Chessmaster

Image:Chessmaster 10th Edition2 edited.JPG

• 1986: The Chessmaster 2000. First published by Software Country, and soon after by The Software Toolworks. It was published for Amiga, Apple II, Atari 8-bit computers, Atari ST, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, MSX, Mac, and MS-DOS. The game had a chess engine (without mouse control) written by David Kittinger and the manufacturer rated the game at 2000 Elo. USCF rated it over 2000; in reality, it is unknown at what strength it plays because the testings were done on slow 1980s computers. In July 1986, CM became the first commercially available software to win the Personal Computer class of the United States Open Computer Chess Championship in Mobile, Alabama.{{cite magazine | title=The Chessmaster 2000 | magazine=Computer Gaming World | issue=32 | date=November 1986 | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_32.pdf | access-date=17 April 2016 | last=Oxner | first=Bill | pages=44}}
• 1988: The Fidelity Chessmaster 2100 was published for Apple II/Apple IIGS and Commodore 64. In 1989 for MS-DOS and in 1990 for Amiga.
• 1990: The Chessmaster was published for NES, in 1991 for Game Gear and Game Boy and in 1992 for Super NES and Genesis.
• 1991: The Chessmaster 3000 was published for DOS, Windows 3.x and Mac. Moves are now explained with voice output.
• 1993: The Chessmaster 4000 Turbo, first published by Mindscape for Windows 3.x and Mac. Modem and LAN play was available for the first time. A CD-ROM version was released in 1994.
• 1996: The Chessmaster 3-D for PlayStation (uses the Chessmaster 4000 engine).{{cite journal |title=Marketing blurb |journal=Back Cover of the North American PlayStation Game Case |publisher=Mindscape |url=https://psxdatacenter.com/images/hires/U/T/SLUS-00052/SLUS-00052-B-ALL.html |quote=With the same powerful 32-bit chess engine as Mindscape's world-famous The Chessmaster 4000 for your PC [...]}}{{Cite web |url=http://psxa2z.com/gpgs/BT0192.html |title=Chessmaster 3d Review |access-date=1 November 2010 |archive-date=5 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105160230/http://www.psxa2z.com/gpgs/BT0192.html |url-status=dead }}
• 1996: Chessmaster 5000 for Windows 95.
• 1997: Chessmaster 5500 for Windows 95.
• 1998: Chessmaster 6000 for Windows 95/Windows 98 and Mac.
• 1999: Chessmaster II was published for PlayStation.[http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps/196910-chessmaster-ii/data Chessmaster II] at GameFAQs. Accessed 24 March 2013.
• 1999: Chessmaster 7000 was published for Windows 98
• 1999: Chessmaster for Game Boy Color{{cite video game |title=Chessmaster |developer=Park Place Productions |publisher=Mindscape |date=1999 |platform=Game Boy Color |level=Credits screen during game intro |quote=Copr. 1990-1999, Mindscape, All Rights Reserved Copr. 1990 IHP Inc. AFB Sound Technology Copr. 1990 The Park Place Production Team, Licensed by Nintendo}}{{cite web |title=Chessmaster (GBC) (1999) |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/games/gbc/chessmaster |website=Nintendo Life |date=19 May 2021 |publisher=Hookshot Media |access-date=5 July 2023}}
• 2000: Chessmaster 8000 was published for Windows 98. In addition to the English version, a Russian translation was created.
• 2002: Chessmaster 9000, first published by Ubisoft for Windows 98/ME/XP and in 2004 for Mac OS X. Compared to the previous title, a French translation was added.
• 2002: Chessmaster for Game Boy Advance{{cite web |last1=Butts |first1=Steve |title=Review - Chessmaster [GBA] |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/09/06/chessmaster-2 |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=4 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021002115404/http://pocket.ign.com/articles/370/370305p1.html |archive-date=2 October 2002 |date=6 September 2002 |url-status=live}}
• 2002: Chessmaster for Palm OS.{{cite web |title=Chessmaster has arrived on Palm! |url=http://chessmaster.ubi.com/NR/exeres/000131b6nqkstqszjemiznad/Home+Page+Navigation+Template.asp?NRMODE=Published&NRORIGINALURL=/&NRNODEGUID=%7bC0FDA896-B041-4F9A-8A79-DCDED02DFDB3%7d&NRQUERYTERMINATOR=1&cookie_test=1#{F2FE37B5-367C-4759-9F58-E52DE88CE676} |website=chessmaster.ubi.com |publisher=Ubisoft |access-date=1 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040810164346/http://chessmaster.ubi.com/NR/exeres/000131b6nqkstqszjemiznad/Home+Page+Navigation+Template.asp?NRMODE=Published&NRORIGINALURL=/&NRNODEGUID=%7bC0FDA896-B041-4F9A-8A79-DCDED02DFDB3%7d&NRQUERYTERMINATOR=1&cookie_test=1#{F2FE37B5-367C-4759-9F58-E52DE88CE676} |archivedate=10 August 2004 |date=7 November 2002 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |last1=JadeDragon |title=JadeDragon's reviews and playing tips: Palm OS games - Chessmaster by Gameloft, $19 |url=https://www.mobiletechreview.com/games/chessmaster.htm |website=MobileTechReview |access-date=1 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050415021830/https://www.mobiletechreview.com/games/chessmaster.htm |archivedate=15 April 2005 |date=January 2003 |url-status=dead}}
• 2003: Chessmaster for PlayStation 2.{{cite web |title=Chessmaster for PlayStation 2 Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/chessmaster/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom |access-date=3 July 2023}}
• 2004: Chessmaster, the mobile Java version was published. In 2007 released also for Android, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile.
• 2004: Chessmaster 10th Edition was published for Windows XP and Xbox. The Xbox version is titled Chessmaster.
• 2005: Chessmaster Challenge, a simplified version of the game was published for Windows as a downloadable game by PlayFirst.{{cite web |last1=Surette |first1=Tim |title=PlayFirst and Ubisoft play chess |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/playfirst-and-ubisoft-play-chess/1100-6119468/ |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |access-date=2 July 2023 |date=1 March 2005}}{{cite web |title=Chessmaster Challenge |url=http://www.playfirst.com/game/chessmaster |website=PlayFirst |access-date=2 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050305230532/http://www.playfirst.com/game/chessmaster |archive-date=5 March 2005 |url-status=dead}}
• 2007: Chessmaster: Grandmaster Edition (also Chessmaster XI: Grandmaster Edition) was released for Windows XP/Vista. Portable version for Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable is known as Chessmaster: The Art of Learning. It includes numerous tutorials by International Master Joshua Waitzkin and Grandmaster Larry Christiansen for players of all skill levels, 900 most important chess games in history, 190 personalities of opponents, children puzzles with Raving Rabbids and other minigames.{{Cite web|url=http://www.chess.com/news/review-chessmaster-grandmaster-edition|title=Chessmaster: Grandmaster Edition - the Art of Extending a Franchise|date=3 December 2007 }} A Polish translation has been added.
• 2008: Chessmaster Live for Xbox 360.{{cite web |title=Shippin' Out Jan. 28-Feb. 1: Rez HD, Pursuit Force |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/shippin-out-jan-28-feb-1-rez-hd-pursuit-force/1100-6185239/ |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=15 September 2022 |date=29 January 2008}}

