Software:Chessmaster 6000

From HandWiki
Short description: 1998 video game
Chessmaster 6000
Developer(s)Mindscape
Publisher(s)
SeriesChessmaster
Platform(s)Windows, Classic Mac OS
Release1998 (Win)
2000 (Mac)
Genre(s)Computer chess
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Chessmaster 6000 is a 1998 chess video game developed and published by Mindscape for the Windows. It is part of the Chessmaster series. The Classic Mac OS port was published by Mattel Interactive in 2000.[1]

Gameplay

The game's database includes over 300,000 matches.[2] Chessmaster 6000 expands the tutorials from previous game, adding more topics. All the tutorials feature voice commentary. International Master Joshua Waitzkin, voice-annotates 14 chess matches.[3] For computer opponents, there are 64 "personalities" that simulate a human opponent by having a biography, photo, rating, and playing style. By playing against computer opponents, players are rated similarly to real-life tournament chess.[2] Other features include the natural-language advice option, which analyzes the position and suggests moves; auto-annotate, which builds an analysis of a game or position; Opening Book, a database coach that identifies openings and demonstrates how the game can proceed. The internet multiplayer component, Chessmaster Live, is again included but was done this time through MPlayer.com service instead of Mindscape's own servers.[3] Internet play is not included in the Macintosh version.[1]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGSP3.5/5[2]
GameSpot8.6/10[3]
Génération 4 (fr)4/6[5]
PC Gaming World8/10[6]
PC Player (DE)71%[7]

PC Gaming World said: "Mindscape has produced an extremely confident new version of its flagship chess title. Visually polished and feature-wise comprehensive. Very nice."[6] GameSpot recommended Chessmaster 6000 slightly over Sierra's Power Chess. Major criticism was the long waiting times on the MPlayer service.[3] Computer Games Strategy Plus concluded: "if you don't plan to use the tutorials, this is a great chess program for the mainstream player. If you plan on using Chessmaster 6000 to learn to play, you may want to wait to see if Mindscape fixes the tutorial errors." Joystick recommended Titus Interactive's Virtua Chess over Chessmaster 6000.[4] Macworld summarized: "If you’re looking for a fun way to learn the game or for a tough sparring partner, Chessmaster 6000 is a wonderful tool. If you want heavy analysis of moves and strategies, you won’t find it here."[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Cortinas, Marty (June 2000). "Reviews - Chessmaster 6000". Macworld (International Data Group): 52. https://archive.org/details/MacWorld0006June2000/page/n53/mode/2up. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lackey, Jeff (February 1999). "Strategy Reviews - Chessmaster 6000". Computer Games Strategy Plus (Strategy Plus, Inc.) (99): 114. https://archive.org/details/computer-games-strategy-plus-february-1999/page/114/mode/2up. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Poole, Stephen (2 November 1998). "Chessmaster 6000 Review". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/chessmaster-6000-review/1900-2538403/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 monsieur pomme de terre (September 1999). "Tests Bref - Chessmaster 6000" (in French). Joystick (Hachette Disney Presse) (107): 120. https://archive.org/details/joystick107/Joystick%20107/page/n119/mode/2up. 
  5. ↑ Chanat, Noël (April 1999). "Test - Chessmaster 6000" (in French). Génération 4 (SARL Pressimage) (121). https://archive.org/details/generation4-magazine-121/page/n209/mode/2up. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Gordon, Tom (20 October 1998). "Chessmaster 6000 Review". CBS Interactive. http://www.gamespot.co.uk/pc.gamespot/puzzle/chm6_uk/review.html. "For PC Gaming World" 
  7. ↑ Miguet, Thierry (February 1999). "Spiele-Test - Chessmaster 6000" (in German). PC Player (2/99): 78. https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1999-02/page/n53/mode/2up. 
  • Official website (archived)
  • 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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