Hello, and welcome to my abysmal and illegal OS X port for Chessmaster: Grandmaster Edition! Pirated also, I might add. In this masterful episode, I duke it out with Duke, a purposefully. Chessmaster 9000 is the best chess game you can buy for the Mac. It's an absolute must-have for chess fans who want serious competition and training.
Chessmaster | |
---|---|
Genre(s) | Chess |
Developer(s) | David Kittinger Kathe Spracklen Dan Spracklen Johan de Koning |
Publisher(s) | Ubisoft Feral Interactive(OS X)[1] |
Platform(s) | Windows, MS-DOS, NES, Game Boy, Game Gear, Macintosh, PlayStation, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360 |
Original release | 1986–2007 |
Chessmaster is a chess-playing computer game series which is now owned and developed by Ubisoft. It is the best-selling chess franchise in history, with more than five million units sold as of 2002.[2]
Since Chessmaster 3000 for Windows 3.x the moves are explained with voice output.
Timeline[edit]
- 1986: The Chessmaster series started with 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, Atari ST, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, MSX, Macintosh, and DOS. The game had a chess engine written by David Kittinger and the manufacturer rated the game at 2000 Elo. USCF rated it 2100; 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.[3]
- 1988: The Fidelity Chessmaster 2100 was published for the Apple IIGS.
- 1989: The Fidelity Chessmaster 2100 was published for DOS.
- 1990: The Chessmaster was published for the NES, and the Game Boy.
- 1990: The Fidelity Chessmaster 2100 was published for the Amiga.
- 1991: The Chessmaster was published for the SNES.
- 1991: The Chessmaster was published for the Game Gear.
- 1991: Chessmaster 3000 was published for DOS, Windows 3.x.
- 1993: Chessmaster 4000 Turbo was published for Windows 3.x.
- 1993: Chessmaster 3000 was published for Macintosh.
- 1995: Chessmaster 4000 was published for Windows 95.
- 1995: Chessmaster 3D for PlayStation had the Chessmaster 4000 engine.[4]
- 1996: Chessmaster 4000 was published for Macintosh.
- 1996: Mindscape publishes Chessmaster 5000 for Windows 95.
- 1997: Chessmaster 5500 was published for Windows 95.
- 1998: Chessmaster 6000 was published for Windows 95 and Windows 98 and Macintosh.
- 1999: Chessmaster 7000 was published for Windows 98 and Chessmaster II was published for PlayStation.[5]
- 2000: Chessmaster 8000 was published for Windows 98.
- 2002: Ubisoft publishes Chessmaster 9000 for Windows 98/ME/XP
- 2004: Chessmaster 10th Edition was published for Windows XP.
- 2004: Chessmaster 9000 was published for Mac OS X by Feral Interactive.[1]
- 30 October 2007: The current version, Chessmaster XI, was released for Windows XP/Vista (titled Chessmaster: Grandmaster Edition) and Nintendo DS (titled Chessmaster: The Art of Learning), and 12 February 2008 for PlayStation Portable (also titled Chessmaster: The Art of Learning). It includes numerous tutorials by International MasterJoshua Waitzkin and GM Larry Christiansen for players of all skill levels.[6] Also contains the minigames Fork my fruit (which practices forking), Minesweeper (practices safety of pieces) and the tail game (where the player chooses a long-range chess piece, then trying to make a long tail using captured pieces, and avoiding the enemy pieces to capture the main piece or tail parts).
Chess engine[edit]
The Chessmasterchess 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.[7] If multiple versions of other engines are stripped out of this list, Chessmaster 9000 ranked 14th among all engines tested. As of May 2008, 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).[8]
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.[9]
Notable games[edit]
- Larry Christiansen vs. Chessmaster 9000 (September 2002), annotated at GameKnot: Game 1, Game 2, Game 3, Game 4
Chessmaster won the four-game match against Christiansen held in September 2002, by a score of 2½–1½.[10] 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.
Platforms[edit]
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, DOS, PC, Macintosh, Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Sega Genesis (as a Sega Channel exclusive), Sega Game Gear, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and mobile phones.[11] Early Macintosh versions Chessmaster 3000 and 4000 were developed by Sebastian Rapport and Troy Heere that leveraged the Kittinger and de Koning engines respectively.[citation needed] Later Macintosh versions were ported by Feral Interactive, and the latest Macintosh 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.[12]
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'.
Xbox Live Arcade[edit]
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.
This version of Chessmaster contained a bug allowing the white player to indefinitely hold up a match until a player resigned. The game was eventually patched so that neither player would gain or lose Elo points if they resign before the first move.
