Electronic Chess Sets with Realistic Graphics - 2007/03/01 06:59I use one of the original ChessMaster cartridges for my old small Game Boy. The screen size is about 1 7/8 by 1 5/8 inches. Although very small, what I like about this program is the realism of the game piece representation.
Newer handheld sets I have looked at, made by Saitek, Excalibur, and Novag, all seem to represent game pieces as pawns, modified slightly with some minor embellishment on top of the design. I think I would find it hard to distinguish between the pieces with such a design.
Does anyone know of any handheld sets that offer similar realism as the ChessMaster for handheld computer chess sets, as well as offering a larger viewable screen? (Years ago, I recall a friend having a handheld set made by a company whose name was something like Scysis, that had a screen that was about 4 by 4 inches. It did use the same design as that offered by Saitek. The pieces on the board looked so similar to each other.)
Does touching a square with your finger work with sets that come with a stylus?
And last, the ChessMaster has designed its game with a password code for saving a game that is anywhere from 16 to 32 characters long. The length and complexity of the characters forces the user to have to write down the password, and then spend at least 30 seconds keying in the code to "load" the saved game. Isn't there a simpler way to save and load the previously partially played game in a briefer manner?
Electronic Chess Sets with Realistic Graphics - 2007/03/01 22:24Dame, Thanks for the nice welcome! I did look at that Novag set, and although the screen definitely does look much larger, I noticed that the piece representation is different from that of the ChessMaster, in that each piece seems to be a slight modification of the basic pawn outline. Isn't it difficult to distinguish between the pieces? And can one's finger be used to indicate a desired move instead of using the stylus?
By the way, I wanted to contact the moderator offline in that when I registered I thought the fields for the first two lines referred to one's first name, then the last name. I hadn't intended to use this name as my user name!!!! I went into the edit section and was unable to change the user name. I can live with my user name, but it's not my desired choice!! Can you help me?
I think I figured out why ChessMaster represents passwords to save games in sets of 16 and 32 characters (this is what I've seen so far when saving my games for future play). Each symbol represents positions for each piece!! It occurred to me as I saw that the number of characters saved were in sets of 16 or 32, which obviously corresponds to rows and columns of the game board. When particular symbols are used, I could see how they would represent game pieces. I save a game the other night that had only six pieces left on the board, and for the first time saw only 16 characters used for the password. Makes sense, yes?!!
So, again, thanks for the Novag reference (and I did like the look of this set ... it is on my potential buy list, but I would like a larger version of the ChessMaster set I now use. If I have other questions about using the ChessMaster game, is it advisable to post more than one or two questions in the same message board post?). Thanks.
Electronic Chess Sets with Realistic Graphics - 2007/03/02 09:30The Excalibur Deluxe Talking Touch Chess set represents game pieces better than some of the other handheld sets I have looked at. From what I have seen for this set, it doesn't look like it stores partially played games in memory or has an automatic power down feature. I could be wrong about that. I don't see a "take back" feature, either. Clever design for storing the stylus inside the unit, though.
Saitek's Maestro is a beautiful set with its blue backlight, but even more expensive.
Not sure I want to spend more than $50 for a handheld set!
Look at the picture of the pieces on this unit ... ...(http://www.thechesspiece.com/375X_lcd_chess_express_travel_chess_computer.html) ... the screen looks very well lit and very easy to read, but with the exception of the knight, every other piece looks almost identical!!!
Some of these smaller units would be great to have, with a well-lit screen, if only those pieces weren't so indistinguishable. Maybe with use, you get used to the similarity of their appearances.
Electronic Chess Sets with Realistic Graphics - 2007/03/02 19:48Cantor, I'm happy I could be of a little bit of help at least (being that I don't play handheld chess) -
let us know what you decide for when you do, if it's not too much trouble?
I will see to this 'nickname' thing, and I will let you know
Electronic Chess Sets with Realistic Graphics - 2007/03/05 05:29Of all the chessset websites I have looked at, this one provides the most detailed information on sets as well as good pictures of the sets.
The Excalibur Deluxe Talking Touch set simplifies graphics of each piece, but they are very easy to distinguish.
The Saitek Cosmic set has a beautiful design, but the pieces have an unusual shape, and some of the pieces, such as those of the pawn, rook, and queen, are very similar in appearance.
Even though my $10 Gameboy set is very old and the ChessMaster cartridge equally ancient, the graphics are still better than any of these newer sets, albeit with a screen that is one inch smaller on all sides, making for the difficulty of viewing.
When I feel wealthier, I may consider getting one of these sets pictured on the weblink in this post. Nice looking sets!!
Electronic Chess Sets with Realistic Graphics - 2007/03/05 21:12I hope you'll soon get 'wealthier' Does it bother you a lot that the screen is small with with you've got right now?
Re:Electronic Chess Sets with Realistic Graphics - 2007/03/06 07:23The small screen requires very focused attention onto a small space. Good training in this regard.
Due to the smallness of the screen images, it's easier for me to use the set without my glasses. Makes me think I'm 10 again.
I'd rather use a set with a larger screen and I think the additional one inch on all sides would make a big difference.
Could you make sense of the image design on that "Cosmic" set? Wouldn't you, too, have difficulty distinguishing between the pieces? It's a shame that Saitek couldn't have stuck with familiar chess piece shapes. (The more I look at the pieces, the more they look to be of Japanese design, reflecting the clothing/fashion associated with a dynasty - I got that idea by looking at the design of the knights.) But then again, maybe Saitek wanted the shapes to reflect the elegant design of the rest of the unit by making their form unique. But for the player, it makes deciphering who's who more difficult.
Re:Electronic Chess Sets with Realistic Graphics - 2007/03/06 20:52There is an address that, if more customers have complaints or simply input and feedback about their products can deposit it:
post new topic
Does it bother you a lot that the screen is small with with you've got right now? 
Good training in this regard. 
