Redmond, Washington - Microsoft Corporation announced today a new upgrade to the popular board game "Chess."
Since acquiring the right to the ancient board game in 1998, and spending millions in copyright challenges and court proceedings, the software giant has sought to make upgrades and improvements to the game to bring in new and "younger" players.
The first upgrade was released in 2001 as "Microsoft Chess HD".
The changes in the game were universally ridiculed and deemed unnecessary.
Players were required to wear green and red "3D glasses" to get more depth in the game in which it's
game pieces were covered in depth enhancing colors.
The outcry was so overwhelming that Microsoft felt compelled to offer a "Patch" which consisted of new game pieces with a more realistic appearance.
The glasses were no longer needed or supported.
Their attempt to enlarge the game board into various zones was also abandoned after a few months.
Now after a pause of many years, Microsoft is releasing "Chess patch 2.0" for existing users as a download, and it will be bundled in all new purchases.
The new patch sets out to correct the "balance issues" many new players had been complaining about.
MS spokesman "Prez Stevens" beamed as he described the changes to the audience of GameCon7000.
"We listen to our customers." said Prez. "one of the biggest complaints is the queen is just overpowered. Think about it. It moves across the board in any direction. And if you can get a pawn all away across the board a player could have a second queen. Obviously an unfair advantage for a player who may be playing against someone ranked lower.
Now only one queen per game is allowed. Plus once advanced to the middle of the board a player must now choose either side to side, or forward and back as the queen's only moves.
This evens things out a bit."
Other changes include rooks only becoming available after pawns construct a castle.
And the hitpoints of bishops and knights have been increased by two.
A new row has been added to the board game on either side were pawns may gather wood and stone for castle builds.
Not everyone is enthusiastic about the changes. Former grandmasters in particular are outraged by the changes to what they consider an already perfect game.
But new young players such as one known only as "The Snake" see it differently.
"The game has to evolve if it hopes to bring in new players and if it ever hopes to become a big money E-sport."
said The Snake. "Good players are able to quickly adapt to any change. Speed has to be a factor to attract a younger crowd."
To that end another rule change is a timer clock that gives a player only three seconds to make a move.
"No more lag", laughed The Snake.
The new patch should hit the market in about two weeks.
An interesting fact about the patch, it's an actual denim patch.
It has a self adhesive backing that allows players to attach it anywhere, or over top of the old rules.
8-)
Since acquiring the right to the ancient board game in 1998, and spending millions in copyright challenges and court proceedings, the software giant has sought to make upgrades and improvements to the game to bring in new and "younger" players.
The first upgrade was released in 2001 as "Microsoft Chess HD".
The changes in the game were universally ridiculed and deemed unnecessary.
Players were required to wear green and red "3D glasses" to get more depth in the game in which it's
game pieces were covered in depth enhancing colors.
The outcry was so overwhelming that Microsoft felt compelled to offer a "Patch" which consisted of new game pieces with a more realistic appearance.
The glasses were no longer needed or supported.
Their attempt to enlarge the game board into various zones was also abandoned after a few months.
Now after a pause of many years, Microsoft is releasing "Chess patch 2.0" for existing users as a download, and it will be bundled in all new purchases.
The new patch sets out to correct the "balance issues" many new players had been complaining about.
MS spokesman "Prez Stevens" beamed as he described the changes to the audience of GameCon7000.
"We listen to our customers." said Prez. "one of the biggest complaints is the queen is just overpowered. Think about it. It moves across the board in any direction. And if you can get a pawn all away across the board a player could have a second queen. Obviously an unfair advantage for a player who may be playing against someone ranked lower.
Now only one queen per game is allowed. Plus once advanced to the middle of the board a player must now choose either side to side, or forward and back as the queen's only moves.
This evens things out a bit."
Other changes include rooks only becoming available after pawns construct a castle.
And the hitpoints of bishops and knights have been increased by two.
A new row has been added to the board game on either side were pawns may gather wood and stone for castle builds.
Not everyone is enthusiastic about the changes. Former grandmasters in particular are outraged by the changes to what they consider an already perfect game.
But new young players such as one known only as "The Snake" see it differently.
"The game has to evolve if it hopes to bring in new players and if it ever hopes to become a big money E-sport."
said The Snake. "Good players are able to quickly adapt to any change. Speed has to be a factor to attract a younger crowd."
To that end another rule change is a timer clock that gives a player only three seconds to make a move.
"No more lag", laughed The Snake.
The new patch should hit the market in about two weeks.
An interesting fact about the patch, it's an actual denim patch.
It has a self adhesive backing that allows players to attach it anywhere, or over top of the old rules.
8-)