Reception[edit]
The combined sales of the Chessmaster series had reached 1 million copies by September 1996.[13] The series surpassed 5 million units in sales by 2002, making it the highest-selling computer chess series ever at the time.[14]
In 1989, Computer Gaming World found Chessmaster 2100's features 'the clear winners' over Sargon 4,[15] 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',[16]and in 1994 approved of Chessmaster 4000 Turbo's new AI 'personalities' based on historical chess players.[17]4000 Turbo received a perfect 10 out of 10 score from Electronic Entertainment.[18]
In Japan, Famitsu magazine scored the 1991 Super Famicom version of the game a 23 out of 40,[19] and the 1994 Game Boy version a 21 out of 40.[20]
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.'[21]IGN said that 'the series itself remains the best way to play and learn about chess on the PC.'[22]
Chessmaster: Grandmaster Edition, the most recent PC edition of the series, 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.'[23]Chessmaster 10th Edition holds an 84% rating on review aggregator site GameRankings.[24] IGN gave Chessmaster 10th Edition a score of 8.4/10, calling it 'the best chess game in town.'[22] 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.[25]
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.'[26] 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.[27] 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.'[28]
Although the Chessmaster engine is generally not as strong as the engines of other commercially available chess programs such as Fritz,[29][30] 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.'[31] 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.'[25]
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.'[22]
Awards[edit]
The editors of Computer Games Strategy Plus named Chessmaster Online the best online game of 1997.[32]
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?'[33] 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'.[34]
Chessmaster 3000 was named the 40th best computer game ever by PC Gamer UK in 1997. The editors wrote that 'it remains [...] the premier PC chess title, with just the right balance of fancy game options and high-end gameplay. ChessMaster 3000 runs much faster than subsequent versions of the game and makes a welcome change from guns and guts'.[35]
In 1997 Chessmaster 5000 was a finalist for Computer Gaming World's Classic/Puzzle Game of the Year award,[36] losing to Baku Baku Animal.[37]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ ab[1]
- ^Chessmaster 9000 Review
- ^Oxner, Bill (November 1986). 'The Chessmaster 2000'(PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 32. p. 44. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^Chessmaster 3d Review
- ^Chessmaster II at GameFAQs. Accessed 24 March 2013.
- ^[2]
- ^'The SSDF Rating List'. Retrieved 30 April 2008.
- ^'CCRL 40/40'.
- ^Verdra H. Ciretop (12 March 2004) 'Stanley Random Chess Introduced & Explained for Beginners'. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^'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'. Business Wire. 1 October 2002.
- ^'Search Games - Chessmaster'. GameFAQs. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
- ^Chessmaster ChallengeArchived 9 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine Ubisoft
- ^Coleman, Terry (September 1996). 'Pawn to Infinity'. Computer Gaming World. No. 146. pp. 159, 160.
- ^IGN Staff (5 December 2002). 'Who's the Master?'. IGN. Archived from the original on 7 February 2004. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
- ^Wagner, Roy (September 1989). 'Chessmaster 2100 vs. Sargon 4'. Computer Gaming World. pp. 20–21. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
- ^Carter, Tim (August 1992). 'Software Toolworks' Chessmaster 3000'. Computer Gaming World. pp. 42–43. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
- ^Coleman, Terry (January 1994). 'The Ultimate Gambit'. The Ultimate Gambit. pp. 42, 44, 46.
- ^Brenesal, Barry (March 1994). 'Chessmaster 4000 Turbo'. Electronic Entertainment. 1 (3): 88, 89.
- ^New Games Cross Review - チェスマスター. Weekly Famitsu. No.323. Pg.39. 24 February 1995.
- ^NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: チェスマスター. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.307. Pg.40. 4 November 1994.
- ^Chessmaster mobile review, GameSpot, 15 June 2004
- ^ abcChessmaster 10th Edition review, IGN, 26 August 2004
- ^PC Gamer, Chessmaster: Grandmaster Edition review, April 2008, p.64
- ^Chessmaster 10th Edition, GameRankings
- ^ abChessmaster 10th Edition review, GameSpot, 7 September 2004
- ^Chessmaster mobile reviewArchived 21 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine, IGN, 7 July 2004
- ^Chessmaster: The Art of Learning - DS review, IGN, 4 December 2007
- ^Chessmaster: The Art of Learning - PSP review, IGN, 28 February 2008
- ^Chessmaster 8000 vs. Fritz 6Archived 20 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Roger McIntyre, Logical Chess
- ^Chessmaster 9000 vs. Fritz 6Archived 9 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Roger McIntyre, Logical Chess
- ^Chessmaster 9000 review, IGN, 17 September 2002
- ^Staff (19 January 1998). 'The winners of the 1997 Computer Games Awards'. Computer Games Strategy Plus. Archived from the original on 6 February 2005.
- ^Staff (April 1994). 'The PC Gamer Top 50 PC Games of All Time'. PC Gamer UK. No. 5. pp. 43–56.
- ^'Announcing The New Premier Awards'. Computer Gaming World. June 1994. pp. 51–58.
- ^Flynn, James; Owen, Steve; Pierce, Matthew; Davis, Jonathan; Longhurst, Richard (July 1997). 'The PC Gamer Top 100'. PC Gamer UK. No. 45. pp. 51–83.
- ^Staff (April 1997). 'Best of the Bunch; Finalists Named for CGW Premier Awards'. Computer Gaming World. No. 153. pp. 28, 32.
- ^Staff (May 1997). 'The Computer Gaming World 1997 Premier Awards'. Computer Gaming World. No. 154. pp. 68–70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80.
External links[edit]
- The MS-DOS version ofThe Fidelity Chessmaster 2100 can be played for free in the browser at the Internet Archive
I. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS / UPDATES
Q: What are the system requirements for Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition?
A: You can read about key features and system requirements here.
Q: What languages are available in Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition?
A: When installing, you can install in English or French, although the voices are in English only. There is also a Polish version (available from Cenega Poland) and a Russian version (available from Akella).
Q: Do I need the DVD in the drive in order to run Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition?
A: No. Provided you do a full installation, Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition doesn't require the DVD in order to run.
Q: Is Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition available for Mac/Linux?
A: No.
