Software:Chessmaster 5000

From HandWiki
Short description: 1996 video game
Chessmaster 5000
Cover art featuring Will Hare[1]
Developer(s)Mindscape[2]
Publisher(s)Mindscape[2]
SeriesChessmaster
Platform(s)Windows
Release1996 (5000)[3]
1997 (5500)[4]
Genre(s)Computer chess
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Chessmaster 5000 is a 1996 chess video game developed and published by Mindscape for the Windows. It is part of the Chessmaster series. An upgraded version, Chessmaster 5500, was released in 1997.[5] An online game, Chessmaster Live, was included with 5500. The chess engine was designed by Tasc ChessSystem.[6]

Gameplay

Chessmaster 5000 uses a 32-bit chess engine and can be optimized for stronger play if used with a Pentium chip. The computer opponent can adopt over 70 different styles of famous grandmasters. The player can also design their own style for the computer. The multiplayer supports hotseat, network and online play.[7] Included with the game are 20 tutorials and a 27,000-game chess database.[8] Chessmaster 5500 added voice instruction to the game.[9] Included with the purchase of 5500 was a copy and free subscription to Chessmaster Live, an online game, that was also available separately on chessmaster.com website.[9][10][11]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGSP2.5/5 (5000)[12]
4/5 (5500, Live)[13][10]
CGW5/5[7]
GameSpot9.3/10 (5000, 5500)[8][9]
Gen4 (fr)4/6 (5000)[14]
5/6 (5500)[5]
PC Joker76%[15]
Power Play (Zeitschrift) (de)81%[16]

Chessmaster 5000 received generally positive reviews. In a 1995 comparison between 11 chess programs, Computer Gaming World rated a pre-release version of Chessmaster 5000 the highest.[17] In a 1996 review, Computer Gaming World liked the quality of the computer opponents and the tutorials but disliked the MIDI music and the rating system. It was called "simply the best program ever designed for the mainstream chess player".[7] GameSpot called Chessmaster 5000 "the finest chess software I have ever used."[8] Reviewing Chessmaster 5500, GameSpot said: "The worst thing you can say about Chessmaster 5500 is that you might not want to spend the bucks on it if you already own Chessmaster 5000 - but that's more of a comment on how outstanding the Chessmaster series is rather than a slam against the latest installment."[9] In a comparison between four chess programs, PC Joker rated Chessmaster 5000 third behind Power Chess and Mephisto Genius 3.5.[15] Computer Games Strategy Plus criticized the lack of PGN support and described the database as "broken". The game was summarized: "If you just want a good chess playing program with lots of eye candy, Chessmaster 5000 will suit you fine. If you need a serious training partner, skip it and buy Rebel 8 or Fritz."[12] Computer Games Strategy Plus gave a more positive review for Chessmaster 5500, which was said to fix bugs from previous version although a few issues still remained.[13] Computer Games Strategy Plus also reviewed Chessmaster Live, an online game included with 5500. It was said that "The program is simple to use and contains all the features needed to enjoy an on-line chess session."[10]

References

  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 Seb (October 1996). "Test - Chessmaster 5000" (in French). Joystick (Hachette Disney Presse) (75): 105. https://archive.org/details/joystick075/page/n103/mode/2up. 
  3. ↑ "Back cover of the game's box". Chessmaster 5000 (Mindscape). 1996. https://www.mobygames.com/game/14/chessmaster-5000/cover/group-891/cover-100/. "© 1986-1996 Mindscape, Inc.". 
  4. ↑ "Game CD-ROM". Chessmaster 5500 (Mindscape). 1997. https://www.mobygames.com/game/60647/chessmaster-5500/cover/group-152623/cover-429827/. "©1995-1997 Mindscape, Inc.". 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Test Express - Chessmaster 5500" (in French). Génération 4 (SARL Pressimage) (104): 256. November 1997. https://archive.org/details/generation4-magazine-104/page/n255/mode/2up. "Il s'agit plus d'une amelioration du Chessmaster 5000 que d'un jeu veritablement nouveau.". 
  6. ↑ "Chessmaster 5000". Mindscape. http://www.chessmaster.com/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Coleman, Terry (September 1996). "Classics & Puzzles - Pawn to Infinity". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (146): 159–160. https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_146.pdf. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Bosher, Monroe (23 August 1996). "Chessmaster 5000 Review". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/chessmaster-5000-review/1900-2538401/. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Poole, Stephen (24 December 1997). "Chessmaster 5500 Review". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/chessmaster-5500-review/1900-2538402/. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Klimushyn, Chuck. "Chessmaster Live Review". theGlobe.com. http://www.cdmag.com/articles/007/064/chess_live_review.html. 
  11. ↑ "Play Chess". Mindscape. http://www.chessmaster.com/play/play.htm. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Lackey, Jeff. "Chessmaster 5000 Review". theGlobe.com. http://www.cdmag.com/articles/002/058/chessmaster_5000_review.html. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Lackey, Jeff. "Chessmaster 5500 Review". theGlobe.com. http://www.cdmag.com/articles/008/047/chessmaster_review.html. 
  14. ↑ "Test Express - Chessmaster 5000" (in French). Génération 4 (SARL Pressimage) (97): 148. March 1997. https://archive.org/details/generation4-magazine-097/page/n147/mode/2up. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Duy, Manfred (March 1997). "Strategie - 4 Neue Schachprogramme" (in German). PC Joker (Joker-Verlag) (3/97): 72–74. https://archive.org/details/pcjoker-februar-1997-images/page/n69/mode/2up. 
  16. ↑ "Test - Chessmaster 5000" (in German). Power Play (Magna Media) (10/96): 104. October 1996. https://archive.org/details/powerplaymagazine-1996-10/page/104/mode/2up. 
  17. ↑ Coleman, Terry Lee (November 1995). "Survey - The Game of Kings". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (136): 278–290. https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_136.pdf. 
MobyGames
Logo since March 2014
Screenshot
Frontpage as of April 2012
Type of site
Gaming
Available inEnglish
OwnerAtari SA
Websitemobygames.com
CommercialYes
RegistrationOptional
LaunchedJanuary 30, 1999; 26 years ago (1999-01-30)
Current statusOnline

