Power Chess
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| Power Chess | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Sierra On-Line |
| Publisher(s) | Sierra On-Line |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows 95 |
| Release | September 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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]The voice of the Power Chess Queen was voiced in English and French by voiceover artist Natacha LaFerriere.[5]
"Great Games"
[edit]A collection of famous games is included for review and study, each one narrated turn-by-turn by the Queen. The games include:
- The Evergreen Game, Adolf Anderssen vs. Jean Dufresne (1852)
- The Opera Game, Paul Morphy vs. Duke Karl of Brunswick and Count Isouard (1858)
- Wilhelm Steinitz vs. Curt von Bardeleben (1895)
- Ruger vs. Gebhard (1915)
- Vasily Smyslov vs. Bobby Fischer (1970)
- Wchess vs. Deep Blue (1995)
- Deep Blue vs. Garry Kasparov, Game 1 (1996)
Reception
[edit]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
[edit]Comparison of chess video games
References
[edit]- ^ "Power Chess 2.0". Catalog 98 99. UK: Sierra On-Line. p. 24. CAT JX 98/99 FE S0013471.
- ^ Budinska, Agata (Feb 1999). "Sierra's Complete Chess". PC PowerPlay. No. 33. Redfern, NSW, Australia: Next Publishing. p. 113. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
- ^ King, Nancy, ed. (1998). "It's Your Move". InterAction Magazine. No. Holiday Issue 1998. US: Sierra On-Line. p. 18.
- ^ Dulin, Ron (1996-11-15). "Power Chess Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
- ^ "Power Chess 98 | Natacha LaFerriere". www.natlaf.com. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Duy, Manfred (March 1997). "Strategie - 4 Neue Schachprogramme". PC Joker (in German). No. 3/97. Joker-Verlag. pp. 72–74.