By Dale Farris, Vice President
Golden Triangle PC Club
December 2004

Game Overview

Viva Media, the supreme children's software distributor, announces their newest game with this super game for children interested in learning how to play chess. Now parents have a wonderful software addition that will exactly meet their needs
for a chess tutor program that is directly made for children.

As many readers likely know, children's software programs that are supposedly created to simulate reality, or offer experiential, interactive learning, many times fail to make the grade. However, as any computer owner familiar with the award-winning lineup of software from Viva Media know, you can always depend on Viva Media for top quality programs, regardless the targeted age group.

In the special case of chess tutor programs, most readers are probably familiar with various of these programs that target adults, but finding such a program created at the level of children has till now been a problem. With Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster 2 you now have exactly what you want if you are interested in helping children learn to play chess.

This is an important sequel to the award-winning Learn to Play Chess (LPC) with Fritz and Chesster, and this newest, 2nd edition, Chess in the Black Castle, rejoins the cast of LPC in another chess adventure for beginners and advanced players alike. LPC2 works with kids, demonstrating even the most advanced chess concepts through a simple, intelligible and engaging approach.

What always stymies any computer software creator with a desire to create a program on learning to play chess is of course the inherent complexity of the game, something that just naturally makes for an added challenge if you want to help children learn to play chess by working with a computer program.  Learn to Play Chess with Fritz & Chesster 2 scores a bulls-eye in its marvelously playful approach to a chess tutorial that will appeal to all children, as well as adults new to the game of chess.

Despite the fun you will have, the game is of course built on serious matters, namely how to play chess and all the subtle, powerful aspects that accompany playing this highly intellectual game. The "brain" in the game is the well known Fritz chess engine, used by grandmasters to train for tournaments. Viva Media has managed to introduce Fritz as an animated little boy whose character is designed as a worrisome sort in Harry Potter-like spectacles who has to learn chess and learn it fast.

Description

Easy to use and fun to play, LPC2 is packed with 21 arcade style mini-games that reinforce important chess concepts introduced in the storyline. Viva-Media's CEO Carlo Voelker comments, "Learn to Play Chess With Fritz and Chesster 2: Chess in the Black Castle is much more than a sequel. It's an entirely unique chess adventure that welcomes newcomers to the game and offers advance chess training for those who already know how to play chess."

While LPC2 may look like child's play, it is powered by Fritz, the world's #1 ranked chess software engine. Fritz is used by real life chess professionals worldwide and has been featured in the famous Man vs. Machine tournaments.

Jump into chess action, move by move, to rescue Chesster from deep within Kin Black's Castle. Join Fritz and Bianca in a thrilling chess adventure where each challenge will help you sharpen your skills and prepare for the ultimate showdown. Have lots of fun while you learn about openings, pinning, delivering check, attacking, protecting, and much more.

Fritz, Bianca, and Chesster are back in a new chess adventure! Advanced training in the Black Castle will have every player, from beginners on up, improving their skills and strategy. Jump into chess action to rescue Chesster from deep within the walls of King Black's Castle.

You'll have lots of fun learning move by move about openings, middle game strategy and tactics, endgames, pinning, delivering check, attacking, protecting, and much more. Try out over 20 mini games within the game to practice what you've learned and see if you can get your name onto the high scoreboard!

Fun Coaching and Training

Opening
* Basic openings
* Bull-head opening
* King's Gambit
* Fool's mate and scholar's mate

Middle game (tactics)
* Attack and protect
* The pin
* Forks and skewers
* Distraction

Endgame
* Square rule
* Key squares

And lots more!

Features

Fun to Play

21 Mini Games Within the Game

Learn Chess Notation

High Schore Challenge

Print Out Games

Powered by Fritz, the World's #1 Ranked Chess Software

BONUS - Free 1-Year subscription to www.playchess.com (a $24.99 value)

Playing the Game

Players can practice one move in many different situations and variations. If they don't get it right, the software lets them know in a pleasant voice, and shows not only where they went wrong, but why and how to do better next time. The game also recognizes when they get it right and are ready to move on. Even when learning chess in real life, this kind of instruction can only happen when you have your own personal chess tutor and lots of spare time. As kids work through the game and complete their repetitions with the game's tutorials, they can advance their skills.

