“We are thrilled to partner with Ubisoft to extend the reach of the world’s best-selling chess game,” said John Welch, president and chief executive officer, PlayFirst. “PlayFirst is doing what it does best – delivering accessible entertainment experiences to a broad audience. With Chessmaster Challenge, we’re able to demystify the game of chess for those who have not played before and make it enjoyable to chess players of all levels.”
Chessmaster Challenge appeals to chess novices and masters alike, with step-by-step tutorials for those playing chess for the first time, as well as challenging tournament-style matches for chess experts. With a choice of six chessboard sets, there are three ways to experience Chessmaster Challenge:
- Learn – If you’re new to chess, Chessmaster Challenge is your teacher and mentor, with more than 25 step-by-step audio tutorials to learn at your own pace. Learn all the basics plus strategies used by chess masters around the world.
- Fun – In the mood for a quick brain-teasing puzzle? Fun Mode offers eight types of chess challenges that help you master strategies like finding Forks, Checks, Checkmates and Pinned pieces.
- Play – After mastering your skills, challenge a computer opponent to a tournament-style game of chess in two modes of play. In Training Mode, request hints and learn moves with the help of a virtual chess coach, helping you improve your game as you play. In Ranked Play, play against top-ranked players and dominate your opponent as you move up the rankings.
“By partnering with PlayFirst, we’re able to take chess to a more mainstream audience,” said
Brenda Panagrossi, director of e-Commerce, Ubisoft. “This downloadable version of our best-selling Chessmaster brand is great for beginners and takes the intimidation factor out of chess.”