Hey can anyone tell me if the Nintendo DS version of Chessmaster is any good?  My b-day is soon after Christmas, and I'm thinking about just asking for that so I have a portable chess opponent all the time.  Help would be appreciated.

 

I want to know about some of the features, chess puzzles and such, not neccessarily the diffuculty. I don't mind if it's a little easy, I just need something for travel. Thanks guys!!!

You want a copy? Hell you can have mine, I never use it at all any more. Its really not very good to be honest. The puzzles don't really seem like puzzles as simple little mini-games that are a bit obvious, or maybe I just didn't have the patience to go through it enough. Anyway, I really would not recommend this version, but if you want it i'll chuck the game in an envelope (box would be too expensive for shipping, I'm a tight yorkshireman you see) and send it on over if you want proof.

If he doesn't take you up on that, I certainly will.

sorry let me clear that up :  I need to ask for a DS AND the game. I don't have either. silentfilm, it's all yours

Puppaz wrote: You want a copy? Hell you can have mine, I never use it at all any more. Its really not very good to be honest. The puzzles don't really seem like puzzles as simple little mini-games that are a bit obvious, or maybe I just didn't have the patience to go through it enough. Anyway, I really would not recommend this version, but if you want it i'll chuck the game in an envelope (box would be too expensive for shipping, I'm a tight yorkshireman you see) and send it on over if you want proof.

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Yes, as far as the teaching stuff in the game, it is a little lacking.  If you are at a 1200 or lower the teaching stuff can help.  The oponents that you face when playing regular games are pretty good.  It says that the last opponent, the Chessmaster, is rated at 1850.  I can't beat him.  I think the first opponent is around 500.  I'd say for a nice little fun system to play games on the run, it's a good deal.  Plus you know there's tons of other stuff to do with a DS.  You can even surf the web on it by buying the Browser which cost the same as a regular game cartridge.  So you can go to chess.com!

It's good for travel and the touch screen is good for chess.  If you can, find the Gameboy Advanced version.  It will be cheaper and is pretty much the same game, minus the dual and touch screen support.  The DS is compatible with the GB Advanced games.  On the other hand, the DS version is pretty cool with the dual screen and touch screen.

Oh, I almost forgot.  Rumor is that Chessmaster XI is comming out for the PSP next spring.  It will have better graphics and a much better engine. 

gorgak wrote:

It's good for travel and the touch screen is good for chess.  If you can, find the Gameboy Advanced version.  It will be cheaper and is pretty much the same game, minus the dual and touch screen support.  The DS is compatible with the GB Advanced games.  On the other hand, the DS version is pretty cool with the dual screen and touch screen.

Oh, I almost forgot.  Rumor is that Chessmaster XI is comming out for the PSP next spring.  It will have better graphics and a much better engine. 

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yeah that's what I heard. I'm considering asking for a PSP and then just buying Chessmaster whenever it comes out for it. It IS coming out on PSP, I saw it online

It really sucks compared to chess programs for PDAs.

 

(1) There's no opening book. A particular personality always makes the exact same opening moves every game (after thinking about each move for many seconds). If you play the Chessmaster personality, the strongest opponent, if you open with d4 then every single game is the Queen's Gambit Declined, Marshall Variation (which is supposed to be a weak position for black).

 

(2) Thinks an annoyingly long time each move. Very annoying. There's no option to set it to think for a maximum of 2 seconds. 

 

It's really quite pathetic that Ubisoft would put the Chessmaster brand name on a piece of crap like this. This program is reminiscent of chess programs from 20 years ago, and not a modern chess program. 

 

I wouldn't buy a DS just to play this, but I supposed it's worth $30 if you have a DS and don't have a PDA, and you're not at the level where you are trying to learn the openings.  Otherwise, maybe the NY Times Deluxe Chess Computer by Excalibur is a better deal? It's only $65 at Amazon.com.

On the other hand, I will point out that the DS itself is a very nice device, with easy to read duel screens, a long battery life, and a very convenient folding form factor. It's too bad that Nintendo only allows it to be used with cartridges. Nintendo has a razor blade model in which they make money off the cartridges. Even when you buy a 3rd party cartridge, Nintendo gets a large cut.

 

The DS might be a killer device if you could download software from your computer via a USB cable, but then Nintendo wouldn't make as much profit. 

By the way, silentfilmstar13, I tried messaging you about sending the copy, but I'm not sure if you've been checking your messages.

 

If you aren't too bothered about having it, then I'll offer it to anybody else who will get some use out of it. Seems pointless having it collecting dust.

Oh, certainly.  I actually don't know my new apartment number until Monday(moving).  If you want it gone, by all means give it to whomever.  I wanted it purely out of morbid curiosity.  It sounds awful.

silentfilmstar13 wrote: Oh, certainly.  I actually don't know my new apartment number until Monday(moving).  If you want it gone, by all means give it to whomever.  I wanted it purely out of morbid curiosity.  It sounds awful.

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 How's this for an idea - we make a list of people who would like to try the game on DS, and mail it around in order.  Once you are sufficiently satisfied that it's a bad game, you send it on to the next person on the list.  It could be our own little Chess.com copy.

 

And I suppose it would only be fair to allow the first person who actually enjoys the game to keep it - no sense in wasting it.

 

Just a thought, might be fun.  :) 

Heh, and place bets on how many people it goes round before someone enjoys it... My bet is on.... wait, how many people are currently active on chess.com?

Hmmm maybe, 12,996?

Well you can add me to that list, I wouldn't mind trying it.

Theres also a version on the 42 classic games compendium but thats even worse.

 

 

I have this downloaded onto my R4 cartridge (which cost me about£20 off of amazon and means i can download 'back-ups' of various DS games off the web such as Chessmaster. I'm a very low-level beginner and this game is really helping me get to grips with the pieces and ideas such as forking and tactics etc.

but this for someone that you want to teach chess to or has shown an interest in. :D I think it's quite good if spartan on the style side of things.