Software:Hoyle Majestic Chess

From HandWiki
Short description: 2003 video game
Hoyle Majestic Chess
Developer(s)Fluent Entertainment[1]
Publisher(s)
SeriesHoyle
Platform(s)Windows
Release
Genre(s)Computer chess
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Hoyle Majestic Chess (Released in Europe as Majestic Chess) is a 2003 chess video game developed by Fluent Entertainment for the Windows. It is part of the Hoyle series in North America. An Xbox version was announced in April 2003 alongside the Windows version but it was canceled.[5][6]

Gameplay

The game features three view modes: 2D, fixed perspective faux 3D, and fully 3D. There are eight different chess piece sets per board style. The playing strength of the AI is represented by 32 "personalities". Custom personalities can be added by a creation module. Online multiplayer is included. The tutorial is depicted as a narrative fantasy game. The player travels across a map and completes chess lessons that are portrayed as quests.[7] The mode was compared to the Heroes of Might and Magic series.[8][9]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings78%[10]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGW3.5/5[3]
GameSpot7.5/10[7]
GameSpy4/5[11]
GameZone8.6/10[12]
IGN8.5/10[9]
PC Gamer (US)79%[13]
PC Games78%[14]

Hoyle Majestic Chess received generally positive reviews from critics. GameSpot recommended Fritz 8 or Chessmaster 9000 for experienced players but said the fantasy tutorial is the best way to introduce a person to chess.[7] IGN said the real draw of the game is the adventure mode and called the chess engine "robust".[9] GameZone concluded: "From the detailed graphics, amazing music, excellent tutorial, and excellent concept, everyone should find something to enjoy with this game."[12] Computer Gaming World summarized: "While it ultimately fails to be an easily accessible, helpful tool to teach the true novice how to play chess well, Majestic Chess is a well-made product that provides good competition for amateur players who aren't too serious about their game."[3] PC Gamer called the game "An admirable chess experience, with enough lessons to keep you occupied for ages."[13] The Washington Post said that "This chess game's varying styles of play, traditional and inventive learning mechanisms and robust Internet play provide enough of a challenge to make you work on your game -- and enough fun to make that effort worthwhile."[15]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Hoyle's Majestic Chess makes first move". Fandom. 8 September 2003. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hoyles-majestic-chess-makes-first-move/1100-6074782/. 
  2. ↑ https://www.amazon.co.uk/JoWood-Majestic-Chess-PC/dp/B0006SK5ZG
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Luo, Di (December 2003). "Reviews - Hoyle's Majestic Chess". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (233): 142. https://archive.org/details/computer-gaming-world-issue-233-december-2003/page/142/mode/2up. 
  4. ↑ https://www.amazon.co.uk/JoWood-Majestic-Chess-PC/dp/B0006SK5ZG
  5. ↑ "Vivendi Announcements". Ziff Davis. 24 April 2003. https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/04/24/vivendi-announcements. 
  6. ↑ "Hoyle Majestic Chess (Xbox)". IGN Entertainment. http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/hoyle-majestic-chess/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Lackey, Jeff (10 September 2003). "Hoyle Majestic Chess Review". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/hoyle-majestic-chess-review/1900-6074888/. 
  8. ↑ Beers, Craig (25 April 2003). "Hoyle Majestic Chess impressions". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hoyle-majestic-chess-impressions/1100-6025714/. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Butts, Steve (8 September 2003). "Reviews - Hoyle Majestic Chess". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/09/08/hoyle-majestic-chess. 
  10. ↑ "Hoyle Majestic Chess for PC". CBS Interactive. http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/914701-hoyle-majestic-chess/index.html. 
  11. ↑ Rice, Kevin (23 October 2003). "Reviews - Majestic Chess (PC)". IGN Entertainment. http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/hoyle-majestic-chess/498510p1.html. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Aceinet (30 August 2003). "Reviews - Hoyle Majestic Chess". GameZone Online, LLC.. http://www.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r22251.htm. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Smith, Rob. "Reviews - Hoyle Majestic Chess". Future plc. http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/hoyle_majestic.html. 
  14. ↑ "Test - Majestic Chess" (in German). Computec Media GmbH. 21 January 2005. https://www.pcgames.de/Majestic-Chess-Spiel-13307/Tests/Majestic-Chess-342900/. 
  15. ↑ Singer, Skip (30 November 2003). "Reviews - Hoyle Majestic Chess". Fred Ryan. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/2003/11/30/reviews/2773f1f3-3594-44e7-9d80-4c7f3597853d/. 
  • 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 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]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

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. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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