Chessmaster
Best-selling chess video game series with over five million units sold.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Chessmaster, originally titled *The Chessmaster*, is a long-running series of chess video games now owned and developed by Ubisoft. It holds the record as the best-selling chess video game franchise, with over five million copies sold. For sixteen years, from *Chessmaster 2000* (1986) through *Chessmaster 9000* (2002), the packaging and title screens featured the same photograph of actor Will Hare.
The series began in 1986 with *The Chessmaster 2000*, first published by Software Country and soon after by The Software Toolworks. It appeared on numerous platforms including Amiga, Apple II, Atari 8-bit computers, Atari ST, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, MSX, Mac, and MS-DOS. Its chess engine, written by David Kittinger, supported mouse input via a serial mouse on the original MS-DOS version and was rated at 2000 Elo by the manufacturer; the USCF rated it over 2000, though its true strength on slow 1980s hardware remains uncertain. In July 1986, it won the microcomputer category at the United States Open Computer Chess Championship in Mobile, Alabama.
- first_release
- 1986 (The Chessmaster 2000)
- latest_release
- 2007 (Chessmaster 11: Grandmaster Edition)
- developer
- David Kittinger, Kate and Dan Spracklen, Johan de Koning, others
- publisher
- Software Country, The Software Toolworks, Mindscape, Ubisoft
- platforms
- Amiga, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, MSX, Mac, MS-DOS, NES, SNES, Genesis, Game Boy, PlayStation, Xbox, mobile, and others
- engine
- The King (from Chessmaster 4000 Turbo onward)
- sales
- Over 5 million units by 2002
Lore & Background
The Chessmaster series began in 1986 with The Chessmaster 2000, first published by Software Country and soon after by The Software Toolworks. The game featured a chess engine written by David Kittinger, rated at 2000 Elo by the manufacturer, though actual strength on slow 1980s computers is unknown. In July 1986, it won the microcomputer category of the United States Open Computer Chess Championship in Mobile, Alabama. The series' iconic cover art featured actor Will Hare for sixteen consecutive years, from 1986 to 2002.
Reader's Guide
The Chessmaster series is significant as the best-selling chess video game franchise, surpassing five million units by 2002. Its longevity spanned over two decades, with releases on numerous platforms from home computers to consoles and mobile devices. The series introduced innovations such as voice output in Chessmaster 3000, modem and LAN play in Chessmaster 4000 Turbo, and the 'personalities' system allowing users to create playing styles by adjusting dozens of settings. The King engine, introduced in Chessmaster 4000 Turbo and written by Johan de Koning, became the series' standard. Chessmaster 9000 achieved an estimated Elo rating of 2718 on an Athlon-1200 PC according to the September 2009 SSDF rating list. The series also featured notable matches, including a 2002 match where Chessmaster 9000 defeated Grandmaster Larry Christiansen 2½–1½. Later editions included tutorials by International Master Joshua Waitzkin and Grandmaster Larry Christiansen, and the series received generally positive critical reception, with GameSpot calling it 'the consummate standard in console chess games since the '80s.'
Did You Know?
- The same cover art photo of actor Will Hare was used from Chessmaster 2000 to Chessmaster 9000, a span of 17 years.
- Chessmaster 9000 defeated Grandmaster Larry Christiansen in a four-game match in September 2002, winning 2½–1½.
- The Chessmaster engine 'The King' was written by Johan de Koning and introduced in Chessmaster 4000 Turbo.
- Chessmaster 2000 was the first commercially available software to win the Personal Computer class of the United States Open Computer Chess Championship in July 1986.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chessmaster?
Chessmaster is a long-running chess video game series that has sold over five million copies, making it the best-selling chess game franchise of all time. The series is currently owned and developed by Ubisoft.
When did the Chessmaster series begin and who published it originally?
The franchise launched in 1986 with The Chessmaster 2000, first released by Software Country before The Software Toolworks took over publication. Ubisoft later acquired the series, with the most recent entry being Chessmaster 11: Grandmaster Edition in 2007.
Who is the man on the Chessmaster box art?
The photograph is of actor Will Hare, whose image appeared on packaging and title screens for seventeen consecutive years spanning from Chessmaster 2000 through Chessmaster 9000.
What game engine powers the Chessmaster titles?
Starting with Chessmaster 4000 Turbo, the series has used an engine called The King to drive its chess AI and gameplay mechanics.
What platforms can you play Chessmaster on?
The series has appeared on an enormous range of hardware, from 8-bit systems like the Apple II, ZX Spectrum, and Commodore 64, through consoles like NES, SNES, and PlayStation, all the way to modern mobile devices.
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