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Sega Chess

Topic: Software

 From HandWiki - Reading time: 5 min

Short description: 1991 video game
Sega Chess
Developer(s)Probe Software[1]
Publisher(s)Sega[2]
Producer(s)Neil Young[1]
Programmer(s)Antony Lill[1]
Artist(s)Hugh Riley[1]
Composer(s)Krisalis Software[1]
Platform(s)Master System[3]
Release
Genre(s)Computer chess
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer[3]

Sega Chess (also known as Master Chess[5]) is a 1991 chess video game developed by Probe Software and published by Sega for the Master System.

Gameplay

The game can be viewed from overhead or in a pseudo 3D mode.[2] There are nine skill levels: beginner to grandmaster. Resigning is not included in the game.[3] Sampled speech option is included which is useful for people with visual impairment.[2][3] Features that help new players include a hint system, the ability to undo moves, swapping sides at any time and forcing the computer to make its move prematurely. In Adaptive mode, the computer will decide its move in the time it takes the player to complete a turn. Problem mode places a specific chess problem for the player to solve. For the hardest challenge, in Infinite mode the computer will take as long as it needs to make its move.[2]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
Mean Machines77%[2]
Sega Force93%[3]
Sega Power5/5[5]
Video Games (magazine) (de)80%[7]

Mean Machines concluded: "A decent, if expensive, game which is best recommended to chess fans who have no-one to play against."[2] Sega Force praised the difficulty curve and summarized: "Against competition, a brilliant adaptation of an ancient game".[3] Sega Power said: "If you can't play it, it won't teach you, but lonely chess players will absolutely love this version."[5] Video Games (magazine) (de) praised the graphics and controls.[7] Games-X said: "Sega Chess is everything a chess buff could possibly want on the Master System, and offers an enjoyable game to players at all skill levels."[6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Probe Software (1991). Sega Chess. Master System. Sega. Level/area: Credits screen. "Developed by The Probe Software Team, programming by Antony Lill, graphic art by Hugh Riley, produced by Neil Young, music by Krisalis Software" 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Regan, Matt; Leadbetter, Richard (July 1991). "Sega Chess - Sega Review". Mean Machines (10): 64-65. http://www.meanmachinesmag.co.uk/pdf/chessms.pdf. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Osborne, Ian (January 1992). "Reviewed! - Sega Chess". Sega Force (Europress Impact) (1): 75. https://archive.org/details/sega-force-01/page/n73/mode/2up. 
  4. ↑ "The Release Schedule". Computer Trade Weekly (Opportunity Publishing) (362): 27. 11 November 1991. https://retrocdn.net/images/d/dc/CTW_UK_362.pdf. Retrieved 25 February 2025. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "The Hard Line - Master Chess". Sega Power (Future plc) (49): 131. December 1993. https://retrocdn.net/images/a/a7/SegaPower_UK_49.pdf#page=131. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Console Connexions - Sega Chess". Games-X (Europress) (32): 27. November 1991. https://retrocdn.net/images/6/63/GamesX_UK_32.pdf#page=27. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Englhart, Stephan (January 1992). "Test - Sega Chess" (in German). Video Games (Future-Verlag) (1/92): 37. https://archive.org/details/video-games-de-1992-01/page/36/mode/2up. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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