Q: Can I use an emulator/virtual machine to run Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition?
A: No... using an emulator and/or virutal machine software is against the EULA (End User Licence Agreement), and is not supported.
Q: What updates are available for Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition?
A: Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition has an automatic update feature, so you shouldn't have to manually install updates. However, some users have reported problems. In this case, you will need to manually install the updates:1.01 Update, 1.02 Update, 1.02 Update (Polish), 1.02 Update (Russian)
Q: Why would I want to install the updates?
A: These updates fix some of the problems and add new features. Also, they are required for playing online!
Q: How do I know what version I have?
A: Go to the Help menu, and select 'About Chessmaster: Grandmaster Edition'. You'll see the version number on the right-hand side of the screen, near the bottom.
Q: Does Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition run on Windows 8?
A: Yes, Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition will run on Windows 8, and Windows 8.1. As with Windows Vista/Windows 7, please remember to install as the Administrator. An icon will be installed on the Start Screen.
Q: I'm having problems installing Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition.
A: Try the following:Close all open programs before installing.Disable any anti-virus/firewall software that is running.If you have Windows Vista/Windows 7/Windows 8, make sure that you install as the Administrator.When installing, make sure you select to install DirectX.
Q: I get an error when trying to install one of the updates.
A: There are two reasons why this might happen:You already have the update installed.If you are using Windows Vista, run the update as Administrator (right-click on the update file and select this option).
Q: I'm using Windows Vista/Windows 7. Where is my program group/icon for Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition?
A: In Windows Vista, a program group is not created for Chessmaster. Instead, an icon is provided in the Games folder on the Start Menu. You must run Chessmaster from this icon, otherwise updates will not be automatically installed.
Q: I downloaded Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition from Ubisoft's Download Store, and I'm having problems extracting files.
A: This could be due to two things:The Download Manger didn't download the file correctly; uninstall it and download the file manually.You must use WinZip to extract the files. Many programs (such as WinRAR) don't read special characters (such as ®) in filenames.If this still doesn't work, look at the FAQ in the Ubisoft Digital Support Center, or contact Ubisoft Technical Support.
Q: I'm using a non-English version of Windows, and I'm having a problem running/updating Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition.
A: Is your user acount name is in a language with special (non-Unicode) characters for your language? If so, that is the problem. Also, other languages cannot translate some special characters (such as ®) in the filenames.
Here's how to work around this:
- Un-install Chessmaster.Create a new user account, using English characters only (under Control PanelUser Account).Restart Windows, and log in with your new account.
- Install Chessmaster.Change your OS language to English (under Control PanelLanguage and TimeAdvanced).
- Restart Windows, and log in with your new account.
- Start Chessmaster, and install updates.
You should be able to run Chessmaster under all user accounts. However, DO NOT DELETE YOUR NEW USER ACCOUNT! You'll need it in order to install future updates.
II. ONLINE PLAY
NOTE: Online Play for Chessmaster has been discontinued. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Q: Is it possible to play online with people who have other versions of Chessmaster?
A: No. Due to the use of different protocols, you can only play against others who are using Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition.
Q: I have problems connecting to online play. What should I do?
A: Make sure you have the latest update installed and that you have all the needed ports opened: TCP: 668, 40000–42999 and UDP: 41006, 44000, 45000, 45001 (these are for the ubi.com matchmaking services)UDP: 17110 (for the game communication)
Q: I have the latest update installed and I opened the required ports, but still can't connect!
A: Try temporarily disabling any firewall/anti-virus software, as this is most likely the problem. If that doesn't work, then please contact Ubisoft Technical Support.
III. GAME QUESTIONS / ISSUES
Q: When I try to run Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition, I get the following error: 'There was an error while trying to Initialize the Game.'
Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition Ubisoft
A: There are four reasons why this might happen:- You need to download and install the latest drivers for your video card.
- You are using a program called D3DOverrider. Chessmaster will not work while this is running.
- Direct3D Acceleration has been disabled...enable Direct3D via the Display Settings in your Control Panel.
- Color quality on your video card is set too high. Go to the Display Settins in your Control Panel, and change the color quality from Highest 24 bit to Medium 16 bit.
Q: What music is played during the introduction movie?
A: 'Pieces en Concert for Cello & Strings - 2. Sicilienne' by Francois Couperin.
Q: Whose voices are used in Chessmaster?
A: The voice used for Chessmaster (annotation, analysis, and moves) belongs to Denny Delk. The voice for illegal move commentary is Jeanne Reynolds. Their voices have been featured in Chessmaster for several years... since Chessmaster 6000.
Q: Game.exe always uses 100% CPU, even when I'm just at the Main Menu. Is this normal?
A: While it does seem excessive, it is normal. If the program causes your computer to freeze frequently, this isn't the reason, but you can find the solution in the next question.
Q: Why does TheKing.exe keep running after I close the program?
A: Nobody knows.... Seriously, there's no known solution to this problem it's unlikely that there ever will be. You'll have to close the process manually if it's eating up too much processor power.
Q: My computer is very slow and/or freezes when playing a game. How do I fix this?
A: Try the following suggestions:
- Make sure you run as few programs as possible while playing Chessmaster. The more background programs you have loaded in Windows, the less processing power your system will have to make moves within the game.
- Use as few child windows as possible. Some of the windows that open within the game can take up a decent amount of CPU time due to either their visual updates or because they might cause a mentor engine instance to be launched.
