UBISOFT ANNOUNCES CHESSMASTER® 10TH EDITION
The Most Significant Improvment to Chessmaster in Franchise History – Playable Demo Available Today
SAN FRANCISCO – June 22, 2004 – Ubisoft, one of the world’s leading videogame companies, today announced that Chessmaster® 10th Edition, the best-selling chess brand in history, will be available beginning August 10 for the PC at the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $39.99. In addition, for the first time in Chessmaster’s history, a playable demo is available. Visit www.chessmaster.com to download the demo today.
“Chessmaster 10th Edition is the ’must-have’ chess program for the whole family,” said Tony Kee, vice president of marketing, Ubisoft. “Beginners will learn at a comfortable pace, and veterans of the game can take it to the Grand Master level. Studies have shown that chess improves critical thinking, concentration and creativity, and Chessmaster 10th Edition is a great way to learn and master the game of chess.“
Chessmaster 10th Edition is a landmark for the franchise and features the largest and most compelling upgrade ever to both gameplay and graphics. Improvements include:
• New, easy-to-navigate interface with drop-down menus that are loaded with coaching options.
• New online module that provides a ranking system, create-a-tournament, teaching tools, chess chat and more.
• New Chessmaster Academy, featuring personalized instruction on everything from basic moves to advanced strategy as taught by some of the world’s most famous players – including International Master Josh Waitzkin and Grand Master Larry Christiansen.
“Chessmaster 10th Edition provides the perfect avenue for people of all ages and levels to learn and improve their skills,“ said Josh Waitzkin. “I had a great time working closely with the development team on the Chessmaster Academy and know that fans will be impressed with the high-level quality and detail in the game.“
Additionally, the wide appeal of Chessmaster 10th Edition will attract both brand-new and experienced chess players. Beginning and casual players will be entertained by animated chess pieces, a simplified learning section and skill-appropriate AI-controlled opponents. Intermediate players can take advantage of the opportunity to hone their skills by learning the best attacking moves as taught by chess champion Larry Christiansen in the Academy.
For more information about Chessmaster 10th Edition, please visit the official website at www.chessmaster.com.
About Ubisoft:
Ubisoft is an international producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products. A leading company in the multimedia industry, Ubisoft's strong and diversified lineup has grown considerably, as has Ubisoft itself. In addition to steadfastly continuing to partner with several high-profile companies, Ubisoft has also confirmed its presence on the global market by developing its own exceptional properties. Founded in 1986 in France, Ubisoft is now present on every continent, both through offices in 21 different countries including the United States, Morocco, Germany and China and through sales of products in over 50 countries. The group is dedicated to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge videogame titles to consumers around the world. Ubisoft generated a turnover of 453 million euros for the 2002–2003 fiscal year, up 23% over the previous fiscal year. To learn more, visit www.ubi.com.