Animated sets

[Rossgus]

I played the chessmaster 10th edition demo today. And everything looks great, and the animated set is awsome. BUT one thing that I found that really annoyed me was that when you capture a pawn en passent there is no animation and also when a pawn is promoted there is no animation, it just appears in the next square. This is a really poor effort on the behalf of the programers who should pay more attention to detail if they go to the effort to try and make the game more visually stimulating.

[Rossgus]

I played the chessmaster 10th edition demo today. And everything looks great, and the animated set is awsome. BUT one thing that I found that really annoyed me was that when you capture a pawn en passent there is no animation and also when a pawn is promoted there is no animation, it just appears in the next square. This is a really poor effort on the behalf of the programers who should pay more attention to detail if they go to the effort to try and make the game more visually stimulating.

[Rossgus]

I also think that it would be cool for kids and various fans if other animated chess sets were released such as Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. I know that this detracts from the serious side of chess playing but is an easy way to have a relaxing short game.

[EddiePX]

I think the cost of the license to include Lord of the Rings and Star Wars chess sets in Chessmaster is a little higher than the cost of building a new Chessmaster game from the scratch. http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Darth greivous]

Themed animated sets would kick ****!!! I reckon Spiderman would be a good one. Anything with cool special effects moves that would look awsome with the 3d glasses. It's a pitty though that when they did the other animated sets that they left out crucial animations such as en passent and pawn promotions. I would have expected better from Ubisoft, as they went to the effort to animate the sets. Why wouldn't they go the whole way?

[EddiePX]

I played a game using the Rubber set and did an "en passant" capture. Guess what? It DID have an animation http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

On the other hand, it's true there aren't specific animations for pawn promotions in the Rubber set, but how do you know there aren't such animations in the other animated chess sets? Are you one of the developers?

[ForrestG4]

I agree with EddiePX for the animated "en passant" move, IT'S THERE. And sure it feels like an unfinished work if there's no animated promotion.
The thing is this game has the POTENTIAL to be highly satisfying, only if the developers iron flat a couple of issues(the online play, the animation, the ClearType issue...)
But I'm optimistic, cause that's what demos are (partialy) here for, to let the community point out the possible flows of the game.

Developoers, YOUR MOVE ! ;o)
Good luck !

[Rossgus]

Sorry guys you're right there is an en passent capture move. Both the initial times that I did it though it skipped the animation. I agree with ForrestG4 that the game has the POTENTIAL to be highly satisfying. I trust that Ubisoft will animate pawn promotions. I mean its not that hard having rubber mould to another shape, or have a puff of smoke and the other piece appears. It's really not that difficult.
P.S. Darth Grievous, spiderman wouldn't work because there aren't enough well known characters.

[Darth greivous]

I just wanted to see spiderman jumping out of the screen and 10 times higher than all the other chess pieces, in the animation they should make it look spectacular and use the third dimention, or the whole board. They don't have to have licenced characters anyway, but they could fake rip ofs like 'Lord of the rings' could be Medieval. Actually I just thought off an awsome one. "Superheroes" the animation with that would be awsome. One of the main things that they should incorporate with the new animation should be the use of the 3d glasses and also the space above the chessboard, the third dimention.

[Grim_O]

I think it is more dreaming now than realistic thoughts.
Also, this is the first time animated sets are used so I don't think they will think too much about spiderman or LOTR before they've seen that the concept works.

[joshisg_a_y]

I don't think that this is dreaming Grim_O, I think that Darth Greivous is right in saying what he has. It is really nothing compared to nearly 99% of special effects and graphics in modern day games. It is in Chessmaster's interests to create amazing animated chess sets. Especially considering it is no more dificult than what they have already done. They have the 3D engine, I could do the animations for them! Thats how easy it is!

[Grim_O]

I do not say that the animation is hard. I just say that going from original self made sets to big licensed products as LOTR or spiderman might be too much to ask for.
And I don't think Ubisoft would ever spend money on getting the rights to use spiderman when they haven't even found out if the animated sets are a flop or a succes yet. That would be too risky I think.

If we talk other sets that Ubisoft can come up with on their own, dinosaur themed for example, then I am very open to the idea of spectacular animations. They can experiment all they want with animations then. But spending money to buy rights to use spiderman or LOTR...c'mon http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[Darth greivous]

Grim_O, both joshisg_a_y and I agree that the cost for lisencing would be too great, hence we both suggested alternatives. ie. Superheroes<-- made up ones. We just want to see kick *** animation thats all, and because its not so difficult whether or not the sets are popular doesn't matter because they are creating a benchmark and a quality product. The interest in this forum topic alone suggests that there is interest in the animated sets and that they will be a success!

Lets see what other people want.
Post your interest in the animated sets if you read this.

[Rossgus]

As long as they fix the pawn promotions animations I'll be happy. But I am very interested to see the full potential of the animated sets. And hope that fans will make mods and custom sets, therefore licencing won't be an issue. Also it would be good to see Ubisoft release patches and new sets periodically, paqrticularly the animated ones, like they did in chessmaster 9000 with the Ukrainian set.

[chessjedimaster]

I'm replying to Darth Greivous here and posting my interest in the animated sets. I can't wait to see them and see what fans will do with them, they have limitless potential, superheros sounds like it could have some great special effects. I think the animated sets will be what makes this better than any other old boring chess game. I mean who didn't love Battle Chess?

[chessjedimaster]

Also the 3d glasses will be cool

[EddiePX]

joshisg - I heard there'll be a manual about making your own chess sets for CM 10th Ed.
Are you up to this challenge? http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[joshisg_a_y]

Bring it on. If chessmaster 10 alows you to create your own custom sets including animated ones, it will be by far the best chess game on the market. An added feature such as this would build a huge fan base for unique sets etc. making chessmaster more than just chess. Bring it on I love the sounds of this, I'll be making animated sets for sure.

[Rossgus]

If Ubisoft doesn't fix the pawn promotion animations then I gues with the "CREATE YOUR OWN CHESS SET" manual I'll be able to myself.
I hope there is a program like a 'map editor' in strategy games. Otherwise I hope fans make heaps of mods.

[Grime_O]

Blah Blah blah. My name is Grim_O and I'm a huge loser.

[HardWired]

I want an animated set similar to Battle Chess from the old Amiga!! Complete with the cool sounds and animations, many of which were very funny!

[Rossgus]

That would be awsome! Battle Chess set a standard in innovative animation and sounds, now lets hope Chessmaster 10th edition dose too. Vote here for how much you love the animated sets http://forums.ubi.com/eve/forums?q=Y&a=tpc&s=400102&f=760105752&m=576105763&p=1 and post in this forum what you would love to see in terms of animated chess sets.

[Grim_O]

Perhaps they could make a themed chess set with the chess players themselves. A karikatur design of the greatest chess players for example. Bobby Fischer could be the white king, designed as a slim, tall person with the classical Fischer karikatur face and a crown to symbolise that he's a king.
Who would not like to play the white pieces consisting of the best US players (Benko, Fischer, Kamsky, Byrne...) against the black pieces. Perhaps consisting of the best russian players (Kaspy, Kramnik, Karpov, Spassky...).
Just an idea but I think it could be funny in the end http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[ForrestG4]

Thumbs up for u Grim_o, a very nice idea, worths money. I definitly support it !