I would like to get the Chessmaster 9000 (now that Fritz has not been cooperating) program but there is no demo for the program and I want to make sure I get what I need. I am already famililar with the series as I have used Chessmaster 6000 for many years but there is one thing I would like to know about the newer versions. I just recently purchased Fritz 8. It’s a good program but sometimes I feel that I need an advanced degree in computer programming just to work through the menus. Furthermore, I have been annoyed more than once when the program takes more than thirty minutes to make a move. Sometimes, it just runs out of time entirely and I have won a game that was either even or lost for me. That is not how I want to win, particularly when I purhcased the program to play out a game, regardless of the eventual result.
I never recall any such problems with the Chessmaster 6000. Plus, you could write little notes for your moves and save them in case you want to study games later or look them over with a partner. No such thing for Fritz. (At least not that I know of, but then again I don’t have a PhD in computer science so I’m not sure.) But I was told by the people at my local chess store that Fritz is better because it’s a “professional” program. Well, that’s very nice but I’m going back to Chessmaster anyway. There are some aspects of Chessmaster that are “silly” and unnecessary. This may be where it may come off as “unprofessional.” The various thematic chess sets serve no purpose, I would think, to someone who is serious about playing. I never liked the fact that some of the engines take so long to make their first moves. I could stand waiting for a move in the middle game when I can study the position to prepare for my move, but it is excruciating to have to sit through an opening waiting for my opponent to move. Also, I never thought much about the engines that represent various grandmasters throughout time. That’s a bit of a waste of time, I think. Unless you’re actually playing Alekhine, anyone or thing else is an imposter. It serves no purpose. Or maybe it’s a great innovation in computer programming that has escaped my simpleton mind. I don’t see it. It’s like when there’s a baseball strike and newspapers finish out the season with computer simulation programs. Does anyone really buy it?
Ultimately though, if Chessmaster 9000 has a standard 2-D board whose pieces are represented by down-to-earth icons, I’ll be happy to look past some of this frivolity. Also, I would hope that the time controls have been improved upon since 6000. For example, in 6000 there was only a repeating time control for moves per minute control and no eventual sudden death. For the record I was totally happy with Chessmaster until I got a new computer, which was not compatible with my old program, and so had to go out to look for the latest version only to learn about “professional” software. But I’m beginning to think that “professional” refers more to pro computer programmers than chess players. Not incredibly user friendly to a computer simpleton like me.
Anybody have Chessmaster 9000? Is it safe for me to buy or will I be dissapointed? And since we’re on the subject, what is your opinion about Chessmaster versus Fritz?