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Power Chess

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Power Chess
Developer(s)Sierra On-Line
Publisher(s)Sierra On-Line
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows 95
ReleaseSeptember 30, 1996
Genre(s)Chess
Mode(s)Single player

Power Chess is a chess-playing video game originally released in September 1996 by Sierra On-Line for the Microsoft Windows 95 operating system. Later revisions of the software were released as Power Chess 98 (1997) and Power Chess 2.0 (1998).[1] Power Chess was also the "intermediate" game included in Sierra's Complete Chess (1998) along with Maurice Ashley Teaches Chess (1995) and Extreme Chess (1996).[2][3]

Engine

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Its chess engine is "Wchess" by David Kittinger, which played against Deep Blue in the 1995 World Computer Championship in Hong Kong. The game is included as a watchable "Great Game" in Power Chess.

Gameplay

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Power Chess had two major innovations: the program would adjust its level during the game trying to match that of the player (presaging Chessbase Fritz's Friend Mode). In addition, after each game, a female voice, the Queen, walks the player through the game, pointing out and explaining where the player could have played better.[4] The program keeps track of the player's rating. Players can also create their own characters with differing gameplay styles and difficulty.

Narration

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The voice of the Power Chess Queen was voiced in English and French by voiceover artist Natacha LaFerriere.[5]

"Great Games"

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A collection of famous games is included for review and study, each one narrated turn-by-turn by the Queen. The games include:

Reception

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Power Chess won Computer Games Strategy Plus's award for the 1996 "traditional" game of the year.[6]

In a comparison between four chess programs, PC Joker rated Power Chess the highest.[7]

See also

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Comparison of chess video games

References

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  1. ^ "Power Chess 2.0". Catalog 98 99. UK: Sierra On-Line. p. 24. CAT JX 98/99 FE S0013471.
  2. ^ Budinska, Agata (Feb 1999). "Sierra's Complete Chess". PC PowerPlay. No. 33. Redfern, NSW, Australia: Next Publishing. p. 113. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  3. ^ King, Nancy, ed. (1998). "It's Your Move". InterAction Magazine. No. Holiday Issue 1998. US: Sierra On-Line. p. 18.
  4. ^ Dulin, Ron (1996-11-15). "Power Chess Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  5. ^ "Power Chess 98 | Natacha LaFerriere". www.natlaf.com. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  6. ^ Staff (1997-03-25). "Computer Games Strategy Plus announces 1996 Awards". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Archived from the original on 1997-06-14. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
  7. ^ Duy, Manfred (March 1997). "Strategie - 4 Neue Schachprogramme". PC Joker (in German). No. 3/97. Joker-Verlag. pp. 72–74.
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