Computer Chess Club Archives


Search

Terms

Messages

Subject: Big Corporation Killing Chessmaster.

Author: Micheal Cummings

Date: 07:16:33 10/12/99


I am coming to the conclusion that Matel which took over mindscape is killing
the current and future Chessmaster programs.

As I was reading in another post, with most of todays programs and simple email
to The Makers of Rebel, or Shredder or most other programs, the programmer will
most likely get to read the thing. So if error or improvement and advice was
given to these people, they will take it on board.

Ed has said a few times in this forum that comments from CCC have influenced his
decisions about various things regarding Rebel.

But what chance do we have with Mindscape now. The bottom line will be the buck
not the chess. Various tests of CM7K seem to indicate that the same engine that
was in CM6K is working slower and less effective in CM7K. All the new layout and
features seemed to have got in the way of the most important part, the quality
of the engine.

Allot of things that were sent to mindscape when requesting improvements seem to
have been ignored. The Autoplayer for example has been requested since even
before CM5K was made. Just after the release of CM6K I recieved and email saying
they would look into it. Well behold a whole version later still nothing, and
how much do you want to bet that they will not give it out in a patch like some
people said that they would, those words coming from Mindscape.

I call upon this company to get it together and get back to making some quality
chess programmes. Listen to the people and give them what they want. \

Next Chessmaster will turn into BarbieChess, or heven forbid, a Barbie outfit of
her looking intelligent like a chess player. She and Ken can sit across from
each other over a chess board. Strange how Chessmaster has a kids room, its
already starting to go to hell.

They had the chance to make improvements and with the latest king engine press
to dominate more the chess software market. Now this program has a high chance
of going to the dogs.

I am going to send this to Mindscape addressed to whoever the hell at Matel
takes notice, to stop these pencil pushers from wrecking a fine company with
their penny pinching ways.




This page took 0 seconds to execute

Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700

Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.