Chessmaster 8000
Developer(s)Mattel Interactive[1][2]
Publisher(s)Mattel Interactive[1][2]
SeriesChessmaster
Platform(s)Windows
ReleaseNovember 14, 2000[3]
Genre(s)Computer chess
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Chessmaster 8000 is a 2000 chess video game developed and published by Mattel Interactive for the Windows. It is part of the Chessmaster series.

Gameplay

Chessmaster 8000 runs on a new chess engine. It is compatible with any publicly available XBoard engine which can be imported to the game to customize the engine.[4] A new interface change is the addition of Natural Language. It gives verbal cues and text instructions when for example making an illegal move. Josh Waitzkin returns to the game and narrates a new endgame course. Bruce Pandolfini designed a new feature for the game called Match the Masters where the game asks a multiple choice question to predict a move in a historic Grandmaster game. The graphics have been upgraded to 16-bit color.[5] The game's tutorials and database have been updated and expanded, and new personalities added to the game.[4][6] Network multiplayer options are LAN, modem, and TCP/IP. Internet play, Chessmaster Live, is through MPlayer.com service.[2] Matchmaking was removed from internet play.[2][4]

Reception

Chessmaster 8000 received an aggregated score of 80 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 11 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[7] GameSpot said the internet play is worse than in previous installments. They concluded that "[i]f you're looking to improve your chess game, Chessmaster 8000 is hands-down the best choice out there. But once you sharpen your skills, you'll probably wind up turning to some other outlet for competing with human players."[4] IGN said: "I loved the last game and I love this one. But if you've already got the last game, the few additions you get in 8000 might not be worth it."[5] Computer Games Magazine summarized: "[...] overall you get the feeling that the game was rushed to market. It's still the best mass market chess game you can buy at your local software shop, but with a few bugs squashed and the fuller featured online features of last years' version revived, it could be a much better program." AllGame concluded: "Due to its incredible content and easy interface, the game is one of the best of its kind on the market for both casual and professional players."[8] Gry-Online gave a positive review but recommended to those with a limited budget the free Crafty, or to those who are more serious Fritz 6 supplemented with ChessBase 8.0.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Valtin, Georg (March 2001). "Test - Chessmaster 8000". PC Games (in German). No. 3/2001. Computec Media GmbH. p. 116.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Lackey, Jeff (27 December 2000). "Review - Chessmaster 8000". Computer Games Magazine. theGlobe.com. Archived from the original on 9 July 2003. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  3. Varanini, Giancarlo (14 November 2000). "Chessmaster 8000 Now Available". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on 23 January 2001. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Poole, Stephen (5 December 2000). "Chessmaster 8000 Review". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on 24 January 2001. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 Butts, Stephen (12 December 2000). "Reviews - Chessmaster 8000". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 17 April 2001. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  6. 1 2 Geltenpoth, Alexander (February 2001). "Test - Chessmaster 8000". PC Action (in German). No. 2/2001. Computec Media. p. 99.
  7. 1 2 "Chessmaster 8000 for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  8. 1 2 Woods, Nick. "Review - Chessmaster 8000". AllGame. RhythmOne. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  9. Orlando, Greg (April 2001). "Reviews - Chessmaster 8000". PC Gamer. Future plc. Archived from the original on 15 March 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  10. Veselov, Vladimir (23 November 2000). "Review of Chessmaster 8000". Absolute Games (in Russian). Golden Telecom. Archived from the original on 22 February 2007. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  11. 1 2 Klamra, Mariusz (29 May 2001). "Reviews - Chessmaster 8000". Gry-Online (in Polish). Gry-Online S.A. Archived from the original on 19 June 2001. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  12. Duy, Manfred (March 2001). "Spiele-Test - Chessmaster 8000". PC Player (in German). No. 3/2001. p. 125.
  13. Mircea (December 2001). "Review - Chessmaster 8000". Level (in Romanian). No. 51. pp. 40–41.
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