The Chessmaster chess engine is called The King, written by Johan de Köning of the Netherlands. It was introduced in Chessmaster 4000; the first edition featured a chess engine written by David Kittinger, who went on to develop the engines for Interplay's USCF Chess, WChess for the German company Millennium 2000, and Sierra Entertainment's Power Chess, Majestic Chess and Disney's Aladdin Chess Adventures. The second edition had an engine designed by Kate and Dan Spracklen of Sargon fame.

According to the September 2009 Swedish Chess Computer Association (SSDF) rating list, Chessmaster 9000 had an estimated Elo rating of 2718 on an Athlon-1200 PC.{{cite web | url=http://ssdf.bosjo.net/list.htm | title=The SSDF Rating List | access-date=30 April 2008}} If multiple versions of other engines are stripped out of this list, Chessmaster 9000 ranked 14th among all engines tested. {{As of|2008|5}}, Chessmaster 9000 remained the most recent version rated by the SSDF.

The latest version, Chessmaster 11th Edition, was released in 2007, and has lagged behind more current chess engines. CCRL placed it 121st on its August 2020 list (15th among engines only available via purchase).{{cite web| url=https://ccrl.chessdom.com/ccrl/4040/| title=CCRL 40/40| access-date=6 August 2020| archive-date=11 November 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111213627/http://ccrl.chessdom.com/ccrl/4040/| url-status=dead}}

The King engine allows users to create new playing styles, called "personalities", by manipulating several dozen different settings, such as King Safety, Pawn Weakness, Randomness, Mobility and others. Individual piece values can also be adjusted. Chessmaster 9000, for example, features over 150 different personalities ranging from International Grandmaster strength down to Stanley, a chimpanzee who, in most situations, plays completely random moves. The Stanley chimpanzee personality inspired the Stanley Random Chess Variant.Verdra H. Ciretop (12 March 2004) [http://www.geocities.ws/verdrahciretop/src.html "Stanley Random Chess Introduced & Explained for Beginners"]. Retrieved 31 January 2020.

