Chess at War intellivision

CHESS AT WAR is much more than a traditional chess game. It is an ambitious collection of strategy games, each featuring its own rules, artificial intelligence, animated environment, and original music inspired by its country of origin.

Challenge the computer, face a friend, discover unfamiliar strategies, and attempt to conquer all six kingdoms.

But beware... a mysterious seventh game is hidden somewhere inside the cartridge!

SIX KINGDOMS. SIX WAYS TO MASTER THE ART OF WAR.



1. CHESS – EUROPE

The timeless battle of kings and queens!

Experience the world's most famous strategy game on a traditional 8 × 8 board.

Chess at War includes the familiar rules of international chess, including castling, en passant, and pawn promotion.

The computer opponent knows 37 famous openings, including the Spanish, Italian, Sicilian, and French openings, as well as the Queen's Gambit.

From your first opening move to the final checkmate, every decision matters!

2. MAKRUK – THAILAND

Discover the ancient art of Thai chess!

Played on an 8 × 8 board, Makruk features pieces and movement rules that create a very different strategic experience from European chess.

With its slower-moving pieces and distinctive endgame counting rules, patience and careful planning are essential.

The computer understands 21 traditional opening plans and adapts its strategy to the special rules of Thai chess.

3. SITTUYIN – MYANMAR

Deploy your army before the battle begins!

Burmese chess introduces an exciting tactical element: players can arrange their armies within their own territory before starting the game.

This unusual deployment phase makes every confrontation different.

The computer can use eight different formations, ranging from traditional arrangements to more unusual defensive and attacking structures.

Master the special promotion rules and prepare for a completely different kind of chess battle!

4. CAPABLANCA CHESS – CUBA

More pieces. A larger battlefield. New possibilities!

Inspired by the legendary Cuban world chess champion José Raúl Capablanca, this fascinating variation expands the traditional board to 10 × 8 squares.

Two additional pieces transform the game:

• The Archbishop, combining the movements of a bishop and a knight.

• The Chancellor, combining the movements of a rook and a knight.

With more pieces and more possible moves, Capablanca Chess offers a fresh strategic challenge even for experienced chess players.

5. SHOGI – JAPAN

The Japanese game of generals!

Played on a 9 × 9 board, Shogi introduces one of the most fascinating mechanisms in the chess world.

Captured pieces are not necessarily lost forever!

Instead, you can return captured enemy pieces to the battlefield as part of your own army.

This dramatic rule creates extraordinary tactical possibilities and ensures that the battle can change direction at any moment.

The computer understands special Shogi techniques, including piece drops, and uses 17 opening strategies inspired by traditional Japanese play.

6. XIANGQI – CHINA

Cross the river and conquer the enemy general!

Chinese chess is played on a distinctive 9 × 10 board divided by a river.

Its unusual pieces include the cannon, which captures by jumping over another piece, and the horse, whose movement can be blocked.

The computer knows 23 opening formations and understands the tactical subtleties of this fascinating Chinese tradition.

Discover a strategic universe where familiar concepts take on an entirely new meaning!

CHALLENGE THE INTELLIVISION'S ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE!

Every game features a dedicated computer opponent designed around the specific rules and strategies of its chess tradition.

The artificial intelligence was developed especially for the Intellivision and features opening knowledge, tactical calculations, endgame techniques, and time management.

Choose between two difficulty levels:

NORMAL: Ideal for discovering a new game, learning its rules, and developing your strategy.

PRO: A considerably more challenging opponent that looks further ahead and punishes tactical mistakes.

You can also adjust the computer's thinking time:

• 5 seconds per move.

• 15 seconds per move.

• 30 seconds per move.

• 1 minute per move.

The longer the computer thinks, the stronger its play can become, particularly in PRO mode.

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced strategy enthusiast, Chess at War offers a challenge suited to your abilities.

PLAY YOUR WAY!

Chess at War offers a remarkable selection of customizable options.

ONE OR TWO PLAYERS

Challenge the computer or play against a friend, with each player using their own Intellivision controller.

MULTIPLE GAME MODES

Depending on the chess variation, additional modes allow you to arrange your pieces freely before the game, start from predefined formations, or experiment with randomized piece selection.

These options offer unusual challenges beyond traditional chess.

TOURNAMENT CLOCKS

Choose between several time controls:

• Unlimited time.

• 5-minute blitz.

• 5-minute blitz with a 3-second increment.

• 10-minute rapid chess.

• 10-minute rapid chess with a 5-second increment.

• 30-minute games.

The computer also manages its own clock and can lose on time.

CUSTOMIZABLE GRAPHICS

Choose between two different piece sets:

• NEW: Redesigned pieces with animations inspired by each culture.

• CLASSIC: Traditional graphics for purists.

You can also customize the colors of the board, pieces, and cursor to suit your preferences.

SIX CULTURES BROUGHT TO LIFE!

Each game features its own visual identity, with animated backgrounds inspired by the culture it represents.

