This chess game was released in 1982 by Applied Concepts, Inc.
Unlike other chess games, the format of the game is based on placing chess pieces on an actual chessboard. When the pieces are placed on this special chessboard, recognition signals are sent to APPLE ][ via a dedicated interface.
In the scene in the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey" where HAL 9000 plays chess with the crew of the Discovery, the chess board appears on the table screen and the pieces are placed by voice recognition. Now, it would probably be ordered via Siri.
APPLE ][ software was also read and written (LOAD & SAVE) on tape until the release of Disk ][, which was later developed by the genius Woz. Although it was not possible to read and write accurately without a tape recorder that could handle square waves, APPLE ][ had a read/write speed of 1500 bps, yet there were few errors even when using an ordinary home-use tape recorder. The read/write speed of a Japanese NEC PC-8001 was 600 baud, so you can see how APPLE ][ is a superbly designed device.
I recently unearthed some tape-based game software made in 1978 that had been stored away in a new, unused state.
It is this ‘ESCAPE' from MUSE (Micro Users Software Exchange). It is software in a blister pack. This company's tape software seems to be new SUPER-LOAD Cassette, and it is described that loading can be done faster than usual.
Based on the package picture, I can infer that this software is an adventure game in which you roam around in a suspicious forest.
'MICRO Shogi' is a shogi (Japanese chess) software program released by the small Japanese manufacturer VIKING Software Produtcs in 1984, i.e. the year in which the Mac appeared.
Naturally, this was a product of a courageous manufacturer who dared to venture into the shrinking Japanese APPLE ][ software market at a time when APPLE ][ was already leaving the forefront.
When I found it in the PC shop (Oak Village: now Oak Corporation) at that time, I bought it immediately with the meaning of support.
However, it was a time when my interest had shifted to Mac, AMIGA and ATARI-ST, so I bought it but kept it in my dead storage.
APPLE ][ software is mainly made in the USA, of course, but there was also a Japanese manufacturer ( a garage company like a private shop) doing their best.
It's a fairly minor product, and I don't think you'll find it on the internet, so I'll introduce it to you.
It is ‘ESTRON' by Galaxy Software.
The packaging is a single sheet of paper flaps in vinyl, just like software from the 1970s, and the manual is full of handwritten illustrations, which makes me smile.
The game content is similar to some arcade games, but the sounds are loud and the game is quite playable. However, the characters are a little different from the illustration on the cover of the package.
（１）パッケージの表紙（A4サイズ）
Surface of the package (A4 size)
（２）マニュアル（A3サイズ）
Operation Manual (A3 size)
（３）当時のI/O誌の広告です。テープ版もあったんですね。
Advertisement in I/O magazine at the time. There was also a tape version.
I have included some images of the Apple Computer 1 (Apple1), the world's first commercially available personal computer, created by Woz.
If I describe it as the world's first personal computer here, you may ask what about the Altair, but it is just my personal opinion that a machine with only a blinking LED by itself cannot be regarded as the originator of the personal computers of the modern era.
However, the existence of ALTO cannot be ignored. The Apple 1 was a commercially available machine, so I would like to think of it as something else.
（１）全体画像（アクリルケースは私の自作）
Overall image (the acrylic case is my own creation)
（２）ロゴのアップ
Close-up image of the logo
（３）マニュアル等と並べてみました。
I have laid the Apple1 with manuals ,etc.
（４）CPUはセラミックパッケージの6502です。
The 6502 CPU is in a ceramic package.
（５）VIDEO出力周り
Around the VIDEO output circuits
（６）唯一の拡張スロット（カセットインターフェース等を刺す）
Sole expansion slot (used to stick a cassette interface, etc.)
（７）電源部（ここに下記のトランスを２つ接続）
Power supply section (connect the following two transformers here)
（８）基盤裏面にあるシリアル番号と思われるシール：37番
Sticker on the back of the motherboard that appears to be a serial number
: number 37.
（９）カセットインターフェース
Cassette tape interface Card
（１０）BASICテープ
BASIC Language Tape
（１１）テープの入っていたプラスチックケース（その１）
Plastic case containing the tape (Part 1)
（１２）テープの入っていたプラスチックケース（その２）
Plastic case containing the tape (Part 2)
（１３）テープケースの近影（もしかしたらWozが書いた？）
Close-up of the BASIC Language tape case (possibly written by Woz?)
