Hoyle Majestic Chess

Last updated

Hoyle Majestic Chess
Hoyle Majestic Chess cover.jpg
Developer(s) Fluent Entertainment [1]
Publisher(s) Vivendi Universal Games
Sierra Entertainment [1] [2]
Series Hoyle
Platform(s) Windows
ReleaseSeptember 8, 2003 [1]
Genre(s) Computer chess
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Hoyle Majestic Chess is a 2003 chess video game developed by Fluent Entertainment and published by Vivendi Universal Games and their subsidiary Sierra Entertainment for the Windows. It is part of the Hoyle series. An Xbox version was announced in April 2003 alongside the Windows version but it was canceled. [3] [4]

Contents

Gameplay

The game features three view modes: 2D, fixed perspective faux 3D, and fully 3D. There are eight different chess piece sets per board style. The playing strength of the AI is represented by 32 "personalities". Custom personalities can be added by a creation module. Online multiplayer is included. The tutorial is depicted as a narrative fantasy game. The player travels across a map and completes chess lessons that are portrayed as quests. [5] The mode was compared to the Heroes of Might and Magic series. [6] [7]

Reception

Hoyle Majestic Chess received generally positive reviews from critics. GameSpot recommended Fritz 8 or Chessmaster 9000 for experienced players but said the fantasy tutorial is the best way to introduce a person to chess. [5] IGN said the real draw of the game is the adventure mode and called the chess engine "robust". [7] GameZone concluded: "From the detailed graphics, amazing music, excellent tutorial, and excellent concept, everyone should find something to enjoy with this game." [10] Computer Gaming World summarized: "While it ultimately fails to be an easily accessible, helpful tool to teach the true novice how to play chess well, Majestic Chess is a well-made product that provides good competition for amateur players who aren't too serious about their game." [2] PC Gamer called the game "An admirable chess experience, with enough lessons to keep you occupied for ages." [11] The Washington Post said that "This chess game's varying styles of play, traditional and inventive learning mechanisms and robust Internet play provide enough of a challenge to make you work on your game -- and enough fun to make that effort worthwhile." [13]

Related Research Articles

<i>Tetris Worlds</i> 2001 video game

Tetris Worlds is a version of the video game Tetris. Originally released in 2001 for Microsoft Windows and Game Boy Advance, it was later released for Xbox, GameCube, and PlayStation 2 in 2002. In 2003, an Xbox Live version titled "Tetris Worlds Online" and a single-disc compilation version were released for the Xbox. The latter was bundled with Xbox systems.

<i>Men of Valor</i> 2004 video game

Men of Valor is a first-person shooter video game developed by 2015, Inc. and published by Vivendi Universal Games for the Microsoft Windows and Xbox platforms. Men of Valor is based on the Unreal Engine 2.0 and simulates infantry combat during the Vietnam War, more specifically, the Tet Offensive in 1968. The game was released in 2004 to mostly positive reviews.

<i>The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay</i> 2004 video game

The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay is a first-person action and stealth video game developed by Starbreeze Studios and Tigon Studios, and was published by Vivendi Universal Games. Released for the Xbox and Microsoft Windows in 2004, the game's story is a prequel to the futuristic science fiction film Pitch Black. Actor Vin Diesel—who was involved in the game's development—reprises his role as that film's protagonist, Richard B. Riddick.

Chessmaster is a chess-playing video game series, which is owned and developed by Ubisoft. It is the best-selling chess franchise, with more than five million units sold as of 2002.

<i>Madden NFL 2003</i> 2002 video game

Madden NFL 2003 is an American football simulation video game based on the NFL that was developed by EA Tiburon and Budcat Creations and published by EA Sports. The 14th installment of the Madden NFL series, the game features former St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk on the cover. This edition of Madden was the first to have EA Trax, the Mini Camp mode, and to feature Al Michaels as play-by-play announcer, who took over for Pat Summerall. Although it featured the expansion Houston Texans and the relocation of the Seattle Seahawks to the NFC, it was actually the second to do so. The game was released on August 12, 2002 for the Game Boy Advance, GameCube, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, PlayStation 2 and Xbox. The PlayStation version also includes the Sega Genesis version of John Madden Football 93.