The Chessmaster 2000 developers aimed to anthropomorphize the game's chess engine with a mascot character to give players the feeling of a human opponent. The "Chessmaster" character on the game's packaging and title screens was a photo of actor Will Hare costumed to look like "a person, a wizard, a chessmaster!" rather than a "black box"{{cite web | url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/whats-mavis-beacon-up-to-these-days-nothing-shes-fake-926/ | title=What's Mavis Beacon up to These Days? Nothing. She's Fake | date=24 August 2015 }} The image became iconic, and the original photo remained part of the series' branding for 17 years.{{cite web | url=https://kotaku.com/the-life-and-death-of-pc-gamings-most-famous-cover-st-5939503 | title=The Life, and Death, of PC Gaming's Most Famous Cover Star | date=31 August 2012 }}

• Larry Christiansen vs. Chessmaster 9000 (September 2002), annotated at GameKnot: [http://gameknot.com/annotation.pl/gm-larry-christiansen-chessmaster-9000-game-one-1.pl?gm=2236 Game 1], [http://gameknot.com/annotation.pl/larry-christiansen-chessmaster-9000-game-two-2.pl?gm=2238 Game 2], [http://gameknot.com/annotation.pl/larry-christiansen-chessmaster-9000-game-three-3.pl?gm=2239 Game 3], [http://gameknot.com/annotation.pl/larry-christiansen-chessmaster-9000-game-four-4.pl?gm=2240 Game 4]

Chessmaster won the four-game match against Christiansen held in September 2002, by a score of 2½–1½.{{cite news| url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2002_Oct_1/ai_92289535 | work=Business Wire | title=Chessmaster 9000 Defeats Reigning US Chess Champion Larry Christiansen; Chessmaster Wins Four Game Match 2.5 to 1.5 Via Live Internet Broadcast on ChessClub.com | date=1 October 2002}} The Chessmaster program was operated by John Merlino, the Project Manager of Chessmaster at the time of the match. Four different personalities were used in the match, the first three of which were based on famous human Grandmasters: Alexander Alekhine, Bobby Fischer, and Mikhail Botvinnik. The final game of the match used the default "Chessmaster" personality. Christiansen won the first game, lost the second and third games, and the fourth game resulted in a draw.

Image:Chessmaster Nintendo DS.jpg]]

To date, various versions of Chessmaster have appeared on Amiga, Apple II, Apple IIGS, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, MSX, Commodore 64, IBM compatibles, Mac, Nintendo Entertainment System, Super NES, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Genesis (as a Sega Channel exclusive),{{cite web |last1=McFerran |first1=Damien |title=Two Lost Sega Channel Games Have Been Found And Preserved |url=https://www.timeextension.com/news/2024/11/two-lost-sega-channel-games-have-been-found-and-preserved |website=Time Extension |publisher=Hookshot Media |access-date=15 November 2024 |date=15 November 2024}} Game Gear, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and mobile phones.{{cite web | url = http://www.gamefaqs.com/search/index.html?game=chessmaster&platform=0 | title = Search Games - Chessmaster | work = GameFAQs | access-date = 19 September 2007 }}

Early Mac versions Chessmaster 3000 and 4000 were developed by Sebastian Rapport and Troy Heere that leveraged the Kittinger and de Koning engines respectively.{{Citation needed|date=February 2014}} Later Mac versions were ported by Feral Interactive, and the latest Mac version available is Chessmaster 9000. Ubisoft also offers a downloadable version of the game, Chessmaster Challenge, which differs from Chessmaster 10th Edition in its simplified interface and scaled-down tutorials.[http://www.ubi.com/US/Downloads/Info.aspx?dlId=789 Chessmaster Challenge] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609155512/http://www.ubi.com/US/Downloads/Info.aspx?dlId=789 |date=9 June 2007 }} Ubisoft

The more recent editions of Chessmaster include both 2D and 3D designs, and a large number of different boards and themed chess piece designs. The interface was revised for Chessmaster 10th Edition and features animated 3D sets in which the pieces "walk" between squares and have simulated battles when a piece is taken, reminiscent of Battle Chess or the Wizard's chess set from Harry Potter. Chessmaster 10th Edition also comes packed with a pair of red and blue glasses to view the set in "enhanced 3D".

