Philidor Software

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Philidor Software,
a British computer chess and AI games developing and trading company, founded in 1979 by David Levy and Kevin O’Connell. Philidor Software emerged from the former chess book publishing company Philidor Press Ltd. , which was founded by Levy and O’Connell in about 1975 . Primary business partner was Eric Winkler of SciSys , who manufactured and traded most of the dedicated chess computers with programs provided by Philidor Software.

Recruiting Ground

The PCW tournaments were their primary recruiting ground, where Mike Johnson, David Broughton, and Mark Taylor from outside the computer chess circus were hired to develop programs for homecomputers and dedicated chess computers, later in 1981, Martin Bryant.

Mike Watters in Chess Computer UK :

PCW tournaments were to provide Levy and O’Connell with a fertile recruiting ground for proven chess programmers. For the time being though other avenues were explored. At the bottom of his article entitled ‘Chess Programming: Before You Begin’ published in the May 1979 edition of Personal Computer World, David Levy added an advertisement for programmers. At this point the Philidor Software company was born. 

Intelligent Software

In summer 1981, Levy and O’Connell decided to loosen their relationship with SciSys and founded their new software company Intelligent Software in autumn 1981

Associated People

• David Broughton
• Martin Bryant
• Mike Johnson
• David Levy
• Kevin O’Connell
• Mark Taylor
• Eric Winkler

Programs & Products

• Philidor
• Chess Champion Super System III
• Chess Champion Mark IV
• Chess Champion Mark V
• Chess Champion Pocket Chess
• Chess Partner 2000
• Chess Traveller
• Graduate Chess
• Intelligent Chess
• Junior Chess
• Mini Chess
• PetChess
• SciSys X
• White Knight

See also

• Intelligent Software
• SciSys

Publications

• John F. White (1981). Survey-Chess Games. Your Computer, August/September 1981
• John F. White (1982). Review-Chess Computers. Your Computer, March 1982
• Tony Harrington (1983). Intelligent Software. Personal Computer World, April 1983, pdf hosted by Mike Watters

External Links

Company

• Chess Computers - The UK Story from Chess Computer UK by Mike Watters
• Scisys and Novag : The Early Years from Chess Computer UK by Mike Watters
• David Levy interview from Schachcomputer.info - Wiki

Dedicated Chess Computers

• Chess Champion Mark V from Chess Computer UK by Mike Watters
• Chess Champion Super System III from Chess Computer UK by Mike Watters
• Graduate Chess from Chess Computer UK by Mike Watters
• Junior Chess from Chess Computer UK by Mike Watters
• Mini Chess from Chess Computer UK by Mike Watters

References

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