MobyGames is a commercial website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes nearly 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] The site is supported by banner ads and a small number of people paying to become patrons.[2] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It is currently owned by Atari SA.

Content

The database began with games for IBM PC compatibles. After two years, consoles such as the PlayStation, were added. Older console systems were added later. Support for arcade video games was added in January 2014 and mainframe computer games in June 2017.[3]

Edits and submissions go through a leisurely verification process by volunteer "approvers". The approval process can range from immediate (minutes) to gradual (days or months).[4] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copyediting.[5]

Registered users can rate and review any video game. 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 subforum.

History

Logo used until March 11, 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999 by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, then joined by David Berk 18 months later, three friends since high school.[6] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience.

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[7] This was announced to the community post factum and a few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.

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).[8] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel.[9]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[10] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[11][12]

See also

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

References

  1. ↑ "MobyGames Stats". https://www.mobygames.com/moby_stats. 
  2. ↑ "MobyGames Patrons". http://www.mobygames.com/info/patrons. 
  3. ↑ "New(ish!) on MobyGames – the Mainframe platform.". Blue Flame Labs. 18 June 2017. http://www.mobygames.com/forums/dga,2/dgb,3/dgm,237200/. 
  4. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  5. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/32856/Report_MobyGames_Acquired_By_GameFly_Media.php. 
  8. ↑ 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. 
  9. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/207882/Game_dev_database_MobyGames_getting_some_TLC_under_new_owner.php. 
  10. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  11. ↑ "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/. 
  12. ↑ "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/. 



  • Short description: Video game database
MobyGames
Logo since March 2014
Screenshot
Frontpage as of April 2012
Type of site
Gaming
Available inEnglish
OwnerAtari SA
Websitemobygames.com
CommercialYes
RegistrationOptional
LaunchedJanuary 30, 1999; 26 years ago (1999-01-30)
Current statusOnline

MobyGames is a commercial website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes nearly 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] The site is supported by banner ads and a small number of people paying to become patrons.[2] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It is currently owned by Atari SA.

Content

The database began with games for IBM PC compatibles. After two years, consoles such as the PlayStation, were added. Older console systems were added later. Support for arcade video games was added in January 2014 and mainframe computer games in June 2017.[3]

Edits and submissions go through a leisurely verification process by volunteer "approvers". The approval process can range from immediate (minutes) to gradual (days or months).[4] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copyediting.[5]

Registered users can rate and review any video game. 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 subforum.

History

Logo used until March 11, 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999 by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, then joined by David Berk 18 months later, three friends since high school.[6] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience.

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[7] This was announced to the community post factum and a few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.

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).[8] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel.[9]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[10] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[11][12]

See also

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

References

  1. ↑ "MobyGames Stats". https://www.mobygames.com/moby_stats. 
  2. ↑ "MobyGames Patrons". http://www.mobygames.com/info/patrons. 
  3. ↑ "New(ish!) on MobyGames – the Mainframe platform.". Blue Flame Labs. 18 June 2017. http://www.mobygames.com/forums/dga,2/dgb,3/dgm,237200/. 
  4. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  5. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/32856/Report_MobyGames_Acquired_By_GameFly_Media.php. 
  8. ↑ 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. 
  9. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/207882/Game_dev_database_MobyGames_getting_some_TLC_under_new_owner.php. 
  10. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  11. ↑ "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/. 
  12. ↑ "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/. 




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