a keyboard for move entry.
• Play Mode - The Morphy Encore can be opened and set up to play in a matter of seconds. Simply pull the game drawer out of the game board/case, set up your chess board and plug in your power adapter. Presto! Ready to Play! The Morphy Encore fits the smallest table top as its dimensions in play mode are only 15" x 9" x 2".
• Feedback/Move Indicator - This extra large fluorescent display, with a slight tilt to its elevation for maximum readability, provides instant feedback to confirm game moves you have entered. In addition it indicates the moves the computer desires to make, as well as relevant comments about the game in progress. The Feedback. Move indicator is the control center of the communication system between you and the game computer.
• Game Board - The top of the game case is a chess board. The game board has alpha and/or numeric designations to indicate keyboard entry for particular moves made in a game.
• The Morphy Encore has a keyboard for entering moves into the computer.
• Piece Storage Bin - This bin will store chess pieces when game is not in play, or captured pieces during play.
• Audio ON/OFF - Morphy Encore is equipped with a feature that allows you to turn off the audio responses should you desire. Just depress the audio key to stop the sound. Depress it again and the sound will return.
• Opening Book - For your enjoyment, an opening book of master moves has been included in this Morphy Encore, and he can select randomly from a repertoire of over 50 different opening lines. Some lines are played often, others seldom enough to surprise. The opening book is designed to afford your maximum variety in the style and character of the opening and the whole game.
• Best - The Best key allows you to choose between two modes of play for Morphy Encore. When you press [Best], Morphy Encore displays a small dot to the right of the hyphen. In this mode, Morphy Encore will always play the single move that he considers best. No variety will be included in his play. When this feature is not in effect, no dot is displayed. In normal mode, Morphy encore will not always make the same response to any given move. Instead he selects a move from a number of moves which he considers to be best.
• Restore - The Restore key allows you to back move during the game. Each time [RESTORE] is pressed, both Morphy Encore's last move and your last move will be unmoved. Morphy Encore signals that he has taken back the moves with a two tone Beep-Beep. Up to three pairs of moves may be taken back at a time.The Restore key allows you to take back blunders without having to change the internal gameboard. Although technically this is cheating, it can be very instructive. The Restore feature is especially valuable for studying chess problems, since different moves can be tried easily.
• Changing Sides - You may change sides with Morphy Encore at any time during a game. Morphy Encore will immediately begin thinking with colors reversed.
• Hint - You can use Morphy Encore as a Chess Tutor, to see what he would do in your place.
• Halt - While Morphy Encore is thinking he flashes the best move he has so far. You can halt Morphy Encore's thinking and force him to make that move.
• Thinking on the Oppenent's Time - If you have Morphy Encore set to level 1 - 8, Morphy Encore will continue thinking while you are deciding on a move. Morphy Encore assumes that you will make the move suggested in the hint and begins at once to compute his reply.
• Timer - Morphy Encore is equipped with an automatic timer. The timer keeps track of the amount of time the player or Morphy Encore has spent on the current move and the total time each has taken so far in the game.
• Recalling the Board - Morphy Encore is constantly altering his internal board as you play, so that he always knows where all the remaining pieces are. You may recall Morphy Encore's internal board for display at any time by using the Rank key. Morphy Encore uses his internal board to make trial moves, when he is thinking. You can watch Morphy Encore move the pieces by pressing [Rank] when it is his turn.
• Modifying the Board - When it is your turn to move, any piece can be added to or removed from the board.
• Morphy Encore does not employ his best end-game strategies until after the end-game indicator is on. If you want to set up and end game problem to practice on against Morphy Encore, make sure this indicator is on. Set Morphy Encore on level 0 and repeatedly press [B/W] until the indicator lights. Then set up your end game practice problem.
• Underpromotion - Morphy Encore automatically promotes a pawn to queen when it reaches the eighth rank. If you want to promote a pawn to a lessor piece than a queen, you may perform your move by modifying the board.
• Memory - the memory position feature also allows you to interrupt a game in progress for continuation at a later time.

Morphy Edition-4 master chess - 4 MHz

Um auch in der Spielstärke wieder konkurrenzfähig zu sein, kündigte Applied Concepts ein neues, schnelleres Grundgerät unter dem Namen Destiny Mega-4 Great Game Machine an. Im Gegensatz zu den Vorgängern Modular Game System und Great Game Machine lief das Gerät nun mit 4 MHz doppelt so schnell.

Dieses schnellere Grundgerät wurde nur in geringen Stückzahlen produziert und wurde nur vom Steinitz-Programm unterstützt. Andere Module (Sargon...) funktionierten zwar, allerdings läuft alles (auch die Zeit) doppelt so schnell ab.

Bei den vorhandenen „Morphy Edition-4 master chess“ Modulen mit 4 MHz handelt es sich um private Umbauten.