- Do not activate the blunder alert feature in the Training Mode. This feature will also launch a mentor engine instance to watch your game.
- Do not switch to other game modes, or access other game features or dialogs while running a game, and try to avoid adjusting game settings in the middle of the game.
- Some of these features/dialogs will actually restart any chess engines that may be associated with the current game, causing that memory that these engines has allocated to be destroyed.
- In the 'Piece Movement' tab of the Sound dialog, select 'No Sounds.' This will prevent the program from taking up a significant portion of time queuing up and playing piece movement sounds.
- Change the priority of the engine.
- Go to the Preferences menu and select 'Engine'. From there you can adjust the resources of the Chess Engine and Blunder Alert Threshold, as well as set the priority of the Chess Engine and Blunder Alert.
- If that still doesn't work, try the following:
- After starting Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition, right-click on the Windows taskbar and click 'Task Manager'. Go to the Processes tab, and right-click on 'game.exe'.Click on 'Set Priority'Click on 'High'.
If you don't want to bother with the Task Manager, you can use the Run command (from the Start Menu) and type the following:C:WINDOWSSystem32cmd.exe /c start 'runhigh' /high 'C:Program FilesUbisoftChessmaster Grandmaster Editiongame.exe'NOTE: If you start Chessmaster this way, it will not check for updates.
Q: I'm having problems running Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition on a multi-core processor. How can I correct this?
A: Chessmaster was tested on dual-core processors only; not multi-core processors. You can limit the number of processors used by modifying the ini file. Go to C:Program FilesUbisoftChessmaster Grandmaster EditionDataUsersYourNameYourName.ini, and set threads_count=2. If that doesn't work, go into the Task Manager and set the Affinity for Game.exe and TheKing350.exe to 0.
Q: How do I disable the introduction movie?
A: You have to edit the cm.ini file. It resides in the following location:Windows XP: C:Program FilesUbisoftChessmaster Grandmaster EditionWindows Vista: C:UsersYourNameAppDataLocalVirtualStoreProgr am FilesUbisoftChessmaster Grandmaster EditionThere is a line that reads 'IntroMovie=1'. Change this to 'IntroMovie=0'.
Q: How can I resize the boards in Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition?
A: Click on the board and turn the wheel on your mouse or press Page Up/Down ****ons on your keyboard. There is no way to prevent resizing of the chessboard.
Q: How do I unlock all the chess sets?
A: To unlock all chess sets without having to win rated games, you can do this:Open up 'My Computer', and select 'Local Disk (C)'.Go to Program FilesUbisoftChessmaster Grandmaster EditionDataUsers.Select the folder for your user.Open the .INI file for your user.Under [settings], add the following line: unlockstuff=1.Save the INI file.
Q: I can't see the menus. What's wrong?
A: Lower your DPI settings (in the Control PanelDisplaySettings), or click on the empty space where the drop down menus like File, Edit, etc. are supposed to be and they will appear.
Q: The bump mapping option in the Board Settings dialog (from the Preferences menu) is disabled. How do I fix this?
A: It's not mentioned in the documentation, but bump mapping only works with certain chess sets (such as the Lewis set).
Q: My avatar is not being displayed -- all I see is a silhouette.
A: Increase the size of the Game Status window. Please note that when in online mode, you will not be able to view your opponent's avatar.
Q: I'm using the Aero interface with Windows Vista, and I can't see the name of the opening on the bottom of the Main window. How do I correct this?
A: Try the following:Right click desktop, and select 'Personalize'.Click 'Window color', and then 'Advanced appearance settings...'At 'Item:' select 'Border Padding' and change 'Size:' to 0.
Q: How can I view my games played on Yahoo server in Chessmaster?
A: Use this utility to convert games into standard format that all programs can read.Alternative site
Q: Where are the chess variants?
A: There are currently 16 chess variants.
These are: Balance Bishops, Shuffle ,Balanced Marseiillais, Classic Marseiillais, Crazyhouse, Fischer Random, Chess Kriegspiel, Limited Shuffle, Pieces Shuffle, Pocket Knight (2 and 3 Knights), Progressive (English, Italian, and Scottish), Replacement Shuffle, and Three Checks. These are only available when you create an online game.
Q: Can I get the Chess Coach to suggest openings from a different opening book?
A: Yes, just follow these steps:1. Go to C:Program FilesUbisoftChessmaster 10th EditionOpening Books and rename 'Mentor.obk' to 'Mentor.obk_old'.2. Place the opening book you want to use in the same folder and rename it 'Mentor.obk'.
Q: Can I use a Personality to analyze my games?
A: Yes, but keep in mind that the personality will used in all the mentor features (Game Analysis, Advice, Solve for Mate, etc.).Open C:Program FilesUbisoftChessmaster Grandmaster EditionDataUsers.ini, and under [mentor], add the following line:
Q: Are there alternate solutions to some of the tutorials?
A: Yes. The most notable of these is the Monster Knight Problem on page 37 of the Master Quiz, 'Honing Your Skills'. The given solution is: 1. Nxe2 2. Nxd4 3. Nxf3 4. Nxh4 5. NxG2 6. Nxe3 7. Nxd5 8. Nxb4 9. Nxa2 10. Nxc3 11. Nxb4 12. Nxa7 13. Nxc6 14. Nxd8 15. Nxb7 16. Nxa5 and the alternate solution being: 1. Nxe2 2. Nxc3 3. Nxa2 4. Nxb4 5. Nxd5 6. Nxe3 7. Nxg2 8. Nxh4 9. Nxf3 10. Nxd4 11. Nxb5 12. Nxa7 13. Nxc6 14. Nxd8 15. Nxb7 16. Nxa5 And yes, the alternate solution could be seen as 'better' because it captures pieces in order of relative value, so congratulations to you if you found it.
