By Dale Farris, Vice-President
Golden Triangle PC Club
May 2004

Game Overview

Viva-Media, the supreme children's software distributor, announces their newest game with this super game for all those interested in learning how to play chess. Anyone with a PC can now get the most expert advice from Fritz, the world famous chess engine, on how to improve their chess-playing skills.

As many readers likely know, in the children's software business 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 children's 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 that also can support the learning needs of children can be a problem. With Fritz GrandMaster Challenge, Viva-Media releases a superior chess tutor program that not only helps beginners, but also will be of great value to advanced players, as well as grand masters. In this one program, all levels of chess learning are covered, adding still another super chess title to Viva-Media's solid collection of other chess titles.

These superior chess titles include the following:

Deep Fritz 8
Fritz 7
Fritz 8
Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chester (MAC)
Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chester (WIN)

All these chess titles feature the powerful Fritz chess tutorial engine that has served the needs of many of today's grand chess masters, along with countless thousands of children and adults who just like to play the game.

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.  Fritz GrandMaster Challenge 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, along with advanced players.

Despite the fun you will have, the game is of course built on serious matters, namely the way 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.

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 well takes much time, and it requires a lot of patience and practice, along with discipline and determination, so Fritz GrandMaster Challenge 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.

Features

Suitable for all playing strengths, from beginner to Grand Master

Fritz GrandMaster Challenge Manual (PDF file) included

320,000 games database for learning, training, and analysis

1,000 Garry Kasparov games

300 Bobby Fischer games

Spectacular game analysis and training functions

Fritz explains all the moves

Threatened squares shows comprehensive tactical advice

Your chess coach will offer valuable hints

Zoom, tilt, and rotate your 3D board

2D and 3D training boards

400 checkmates training course

Automatic adjustment of playing strength in friend mode

Opening Book includes statistical analysis for professional opening training

Beginner's course, threatened squares function, explanation of the moves, and many more functions

Advanced - comprehensive openings database, including statistical analysis

Grand Masters - deep analysis functions, including blunder check and calculation of variants

Age Group

The game box states the game is relevant for ages from 8 to 102, and I think this is a good indicator of the target group. In addition, with the game's included material designed for advanced and grand master chess players, this means this "game" is more than merely a chess playing game for children. In addition, it will serve well as a powerful chess tutorial for all adults and those beyond the beginner stage of chess.

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.

Even advanced players, as well as grand masters will find a lot to learn in this super game.

Targeted Customers

Viva-Media's marvelous game Fritz GrandMaster Challenge 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 is the player. Older children should also find this game one the best tools to use in their initial learning steps.

With this latest addition to Viva-Media's growing Viva Chess lineup of chess tutorials, we find the famous Fritz chess tutorial engine geared also to the higher learning needs of advanced players and grand masters. Inside this powerful game you will find 320,000 games in its games database, as well as more than 1,000 Garry Kasparov and 300 Bobby Fischer games. The game also includes spectacular game analysis and training functions.

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

$9.99
This is an amazing price point for this powerful, important contribution to the growing Viva-Media collection of super Fritz-based chess games. Anyone with a PC and an interest in playing chess will definitely find this to be a great value.

Minimum System Configuration Requirements

Pentium PC
Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP
32MB RAM

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 owned 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 Tivola Publishing CD-ROM games and the Viva range of titles including:

Viva Chess
Viva Astronomy
Viva Kids
Viva Adventure
Viva Music

Contact Information

Linda Weal, Media Coordinator
Viva-Media
580 Broadway, Suite 604
New York, NY 10012
212-431-4420
FAX 212-431-4537
linda@viva-media.com
mail@viva-media.com
www.viva-media.com

You can also order from other retailers or online vendors.