From: atkinson <at> VAXROM <dot> CERN <dot> CH
Date: 23 nov 1991
Subject: Crimes against humanity - level 2

Well, having decided that level 1 is too funny, I have started playing
levels 2 and 3 of Shogi Master. Level 2 seems pretty awful as well,
frankly. The interesting opening strategy of shifting the rook from side
to side is still there. (This in response to me moving silver up the
2 column and doing various other things in the 1-3 columns. Doesn't seem
to make much sense to me.) Yagura + spearing the sparrow appears to work
all too well against the program. Speed of response is ok on level 2.
I didn't manage to finish a game on level 3 during my lunch hour, so I
can't say anything much about that yet. The machine resigns a few moves
before checkmate on level 2.
Since someone asked...
the graphics are very nice. The pieces only have the first word in their
names. The board has a grain pattern on it. The promoted pieces are red.
You can choose "English" pieces, but they are disgusting. Big chunky letters.
Urg. Some of my "educationally disadvantaged" friends claim it is NCESSARY
sorry NECESSARY to play with the English pieces.
The only sound is a "beep" when the moves happen. It can replay games
and store comments on moves. There are some "lesson" games on the
disks with commentaries. e.g. the game from Shogi For Beginners. I don't
know what the other lesson games are.
 
Level 2 still throws pieces away so that it can push serious losses beyond
the horizon of its look-ahead. Maybe chess programs do this as well but I
just don't notice.
 
Adam Atkinson
Rome