Q: I found other errors in the tutorials.
A: Good for you! We don't need to hear about it, though.
IV. PERSONALITIES / RATINGS
Q: How accurate are the ratings for the personalities?
A: The ratings are mathematically precise, but they are mostly based on computer vs. computer games. While the human vs. computer games added much more 'real-world' accuracy to the ratings, many of the Chessmaster personalities have quirks in their playing styles that a human will be able to exploit but a computer opponent will not be able to 'see'. Discovering and then taking advantage of these weaknesses is part of the fun of Chessmaster, but you might find yourself able to defeat certain personalities that you don't think you should be able to based on their ratings.
Q: Does CPU speed have any effect on Personality ratings?
A: Yes; the rating for most of the personalities will change depending on CPU speed. Also, because the CPU speed calculation is performed every time Chessmaster is started, the same personality can have different ratings between sessions.
Q: Are personalities stronger in Ranked Play versus Training Mode?
A: No.
Q: How does Chessmaster calculate my rating?
A: Please refer to this chart:
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.
This version of Chessmaster contained a bug allowing the white player to indefinitely hold up a match until a player resigned. The game was eventually patched so that neither player would gain or lose Elo points if they resign before the first move.
Reception[edit]
The combined sales of the Chessmaster series had reached 1 million copies by September 1996.[13] The series surpassed 5 million units in sales by 2002, making it the highest-selling computer chess series ever at the time.[14]
In 1989, Computer Gaming World found Chessmaster 2100's features 'the clear winners' over Sargon 4,[15] 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',[16]and in 1994 approved of Chessmaster 4000 Turbo's new AI 'personalities' based on historical chess players.[17]4000 Turbo received a perfect 10 out of 10 score from Electronic Entertainment.[18]
In Japan, Famitsu magazine scored the 1991 Super Famicom version of the game a 23 out of 40,[19] and the 1994 Game Boy version a 21 out of 40.[20]
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.'[21]IGN said that 'the series itself remains the best way to play and learn about chess on the PC.'[22]
Chessmaster: Grandmaster Edition, the most recent PC edition of the series, 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.'[23]Chessmaster 10th Edition holds an 84% rating on review aggregator site GameRankings.[24] IGN gave Chessmaster 10th Edition a score of 8.4/10, calling it 'the best chess game in town.'[22] 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.[25]
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.'[26] 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.[27] 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.'[28]
Although the Chessmaster engine is generally not as strong as the engines of other commercially available chess programs such as Fritz,[29][30] 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.'[31] 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.'[25]
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.'[22]
Awards[edit]
The editors of Computer Games Strategy Plus named Chessmaster Online the best online game of 1997.[32]
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?'[33] 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'.[34]
Chessmaster 3000 was named the 40th best computer game ever by PC Gamer UK in 1997. The editors wrote that 'it remains [...] the premier PC chess title, with just the right balance of fancy game options and high-end gameplay. ChessMaster 3000 runs much faster than subsequent versions of the game and makes a welcome change from guns and guts'.[35]
In 1997 Chessmaster 5000 was a finalist for Computer Gaming World's Classic/Puzzle Game of the Year award,[36] losing to Baku Baku Animal.[37]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ ab[1]
- ^Chessmaster 9000 Review
- ^Oxner, Bill (November 1986). 'The Chessmaster 2000'(PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 32. p. 44. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^Chessmaster 3d Review
- ^Chessmaster II at GameFAQs. Accessed 24 March 2013.
- ^[2]
- ^'The SSDF Rating List'. Retrieved 30 April 2008.
- ^'CCRL 40/40'.
- ^Verdra H. Ciretop (12 March 2004) 'Stanley Random Chess Introduced & Explained for Beginners'. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^'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'. Business Wire. 1 October 2002.
- ^'Search Games - Chessmaster'. GameFAQs. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
- ^Chessmaster ChallengeArchived 9 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine Ubisoft
- ^Coleman, Terry (September 1996). 'Pawn to Infinity'. Computer Gaming World. No. 146. pp. 159, 160.
- ^IGN Staff (5 December 2002). 'Who's the Master?'. IGN. Archived from the original on 7 February 2004. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
- ^Wagner, Roy (September 1989). 'Chessmaster 2100 vs. Sargon 4'. Computer Gaming World. pp. 20–21. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
- ^Carter, Tim (August 1992). 'Software Toolworks' Chessmaster 3000'. Computer Gaming World. pp. 42–43. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
- ^Coleman, Terry (January 1994). 'The Ultimate Gambit'. The Ultimate Gambit. pp. 42, 44, 46.
- ^Brenesal, Barry (March 1994). 'Chessmaster 4000 Turbo'. Electronic Entertainment. 1 (3): 88, 89.
- ^New Games Cross Review - チェスマスター. Weekly Famitsu. No.323. Pg.39. 24 February 1995.
- ^NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: チェスマスター. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.307. Pg.40. 4 November 1994.
