ReplayableGames
128463
2673
115
Hey guys! We're working on an emotive chess game where all the pieces have facial expressions and emote their current situation.
Sorry for the sub par gif quality, I hoped that using the video-to-gif on this site would produce better results, but the missing pixels are real!
We shared this with the imgur community a short while ago and it turns out there's a lot of chess fans!
As requested, this is a follow up post to show some more of the art in Happy Chess.
Small cross-section of a few of our chess sets. These can be played against other chess sets and are not localized to just your screen (your opponent can see your set, even if they don't have it unlocked yet).
Here's a random assortment of individual pieces in greater detail.
PAX TAX: Thanks to everyone that came out to see us at PAX South. We had a great time!
http://happychess.net
FP Edit: Thank you imgur!
For those waiting on iOS early access: I'm working on it nonstop. Top priority for me.
Regarding the cat set: Based on your response here, we're making it a priority and will report back!
FP Edit 2: For those asking what the difference between this and Battle Chess is, it's that Battle Chess has kill animations for each piece taken, whereas Happy Chess has emotive pieces that help with overall board readability and allow players to play more intuitively instead of mentally processing the board for blunders.
ProfChaos23
It's about time for a bathroom break at work. Great timing, @OP!
Sneezywater
Dunes8
How about a Dragon-themed set?
ReplayableGames
Good idea! Added to list!
FartingDragon
ULTRA FUCKING +1 FOR REPTILE FIGURES. <3
CorgisRule
Great idea. I'll miss that a piece is in danger sometimes. Looking at these faces should help
loveandallthat
This is hilarious and awesome. I'm the third worst chess player I know, but I'd still like to give it a try.
GuybrushBigwood
Just funded you on Kickstarter.... Good luck!
zzzzzz321
IT'S CUTE Will play!!
zapsdiputs
Awesome!!
JamesAwkboner
I think this would make a great tool for teaching and learning chess. Is also just fun looking.
TrendyAxe
Hear me out. Knight knight
CallMeCayde
I'd love to be able to play this game
Polarpup5
Can you please keep us updated on when this is out. I would love to play. And I second the cat cheese piece idea.
TinyRocktopus
I just got the early access on Android so you can get it now
Polarpup5
Darn! I have a silly iPhone.
ReplayableGames
I'm honestly losing sleep trying to get it out on iOS. It's very close.
Polarpup5
I would love to know when you are there! Keep on trucking. Who knows you could be the next candy crush!
snarkface
Any of you guys remember Battlechess from way back in the day?
RydWolf
Oh yes.
ninmonkey
Oh yes
IMayOrMayNotHaveTroubleFindingAndOrChoosingAUsername
I still remember, especially knight vs knight: https://youtu.be/iSnAiXKU7h8?t=98
HuskyBug
Battlechess taught me chess
snarkface
Battlechess 2 taught me Chinese Chess.
MushySnugs
i member
IMayOrMayNotHaveTroubleFindingAndOrChoosingAUsername
I still remember, especially knight vs knight: https://youtu.be/iSnAiXKU7h8?t=98
snarkface
I'm invincible!
mrbone66
I'm to scared to even play...
AdorableTinyKitties
Commenting so I don't forget
coolwaters8
I've been playing it all morning, it's fantastic! Very well done.
scripty
good luck, i love chesss
pres2pond
Please add Real-Time Mode - you can move pieces in real time and each piece has a cooldown. Can't work on a real board, great on virtual
CarpoolTunnelSyndrome
You're thinking of chezz
ReplayableGames
Yes, this sounds exactly like that game Chezz, which is also really fun!
IamRiverSong
Downloaded and upvoted!
gastyz
Nice concept, good luck!
Lemonsandwichs
When and where can I get this?
sandwichesarebeautiful
I appreciate your username
Lemonsandwichs
I do to friend.
ReplayableGames
The game is still in development (Android/iOS cross-platform), but we do have an early access version available by signing up on our site.
raider111111
Isn't this just battle chess?
ReplayableGames
Battle Chess is chess with kill animations, Happy Chess is chess with emotions. BC doesn't help with board readability, but this does.
ReplayableGames
Battle chess is chess with kill animations, this is chess with emotions. BC doesn't really help with board readability, but this does.
cwtchypon
This looks like fun! Maybe I can learn chess now :) I'll give it a go!
LannistersSendTheirRetards
Nice cause I've always wondered what my chess pieces were feeling during a game. Now I'll know.
TwoBitFortuneTeller
Absolute existential horror as they are made by an intangible force to throw themselves into dangerous situations to further an unknown end.
FriedMashedPotatoes
Where can I go to actually play this though?
ReplayableGames
Early access is available for Android, but the iOS version is still in the works.
FriedMashedPotatoes
Thanks
ANewBadlyPhotoshoppedPhotoofHaroldEveryday
Please don't fill it with microtransations. Thanks. Also is there an email list? You may have my email because this seems fun. Thanks bye.