<i>Battle Engine Aquila</i> 2003 video game

Battle Engine Aquila is a 2003 video game for PlayStation 2 and Xbox developed by Lost Toys and published by Infogrames Europe. In the game the player pilots the Battle Engine for the Forseti military in their wars against the Muspell to decide who will rule what's left of the world. Battle Engine Aquila received little attention from the public despite overall good reviews from critics. It was listed as #86 in the Top 100 Games for PlayStation 2 by IGN. A later Microsoft Windows port was published by Encore Software.

<i>NASCAR Thunder 2003</i> 2003 Racing simulator video game developed by EA Sports and Budcat Creations

NASCAR Thunder 2003 is the sixth edition of the EA Sports' NASCAR racing simulator series. Developed by EA Sports and Budcat Creations and published by Electronic Arts. It was released for PlayStation, PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox on September 19, 2002, and for Microsoft Windows on October 16. The product features Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the cover. It was the first time the NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award recipient was featured on the cover, although he did not win the award for the first time until the following year. Dale Earnhardt appeared in the game as a driver as a result of entering his name as a Create-A-Car driver's name; he did not appear in the previous game due to his death. He appeared as a legend in subsequent games.

<i>Stranglehold</i> (video game) 2007 video game

Stranglehold is a third-person shooter video game developed by Midway Studios – Chicago and Tiger Hill Entertainment and published by Midway Games. It was released in late 2007 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It is Midway's first game to use Unreal Engine 3. Stranglehold is a sequel to John Woo's 1992 Hong Kong action film Hard Boiled and stars Chow Yun-fat in a reprisal of his role as hard-boiled cop Inspector "Tequila" Yuen. Stranglehold is the first project on which Woo and Chow have collaborated since Hard Boiled. The game received generally positive reviews from critics and sold more than one million units worldwide.

<i>Bruce Lee: Quest of the Dragon</i> 2002 video game

Bruce Lee: Quest of the Dragon is a beat 'em up video game featuring martial artist Bruce Lee. It was developed by Ronin Entertainment and published by Universal Interactive, and was released in Europe and the United States for the Xbox in 2002 to a negative critical reception.

<i>Motocross Madness</i> (1998 video game) 1998 video game

Motocross Madness is a motocross racing video game developed by Rainbow Studios and published by Microsoft.

<i>Virtua Tennis 3</i> 2006 sports video game

Virtua Tennis 3, known in Japan as Sega Professional Tennis: Power Smash 3, is the second arcade game sequel to Sega's tennis game franchise, Virtua Tennis. The arcade version of Virtua Tennis 3 is powered by the PC-based Sega Lindbergh arcade system board. Ports for the PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 3 consoles are also available with a traditional collection of tennis minigames that the home versions of Virtua Tennis are known for. In 2009, Sega updated and re-created Virtua Tennis 3 in Virtua Tennis 2009.

<i>Top Spin</i> (video game) 2003 video game

Top Spin is a 2003 tennis video game developed by PAM Development and Indie Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox, later published by Atari Europe for PC in 2004 and by 2K for the PlayStation 2 in 2005. The game is a simulation tennis game in which players compete in singles and doubles matches, exhibition tournaments, and a career mode in which players develop skills and rise through the ranks of an international league. Featuring an expanded control scheme to its competitors, Top Spin features several innovations including 'risk shots', in which players can execute more difficult serves and shots in addition to flat, top spin, slice and lob swings.

<i>NCAA Football 2003</i> 2002 video game

NCAA Football 2003 is a video game of the sports genre released in 2002 by EA Tiburon. Its cover athlete is former Oregon Ducks, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins Atlanta Falcons, and New Orleans Saints quarterback Joey Harrington.

<i>Chessmaster 9000</i> 2002 video game

Chessmaster 9000 is a 2002 chess video game developed and published by Ubi Soft for the Windows. It is part of the Chessmaster series. The game was announced on July 12, 2002. Grandmaster Larry Christiansen played four matches against the game in September 2002. He won the first match, lost the next two, and match four was a draw.

