SAN FRANCISCO – November 1, 2004 – Ubisoft, one of the world’s leading video game publishers, today announced that Chessmaster® is now available in North America for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft. Chessmaster is the first chess program available for Xbox where players will be able to improve their chess skills. Chess fans will be able to challenge other players and receive a player ranking via Xbox ® Live™. Chessmaster is rated “E” for Everyone, with Mild Fantasy Violence, and is available at a suggested retail price of $19.99.

From players who are new to the game of chess to tournament-level champions, Chessmaster will help everyone master history’s greatest game. Beginners will enjoy the easy-to-use interface for smooth navigation through basic opening moves and winning chess strategies. Players interested in improving their skills can receive extensive advice from International Master Josh Waitzkin at the new Chessmaster Academy. More advanced players will appreciate receiving instructions on the best attacking chess moves from Grandmaster Larry Christiansen. Chessmaster will give players the opportunity to challenge over 100 AI-controlled opponents and teach them to avoid costly mistakes with specific advice in Blunder Alert mode. As players encounter more challenging opponents, they can receive quick hints and have the option to join more than 60 predefined tournaments or customize a tournament of their own.

Chessmaster provides features for all levels of play and makes the game of chess fun for the whole family. Younger players will enjoy the large variety of 3D chess sets, some of which include whimsical animations. Whether they’re practicing for a live tournament or learning to play chess for the first time, Chessmaster will provide great fun for everyone.