Sierra On-line

John G Gilmore

Elon J Gasper

Thomas M Abbott

A computer-based strategic game system for, e.g., playing chess includes a kingbrain that is characterized by a rating and a queen brain. The rating of the kingbrain is automatically adjusted to the skill of the player, as determined by the queen brain, such that the kingbrain generates opponent moves to counter the player's moves with an effectiveness that is marginally above the player's ability. When the player is losing, the kingbrain can assume an aggressive heroic style of play. On the other hand, when the player is winning, the kingbrain can assume a defensive craven style of play. As the game unfolds, the queen brain evaluates each of the player's moves, and audio-visual annotations and game commentary based on the queen brain's evaluations are spooled to disk. At the end of the game, the annotations and commentary are immediately available to the player for instruction. A variation tree can also be generated that shows in graphical form the player's moves and the kingbrain's moves, and the player can manipulate the tree to explore the outcomes of alternate moves that the player might have made.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

John G Gilmore