An Xbox Live Arcade version with Xbox Live multiplayer and Xbox Live Vision camera support for the Xbox 360 called Chessmaster Live was released on 30 January 2008, but is no longer available.{{cite web |title=Chessmaster LIVE |url=https://delistedgames.com/chessmaster-live/ |website=Delisted Games|date=28 August 2019 }}

The combined sales of the Chessmaster series had reached 1 million copies by September 1996.{{Cite magazine |last=Coleman, Terry |date=September 1996 |title=Pawn to Infinity |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1996&pub=2&id=146 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |issue=146 |pages=159, 160}} The series surpassed 5 million units in sales by 2002, making it the highest-selling computer chess series ever at the time.{{cite web | author=IGN Staff | date=5 December 2002 | title=Who's the Master? | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040207024418/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/379/379423p1.html | url=http://ps2.ign.com:80/articles/379/379423p1.html | archive-date=7 February 2004 | work=IGN | access-date=22 July 2018 | url-status=live}}

In 1989, Computer Gaming World found Chessmaster 2100{{'}}s features "the clear winners" over Sargon 4,{{Cite magazine |last=Wagner |first=Roy |date=September 1989 |title=Chessmaster 2100 vs. Sargon 4 |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1989&pub=2&id=63 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |pages=20–21 |access-date=2017-11-17}} in 1992 reported that Chessmaster 3000 had added "a lot" to its predecessors, with new tutorial features and a variety of computer opponents making the game "a truly impressive sequel",{{cite news | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1992&pub=2&id=97 | title=Software Toolworks' Chessmaster 3000 | magazine=Computer Gaming World | author=Carter, Tim | date=August 1992 | access-date=3 July 2014 | pages=42–43}}

and in 1994 approved of Chessmaster 4000 Turbo{{'}}s new AI "personalities" based on historical chess players.{{Cite magazine |last=Coleman |first=Terry |date=January 1994 |title=The Ultimate Gambit |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=114 |magazine=The Ultimate Gambit |pages=42, 44, 46}} 4000 Turbo received a perfect 10 out of 10 score from Electronic Entertainment.{{cite journal | title=Chessmaster 4000 Turbo | author=Brenesal, Barry | journal=Electronic Entertainment | date=March 1994 | volume=1 | number=3 | pages=88, 89 }}

In Japan, Famitsu magazine scored the 1991 Super Famicom version of the game a 23 out of 40,New Games Cross Review - チェスマスター. Weekly Famitsu. No.323. Pg.39. 24 February 1995. and the 1994 Game Boy version a 21 out of 40.NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: チェスマスター. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.307. Pg.40. 4 November 1994.

Critical reaction to the Chessmaster series has been mostly positive. GameSpot commented that "Chessmaster has remained the consummate standard in console chess games since the '80s."[http://www.gamespot.com/mobile/puzzle/chessmaster/review.html Chessmaster mobile review], GameSpot, 15 June 2004 IGN said that "the series itself remains the best way to play and learn about chess on the PC."[https://web.archive.org/web/20040828012152/http://pc.ign.com/articles/542/542613p1.html Chessmaster 10th Edition review], IGN, 26 August 2004

Chessmaster: Grandmaster Edition scored positive reviews, with PC Gamer saying: "this one-stop shop for an entire chess-playing and learning family should last until you're all grandmasters."PC Gamer, Chessmaster: Grandmaster Edition review, April 2008, p.64 Chessmaster 10th Edition holds an 84% rating on review aggregator site GameRankings.[http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/921361.asp?q=chessmaster Chessmaster 10th Edition], GameRankings IGN gave Chessmaster 10th Edition a score of 8.4/10, calling it "the best chess game in town." GameSpot's review of Chessmaster 10th Edition said, "If you're looking for a good chess program that's packed with a plethora of features and all the bells and whistles, you'll be very happy with Chessmaster 10th Edition.[http://www.gamespot.com/pc/puzzle/chessmaster10thedition/review.html Chessmaster 10th Edition review], GameSpot, 7 September 2004

