Software:Sargon III

From HandWiki
Short description: 1983 video game
Sargon III
Developer(s)Dan Spracklen
Kathe Spracklen
Publisher(s)Hayden Software
SeriesSargon
Platform(s)Amiga, Apple II, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS,[1] Macintosh
Release1983
Genre(s)Strategy
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Sargon III is a computer chess software. It is a sequel to Sargon II.

Gameplay

Sargon III allots a time budget based on which level of play is chosen.[2] It has nine levels, each of which can be played in hard or easy mode.[3] It has an average response time of five seconds per move on the lowest level, and an unlimited amount of time on the highest level.[4] Players can take back moves, ask for help, or force the computer's move.[5] It features a 2-D display.[6] It recreates 107 great chess matches for players to study.[7]

Development

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.[8]

Reception

Video magazine listed Sargon III third on its list of best-selling video games in February 1985,[9] and fourth on the best-seller list in March 1985,[10] with II Computing listing the game second on its list of top Apple II games in October–November of the same year.[11]

PC Magazine rated Sargon III 13.5 points out of 18. The reviewer criticized the "too abstractly drawn" pieces but praised the game's speed and skill, describing himself as "not a bad player" but only winning 10% of games at the lowest difficulty level.[1]

Softalk said "Just the fact that Sargon III plays faster would be enough for many of the dedicated Sargon fans. But the extra added attractions figure to make this version irresistible."[2]

Ted Salamone for Commodore Microcomputers said "Sargon III is one of the best Commodore 64 chess programs available. It is suitable for everyone from raw recruits on up."[5]

Steve Panak for ANALOG Computing said "although Sargon III is an excellent program, its price makes it a best buy only for the chess enthusiast who desires a complete library."[3]

James Delson for Family Computing said "All this flexibility makes Sargon III a great and patient opponent, and a fine tutor, as well."[7]

John Krause for Compute!'s Gazette said "This sequel to the popular Sargon II chess program is an even tougher opponent and adds a smorgasbord of features."[4]

Rod Lawton for ACE said "Sargon is easy enough to use, as versatile as any – but in terms of visual appeal is somewhere back in the Dark Ages."[6]

David Morganstein for InCider said "This latest version is the most sophisticated of their efforts."[12]

Further reading

  • Jeux & Stratégie HS #3[13]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wiswell, Phil (1985-01-08). "Checkerboard Challenge". PC Magazine 4 (1): 263. https://books.google.com/books?id=iwjS--W2mG8C&pg=PA264. Retrieved 21 January 2015. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Sargon III". Softalk (Softalk Publishing) 4 (2): 180. October 24, 1983. https://archive.org/details/softalkv4n02oct1983/page/180/mode/2up. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Panak, Steve (August 24, 1986). "Panak Strikes". Analog Computing Magazine (45): 91-93. https://archive.org/details/analog-computing-magazine-45/page/n93/mode/2up. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Krause, John (April 7, 1985). "Sargon III". Compute! Gazette (22): 74,75. https://archive.org/details/1985-04-computegazette/page/n75/mode/2up. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Salamone, Ted (July 24, 1986). "C64 Chess Buyer's Guide". Commodore MicroComputer (Contemporary Marketing Inc.) (42): 35-38. https://archive.org/details/Commodore_MicroComputer_Issue_42_1986_Jul_Aug/page/n37/mode/2up. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Sargon III Logontron's brain-mangler". Ace Magazine (11a): 64. August 1988. https://archive.org/details/Ace_Magazine_Issue_11a/page/n61/mode/2up. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Delson, James (August 4, 1985). "Games Turning the Tabletop". Family Computing Magazine (24): 20-21. https://archive.org/details/family-computing-24/page/n21/mode/2up. 
  8. ↑ Hendrie, Gardner (2005-03-02). "Oral History of Kathe and Dan Spracklen". Computer History Museum. http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/oral-history/spacklen.oral_history.2005.102630821/spracklen.oral_history_transcript.2005.102630821.pdf. Retrieved 2007-02-11. 
  9. ↑ Ditlea, Steve; Onosco, Tim; Kunkel, Bill (February 1985). "Random Access: Best Sellers/Recreation". Video (Reese Communications) 8 (11): 35. ISSN 0147-8907. 
  10. ↑ Onosco, Tim; Kohl, Louise; Kunkel, Bill; Garr, Doug (March 1985). "Random Access: Best Sellers/Recreation". Video (Reese Communications) 8 (12): 43. ISSN 0147-8907. 
  11. ↑ Ciraolo, Michael (Oct–Nov 1985). "Top Software / A List of Favorites". II Computing (Premiere): 51. https://archive.org/stream/II_Computing_Vol_1_No_1_Oct_Nov_85_Premiere#page/n51/mode/2up. Retrieved 28 January 2015. 
  12. ↑ Morganstein, David (August 1984). "Sargon III". inCider 2 (8): 133. https://archive.org/details/inCider_1984-08/page/n131/mode/2up. 
  13. ↑ "Grands Classiques". Jeux & Stratégie (Hors-Série 3): 102-104. 1986. https://archive.org/details/jeux-et-strategie-hs-3/page/102/mode/2up. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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