Chessmaster Collectors' Edition

by Encore

Product Features

• Includes a 6 month membership to World Chess Live
• The Chessmaster Academy: International Master Josh Waitzkin will personally walk players through the basics of chess
• Chessmaster online allows players to establish rankings, create tournaments, utilize teaching tools, and join a thriving chess community
• Features animated chess sets, a variety of whimsical 3D sets, and simple, efficient learning tools
• Intermediate and advanced player options

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0011UH18M
• Item model number: 15660
• Date first available at Amazon.com: December 27, 2007
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,190 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #12 in Video Games > PC Games > Board Games

Product Description

Amazon.com

Master history's greatest game: Chess. Chessmaster Collector’s Edition will hone your game no matter your experience level. From tips from International Master, Josh Waitzkin, who instructs you in the basics of chess to the best attacking moves as instructed by Larry Christianson, you will soon dominate other players online or against computer opponents.

Features include:

The Chessmaster Academy
At the Academy, International Master Josh Waitzkin will personally walk players through the basics of chess, plus introduce a variety of simple strategies for dominating your opponent. The Academy also features the best attacking moves as taught by noted chess champion, Larry Christiansen.

Full-featured online chess module
More than just a place to play chess live with other players, Chessmaster online allows players to establish rankings, create tournaments, utilize teaching tools, and join a thriving chess community.

More fun for the whole family
Features like animated chess sets, a variety of whimsical 3D sets, and simple and efficient learning tools make chess more fun than ever! Younger players and chess beginners will appreciate the specialized section just for them. As players improve, the game suggests an appropriate AI opponent.

A comprehensive chess engine
Wise enough to teach an absolute beginner and powerful enough to defeat a grandmaster, experience the all-new edition of the King engine - the brains behind the best-selling brand in chess.

Intermediate and advanced player options
Seasoned chess players can test their skills against ranked AI opponents, set up tournaments and simultaneous exhibitions, and survey their performances using the new statistics system.

Bonus online chess membership
6 month membership to World Chess Live (WCL), a new family-friendly online chess service, where players of all skills can play.

Product Description

Master History's Greatest Game... Chess!Product InformationChessmaster Collector’s Edition will honeyour game no matter your experience level.  From tips from InternationalMaster Josh Waitzkin who instructs you in the basics of chess to the bestattacking moves as instructed by Larry Christianson you will soon dominateother players online or against computer opponents.Includes 6 Month Membership to World Chess Live (WCL) - a new family-friendly online chess service where players of all skills can play. Product Features The Chessmaster Academy At the Academy International Master Josh Waitzkin will personally walk players through the basics of chess plus introduce a variety of simple strategies for dominating your opponent. The Academy also features the best attacking moves as taught by noted chess champion Larry Christiansen. Full-featured online chess module More than just a place to play chess live with other players Chessmaster online allows players to establish rankings create tournaments utilize teaching tools and join a thriving chess community. More fun for the whole family Features like animated chess sets a variety of whimsical 3D sets and simple and efficient learning tools make chess more fun than ever! Younger players and chess beginners will appreciate the specialized section just for them. As players improve the game suggests an appropriate AI opponent. A comprehensive chess engine Wise enough to teach an absolute beginner and powerful enough to defeat a grandmaster experience the all-new edition of the King engine - the brains behind the best-selling brand in chess. Intermediate and advanced player options Seasoned chess players can test their skills against ranked AI opponents set up tournaments and simultaneous exhibitions and survey their performances using the new statistics system. Windows Req

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chessmaster Collector's Edition = 10th Edition, August 24, 2009

By 

Gail Rhea (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chessmaster Collectors' Edition (Video Game)

Examining the "Collector's Edition" box, I found "Chessmaster 10th Edition" on the bottom flap and that's what is displayed on installation, running it, and in the User's Manual. The only differences between the 10th Edition and the Collector's Edition are that the Collector's Edition has a fourth CD with a six-month membership to World Chess Live and the packaging and CD labels which must have been done by Encore.

Going over to the Ubisoft support page for the 10th Edition and downloading the 1.0.3 patch enables the game to be played without needing the CD in the drive. The FAQs have other tips as well including a link to unlock the locked sets if you're too impatient to play the 5-60 games required to have them unlocked automatically as rewards for playing.

I know that Chessmaster XI and Grandmaster are available, but this is still a great game and the reduced price can't be beat. The 10th Edition is the first time animated chess sets are used and the three sets are a lot of fun to watch and hear especially when capturing. I suspect the Clash, Fairytale, and Rubber (colorful Staunton) animated sets were intended for boys and girls, but I get a kick out of them as well.

I'm running it on XP Pro and haven't encountered any problems.

The lower-rated reviews by the first two reviewers listed for the Collector's Edition aren't a fair representation of this product considering that the complaints of the one reviewer who was thinking about returning it are so easily resolved by visiting the Ubisoft website.

19 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointment, September 29, 2008

By 

D. Ward "guitarget" (Wilmington NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Chessmaster Collectors' Edition (Video Game)

I may return this item yet - just got it this afternoon, and already I don't like it. Only two major gripes so far - you have to have Disk #1 in the drive to run it, even after loading, which is a copy-protection scheme I detest - and, in order to get to use any of the really cool 3D chess sets, you have to win 60 games first - which I find ridiculous. I paid for the entire game, I want access to everything from day #1.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars $7 is about right if you don't mind inserting disk to use., August 28, 2009

By 

R. Gonzalez "samsara" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chessmaster Collectors' Edition (Video Game)

I agree with the previous poster. After installing 3 disks (I did not bother with the World Chess CD), I became frustrated by the fact that it would only run with disk 1 inserted. In the past, this was once a great method to to protect copyrights, but is not 1991 anymore. Does ubisoft expect me to keep "disk 1" with me just so I can play it on my laptop when I am at the airport? For a person with a laptop, it is invertible that crucial disk 1 will get scratched, scuffed, or misplaced.

Another poster noted that there you could circumvent this going to a ubisoft forum-- but seriously, I do not want to dig around online for a patch and install it. Like most people, I want it to be like that "out of the box." The price is great and the product is solid if you don't mind constantly inserting disk 1 OR looking for the patch online.