Chessmaster 9000

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Chessmaster 9000
Developer(s)Ubi Soft[4]
Zonic (Mac)[5]
Publisher(s)Ubi Soft[4]
Feral Interactive (Mac)[6][7]
SeriesChessmaster
Platform(s)Windows, Mac OS X[3]
Release
Genre(s)Computer chess
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Chessmaster 9000 is a 2002 chess video game developed and published by Ubi Soft for the Windows. It is part of the Chessmaster series. The game was announced on July 12, 2002.[8] Grandmaster Larry Christiansen played four matches against the game in September 2002.[9] He won the first match, lost the next two, and match four was a draw.[10]

Gameplay[edit]

The game comes with a downloadable endgame database generator that uses a proprietary database format, called FEG (Final Endgame Generator). The series on the PC features for the first time true 3D boards that can be rotated and zoomed in and out. Over 60 chess sets and boards have been added to the game.[11] Josh Waitzkin returns with a new eight-part course, "The Psychology of Competition".[12] There's several new tutorials: "follow the game", "memorize the position", a "blunder alert" feature, and an endgame quiz authored by Grandmaster Larry Evans. It consists of 50 endgame positions where the player is asked to provide the next best move for a given side by a multiple-choice question.[12][13] Other new features added are blindfold chess, hidden opponents and random opponent.[11] Network multiplayer is either through the internet or LAN.[11] The internet play, Chessmaster Live, is using ubi.com instead of MPlayer.com.[13]

Reception[edit]

Chessmaster 9000 received generally positive reviews from critics. GameSpot said that "no other product delivers the ease of use and instructional value of Chessmaster 9000."[12] IGN concluded: "In short, if you've got 8000 and can do without the in-game multiplayer modes, then you can just as easily do without 9000. If you don't own 8000 and have a love for chess, there's no reason not to own the latest version of the greatest series."[13] GameSpy said that "[...] Chessmaster 9000 is the perfect product for new players and veterans alike."[15] Computer Gaming World called the game "[a] powerful learning tool for sure, but the AI's lack of subtlety is geared more toward the already-accomplished player."[4] Macworld called it "the best chess game you can buy for the Mac".[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Reno (13 December 2002). "Test de Chessmaster 9000". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on 4 June 2004. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  2. ^ Parker, Sam (6 August 2002). "Chessmaster 9000 coming soon". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on 6 February 2004. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Back cover of the game box (Macintosh)". Chessmaster 9000. Ubi Soft. © 2004 Ubi Soft, Inc. - Mindestvoraussetzungen: Mac OS 10.2
  4. ^ a b c d Smolka, Rob (December 2002). "Reviews - Chessmaster 9000". Computer Gaming World. No. 221. Ziff Davis. p. 130.
  5. ^ "ChessMaster 9000". IGN. Ziff Davis. 8 January 2004. Archived from the original on 4 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Cohen, Peter (April 2005). "Reviews - The Game Room". Macworld. International Data Group. p. 40.
  7. ^ Zonic (2004). Chessmaster 9000 (Macintosh) (1.1.3 ed.). Feral Interactive. Level/area: Options: About. Chessmaster 9000 v1.1.3, Copyright © 2004, Ubisoft, Published on the Mac by Feral Interactive., Universal Mac development by Feral Interactive.
  8. ^ Walker, Trey (12 July 2002). "Chessmaster 9000 announced". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on 6 February 2004. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  9. ^ Jones, Zakk (24 September 2002). "Larry Christiansen versus...Chessmaster? - IGN". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 28 April 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  10. ^ Butts, Steve (1 October 2002). "Chessmaster Victorious". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 26 April 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  11. ^ a b c House, Michael L. "Chessmaster 9000 overview". AllGame. RhythmOne. Archived from the original on 19 November 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  12. ^ a b c d Poole, Stephen (12 September 2002). "Chessmaster 9000 Review". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on 26 June 2003. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  13. ^ a b c d Butts, Steve (17 September 2002). "Review - Chessmaster 9000". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 14 October 2002. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  14. ^ "Chessmaster 9000 for PC". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 16 April 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  15. ^ a b Rice, Kevin (25 October 2002). "Reviews - Chessmaster 9000". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 18 February 2005. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  16. ^ Code Cowboy (27 September 2002). "Reviews - Chessmaster 9000". GameZone. GameZone Online. Archived from the original on 29 December 2004. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  17. ^ ackboo (December 2002). "Test - Chessmaster [sic]". Joystick (in French). No. 143. Hachette Filipacchi Presse. p. 146.
  18. ^ Peckham, Matthew. "Reviews - Chessmaster 9000". PC Gamer. Future plc. Archived from the original on 15 March 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  19. ^ obstat, nihil (24 October 2002). "Review of Chessmaster 9000". Absolute Games (in Russian). Golden Telecom. Archived from the original on 13 October 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  20. ^ Mircea (November 2002). "Review - Chessmaster 9000". Level (in Romanian). No. 62. pp. 34–35.

External links[edit]