The environments evolve as the sky changes from dawn to night.

In the European chess game, for example, London's Big Ben overlooks the battlefield while vehicles travel through the streets and boats navigate the Thames.

The pieces themselves can be displayed using redesigned, animated graphics, bringing additional life to the board.

This is not simply a collection of chess rules. It is a journey through the world's great strategic traditions!

AN ORIGINAL MUSICAL JOURNEY

Chess at War features original compositions inspired by the musical traditions of the different regions.

From European Baroque influences to traditional Japanese instruments, Thai ceremonial music, Chinese melodies, and Cuban rhythms, every kingdom has its own musical identity.

A dedicated SOUND MODE lets you enjoy the game's soundtrack independently of the matches.

The built-in music player displays track information, animated notes, and a visual audio meter.

The collection also includes the dramatic title-screen march, Ad Arma.

And perhaps another piece of music awaits those who uncover the game's final secret...

OPTIONAL INTELLIVOICE SUPPORT!

Own an Intellivoice module?

Chess at War takes advantage of this classic Intellivision accessory to add spoken announcements.

Hear checks and checkmates announced in the language associated with each chess tradition!

The Intellivoice module is entirely optional. All games remain fully playable without it.

YOUR PROGRESS IS NEVER FORGOTTEN!

Chess at War includes an automatic save system built directly into the cartridge.

No battery is required!

At the end of each match, the game records your results and achievements.

Detailed statistics track your performance, including:

• Games played.

• Victories for each player.

• Draws.

• Checkmate victories.

• Victories on time.

Your achievements remain available when you return to the game.

THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE: CONQUER ALL SIX KINGDOMS!

Chess at War offers a special challenge for the most determined players.

Defeat the computer by checkmate in all six chess traditions!

Each victory earns you recognition in the game selection menu.

A victory at NORMAL difficulty awards one star, while success at PRO difficulty awards two.

Your progress is saved automatically, allowing you to pursue this ambitious challenge over multiple gaming sessions.

But winning on time is not enough. Only a genuine checkmate counts!

And when all six kingdoms have fallen...

What happens next?

A MYSTERIOUS SEVENTH GAME!

Although the collection initially presents six complete chess games, Chess at War contains something more.

A seventh game remains hidden, locked away until its secret is revealed.

Will you be among the players who discover the seventh kingdom?

MAIN FEATURES

• Six complete chess traditions: Chess, Makruk, Sittuyin, Capablanca Chess, Shogi, and Xiangqi.

• A mysterious seventh game to unlock.

• Authentic rules specific to each tradition.

• Dedicated artificial intelligence for every game.

• NORMAL and PRO difficulty settings.

• Four adjustable computer thinking times.

• Single-player or two-player matches.

• Multiple starting modes depending on the game.

• Six tournament clock settings.

• Two graphical piece sets: NEW and CLASSIC.

• Customizable board and piece colors.

• Animated cultural backgrounds.

• Original music inspired by each region.

• Built-in SOUND MODE music player.

• Optional Intellivoice voice announcements.

• Automatic battery-free saving.

• Detailed statistics for each game.

• Persistent achievements and special challenge progression.

-A cardboard box with integral flaps.

The dimensions are 11X18cm.

-A plastic case

This transparent plastic box has its own lid, guaranteeing maximum protection for your cartridge, instructions and various extras.

The plastic of the box is thick and rigid, so it's not just a few microns of protection, but a real case.

The foam protection of our traditional boxes is replaced by a thick 3D printed insert.






For Chess at War, the cartridge holder has two slots (preliminary conceptual modeling)! This edition actually includes a second cartridge with bonus content.

-The cartridges.

The two cartridges included in the set are 3D-printed and were designed and manufactured by us. Both contain a custom PCB developed by the creator of the Intellivision Long Play controllers on behalf of Côté Gamers.

The bonus cartridge contains:
-The short promotional video you can watch on this page, without the commercial portion. This video is 3.18 long.
-Some insights into our upcoming projects for the Intellivision
-A demo of Dr. Clumsy, our next game to be released on the Intellivision
-Images from the working versions used in the development of Chess At War. These are archived screenshots of the screens prior to their final versions.

-A high-quality 76 pages manual in english, italien and german. 11 x 18 cm with spiral binding.

This allows you to read the pages perfectly flat, for optimum reading comfort. The paper weight is 300 grams! So you'll be holding a rigid and sturdy manual in your hands. Don't just think of this leaflet as paper, think of it as postcard-thick!

This manual contains the complete rules for each of the games included, along with numerous illustrations and diagrams to help you understand how to play in a simple and effective way.

-A bonus high-quality 106 pages companion book in english. 11 x 18 cm with spiral binding.

This bonus booklet traces the history of each of the featured games, complete with numerous illustrations and anecdotes.

-2 overlays.



-A Semi-hardcover double sides 11X18cm illustration that you can leave in the box or display next to your game.