Author: JNoomen
Date: 06:23:27 01/15/06
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On January 15, 2006 at 07:47:13, Steve B wrote: Hi Steve, Of course I'd like to tell you and other collectors a bit more about my time with H+G in the early 1990's! Thanks for your interest, it is nice to go back to this period again. I worked for H+G from 1990 until 1992. Actually it started a year before, when I was asked to go to Long Beach in the U.S. - together with Richard Lang amongst others - to oparate the Mephisto's in the Open tournament over there. I already knew Ed Schröder, of course. I believe my first job was to create an openingbook for the Mephisto Polgar. I did this when I was still a student. The contacts with H+G were made the end of 1989 and I started working there in March 1990. It was my first job and of course a big step to be living and working abroad. But, Munich is really a beautiful city and I enjoyed it there very much. People at H+G were very nice, I am wondering what has become of them. At the time Mephisto was doing very, very well. During the time I worked in Munich I saw the following products being created: Vancouver, Risc 1 MB, Milano, Berlin, MM V, the opening module HG550. Of course there was fierce competition, especially from Fidelity. I have always liked the Fidelity products and the playing style of the Spracklen programs. But the Novag Super Forte was there as well and the Super Expert. Wonderful piece of computer, IMO! Saitek was always interesting: although they had cheap and interesting computers for a broad audience, the playing strength was always a problem in Hong Kong. They couldn't keep up with the 68.000's and the Ed Schröder programs. Still, it was nice to see the Saitek people at the different Spielwaren messe's I attended to. During one of my last fairs, the Megathon was announced by Saitek, of course we were eager to find out about this machine. Quickly it was discovered that it was a Johan de Koning program. Johan was very well known from Tasc, from the wonderful Tasc R30 and R40 machines. And the ChessMachine's, not to forget. All in all, at the time H+G was the leading company, at least in Europe. As everybody know, H+G started a cooperation with Tasc, that led to the development of the Risc 1 MB. And in Germany the ChessMachine's were sold under the Mephisto flag. Fidelity was bought as well, but we know how it all ended.... At my last fair there was a united H+G & Fidelty & Tasc stand. I still remember it well: I played against the Fidelity Premier (and at home I was blitzing against a Avant Garde version 9! Oh, these good old times :-)), the Risc 1 MB... To be honest, I didn't feel the fierce competition myself. I enjoyed helping to develop products, make openingbooks and go abroad to play chess tournaments. Biggest successes were the win against Anatoly Karpov with the Portorose (I offered him a draw, he refused and immediately blundered...), the German blitz championship (Portorose won it 5 points ahead of no. 2), winning the worldchampionship in Lyon, being at the VSB tournament in Amsterdam with the Portorose and seeing Karpov and Kasparov at very close distance. At one point Karpov entered the computer room, asked me what Mephisto thought of a certain position. He quite liked the move the computer proposed, but then started to explain to me how badly the 2 GM's were playing that game. Leaving me in a silent state.... :-)) Also the fairs were nice and - not to forget - the Lyon WCCC in 1990. It was held during the Karpov-Kasparov match and we were treated as VIP's, which meant we could go everywhere we'd like! So we took the Mephisto Lyon to the pressroom, where the delegations of both GM's were situated as well. Who did I see? Spasski, Geller, Portisch, amongst others. And Alexander Roshal, leader of Karpov's delegation. I had a nice chat with him, when Mephisto found some very strong moves for Karpov. Roshal explained to me: 'Ah, Karpov together with Mephisto REALLY would be worldchampion'. In a nut shell: it was a great time for me at H+G. I've seen a lot of the world, strong tournaments, fairs, the best GM's in the world. And helped to develop products that are still alive in a lot of wonderful computer collections. Ah, why did I sell my Polgar modules, my MM IV, my MM V, My Forte B... I am happy I still have the Exclusive Vancouver 68.020, the Milano and the Modular Risc 1 MN :-). Anyway, if you want to know something: feel free to ask! Best regards to all collectors around the world, Jeroen Noomen >hi Jeroen > >could you please write a little here about what it was like to work for one of >the chess computer companies in the 1990's? > >i wonder if there was any pressure to come out with stronger engines or to come >up with changes to the design of boards ..etcetc > >i think some collectors who read these pages would find your comments about this >interesting > >no need to write a very long reply...only say..1000 words or less >:)) > >seriously..anything you care to mention would be interesting > >Best Regards >Steve
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