As readers may suspect, learning chess with any particular approach is not an easy task, and once you get the basics of the different pieces and their movements, you have learned merely the beginnings of this ancient, powerful game. Learning chess takes time, patience, and practice, along with discipline and determination. Hence, Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster 2 is not going to magically result in hundreds of 8-year old chess masters. However, playing the game will provide you with hours and hours of fun as you learn to play chess.

Playchess.com

Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster comes with a one-year subscription to playchess.com, where kids can find human opponents, perhaps more worthy, or less taxing, than King Black.

Game Play

You move the characters and interact with the screen by using the mouse.

Age Group

The game box states the game is relevant for ages from 8 to 102, and I think the game is a super choice for a CD ROM approach to a chess tutor. Adults will also likely have a great deal of fun learning to play chess with this marvelous game.

Educational Value

Obviously, the most significant educational value of the game is its tutoring in learning how to play chess. While many may think that learning chess can be tedious and difficult, in this game children will have a ton of fun as they learn the basics of chess. Once they have worked through the game, which should present hours and hours of fun, they can of course move on to the higher level of playing chess. Any parent who desires their children learn to play chess now has the right computer software to help them in this endeavor.

Targeted Customers

Viva Media's marvelous game Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster 2 is targeted to the age group 8 to 102. While the youngest 8-year olds may indeed have fun with this game, because they are learning to play chess it will be a more likely success the more serious the player is about learning the game. Older children should also find this game a super tool to use in their initial learning steps.

Again, Viva Media presents a title that provides super value to public libraries as a wonderful title to be added to their collection. The game could be made available on workstations for children and their parents to play, or it could represent a super tool for use in Little Bookwork programs designed around the topic of learning to play chess.

Price

$29.99 (super bargain!)
$39.99 (Canada)

Minimum System Configuration Requirements

PC (MAC is scheduled to release in December 2004)
Multimedia PC
P-II 233 MHz processor (minimum)
Windows 95, 98, ME, XP
32MB RAM (16MB free memory)
16-bit soundblaster compatible sound card
16 x CD-ROM drive
800 x 600 pixels resolution (16-bit color)

Installation and Setup

The game should install and set up with no problems. You do need the game disc in the CD ROM drive to play the game.

About Viva Media, LLC

Viva Media, LLC, is a privately held New York company dedicated to publishing a wide array of interactive content of the highest standards. The company's collection of more than 40 multimedia titles tout more than 30 awards for excellence in publishing. Viva Media features the award winning line of Viva Media Publishing. CD ROM games and the Viva range of titles include Viva Chess, Viva Adventure, and Viva Reference.

Viva Media also buys and sells license for different products. For these purposes, the company has developed optimal localization standards. With this new system, Viva Media titles are obtainable in countries all over the world.

The Viva Media line of CD ROM programs are products parents can depend on to provide a fun and educational computer experience for their children. Teachers can also feel secure in integrating the educational lineup of Viva Media products into their curriculum, especially those teaching entry level classes. Viva Media's series of learning CD ROMs for children that include the many Oscar the Balloonist titles, the many Max adventures, the super Chemicus science-based program, and of course The Little Prince, all assure a solid worthwhile computer experience for all ages, especially young learners.

With the worldwide notoriety of Viva Media products, the company has also ventured into a new online interactive arena. Companies can now rent online games from Viva Media to make available at their Web site for their own customers. This new portfolio of online games for rent expands still further the success of the company.

Contact Information

John DeFeo, Media Coordinator
Viva Media Publishing
580 Broadway, Suite 604
New York, NY 10012
212-431-4420, ext. 201
212-431-4420
FAX 212-431-4537
john@viva-media.com
mail@viva-media.com
www.viva-media.com

You can also order from other retailers or online vendors.