Chess 2 is coming to Steam!
Sirlin, the kinda-legendary game designer with a very well-respected blog of game design gems, is releasing Chess 2 on Steam.
Being a Chess variant, the rules have been available online since FOREVER. But with him putting it on Steam, it may just be the perfect storm: A bold, controversial claim about a new and improved "untouchable" game, Steam's coverage, digital convenience, and possibly actually "fixed" gameplay.
I hate Chess, and this is made for people like me. Would I like it? It sounds interesting enough for a look :)
http://kotaku.com/meet-the-guy-whos-making-a-sequel-to-chess-1623746114
I just realised - Chess 2 is made for people who used to love Chess but then moved on to "better designed games". Just as people who used to love Magic who've now moved onto Netrunner :P
Being a Chess variant, the rules have been available online since FOREVER. But with him putting it on Steam, it may just be the perfect storm: A bold, controversial claim about a new and improved "untouchable" game, Steam's coverage, digital convenience, and possibly actually "fixed" gameplay.
I hate Chess, and this is made for people like me. Would I like it? It sounds interesting enough for a look :)
http://kotaku.com/meet-the-guy-whos-making-a-sequel-to-chess-1623746114
Enter Chess 2's midline invasion rule. It states that, if either person's king reaches the middle of the board, it's game over: that player wins. And according to Sirlin, it fixes a whole mess of problems.
The bidding system is meant to simulate two pieces dueling, with each player secretly wagering up to two stones on the outcome of an encounter. If the defender outbids the attacker, both pieces go to itsy bitsy immaculately carved heaven. This allows for a mind game, an element of deception and surprise. In practice it can be a bit over-complex (there are "taxes" for weaker pieces taking on stronger pieces, etc.), but the strategic possibilities are undeniably enticing.
Factions, however, are what really turn the game on its head. Armies are no longer necessarily equal. Sure, there's the classic faction, which plays just like a regular chess set, but Chess 2 also includes five other factions with their own abilities and personalities. Sirlin's goal here was to bring improvisation back into the game, to create different dynamics between different armies that force people to think on their toes. Or fingertips, I guess, since most people don't play chess with their toes.
It's tickling all my interest spots - elegant, tight design, overhauled rules to avoid dragged out games. Looks interesting :)"All the Chess 2 armies are of the form, 'It's like regular Chess, except with these two [new] things.' So the classic army is just like regular Chess. There. Easy. Then there's Empowered, where the bishop, knight, and rook share each other's powers when they're next to each other. I just explained it in one sentence, and now you can play Empowered."
I just realised - Chess 2 is made for people who used to love Chess but then moved on to "better designed games". Just as people who used to love Magic who've now moved onto Netrunner :P