<i>Chessmaster 10th Edition</i> 2004 video game

Chessmaster 10th Edition is a 2004 chess video game developed and published by Ubi Soft for the Windows and Xbox. It is part of the Chessmaster series. The Xbox version is titled simply Chessmaster. The PC version was announced on June 22, 2004 and the Xbox version on August 2, 2004.

<i>Chessmaster Live</i> 2008 video game

Chessmaster Live is a 2008 chess video game developed and published by Ubisoft for the Xbox 360, on the Xbox Live Arcade service. It is the final game in the Chessmaster series, released just three months after The Art of Learning. The game was announced on November 28, 2007. Chessmaster Live was historically the name used for the multiplayer mode in the series starting with Chessmaster 5500.

<i>Gravity Games Bike: Street Vert Dirt</i> 2002 video game

Gravity Games Bike: Street Vert Dirt is a sports video game developed and published by Midway for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. It was released in North America on June 28, 2002 for the PlayStation 2 and on September 4, 2002 for the Xbox. It was the only game released under the Gravity Games license by Midway.

<i>Choplifter HD</i> 2012 video game

Choplifter HD is a video game developed by inXile Entertainment and released in 2012-2013. It is a 3D polygonal remake of the 1982 game Choplifter by Dan Gorlin. inXile hired Gorlin to serve as a design consultant for the game. As in the original game, players fly missions in a helicopter, defeating enemies and rescuing people. Originally released for Windows, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the game was subsequently ported to the Ouya as well as Android devices. Choplifter HD was lauded for being true to the original, retaining the gameplay the series was known for, but was criticized for its high level of difficulty.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team</i> 2011 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team is a top-down shooter game with twin-stick control, set in the Warhammer 40,000 future fantasy universe. Players play as Space Marines attempting to halt an Ork invasion spaceship, facing orks and, later, Tyranids. Four Space Marine classes are playable Sternguard Veteran, Techmarine, Vanguard Veteran and Librarian. The first two focusing on Shooting the later two on melee. The game supports single player and same screen multiplayer modes.

<i>Championship Surfer</i> 2000 video game

Championship Surfer is an extreme sports video game developed by Krome Studios, published by Mattel Interactive in North American and GAME Studios in Europe, and released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation and Dreamcast in 2000.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Hoyle's Majestic Chess makes first move". GameSpot . Fandom. 8 September 2003. Archived from the original on 9 October 2003. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Luo, Di (December 2003). "Reviews - Hoyle's Majestic Chess". Computer Gaming World . No. 233. Ziff Davis. p. 142.
  3. ↑ "Vivendi Announcements". IGN . Ziff Davis. 24 April 2003. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  4. ↑ "Hoyle Majestic Chess (Xbox)". GameSpy . IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 9 June 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 Lackey, Jeff (10 September 2003). "Hoyle Majestic Chess Review". GameSpot . Fandom. Archived from the original on 20 September 2003. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  6. ↑ Beers, Craig (25 April 2003). "Hoyle Majestic Chess impressions". GameSpot . Fandom . Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 Butts, Steve (8 September 2003). "Reviews - Hoyle Majestic Chess". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 14 April 2009. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  8. ↑ "Hoyle Majestic Chess for PC". GameRankings . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 16 April 2009. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  9. ↑ Rice, Kevin (23 October 2003). "Reviews - Majestic Chess (PC)". GameSpy . IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 12 June 2004. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  10. 1 2 Aceinet (30 August 2003). "Reviews - Hoyle Majestic Chess". GameZone. GameZone Online, LLC. Archived from the original on 31 August 2003. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  11. 1 2 Smith, Rob. "Reviews - Hoyle Majestic Chess". PC Gamer . Future plc. Archived from the original on 15 March 2006. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  12. ↑ "Test - Majestic Chess". PC Games (in German). Computec Media GmbH. 21 January 2005. Archived from the original on 7 January 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  13. ↑ Singer, Skip (30 November 2003). "Reviews - Hoyle Majestic Chess". The Washington Post . Fred Ryan . Retrieved 4 August 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.