- ^Chessmaster mobile review, GameSpot, 15 June 2004
- ^ abcChessmaster 10th Edition review, IGN, 26 August 2004
- ^PC Gamer, Chessmaster: Grandmaster Edition review, April 2008, p.64
- ^Chessmaster 10th Edition, GameRankings
- ^ abChessmaster 10th Edition review, GameSpot, 7 September 2004
- ^Chessmaster mobile reviewArchived 21 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine, IGN, 7 July 2004
- ^Chessmaster: The Art of Learning - DS review, IGN, 4 December 2007
- ^Chessmaster: The Art of Learning - PSP review, IGN, 28 February 2008
- ^Chessmaster 8000 vs. Fritz 6Archived 20 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Roger McIntyre, Logical Chess
- ^Chessmaster 9000 vs. Fritz 6Archived 9 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Roger McIntyre, Logical Chess
- ^Chessmaster 9000 review, IGN, 17 September 2002
- ^Staff (19 January 1998). 'The winners of the 1997 Computer Games Awards'. Computer Games Strategy Plus. Archived from the original on 6 February 2005.
- ^Staff (April 1994). 'The PC Gamer Top 50 PC Games of All Time'. PC Gamer UK. No. 5. pp. 43–56.
- ^'Announcing The New Premier Awards'. Computer Gaming World. June 1994. pp. 51–58.
- ^Flynn, James; Owen, Steve; Pierce, Matthew; Davis, Jonathan; Longhurst, Richard (July 1997). 'The PC Gamer Top 100'. PC Gamer UK. No. 45. pp. 51–83.
- ^Staff (April 1997). 'Best of the Bunch; Finalists Named for CGW Premier Awards'. Computer Gaming World. No. 153. pp. 28, 32.
- ^Staff (May 1997). 'The Computer Gaming World 1997 Premier Awards'. Computer Gaming World. No. 154. pp. 68–70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80.
External links[edit]
- The MS-DOS version ofThe Fidelity Chessmaster 2100 can be played for free in the browser at the Internet Archive
I. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS / UPDATES
Q: What are the system requirements for Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition?
A: You can read about key features and system requirements here.
Q: What languages are available in Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition?
A: When installing, you can install in English or French, although the voices are in English only. There is also a Polish version (available from Cenega Poland) and a Russian version (available from Akella).
Q: Do I need the DVD in the drive in order to run Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition?
A: No. Provided you do a full installation, Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition doesn't require the DVD in order to run.
Q: Is Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition available for Mac/Linux?
A: No.
Q: Can I use an emulator/virtual machine to run Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition?
A: No... using an emulator and/or virutal machine software is against the EULA (End User Licence Agreement), and is not supported.
Q: What updates are available for Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition?
A: Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition has an automatic update feature, so you shouldn't have to manually install updates. However, some users have reported problems. In this case, you will need to manually install the updates:1.01 Update, 1.02 Update, 1.02 Update (Polish), 1.02 Update (Russian)
Q: Why would I want to install the updates?
A: These updates fix some of the problems and add new features. Also, they are required for playing online!
Q: How do I know what version I have?
A: Go to the Help menu, and select 'About Chessmaster: Grandmaster Edition'. You'll see the version number on the right-hand side of the screen, near the bottom.
Q: Does Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition run on Windows 8?
A: Yes, Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition will run on Windows 8, and Windows 8.1. As with Windows Vista/Windows 7, please remember to install as the Administrator. An icon will be installed on the Start Screen.
Q: I'm having problems installing Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition.
A: Try the following:Close all open programs before installing.Disable any anti-virus/firewall software that is running.If you have Windows Vista/Windows 7/Windows 8, make sure that you install as the Administrator.When installing, make sure you select to install DirectX.
Q: I get an error when trying to install one of the updates.
A: There are two reasons why this might happen:You already have the update installed.If you are using Windows Vista, run the update as Administrator (right-click on the update file and select this option).
Q: I'm using Windows Vista/Windows 7. Where is my program group/icon for Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition?
A: In Windows Vista, a program group is not created for Chessmaster. Instead, an icon is provided in the Games folder on the Start Menu. You must run Chessmaster from this icon, otherwise updates will not be automatically installed.
Q: I downloaded Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition from Ubisoft's Download Store, and I'm having problems extracting files.
A: This could be due to two things:The Download Manger didn't download the file correctly; uninstall it and download the file manually.You must use WinZip to extract the files. Many programs (such as WinRAR) don't read special characters (such as ®) in filenames.If this still doesn't work, look at the FAQ in the Ubisoft Digital Support Center, or contact Ubisoft Technical Support.
Q: I'm using a non-English version of Windows, and I'm having a problem running/updating Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition.
A: Is your user acount name is in a language with special (non-Unicode) characters for your language? If so, that is the problem. Also, other languages cannot translate some special characters (such as ®) in the filenames.
Here's how to work around this:
- Un-install Chessmaster.Create a new user account, using English characters only (under Control PanelUser Account).Restart Windows, and log in with your new account.
- Install Chessmaster.Change your OS language to English (under Control PanelLanguage and TimeAdvanced).
- Restart Windows, and log in with your new account.
- Start Chessmaster, and install updates.
You should be able to run Chessmaster under all user accounts. However, DO NOT DELETE YOUR NEW USER ACCOUNT! You'll need it in order to install future updates.
II. ONLINE PLAY
NOTE: Online Play for Chessmaster has been discontinued. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Q: Is it possible to play online with people who have other versions of Chessmaster?