The mobile phone version of Chessmaster received a score of 9/10 from IGN, who called it "an absolutely superlative product that will be enjoyed for week after week by fans of the mental contest."[http://wireless.ign.com/articles/528/528908p1.html Chessmaster mobile review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090121023207/http://wireless.ign.com/articles/528/528908p1.html |date=21 January 2009 }}, IGN, 7 July 2004 IGN criticized the Nintendo DS version of Chessmaster: The Art of Learning for its lack of multiplayer, but gave it an overall positive review, with a score of 7.8/10.[http://ds.ign.com/articles/839/839557p1.html Chessmaster: The Art of Learning - DS review], IGN, 4 December 2007 IGN criticized the "boring" presentation of the PlayStation Portable version of Chessmaster: The Art of Learning, but added that "there's no doubt that the information is valuable and can teach you the finer points of the game."[http://psp.ign.com/articles/855/855765p1.html ''Chessmaster: The Art of Learning - PSP review], IGN, 28 February 2008

Although the Chessmaster engine is generally not as strong as the engines of other commercially available chess programs such as Fritz,[http://www.logicalchess.com/hcc/reports/CM8000vsFritz6/cmvsfritz.html Chessmaster 8000 vs. Fritz 6] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220173311/http://www.logicalchess.com/hcc/reports/CM8000vsFritz6/cmvsfritz.html |date=20 December 2008 }}, Roger McIntyre, Logical Chess[http://www.logicalchess.com/hcc/reports/CM9000vsFritz6/cmvsfritz.html Chessmaster 9000 vs. Fritz 6] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509074419/http://www.logicalchess.com/hcc/reports/CM9000vsFritz6/cmvsfritz.html |date=9 May 2008 }}, Roger McIntyre, Logical Chess critics have praised the Chessmaster series for its comprehensive tutorials aimed at players of amateur and moderate skill levels. In its review of Chessmaster 9000, IGN said that "the series has always distinguished itself with first-rate chess teaching tools", and welcomed the game's "appeal towards inexperienced and mid-level players. With all manner of tutorials, detailed analysis and exercises, the game helps ease newbies into the experience."[https://web.archive.org/web/20020920161109/http://pc.ign.com/articles/371/371349p1.html Chessmaster 9000 review], IGN, 17 September 2002 GameSpot's review of Chessmaster 10th Edition commented positively on the game's "huge bundle of features aimed at everyone from the neophyte who's looking to learn the basics to the advanced wood pusher who may need practice for tournament play."

A common criticism of the series has been the lack of new features in successive installments. IGN's review of Chessmaster 10th Edition commented, "it simply doesn't add enough over any of the last two versions to make it a necessary upgrade."

The editors of Computer Games Strategy Plus named Chessmaster Online the best online game of 1997.{{cite web|author=Staff |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050206152953/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/009/194/1997_cgsp_awards.html |url=http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/009/194/1997_cgsp_awards.html |title=The winners of the 1997 Computer Games Awards |date=19 January 1998 |work=Computer Games Strategy Plus |archive-date=6 February 2005 |url-status=dead }}

In 1994, PC Gamer UK named Chessmaster 4000 Turbo the 20th best computer game of all time, calling it the best of the series so far and accessible to all skill levels. The editors wrote, "A chess game? In the Top 50? Well, why not?"{{cite magazine | author=Staff | magazine=PC Gamer UK | title=The PC Gamer Top 50 PC Games of All Time |date=April 1994 | issue=5 | pages=43–56 }} In June 1994 Chessmaster 4000 was a finalist for Computer Gaming World{{'}}s Strategy Game of the Year award, losing to Master of Orion The editors wrote that "Software Toolworks still has the capacity and the will to improve their best-selling chess engine".{{Cite magazine

|date=June 1994

|title=Announcing The New Premier Awards

|url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=118

|magazine=Computer Gaming World

|pages=51–58

}}

In 1997 Chessmaster 5000 was a finalist for Computer Gaming World{{'}}s Classic/Puzzle Game of the Year award,{{cite magazine | author=Staff | magazine=Computer Gaming World | title=Best of the Bunch; Finalists Named for CGW Premier Awards |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1997&pub=2&id=153 |date=April 1997 | issue=153 | pages=28, 32 }} losing to Baku Baku Animal.{{cite magazine | author=Staff | magazine=Computer Gaming World | title=The Computer Gaming World 1997 Premier Awards |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1997&pub=2&id=154 |date=May 1997 | issue=154 | pages=68–70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80 }}

• Computer chess
• List of chess software

{{reflist|30em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/19970605174924/http://www.chessmaster.com/ The Chessmaster Network] (archived)
• [https://www.mobygames.com/game-group/chessmaster-series Chessmaster series] at MobyGames
• {{Chessgames player |id=70670 |name=Chessmaster}}

{{Chessmaster}}

{{Ubisoft}}

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Category:The Software Toolworks games

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