From: Reijer Grimbergen NICI KUN NL> Date: 16 may 1995 Subject: Re: Shogi software for IBM PC > >* Kiwame-2 > 9000 Yen (about $100). Strength 2-dan, the strongest PC-based > program by far. At the recent Verkouille Memorial Tournament in > Belgium it beat 4-kyu, 2-kyu, 1-kyu, 2-dan and 3-dan players and > lost only to a 4-dan. I don't know if Kiwame-2 requires a Japanese > DOS version. The manual is in Japanese only. > Since I have seen Kiwame Shogi play in Belgium, I think I can make some extra comments on this program. Firstly, it does require a Japanese DOS. It will run without it, but you can not see the menus, which are all in Japanese. I think you need to have a very good memory to go to the menus without any visual clues. However, DOS/V is easy to install and it is easy to switch between DOS/V and normal DOS. Secondly, for all strong players out there who think they have finally found the ideal playing companion, a word of warning. Kiwame is definitely a strong program, but in Belgium it played on its highest level on the fastest commercial PC, a Pentium 90 MHz. You will not be able to play on this level, even on a 486/66, unless you have the patience of a monk (a game will take all day). I think the lower levels of the program are not very strong (maybe 2 kyu, even though it is difficult to say because the program alternates between playing strong moves and weird moves that no human would play, a problem also seen in early chess programs). Furthermore, Kiwame suffered a crushing defeat against Arend van Oosten. But as said, Arend is 4-dan, and there are many strong (human) players who sometimes suffer crushing defeats by the hands of Arend (believe me, I know what I am talking about). My conclusion: if you are a dan player, do not take the trouble of getting Kiwame, unless you are very desperate for an opponent. If you are a kyu player and you have a Pentium, Kiwame is the thing for you and the trouble of getting it and running it will pay off. If you are between these extremes, I can not advice you. You will just have to decide for yourself, but I hope my additional information helps. Reijer Grimbergen