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Your MEPHISTO Modul Rebell 5.0 is a top quality product “Made in Germany”. The use of the most modern electronic components combined with advanced production technology have produced a chess-computer, which offers an optimal price-to-performance ratio. Our programmers have also produced an excellent chess program. The MEPHISTO Modul Rebell 5.0 is both strong and simple to operate. We at MEPHISTO wish you success and many hours of fun with your new chess partner.
Excerpts taken out of the “Hegener + Glaser Mephisto Rebell 5.0” User Manual
About the Game Module
MEPHISTO Modul Rebell 5.0 has nine playing levels plus one correspondence (infinite) level. The microprocessor running at a speed of 4.9152 MHz is a 6502, which was an extremely popular 8-bit processor used in many computers of that period. The Rebell 5.0 chess program, its opening library and all its options and functions were all packed into its 32 KByte program memory (ROM). 8 KByte of game memory was available for its move evaluations. The program used a mixture of both Shannon-A andShannon-B strategy.
Ed Shroeder finished as the top microcomputer entry with a fifth place in the 5th World Computer Chess Championship (WCCC) in 1986. His Rebel chess program greatly impressed with some memorable wins against some notable mainframe computer opponents. Rebel needed to win in the last round against the American program Be-Be to finish in first place. Unfortunately Rebel lost this game.
Earlier in 1986, Ed Shroeder had joined the Mephisto team. Based on his success there were high expectations for the Mephisto Rebell 5.0 module which was launched shortly after the world championship. Disappointment followed shortly on the heels of the initial launch with owners of the module complaining about the playing strength. Customers high hopes for this module were of course based on it’s Championship success were. The Rebel 5.0 game module is a good program for it’s day and even today with it’s estimated 2050 USCF rating should provide many chess players a difficult challenge.
It was always tough as a promising programmer working in the Mephisto Team. Richard Lang the six-time world champion reigned supreme and therefore most of the development and resource costs were channeled to him. Ed Shroeder however did manage to dethrone King Richard in the 1991 World Micro Computer Championship finishing in 1st place with his Chessmachine while working for the Dutch company TASC B.V.
Originally this module was intended to be named MM III but for obvious marketing reasons was instead appropriately renamed and sold as Rebell 5.0.
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