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ZARKOV.REV
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1993-04-18
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***SOFTWARE REVIEW: ZARKOV (VERSION 2.0)
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Program Requirements:
IBM PC (XT/AT) or compatible. (DOS 3.1 or higher.)
Any form of Graphics.
Necessary RAM : at least 512K.
3.5" or 5.25" disks available.
Mouse Support.
Copyrighted but not copy protected.
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Frankly, objectively reviewing ZARKOV 2.0 is difficult. There
are so many positive things to say and so few problems, that
it's hard to write a critique that doesn't sound like an
enthusiastic product endorsement.
The main screen (and the only one, excluding the initial
advertisement) for ZARKOV version 2.08 that I own, contains
a large graphic set and board, available in many colors
with EGA/VGA. The one pull-down menu is accessed by pressing the
"F1" key. Most of the 17 topics to select from are self-
explanatory: Level, Move, Undo, Reverse, Hint, Edit, Show,
Force, Self, Save Game, Get Game, Print, Replay, Analyze, New
Game, Preferences, and Quit. The "Force" feature does NOT
force ZARKOV to make a move (which is done by pressing the
"Insert" key), but instead enables the user to enter moves for
both sides. When the "Analyze" option is chosen, the program
will analyze from a given position through the end of the
game and save that analysis to a file. Features can also be
accessed either by typing the full name (i.e. "Reverse", "Show",
etc.) on the command line at the bottom of the screen or
through use of a macro key.
Being involved with online, electronic chess (hence, very
ASCII-oriented), I find ZARKOV to be refreshing in the way it
treats files. Not only does it easily export games to ASCII
(as one would expect of a quality chess program), but it also
accepts imported games in ASCII. This is noteworthy in that
it permits a ZARKOV game to be viewed via DOS simply by using
the "Type" function and whatever file name was assigned to the
game. But, more significantly, the user can load an ASCII game into
the program, replay it to a certain point, and continue with ZARKOV
as the opponent! Not sure you understood what was happening in a
master game? Load the game and let ZARKOV analyze it for you.
ZARKOV gives you the ultimate,integrated chess system as it
combines game storage and analysis. Certainly, this novel concept
portends the future for all chess programs.
ZARKOV's author, John Stanback, and the Chess Labs people,
have taken this unique idea yet one step further through the
development of a database program that interacts directly with
ZARKOV. A game from BOOKUP 7 (an openings database), can be
accepted directly by ZARKOV without alteration. ZARKOV can then be
instructed to analyze the game and copy the analysis to the BOOKUP
7 database.
ZARKOV also gets high marks for user friendliness, something that I
personally find to be important, being more of a chess player than
computer person. There's no need to learn alot of foreign commands
or unusual keystrokes. If you need help, the single menu provides
the necessary "plain English" commands to facilitate navigation of
the program.
Although ZARKOV 2.08 is not the strongest playing chess software
currently on the market in my opinion, it is hardly a "toy". On an
XT (which, we all know, is far from ideal hardware on which to test
a chess program), I would estimate its strength to be about 1700-
1800 USCF at a slower time control. (Probably around 2000 on an
80486.) However, what I find to be refreshing about ZARKOV's play
is its unpredictability--certainly unusual for a computer. Perhaps
the simplest way to describe its style is that it seems to possess
certain "human-like" qualities that one seldom associates with
"mechanical non-humans." For example, rarely (if ever) will a
computer play a "coffeehouse" piece sacrifice that does not lead to
the direct win of material or the game within several moves. Yet,
ZARKOV has played quite speculatively against me on several
occasions. It hasn't won all the games, but nor has it lost them
all, either.
The accompanying manual is a glossy-covered, professional, 37 page
publication that does a good job of describing each feature. The
last page consists of a command summary chart.
Technical support is readily available by calling the helpful
people at Chess Laboratories.
About all I can say in terms of criticism is that I've experienced
some difficulty establishing selected features, since the
"Enter" key is used to both select and change a choice. It is
unclear to me how to verify what option has been chosen, in that
the user must first hit "Enter" to select the feature--which
also seems to change the feature when you view it.
In summary, I enthusiastically recommend ZARKOV 2.0 to anyone with
a little PC knowledge and an interest in chess, regardless of
playing ability or prior experience with chess software. ZARKOV is
one of the most versatile and user-friendly chess program available
today. Coupled with Chess Labs' NO QUESTIONS ASKED, MONEY BACK
GUARANTEE (I've tried it--they really mean it!) and there's really
no way to go wrong.
Glenn Budzinski
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