Chessmaster releases Rabbids on an unsuspecting world

Ubisoft has been doing a pretty good job at continuing to release new additions for Chessmaster, slowly building up more stuff to eventually be the complete PC version. Today they've added a new Chess set - Rabbids!

The Rabbids from Rayman Raving Rabbids have been added as Downloadable Content for the XBLA. It'll cost you 150 Microsoft Points, and allows the player to essentially play a game of Battle Chess, now with Rabbids. Surprisingly takes over 50meg of space - almost as much as the game itself! Each piece on the board is filled with animation as they battle with plungers and toy horses. You can view them in the trailer above.

Along with this, you can also download a free minigame addition to Chessmaster called Fork My Fruit. Described as follows:

Enjoy new ways to play chess with this original mini-game: learn or perfect your art of moving chess pieces in Fork My Fruit

You can go download it now, for free!

Source: Major Nelson

New, free Chess Set for Chessmaster!

Major Nelson has updated his blog, citing that a new Chess Set is now available for Chessmaster Live!

Content: Calvert Chess Set
Price: Free
Availability: Not available in Japan, Korea
Dash Text: [ESRB: E (Everyone)] A faithful 3-D reproduction of the Calvert style chess set for Chessmaster Live.

Looks like several different styles might be on their way. What are the chances of Battle Chess making it?

Source: Major Nelson

Review wrap-up: Early Commanders, late Chessmaster

Teamxbox have added their review of Commanders: Attack of the Genos a little early!

- Team Xbox review by David Chapman - 8.5/10

As well as an exclusive trailer for the game, which you can view here.

1UP.com have also added a late review for Chessmaster Live! Online testing is required, after all:

- 1UP.com review by James Mielke - 8/10

Source: Teamxbox.com, 1UP.com

Podcast wrapup - Poker Smash getting some love

Poker Smash and some Rez HD chat made it into this weeks 1UP Yours and Player One Podcasts!

"Flynn DeMarco of GayGamer.net joins the 1UP Yours crew for a discussion of maturity (seriously). But that's not all! Listen in the next thirty minutes, and you'll receive free bonus topics such as "gaming fatigue," "annoying enemies," and "Poker Smash." Stop listening to podcasts the old fashioned way, download 1UP Yours today!"

Download (55.6MB) - Length: 1:59:45 or join the RSS feed.

Player One Podcast discusses Poker Smash and some Chessmaster Live! Plus they have a look back at Ecco the Dolphin, which is also available on the Xbox Live Arcade.

Dolphins may be warm-blooded, but Sega's Genesis hit Ecco the Dolphin...cold-blooded. One of the company's most experimental and renowned releases from the 16-bit era is P1P Game Club game #3, so we spend the second half of the show discussing it. A breakthrough game at the time, its age exposes the cracks of its control and gameplay mechanics.

But if fish talk isn't your speed we spend the first half of the show shootin' the bull with Patrick Klepek of MTV Multiplayer and talk about the games we've been playin' over the week -- Rock Band, Kingdom Hearts II, Kim Possible: What's the Switch, Chessmaster Live, Poker Smash, Twisted Metal Head-On, Puzzle Quest and Burnout Paradise.

Download here or join the RSS Feed.

Rez HD & Chessmaster Live are up!

Well?! What are you waiting for?


Rez HD
Developer: Q Entertainment
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: Shooter
Price: 800 Microsoft Points

Xbox.com Splash Page
Official NeoGAF Thread



Chessmaster LIVE
Developer: Ubisoft Sofia
Publisher: Ubisoft Entertainment
Genre: Card and Board
Price: 800 Microsoft Points

Xbox.com Splash Page
Official NeoGAF Thread

Your second game this week is: Chessmaster Live!

Still waiting for that ultimate Chess experience? Then Chessmaster Live might be what you're looking for.

"A downloadable version of Ubisoft’s hit “Chessmaster” series, “Chessmaster Live” allows players to test and tune their chess skills against the AI or opponents of all aptitudes around the globe via Xbox LIVE. “Chessmaster Live” features five original chess variants, including a Message Chess option, which allows gamers to engage in matches over the span of several days, weeks or even months. The title boasts both beautifully crafted 3D chess sets inspired by luxury chess board designer House of Staunton."

The game will be available on Wednesday for 800 Microsoft Points. Chessmaster is well known for its excellent Chess AI, so if you're hurting from Spyglass' board games, this might be what you're looking for, or Shotest Shogi (A popular chess variant in Japan) coming later this year via AI Factory.

Source: Kotaku
Links: Xbox.com Chessmaster Live! page.