ReplayableGames
You can sign up for our beta test mailing list at http://happychess.net
ReplayableGames
We hate pay walls, pay to win, etc too. We'll never have that, but maybe introduce simple MTs at some point to keep the server lights on :(
Moresharks
Microtransactions that don't affect core gameplay are fine imo. If people want to pay for piece skins or emotes or taunts let them.
ANewBadlyPhotoshoppedPhotoofHaroldEveryday
I would happily pay for some skins for the game. And maybe you could have a weekly comp to add any user made skins :D
BeeeardedMan
This is really cool. I love chess. Good luck @op
ReplayableGames
Thank you! We've gotten a very warm reception to the concept so far. We're hoping it does well too.
JetRee
Add me to chess.com (if you're a member) username is JetRee
BeeeardedMan
Cool. Invite sent.
thisthingblows
NEEDS CATS! (please)
KirschPunkt
Or cats vs dogs
sandwichesarebeautiful
vs. dogs?
Rogahar
If there's a cat set then there ought to be a dog set to be fair.
ReplayableGames
We're working on a cat set!!!
MyOwnWorstFriend
One word. Pusheen.
caramelballoffur
Make a king cat with the imgur i on its crown. Pretty please.
RelevantRonSwanson
.
sandwichesarebeautiful
.
CarpoolTunnelSyndrome
.
Webn8tr
Make one with Memes!!
thewhifflingtit
...and a bird set? Hookbills vs softbills
yesdesu
Chibi art seems fitting
fyreflareon
Three words: User. Submitted. Designs. Let people compete with custom sets with their friends. Think telegram stickers.
ReplayableGames
We do let people design their own sets as one of our higher tier Kickstarter rewards. Eventually building it into the game could be cool too
BattleD4d
Wouldn't "I'm in danger" emotes possibly alert your opponent to a weakness they hadn't previously noticed?
MantisTobagganMD
That's my issue with it. But this game clearly is for beginners or casual players
diabolicalpenguinarmyoverulesallupvotes
Had interest at zombie chess. Found that its expressions could guide me creatively instead of tell me to memorize moves. Maybe 1st app Ipay4
ReplayableGames
It's free tho....
DonnaNobleInTheLibrary
On the one hand, yes. On the other hand, it can teach beginners to see if they can't make use of a sacrifice (trade a knight for a rook)
Sirsir94
If its digital you probably can't take a move back anyway, and the face only changes once the move is made.
BattleD4d
What worries me is making a move aimed at misdirection and having my plan given away by a worried face
ReplayableGames
That's fair. You'd have to lay more elaborate traps than just counting on your opponent missing blunders.
ReplayableGames
We have a "Try Things Out" feature across the game. You can freely make moves and see how the board changes without committing.
iliketotravelandstuff
its about your enemy realizing that the horse is attacked by the rook.
iwishiwereclever
It'd be smart if they only showed for the player making the move... but then I guess what's the point?
ReplayableGames
This is a good approach too, but we want things to be consistent between players. Everyone sees the same things so there is no disparity.
iwishiwereclever
Maybe the players can opt to turn that feature off if they want?
SquishyStoat
That would be good. Both players vote for the feature to be on or off. The only emotes then is when a piece is captured.
ReplayableGames
We may introduce chess sets without facial expressions at some point, but right now our focus is making our game as emotive as possible.
ReplayableGames
Good question. Yes it would, but we wanted to favor strategy in favor of blunders. We feel this leads to higher quality matches overall.
[deleted]
[deleted]
asmallcat
Dude, no need to be a dick.
mechanicalchaos
I think the alert feature and expressions would make this a grand teaching tool. Not enough people are taught to enjoy chess.
NonMayneStream
It creates a learning platform. Very well thought out.
ZaphodBeeblebroxIsRusselBrand
I agree, between me and my friend, the game is usually decided by who makes the first mistake
mechanicalchaos
I think the alert feature and expressions would make this a grand teaching tool. Not enough people are taught to enjoy chess.
ITalkAboutGoats
The rooms look like poo. Literal poo.
sandwichesarebeautiful
Rooks?
elementalsequence
I think they mean the bishops. The rooks look fine.
ITalkAboutGoats
Yes, sorry
Balenar
Yeah this sounds like it would be a great game to introduce people to chess with.
borgmaster
Pros might not play it but i can see a bunch of 4th graders playing it against each other and giggling.
DJTrickyM
Thar sounds (hopefully unintentionally) insulting...i certainly would enjoy this game very much, and im 21
borgmaster
It just looks like a kids mode game of chess to me. Nothing bad intended. I just see little kids giggling as the night dies and says ouchie.
postscriptcellophant
Not that 21 year olds are kids if they enjoy it! Just that it also seems like a great tool for getting kids interested in an awesome game:]
mongolrainbows2
are you running an engine and having pieces react to that? pointing out one move blunders won't change matches above the very beginner level
ReplayableGames
We're not trying to appeal to chess pros. There are plenty of chess games that do that already. Chess.com is very good, as is Chess Master.
postscriptcellophant
And also once you get the hang of it, it could be a great way to fake your opponent out in order to get them to into a different position!