Author: Albert Silver
Date: 05:40:55 02/18/04
Go up one level in this thread
On February 18, 2004 at 04:16:30, Patrick Götz wrote:
>http://hydrachess.com/
>
>
>UAE’s first Chess Software and hardware makes an outstanding start!
>
Thanks for the link. It was full of interesting information on Hydra and its
results. Here is what I was able to find out by clicking on the options on the
selection bar to the left (my comments are preceded by 'AS'):
About Hydra
-----------
"HYDRA is planned to attach the chess world in four versions: ORTHUS, SCYLLA,
CHIMERA and the final HYDRA."
Notice the allusion to Ridley Scott's 'Alien'. We won't be able to rid ourselves
of it as it attaches itself to the chessworld.
"ORTHUS, hideous two-headed dog, guarded the cattle of Geryon and terrified
anyone who dared to approach."
The first version will include a special set of pieces with cattle instead of
pawns and shepherds in the places of the kings and queens.
"CHIMERA, a monster with the head of a lion, the body of a goat and the tail of
a dragon, ravaged the city it dwelt in."
This is an allusion to the packaging technique which is nothing new: a giant box
taking up half a shelf ("head of a lion"), the actual relatively small PCI-slot
FPGA card itself ("body of a goat"), and flimsy incomprehensible manual ("tail
of a dragon").
"SCYLLA, a sea monster with six dog heads, lived in a cave. Scylla attacked
sailors and terrorized them to the bones."
Again an allusion to the current difficulties in its development. It will be
released ("sea monster"), but will require no less than 6 patches ("dog heads")
to actually work without forcing you to re-install windows ("live in a cave").
"The chess software will then reach its optimal form through HYDRA, which will
face the chess population with a nine-headed force of strategy and speed. A
massive and poisonous serpent, Hydra’s nine heads were indeed a primary source
of fear. Every time one head was injured, another two grew in its place."
Since the company is aware that normal hardware progress will inevitably lead to
normal software outperforming it ("one head was injured"), they expect to sell
package deals with multiple FPGA cards to keep you ahead ("another two grew in
its place"). They will also be the only manufacturer to furnish motherboards
with 32 PCI slots.
The rest of the site is rather sneaky.
Team
----
You'd think you'd see the development team, or the company's directors, but
instead see a list of the participants of the IPCCC event.
Tournaments
-----------
Here you can see the results of the first 5 rounds of the IPCCC 2004, before the
6th round draw.
Games
-----
I had thought I'd see Hydra's games, but when I clicked on the 3rd round out of
curiousity (really just to see which applet was used), I was shown Shredder vs.
Yace instead.
Albert
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