Battle Chess
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2008) |
| Battle Chess | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Developer(s) | Interplay Silicon & Synapse (C64)[1] |
| Publisher(s) | Interplay |
| Designer(s) | Todd Camasta, Michael Quarles, Jayesh J. Patel, Bruce Schlickbernd |
| Platform(s) | 3DO, Amiga, Amiga CDTV, Amiga CD32, Apple IIGS, Apple IIe, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, NES, Mac OS, Acorn Archimedes, Windows 3.x |
| Release date(s) | 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994 |
| Genre(s) | Board game |
| Mode(s) | Single player, two player |
Battle Chess is a computer game version of chess in which the chess pieces come to life and battle one another when capturing. It was released for the Commodore Amiga and subsequently on the 3DO, MS-DOS, Apple IIGS, Apple IIe, Commodore 64, Amiga CDTV, CD32, Atari ST, Apple Macintosh, Acorn Archimedes, FM Towns, Windows 3.x and Nintendo Entertainment System. A new version of Battle Chess is currently in development by Subdued Software via a license from Interplay Entertainment. It is set for a release date of Fall of 2011 for the PC via Steam. An iPad/iPhone version is also in the works.[2][dated info]
Contents |
[edit] Features
Since there are six different types of pieces, and kings can't beat each other, there are 35 battle animations.[3] The rook, for example, turns into a rock monster and kills a pawn by smashing his head. Some battle sequences like Knight versus Knight or King versus Bishop are direct references to the black knight fight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) and the short battle between Indiana Jones and a swordsman in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).
The game can be played in a 2D version with no animations, and the Amiga CDTV version features a fully voiced introduction describing the movements of the pieces for the benefit of beginners. Digitized sound is utilized in the DOS version for all battle sound effects and is played through the PC speaker, without the need for a sound card, using a technique akin to RealSound.
The game could be played against a human opponent (by hotseat, or by null modem or over a local area network in some ports) or against the computer's artificial intelligence (AI).[3] The game has an opening library from over 30,000 moves (which were not available for the C64 and Apple versions).
[edit] Reviews
The Amiga version received favourable reviews from magazines due its comical battle sequences which were advanced (for the time) in terms of graphics, animation and sound. The German game magazine ASM, however, criticized the weak chess AI.[4]
Magazine ratings:
- AUI - 9 out of 10[5]
- Commodore User - 85%[6]
- ST/Amiga Format - 85%[7]
- Computer and Video Games - 84%[8]
Over a period of time Battle Chess spawned imitators such as Star Wars Chess and Terminator 2: Chess Wars. Interplay won "Best Graphics Achievement In A Non-Graphics Product" from Software Publishers Association (later renamed to Software and Information Industry Association) for their efforts.[9]
Battle Chess producer Brian Fargo expressed his fondness for the game in a 2006 interview, although he added that he did not think there would be much of an audience for it today.[10]
The game was reviewed in 1989 in Dragon #144 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers gave the game 3½ out of 5 stars.[11] The Lessers reviewed the Battle Chess Enhanced CD ROM in 1993 in Dragon #192, giving that version 5 stars.[12]
[edit] Sequels and legacy
Battle Chess was the first title developed and published by Interplay themselves after ending their relationship with Electronic Arts, besides Neuromancer.
In 1991, Battle Chess Enhanced was released for the PC, which features improved VGA graphics and a symphonic musical score that plays off of the CD-ROM. The same year a sequel was released titled Battle Chess II: Chinese Chess, based on xiangqi, commonly known as "Chinese chess." The next year Battle Chess 4000, was released, which spoofs science fiction movies and television series (such as a battle sequence that involves the monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey) and uses a clay animation art style similar to Clayfighter.
The game was featured in the 1992 film Knight Moves starring Christopher Lambert and Diane Lane, about a chess grandmaster who is accused of several murders.[13]
A similar game, titled Battle VS Chess, was developed by TopWare Interactive. Interplay filed and won an injunction for copyright infringement in 2010. TopWare was prevented from releasing Battle vs Chess in the United States, trial is set for the Summer of 2012.[14]
An updated version of the game, for PC and iOS is being developed by Subdued Software for Interplay[15]. It will be released in early 2012 with a iOS version in late 2012.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "A Decade of Blizzard". IGN. 2001-02-01. http://pc.ign.com/articles/090/090953p1.html. Retrieved 2008-07-07. "Commodore 64 Battle Chess, Windows Battle Chess, Amiga Battle Chess II, Amiga Lord of the Rings, and Windows Shanghai were some of our early projects."
- ^ http://www.subduedsoftware.com/games/battle-chess
- ^ a b St. Andre, Ken (Feb 1989). "Low Blows and Other Winning Moves". Computer Gaming World: pp. 27.
- ^ http://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=584
- ^ Battle Chess review from AUI Vol 2 No 12 (Dec 1988) - Amiga Magazine Rack
- ^ Battle Chess review from Commodore User (Nov 1988) - Amiga Magazine Rack
- ^ Battle Chess review from ST Amiga Format 6 (Dec 1988) - Amiga Magazine Rack
- ^ Battle Chess review from Computer + Video Games 87 (Jan 1989) - Amiga Magazine Rack
- ^ Battle Chess - Cover Art - MobyGames
- ^ inXile Entertainment Update - News and Siteseeing
- ^ Lesser, Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk (April 1989). "The Role of Computers". Dragon (144): 60–68.
- ^ Lesser, Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk (April 1993). "The Role of Computers". Dragon (192): 57–63.
- ^ Knight Moves Chess in the Cinema
- ^ [1] Interplay wins injunction against Topware's Battle vs Chess game
- ^ http://www.subduedsoftware.com/games/battle-chess