A: No. Due to the use of different protocols, you can only play against others who are using Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition.
Q: I have problems connecting to online play. What should I do?
A: Make sure you have the latest update installed and that you have all the needed ports opened: TCP: 668, 40000–42999 and UDP: 41006, 44000, 45000, 45001 (these are for the ubi.com matchmaking services)UDP: 17110 (for the game communication)
Q: I have the latest update installed and I opened the required ports, but still can't connect!
A: Try temporarily disabling any firewall/anti-virus software, as this is most likely the problem. If that doesn't work, then please contact Ubisoft Technical Support.
III. GAME QUESTIONS / ISSUES
Q: When I try to run Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition, I get the following error: 'There was an error while trying to Initialize the Game.'
Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition Ubisoft
A: There are four reasons why this might happen:- You need to download and install the latest drivers for your video card.
- You are using a program called D3DOverrider. Chessmaster will not work while this is running.
- Direct3D Acceleration has been disabled...enable Direct3D via the Display Settings in your Control Panel.
- Color quality on your video card is set too high. Go to the Display Settins in your Control Panel, and change the color quality from Highest 24 bit to Medium 16 bit.
Q: What music is played during the introduction movie?
A: 'Pieces en Concert for Cello & Strings - 2. Sicilienne' by Francois Couperin.
Q: Whose voices are used in Chessmaster?
A: The voice used for Chessmaster (annotation, analysis, and moves) belongs to Denny Delk. The voice for illegal move commentary is Jeanne Reynolds. Their voices have been featured in Chessmaster for several years... since Chessmaster 6000.
Q: Game.exe always uses 100% CPU, even when I'm just at the Main Menu. Is this normal?
A: While it does seem excessive, it is normal. If the program causes your computer to freeze frequently, this isn't the reason, but you can find the solution in the next question.
Q: Why does TheKing.exe keep running after I close the program?
A: Nobody knows.... Seriously, there's no known solution to this problem it's unlikely that there ever will be. You'll have to close the process manually if it's eating up too much processor power.
Q: My computer is very slow and/or freezes when playing a game. How do I fix this?
A: Try the following suggestions:
- Make sure you run as few programs as possible while playing Chessmaster. The more background programs you have loaded in Windows, the less processing power your system will have to make moves within the game.
- Use as few child windows as possible. Some of the windows that open within the game can take up a decent amount of CPU time due to either their visual updates or because they might cause a mentor engine instance to be launched.
- Do not activate the blunder alert feature in the Training Mode. This feature will also launch a mentor engine instance to watch your game.
- Do not switch to other game modes, or access other game features or dialogs while running a game, and try to avoid adjusting game settings in the middle of the game.
- Some of these features/dialogs will actually restart any chess engines that may be associated with the current game, causing that memory that these engines has allocated to be destroyed.
- In the 'Piece Movement' tab of the Sound dialog, select 'No Sounds.' This will prevent the program from taking up a significant portion of time queuing up and playing piece movement sounds.
- Change the priority of the engine.
- Go to the Preferences menu and select 'Engine'. From there you can adjust the resources of the Chess Engine and Blunder Alert Threshold, as well as set the priority of the Chess Engine and Blunder Alert.
- If that still doesn't work, try the following:
- After starting Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition, right-click on the Windows taskbar and click 'Task Manager'. Go to the Processes tab, and right-click on 'game.exe'.Click on 'Set Priority'Click on 'High'.
If you don't want to bother with the Task Manager, you can use the Run command (from the Start Menu) and type the following:C:WINDOWSSystem32cmd.exe /c start 'runhigh' /high 'C:Program FilesUbisoftChessmaster Grandmaster Editiongame.exe'NOTE: If you start Chessmaster this way, it will not check for updates.
Q: I'm having problems running Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition on a multi-core processor. How can I correct this?
A: Chessmaster was tested on dual-core processors only; not multi-core processors. You can limit the number of processors used by modifying the ini file. Go to C:Program FilesUbisoftChessmaster Grandmaster EditionDataUsersYourNameYourName.ini, and set threads_count=2. If that doesn't work, go into the Task Manager and set the Affinity for Game.exe and TheKing350.exe to 0.
Q: How do I disable the introduction movie?
A: You have to edit the cm.ini file. It resides in the following location:Windows XP: C:Program FilesUbisoftChessmaster Grandmaster EditionWindows Vista: C:UsersYourNameAppDataLocalVirtualStoreProgr am FilesUbisoftChessmaster Grandmaster EditionThere is a line that reads 'IntroMovie=1'. Change this to 'IntroMovie=0'.
Q: How can I resize the boards in Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition?
A: Click on the board and turn the wheel on your mouse or press Page Up/Down ****ons on your keyboard. There is no way to prevent resizing of the chessboard.
Q: How do I unlock all the chess sets?
A: To unlock all chess sets without having to win rated games, you can do this:Open up 'My Computer', and select 'Local Disk (C)'.Go to Program FilesUbisoftChessmaster Grandmaster EditionDataUsers.Select the folder for your user.Open the .INI file for your user.Under [settings], add the following line: unlockstuff=1.Save the INI file.
Q: I can't see the menus. What's wrong?
A: Lower your DPI settings (in the Control PanelDisplaySettings), or click on the empty space where the drop down menus like File, Edit, etc. are supposed to be and they will appear.
