Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster

by Viva Media

Product Features

• In the award-winning LEARN TO PLAY CHESS, you'll explore a collection of arcade style games that explain everything from chess basics to master strategies, then go exercise your new skills in the Intelligym.
• KING FOR A DAY! When the king and queen go on vacation, young Fritz is left in charge of the castle. As he explores his surroundings, he'll learn all about chess, from the basics to advanced strategies -- and so will you!
• Discover a variety of great arcade-style games that introduce chess fundamentals and advanced concepts.
• Promotion of memory, math, verbal reasoning as well as the development of critical thinking, creative thinking, and socialization skills are among the many benefits of playing the sport of kings.
• Along the way, you'll meet an amusing cast of characters that make learning the game engaging and fun. Recommended for boys and girls ages 8 and up.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0000950SM
• Item model number: 00113
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 11, 2003
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (93 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #436 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #4 in Software > Children's Software > Activities
  • #5 in Software > Children's Software > Games

Product Description

Product Description

From Children's Software Revue

Winner of the 2003 Bologna New Media Prize, this innovative storybook adventure introduces children to the world of chess with innovative features that make it the best children's chess tutorial we've reviewed. The original version was in German (by Terzio), and we reviewed a localized version for the USA. The program starts with the story of how King White and his Queen have gone on holiday, and left their son, young Prince Fritz, in charge. But trouble is brewing. A rival, King Black, challenges Fritz to a chess duel. As a novice player, Fritz must seek out some quick brain training, and finds it scattered across the countryside in the form of clever games designed to explain each chess piece, along with common strategies and challenging practice sessions.

These exercises are fun to play, and we found ourselves and our testers sticking with the program for hours at a time. One game, for instance, has kids smashing toilets as they learn about diagonal moves. This, of course, rated highly with our kid testers. As you would expect for a chess tutorial, there's an incredible amount of content--this is not a one-time through program. Weaknesses include an inability to interrupt some of the narration, and our younger testers wanted to do without all the practice; but these are minor criticisms. All things considered, this is a delightful program that is especially well-suited to 8-13 year old children.

Product Description

KING FOR A DAY! In the award-winning LEARN TO PLAY CHESS WITH FRITZ & CHESSTER, young Prince Fritz is placed in charge of the castle when his parents go on vacation. It's every kid's dream until the dastardly King Black challenges the young stand-in king to a duel! Explore the kingdom and discover arcade-style games that explain everything from chess basics to master strategies. Exercise your brain and put what you've learned to the test in the Intelligym, a training ground for future chess pros. You'll soon realize that this chess game is anything but child's play!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

206 of 214 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Tool to Introduce Chess to Kids, August 12, 2003

By 

Igor Khmelnitsky (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster (Video Game)

When it comes to introducing children to the game of chess, this is the best program on the market available to English speaking community. If your child already knows the moves and plays occasionally, this program is Fun, but not as useful.

Combination of Arcade-type games & well designed steps introducing chess work real well with children. I have tried this program with several students and it was great in generating their interest and keeping their attention. Of course, for parents who either have no skills, or time, or both, using this program is a must first step in teaching their kids to play chess.

Graphics are great, games are fun and teaching approach is good.

The program can be improved somewhat:
· Pacman-type game doesn't seem to relate very well to the Rook intro,
· Pinball-type toilet crushing with the ball moving diagonally, is a strange way to introduce the Bishop,
· Emphasizing so much an issue of Opposition, isn't a best for teaching kids about the importance and value of the King,
· Also, there are many conversation, some with humor, but you can't skip them if you wish. Some jokes might be a little offensive.
· Focus on checkmates when introducing pieces as oppose to more common approach - such as visiting squares, attacking and taking pieces.

On the positive side:
· All arcade games are very captivating and will keep your child interested in exploring the game, thus indirectly learning chess,
· Arcade games introducing Queen &, especially, Pawn are very chess related,
· Ability to play a complete games with limited number of pieces is very helpful,
· This is the ONLY tool on the market employing such a unique methodology that will definitely appeal to children.

Bottom line - this is a must buy for families with young kids who DO NOT know the rules. For others, consider this game as well as the latest ChessMaster on the market.

Good luck!
Copyrighted by me

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent game for young players, July 26, 2003

By 

Sean E. Sides "Sean" (Frisco, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster (Video Game)

We have had this game for less than a week, and like a previous review, my 8 year-old daughter absolutely loves it. The school my daughter is attending this fall requires all of the children to play chess for 30 minutes or so prior to instruction. I was a little nervous of how to possibly teach her, since I have only played sparingly throughout my life. I know the basic moves, and not much more. Not ever touching a chess piece before, she learned all of the basics of the game in less than 2 days. She played for several hours at a time, and it was hard to get her off the computer.

I think the key to games success is that it instructs the player on the pieces, moves and object of the game without seeming like it is teaching. There are multiple mini-games within the actual game that slowly build to a point where the player knows all the moves of an actual game of chess. I will have to update my review after I play through the game myself, because on the first game I played with my daughter, she constantly corrected me.

61 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, July 22, 2003

By 

Eric P. Medlock (Charlotte, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster (Video Game)

My daughter is 8 and I recently bought this for her. She's never played chess before and her attention span can be somewhat limited at times. I played this game for a little while before letting her play (she had chores to finish and so I could see if it was something she'd be able to do). At first I was a little worried, some of the arcade games seemed to me to be too hard and not have enough instructions. At any rate I loaded it up and let her play, and she spent over 6 hours in one weekend totally absorbed and loving every minute of it. Some of the arcade games were too hard so she just skipped those, I don't know if it will have any negative effect on her later game play, but so far so good! Anything that is educational and can keep a child absorbed for so long is well worth the money. I hope she finishes the game so she and I can play chess together!