The Spacious Mind
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Commodore 64/128 Colossus 4 (1985)
“CDS Software Ltd” Original Publisher Logo

“CDS Software Ltd” Original Publisher Logo

COLOSSUS is probably the most complete chess program available for any home computer, written using the very latest techniques by a computer chess programmer of eight years experience. It has the widest range of true features available, including some never before implemented on any home computer chess program.

COLOSSUS also has a perfect understanding of all the rules of chess, including under promotions, the fifty move rule and all draws by repetition. It can also handle all the standard mates, including the very difficult King, Bishop and Knight versus King.

COLOSSUS also offers the choice between the usual two dimensional flat board display or the three dimensional real life chess board which allied to optional joystick control makes it clear and easy to use. It comes with a comprehensive instruction manual and is easily the best chess program for casual and serious players alike.

Excerpts taken from “COLOSSUS CHESS 4.0” Box cover (back)

Alternative cassette cover.  “COLOSSUS 4” was sold in two different types of tape cassette casings.  It was also available on 5.1/4” Floppy Disk.

Alternative cassette cover. “COLOSSUS 4” was sold in two different types of tape cassette casings. It was also available on 5.1/4” Floppy Disk.

OPENING BOOK

COLOSSUS has an opening book of about 3000 positions, which it uses to play the first few moves of the game quickly and accurately. Lines vary from 2 ply to 17 ply deep. When there is a choice of book moves at any position, COLOSSUS will choose between them at random, with a slight bias towards the moves which COLOSSUS itself considers best.

RESULTS

COLOSSUS 4.0 has been tested against numerous other home computer chess programs and has beaten them all. In the tests, sixteen games were played on various levels, with an equal number of whites and blacks for each program. One point was awarded for a win, half a point of a draw, no points for a loss. The results of these tests were a follows:-

COLOSSUS 4.0 (Apple II) beat the following programs by:

    • Mychess 2.0 - Beyond - CBM 64 - Score: 10:6
    • White-Knight Mk12 - BBC Publications - BBC - Score: 11:5
    • Sargon III - Hayden - Apple II - Score: 12:4
    • Superchess 3.5 - CP Software - Spectrum - Score: 12:4
    • White-Knight MK11 - BBC Publications - BBC - Score: 14:2
    • Parker Chess - Parker Games - Atari - Score: 14:2
    • Cyrus Is Chess - Sinclair - Spectrum - Score: 14:2
    • Superchess 3.0 - CP Software - Spectrum - Score: 15:1
    • Chess 7.0 - Odesta - Apple II - Score: 16:0
    • Sargon II - Hayden - Apple II - Score: 16:0
    • Chess - Atari - Atari - Score: 16:0
    • Chess - Acornsoft - BBC - Score: 16:0
    • Grandmaster - Audiogenic - CBM 64 - Score: 16:0
    • Chess - Acornsoft - Electron - Score: 16:0
    • Chess - Psion - Spectrum - Score: 16:0
    • Master Chess - Mikro-Gen - Spectrum - Score: 16:0

Of course, the results cannot be guaranteed precisely, in every set of sixteen games. In practice they are bound to vary slightly either way, but they do give a very good guide to the relative strengths of the programs.

Excerpts taken from “Commodore 64 COLOSSUS 4” User Manual

Information

Commodore 64/128 Colossus 4 (1985)

Commodore 64/128 Colossus 4 (1985)

Cassette Cover (front)

Commodore 64/128 Colossus 4 (1985) Cassette Cover (front)

Game Cassette

Commodore 64/128 Colossus 4 (1985) Game Cassette

Cassette Cover (back)

Commodore 64/128 Colossus 4 (1985) Cassette Cover (back)

300 Positions (Average) examined per second!

Technical Specifications

Manufacturer

Programmer

CDS Software Ltd.

Martin P. Bryant

Year:

1985

Manufacturer ELO

1850 ELO

Original Price:

?

Language:

6502 Assembly

Code/Data Size:

20K / 5K

Media:

Cassette Tape

Processor Type

Speed

ROM

RAM

6510

8 Bit

1.023 MHz (NTSC)

20 KB

64 KB

Move Entry

Options Selection

Playing Levels

Opening Library

Take Back Moves

Key/Joystick

Key/Joystick

6 Modes Unlimited

> 3000 Positions

Complete Game

Position Setup/Ver.

Display Move Info/Analysis

Solve Mate

Save Game / Ponder

Hint/ Teach Mode

Yes / Yes

Yes / Yes

Yes

Yes / Yes

Yes / Yes

Active Level:

30S or 60/30

Tournament Level:

3 Min or 40/120

Infinite Level:

Mode 5

Game Information

The Spacious Mind

Active Games (30s:1 or 60/30 etc.)

Tournament Games (180s:1 or 40/2 hrs)

#

W

D

L

%

ELO

#

W

D

L

%

ELO

38

21

7

10

64.47

1676

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Game Screenshots

Commodore 64/128 Colossus 4 (1985) Loading Screen

Commodore 64/128 Colossus 4 (1985) Chess Board

Chess Game Examples
 
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