Q: The bump mapping option in the Board Settings dialog (from the Preferences menu) is disabled. How do I fix this?
A: It's not mentioned in the documentation, but bump mapping only works with certain chess sets (such as the Lewis set).
Q: My avatar is not being displayed -- all I see is a silhouette.
A: Increase the size of the Game Status window. Please note that when in online mode, you will not be able to view your opponent's avatar.
Q: I'm using the Aero interface with Windows Vista, and I can't see the name of the opening on the bottom of the Main window. How do I correct this?
A: Try the following:Right click desktop, and select 'Personalize'.Click 'Window color', and then 'Advanced appearance settings...'At 'Item:' select 'Border Padding' and change 'Size:' to 0.
Q: How can I view my games played on Yahoo server in Chessmaster?
A: Use this utility to convert games into standard format that all programs can read.Alternative site
Q: Where are the chess variants?
A: There are currently 16 chess variants.
These are: Balance Bishops, Shuffle ,Balanced Marseiillais, Classic Marseiillais, Crazyhouse, Fischer Random, Chess Kriegspiel, Limited Shuffle, Pieces Shuffle, Pocket Knight (2 and 3 Knights), Progressive (English, Italian, and Scottish), Replacement Shuffle, and Three Checks. These are only available when you create an online game.
Q: Can I get the Chess Coach to suggest openings from a different opening book?
A: Yes, just follow these steps:1. Go to C:Program FilesUbisoftChessmaster 10th EditionOpening Books and rename 'Mentor.obk' to 'Mentor.obk_old'.2. Place the opening book you want to use in the same folder and rename it 'Mentor.obk'.
Q: Can I use a Personality to analyze my games?
A: Yes, but keep in mind that the personality will used in all the mentor features (Game Analysis, Advice, Solve for Mate, etc.).Open C:Program FilesUbisoftChessmaster Grandmaster EditionDataUsers.ini, and under [mentor], add the following line:
Q: Are there alternate solutions to some of the tutorials?
A: Yes. The most notable of these is the Monster Knight Problem on page 37 of the Master Quiz, 'Honing Your Skills'. The given solution is: 1. Nxe2 2. Nxd4 3. Nxf3 4. Nxh4 5. NxG2 6. Nxe3 7. Nxd5 8. Nxb4 9. Nxa2 10. Nxc3 11. Nxb4 12. Nxa7 13. Nxc6 14. Nxd8 15. Nxb7 16. Nxa5 and the alternate solution being: 1. Nxe2 2. Nxc3 3. Nxa2 4. Nxb4 5. Nxd5 6. Nxe3 7. Nxg2 8. Nxh4 9. Nxf3 10. Nxd4 11. Nxb5 12. Nxa7 13. Nxc6 14. Nxd8 15. Nxb7 16. Nxa5 And yes, the alternate solution could be seen as 'better' because it captures pieces in order of relative value, so congratulations to you if you found it.
Q: I found other errors in the tutorials.
A: Good for you! We don't need to hear about it, though.
IV. PERSONALITIES / RATINGS
Q: How accurate are the ratings for the personalities?
A: The ratings are mathematically precise, but they are mostly based on computer vs. computer games. While the human vs. computer games added much more 'real-world' accuracy to the ratings, many of the Chessmaster personalities have quirks in their playing styles that a human will be able to exploit but a computer opponent will not be able to 'see'. Discovering and then taking advantage of these weaknesses is part of the fun of Chessmaster, but you might find yourself able to defeat certain personalities that you don't think you should be able to based on their ratings.
Q: Does CPU speed have any effect on Personality ratings?
A: Yes; the rating for most of the personalities will change depending on CPU speed. Also, because the CPU speed calculation is performed every time Chessmaster is started, the same personality can have different ratings between sessions.
Q: Are personalities stronger in Ranked Play versus Training Mode?
A: No.
Q: How does Chessmaster calculate my rating?
A: Please refer to this chart:
V. OTHER QUESTIONS
Q: How do I create my own chess set?
A: You can create your own chess set by modifying an existing set using a graphic editor. To do so, you will first need the CM Dat Texture Extractor. Just follow the included instructions.
Q: How do I back up my game statistics, tutorial history, etc.?
A: Back up all files in the following folder:
Chessmaster Grandmaster Download
C:Program FilesUbisoftChessmaster Grandmaster EditionDataUsers.Q: Can I change the default database in the Database Room?
A: Yes, you can make your own database the default by updating your INI file:C:Program FilesUbisoftChessmaster Grandmaster EditionDataUsers.ini.Find the section, [databaseroom], and modify the entry 'DBFile = ' to be:DBFile = .dbg.
Q: How can I make Chessmaster play against another chess engine?
A: If the engine is a Winboard engine, you can import it into Chessmaster by selecting 'Import Winboard Engine...' from the Game menu.For UCI chess engines, read the following page:Winboard and Chess engines FAQ
VI. COMMENTS / SUGGESTIONS
Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition Pc Patches
Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition 11
Q: I've discovered a bug! Who do I contact?A: If you've discovered a bug, you can post to this forum; that way other users will know about it. However, as this is a user forum, you will also need to contact Ubisoft Technical Support, so Ubisoft developers can begin fixing the issue.
Q: I have a suggestion for this version or the next version of Chessmaster. Where do I post it?
A: You can post your suggestions here.For questions/updates for previous versions of Chessmaster, please read the Chessmaster 10th Edition FAQ.