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| Title: Chess Assistant 8.1
Mega Packet |
Author: ChessAssistant |
Language: 
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Published: 2005 |
| Publisher: Convekta Ltd. |
Homepage: http://www.convekta.com |
| Price: € 129 (EU) - £
71 (Outside EU) |
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| System
requirements: 256 MB RAM, Windows 95/98/2000/NT/XP, Hard
disk 2Gb of free Space. |
| Reviewed by: Soren
Sogaard |
Date: 11/5 2005 |
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Quick-Review: Chess Assistant 8.1 Mega Packet
Back in 2002 I reviewed Chess Assistant 6.0 package and praised the program very much, as I really had a hard time finding anything that I could wish more from an integrated database and analysis program. So it has puzzled me, how much they would have been able to improve the program further two editions down the road.
System Requirements
The recommended system requirements is an IBM-compatible PC with 256 MB RAM and 2 GB free disk space for databases and tree functions. Windows 2000 or later, and Super VGA graphics. And a DVD-drive if one wants to install the endgame tablebases on
DVD.
The Mega Packet consists primarily of a database of 2,710,000 games with access to weekly updates for two years. A number of playing analysis programs, with one of the worlds strongest “Chess Tiger 2004” as the prime one. The program also includes access to playing chess on the internet through ICC and their own Russian based Internet Chess Assistant Club game server. I will not review this feature closer here, but only state that many may find it may be an alternative to ICC and the ChessBase server.
An Overwhelming Number of Features
It is simply an impossible task to give a full review of this product, as the number of features are overwhelming. I will try to share my thoughts of the way some of the basic features work, and try briefly to indicate the potential of some of the newer options.
One potential criticism that can be, and in fact has been raised against a program with so many functions as Chess Assistant, is that it can be difficult to get familiar with the program as a new user. The solution to this problem by the Convekta Company is to supply the program with small instructive demonstration videos of a whole range of the most useful operations. It is simple, but most certainly does the trick. After watching the video, understanding the printed manual, that by the way also has improved, gets easy. It takes an effort to learn to use the more sophisticated search functions, but in general it is well rewarded by a lot of time saved later on.
Prepare for Your Opponent & Opening Tables
One really fast and brilliant option is the "prepare for your
opponent" feature that provides you with a statistic overview of any player’s name you enter within a few seconds. Provided of course that the player is in the 2.7 million games database!
The Chess Opening Table Mode is demanding a bit more practice of the user, but one relatively fast gets the hang of using it. It generates the well known ECO-type of condensed tables from the big opening database called Chess Openings Encyclopaedia 2004 with evaluations at the end of each line. It lists the games with any given opening position from the huge main base as well, by one click and a few seconds of waiting. Here one has the option to add ones own lines and analysis together with verbal comments. No wonder it is possible to make opening books fast these days, with such helpful options! ;-)
I know that a reviewer’s main task is to be able to put a critical eye on the product in question, but in this case it really gives me a hard time, as I am constantly surprised by the quality of the features in Chess Assistant 8.1.
Conclusion:
There can be no doubt that Chess Assistant by far is the program package that gives most value for money. It is only ChessBase that can compete in respect of quality, but at a far higher price, as the programs there is to be bought separately. The choice is as always between ChessBase and Chess Assistant, and if your choice should fall on buying Chess Assistant I am sure you will be more than satisfied.
The product simply gets my highest recommendation!
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