Software:Chessmaster 4000 Turbo

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Short description: 1993 video game
The Chessmaster 4000 Turbo
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Cover art featuring Will Hare[1]
Developer(s)The Software Toolworks
Publisher(s)
SeriesChessmaster
Platform(s)Windows,[2] Mac OS[5][6]
Release1993[7]
Genre(s)Strategy
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

The Chessmaster 4000 Turbo[lower-alpha 1] is a 1993 chess video game developed and published by The Software Toolworks. It is part of the Chessmaster series. An enhanced CD-ROM version was released in 1994.[11]

Gameplay

The game supports SVGA graphics and the player can choose between 2D and 3D game view. Multiplayer supports modem and LAN play.[4] Tournaments can be set up for up to eight players.[3]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
Electronic Entertainment10/10[14]
Mikrobitti93/100[3]
PC Joker77%[15]
PC Player82/100[16]

The Chessmaster 4000 Turbo received universally positive reviews. Computer Gaming World compared the game to Kasparov's Gambit and said that Chessmaster 4000 has a less accurate rating system but better game analysis system and opponents have more variety in playstyle. The game was called a solid, flexible, and easy-to-use chess program.[4] Mikrobitti said it is "more in-depth chess program than its predecessors, suitable for all skill levels."[3] Génération 4 called the game "an indispensable purchase".[12] Electronic Entertainment wrote: "Stunning visuals, extensive artificial personalities, remarkable playing strength, and excellent natural language advice—you get it all in Chessmaster 4000 Turbo." PC Joker said that compared to Chessmaster 3000 the playing strength is only slightly improved, and it does not quite reach the level of Mephisto Genius 2.0 or Mephisto Gideon but should still be enough for most players.[15] In a 1995 comparison between 11 chess programs, Computer Gaming World rated Chessmaster 4000 the second highest after a pre-release version of Chessmaster 5000.[17]

References

  1. ↑ also known as The Chessmaster 4000[8][9][10][5]
  1. ↑ Plunkett, Luke (31 August 2012). "The Life, and Death, of PC Gaming's Most Famous Cover Star". G/O Media. https://kotaku.com/the-life-and-death-of-pc-gamings-most-famous-cover-st-5939503. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Harbonn, Jacques; de Mauve, Dogue (December 1993). "Tests - Chessmaster 4000 Turbo" (in French). Tilt (Editions Mondiales S.A.) (121): 80–82. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Nikulainen, Kalevi (January 1994). "Softasäkki - Chessmaster 4000 Turbo" (in Finnish). MikroBitti (Helsinki Media Erikoislehdet) (1/94): 76. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Coleman, Terry Lee (January 1994). "Review - The Ultimate Gambit". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (114): 42–46. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Games". http://www.mindscape.com/cgi-bin/omixlink?6064885397465+store/games/index.htm. 
  6. ↑ "Chessmaster 4000". Mindscape. http://www.chessmaster.com/cmaster/r_cm4_d.htm. 
  7. ↑ The Software Toolworks. Chessmaster 4000 Turbo. Windows. The Software Toolworks. Level/area: Title screen. "Copyright 1986-1993" 
  8. ↑ "The Chessmaster 4000 (Windows 95 Edition)". Front of the Game Box (Mindscape). https://www.mobygames.com/game/13/the-chessmaster-4000-turbo/cover/group-139449/cover-394533/. 
  9. ↑ Wheeler, Chris (December 1994). "Bytesize - Chessmaster 4000". Hyper (nextmedia) (13): 80. https://retrocdn.net/images/f/f0/Hyper_AU_013.pdf. 
  10. ↑ Tsourinakis, Andreas Giaraskevas (March 1996). "Games Review - Chessmaster 4000" (in Greek). PC Master (Compupress) (71): 92–93. https://archive.org/details/pcmaster071-mar1996/page/n91/mode/2up. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Baron, Cyrille (October 1994). "Videotest - The Chessmaster 4000 Turbo" (in French). Joystick (53): 96. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Test Express - Chessmaster 4000 Turbo (Mindscape/PC)" (in French). Génération 4 (61). December 1993. 
  13. ↑ Baron, Cyrille (December 1993). "Test PC - Chessmaster 4000 Turbo" (in French). Joystick (Hachette Digital Presse) (44): 128. 
  14. ↑ Brenesal, Barry (March 1994). "Braindrain - Chessmaster 4000 Turbo". Electronic Entertainment (IDG Communications): 88–89. https://archive.org/details/ElectronicEntertainmentIssue24December1995/Electronic%20Entertainment%20Issue%203%20%28March%201994%29/page/n91/mode/2up. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Duy, Manfred (January 1994). "Brainstorm - The Chessmaster 4000 Turbo" (in German). PC Joker (Joker-Verlag) (1/94): 70–71. https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=19971&s=1. 
  16. ↑ Werner, Thomas (December 1993). "Spiele-Tests - Chessmaster 4000 Turbo" (in German). PC Player (12/93): 85. 
  17. ↑ Coleman, Terry Lee (November 1995). "Survey - The Game of Kings". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (136): 278–290. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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