Great Game Machine

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Great Game Machine (GGM), a dedicated chess computer module system designed by John Aker (electronics) and Alan Mead, registered, manufactured and distributed by Applied Concepts, identical in construction with the Chafitz Modular Game System (MGS) sold by Chafitz. The GGM had exchangeable modules with programs from multiple authors, Boris 2.5 based on Sargon 2.5 by Kathe and Dan Spracklen further improved by Terry Fredrick, Morphy by John Aker, the opening module Gruenfeld by Larry Atkin, David Slate and John Jacobs, the endgame module Capablanca by Atkin and Slate, and the Steinitz module by Atkin, all 6502 based. There were also other game modules available, such as Checkers, and the Othello program Odin by Peter W. Frey and Larry Atkin.

=Tournaments=

ACM 1980
The Boris X GGM module was registered for the ACM 1980. A brief description is given in the tournament booklet with Applied Concepts CEO Alan Mead as representative : BORIS EXPERIMENTAL, Alan Mead, Applied Concepts, Garland, Texas

The program uses alpha-beta pruning with recently developed and improved search heuristics. The program runs in 8k of program space and has nine levels of play including two tournament levels. The tournament level play is expected to be 100 points stronger than the present BORIS 2.5 program.

But Boris X, despite registered, finally did not play the ACM 1980. Kathe Spracklen had filed a protest, claiming Boris X is too similar to Sargon 2.5, and requested mutual comparison of the source code. After John Aker admitted that Boris X was a revamped Sargon 2.5, Boris was rejected.

WMCCC 1981
The Great Game Machine participated at the WMCCC 1981 in Travemünde with the Gruenfeld/Morphy/Capablanca and Applied Concepts X entries in the commercial and open groups. The Applied Concepts personal involved withdrew their programs after some rounds from both sections of the tournament, due to a bug in their Capablanca module

ACM 1981
At the 12th ACM 1981, Boris X was mentioned in the tournament booklet with a list of its authors and Applied Concepts representatives, but did not participate, likely also because David Slate was already competing with Nuchess: BORIS EXPERIMENTAL, John Aker, Alan Mead, Terry Fredrick, John Jacobs, David Slate, Larry Atkin (c/o AM, Applied Concepts, Inc. 207 N. Kirby, Garland, Texas 75042), Great Game Machine (at site)

=Modules= GGM Chess Modules: Gruenfeld, Capablanca, Morphy and Steinitz

=See also=
 * Applied Concepts
 * Boris
 * Chafitz
 * Chafitz ARB Sargon 2.5
 * Chafitz Modular Game System
 * Morphy
 * Gruenfeld
 * Capablanca
 * Steinitz

=Publications=
 * Harry Shershow (1981). Two New Units In Action. Personal Computing, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 91 » John Aker, MCC 1980
 * Jan Louwman (1981). Morphy + Great Game Machine. 06/07-1981, Databus, p. 26-36 » Morphy, Great Game Machine
 * John F. White (1982). Review-Morphy V Champion. Your Computer, January 1982

=External Links=
 * GREAT GAME MACHINE - Reviews & Brand Information - Applied Concepts, Inc. Colorado Springs
 * Gruenfeld/Morphy/Capablanca's ICGA Tournaments
 * Applied Concepts's ICGA Tournaments
 * Chafitz/Applied Concepts/Destiny | Photo collection by Chewbanta
 * Applied Concepts GGM + Steinitz from Chess Computer UK by Mike Watters
 * Chafitz Great Game Machine Electronic Chess Computer from The Spacious Mind
 * Chafitz Great Game Machine 4 MHz Electronic Chess Computer from The Spacious Mind
 * Boris Sargon 2.5 by Tom Luif
 * Chafitz Modular Game System from Schachcomputer.info Wiki (German)

=References=

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