User Reviews (51 - 61 of 108)

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Installing it is a problem. Better backup your computer before installing it

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 7 / 8
Date: April 30, 2007
Author: Amazon User

The product is ok, getting the proper installation done is a challenge. It messed up my laptop configuration during installtion itself. Every friend of mine have had issues during installation.

There is hardly any support available from UBI Soft

CD Key??? Are they serious?

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 21 / 44
Date: January 20, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I have three or four thousand dollars worth of paid-for software on this machine, including Chessmaster 9000, and this is the ONLY one stupid enough to make me put a CD in the machine every time I want to play. True, I don't play games much, so maybe this is ordinary behavior for games, but you can believe I'll never play the game, or have anything good to say about it. I don't appreciate being treated like a criminal by software I have PAID for.

Chessmaster has an opponent for YOU!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: July 27, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Boy, the reviewers who gave this less than 4 stars must be pretty spoiled! I think my rating is about 1100, and this is the chess program I imagined was possible when I used to study chess (I think the last program I used was Chessmaster 3000 before my hiatus). The lessons are much better than I expected, and I love the incredible variety of opponents with various playing styles and ratings from 23 to "2761." At first I thought the pictures and bios of the opponents were a little silly, well I guess I still think that, but somehow it makes it more fun to have names and images of opponents in mind as you're trying to work your way up the rankings. Most chess programs only have difficulty levels that are too hard or too easy for someone near my rating. The opponents make varied moves that are sometimes as off-the-wall as playing a human. Many of the graphics and sound options are totally unnecessary (can anyone really play with those 3D pieces?), but it runs fine on my Windows XP desktop (1.5 GHz, 640 MB RAM).

CD not needed to play after loading (full version 2 discs)

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: April 27, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I have read through the other reviews and have one major disagreement: If this product is loaded into your computer using both discs provided there is no need to have a CD in your drive to play the game. To load the full version you need to have about 1GB available space on your drive, but that is just about what is required for most games which have any complexity and include graphics.

I find the tutorial and tests (which augment the tutorial by testing the knowledge you have acquired) to be clear and easy to use, also extremely comprehensive.

The tutorial is split into 4 categories: 1) Beginning, 2) Intermediate, 3) Advanced and 4) Josh (this is the highest and most difficult category and contains much instruction and many examples from real games that have been played by the masters).

The graphics are incredible: one can choose from a broad selection colors and types of pieces and playing boards in 3-d effect, or if you prefer a less showy and more practical display there is the "magnetic travel" style display (an aerial view with easily recognizable symbols for each of the pieces).

I can't praise this product enough. For the small price (less than $20), I believe it is the best buy on the market and highly recommend it to all, from the novice to the near expert wanting to hone their skills. 5 stars out of 5! Nice going Ubi Soft!!!

Excellent Tutorial and Solo Gameplay, but Lousy Online

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: March 30, 2003
Author: Amazon User

When one purchases a product like this one, there are three important components: a tutorial, a solo game, and an online interface for chess via the Internet. The first two components are excellent, the third is poor.

As far as a tutorial, one couldn't ask for anything better. I've used just a fraction of the lessons, and my gameplay has improved considerably. For the chess player wanting to sharpen his knowledge of the game via software, this program is tops.

The solo gameplay is also outstanding. There are many choices of boards and chess piece styles. The artificial intelligence controls are quite detailed and very adjustable. Several timing options are also available, including some that can even the odds between the quick-thinking computer and the slower-moving human brain.

I was greatly disappointed with the online game play. With a product of this caliber and of this price, a person would think the graphics for Internet play would at least be comparable to solo play. Instead, the graphics for online play are limited to one small, black-and-white board. In other words, the online graphics are to the solo graphics what the original Nintendo GameBoy is to the new Nintendo GameCube. There is simply no comparison.

I would have given this product five stars, but the online gameplay simply stinks.

This product is an excellent choice if you want a great tutorial and challenging AI. If you are seeking online gameplay however, look elsewhere. Hopefully the update to Chessmaster 9000 will offer a better online experience.

Watermarked CD... slight challenge

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 8 / 12
Date: January 21, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I LOVE CHESS... BUT IT REQUIRES TO USE THE CD to play... and that is truly a tragedy, ladies and gentlemen.

Great Chess Package for all levels of players

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 12
Date: October 18, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Simpy stated, this game has it all. Chessmaster 9000 is a treasure trove of chess for all levels of players. It is XP compatible. Has a complete online system to find and play against players on the Internet. This is the finest all-around chess game available for the money. A MUST BUY FOR ALL CHESS PLAYERS.

The best chess program ever!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 10
Date: June 27, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Chessmaster 9000 is the best of all the Chessmaster Games, and probably the best chess computer game period! It is an improvement of Chessmaster 8000, which is almost as good as 9000, in some ways:

1. I think it has different players

2. Josh Waitzkin made another chess course, "Psychology of Competition".

3. "Larry Evan's Endgame Quiz" is in the classroom for the intermediate player.

4. There are more classic games in the library

5. The new 3d chess sets are some of the most awesome things in Chessmaster 9000

These are probably the best new things in Chessmaster 9000. However, if you don't know if you should buy it or no not right now, then you probably shouldn't. Chessmaster 10th Edition will be available on August 10th, I think, so you should probably just wait for that one. So don't buy Chessmaster 9000, now that the 10th edition is coming very soon.

Glad that I got the 9000 version

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 8
Date: July 12, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This version does just what I was hoping for. It's easy to begin, easy to navigate, and provides the chess experience that I was looking for: a refresher course for an old geezer who wanted to remember how to play so that I could teach a grandchild. It has however, invigorated my interest in the game.

GREAT family fun!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: December 10, 2003
Author: Amazon User

We're learning to play chess as a family, so I really wanted software that could accommodate all of us (ages 5 to 36). Chessmaster 9000 has it all: the tutorials, the game room, the kid's room and tournament play. With over 150 opponents, you play with everyone from Stanley the Monkey (which really made us laugh...and a wee bit nervous about losing to a monkey) to the Chessmaster himself. We've only had this for 3 days and have been playing with it every chance we get. My daughters (ages 5 and 8) beg to play "just one more game," so I say that's a pretty good sign. :o)

The graphics are cool, and you can change chessboards if you like, which is kind of fun. Oh, and move advice is offered throughout the game if you need it (great for the new chess player). I highly recommend this!!!

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