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Apple ID839640447
Bundle IDlanternfirst.PulsarChess
SellerSeller
Min iOS9.0
Device familiesmac, iphone, ipad, ipod
Released2014-04-10
Copyright© 2014-2026 Michael Adams
Privacy policyLink ↗
Preview 3 platforms
iPhone 7 images
iPad 5 images
Mac 4 images
What’s New Version 2.40
When viewing game collections, can now filter games by search term
Description
The Pulsar Chess Engine plays Chess and six variants all with multiple levels. The variants are Chess960, Crazyhouse, Loser's, Atomic, Three Checks and Giveaway. Rules included in-app. In addition, there is also a review mode to look at the user's log file with analysis available for non variants. 10 game collections of classic and modern master games are included to look at including Kasparov, Fischer, Carlsen, Capablanca and Morphy 1858 collections. These collections and the log file are searchable.
Pulsar values mobility and active positions. In app there is an article with more on its playing style and how to train against it. With the variants, each has its own style. Chess960, Three Checks and Crazyhouse are the more chess like variants and adoptable to learn to play for anyone with interest. The rules of all games are in app.
Pulsar has levels of play from beginner too advanced. Games with a time control are the hardest though Pulsar doesn't call the player's time. The time is more to handicap Pulsar's strength, but users will have a clock and can see if it's gone negative if they want to play the time control.
The game button - configure game menu item, lets the user control the variant and difficulty. It defaults to Chess at Easy(lowest level) but remembers the current settings when the App restarts. There are choices of pieces and board color schemes. The Pulsar program was originally developed by me for computers starting in 1998 and came to mobile for the first time in 2014.
Pulsar's board is accessible to the blind using Voice Over, a screen reader. Tap on a square and it will say whats on it and double tap to move or choose from three move methods. A screen reader can normally read anything with text like a button, but a board is a collection of images. To make it accessible, text must be returned to Voice Over when a tap is in the area of a square.
Pulsar began as a chess program and later learned variants. It ran extensively on two servers for many years both at chess and variants. The ratings on the board reflect strength I saw in rated play on handicapped bots. They are not 100% exact but generalizations I made from the various bots I ran at different settings.
If in the new game selector, Play vs. Computer is unchecked the user can move for both sides. This is to allow two people at same location to use the App as a board for a game and have the app enforce move legality and results for whatever variant is selected.
Accessibility
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Version history 25 versions
Build 887539630v2.402026-06-30 23:15:19
When viewing game collections, can now filter games by search term
Build 885600373v2.302026-05-13 18:56:13
Added two classic game collections to the existing, Botvinnik and Karpov. Users who have already installed the extra PGN/games can delete it and have the option to reinstall with the new collections.
Build 879219052v2.272025-10-28 13:19:21
Crash Fix
Build 877823638v2.252025-09-04 10:22:11
Added "Show Game Data" to Game menu when viewing games
Build 877007583v2.212025-08-07 00:20:18
Fix for bug in writing promotions to log file introduced with change to more standard PGN.
Build 876929981v2.202025-08-05 09:55:49
Writes game log for chess games in a more standardized format to be read by more outside apps if exported
Fix for when reviewing giveaway games in the log file it was sometimes ending early and not showing the complete game
Build 865723046v2.152024-05-11 08:26:52
Fix for users current level choice increasing by one when exiting review mode by starting a game
Fix for crazyhouse pieces not being droppable from captured piece palette in review mode
added numbers 1-8 next to first eight level names
Fix for flickering in move animation in opening moves of timed games
Build 865671919v2.102024-05-03 22:40:42
Now animates pulsar's moves with an option to turn this off in settings.
Build 860712523v2.002023-10-17 11:59:35
Fixes for some buttons being to close to top of screen on iPhone.
Build 859486361v1.972023-08-29 15:51:46
Added a new level after difficult
Build 859440924v1.962023-08-27 16:04:52
Fix to flip the coordinates on chess board with new flip feature
Build 857239819v1.952023-08-24 19:22:58
Option to flip the board on the review screen
Chess engine analysis available in chess960
Build 843828145v1.942023-01-07 11:09:50
Added four new game collections for new installs. Existing users who delete their extra game collections will have the option to get the current ten extra game collections.
Build 843752407v1.932021-08-24 15:31:46
Games were retract move is used will be marked unrated in the log file game listing
Build 843728554v1.922021-08-22 21:10:08
fixed excessive redrawing bug
Build 836315690v1.912021-08-15 12:38:15
Made the regular chess easy level a little easier. Level 2 is the old easy as that level wasn't much different and level 3 resumes as normal
fixed bug on some devices that when app first launches there was a delay on making first move
Can now make moves when reviewing log file games.
Build 835995030v1.902020-05-20 15:02:37
Fixed some layout sizing issues introduced in last release.
Build 835701196v1.892020-04-28 19:09:04
Support for all iPhone screen sizes
Build 835625460v1.882020-04-21 15:20:26
bug fixes covering new updates
Build 835572978v1.872020-04-18 15:27:42
Show book moves now on by default when looking at games from game collections and the user's log file
Added translation of "How to beat Pulsar" in German and Italian
Build 835543390v1.862020-04-15 11:10:06
Added "How to beat Pulsar" help option on Game menu
Build 835507177v1.852020-04-13 15:07:41
Better support for dark mode
Settings and New game view which were broken in dark mode before, fixed
Black board background option in settings
In Open log file flow, option to get additional PGN game collections
Build 834053693v1.802019-12-18 18:30:45
German Translation
Build 833696182v1.792019-11-25 15:21:01
Translated to French
Build 833148445v1.782019-10-21 15:03:46
Translated into Spanish
Price history by region
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Availability 75 of 75 storefronts
| Region | Language | Price | Ratings | Avg | Version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US | en-US | USD 1.99 | 12 | 4.3 | 2.40 |
DE | de-DE | EUR 1.99 | 7 | 4.3 | 2.40 |
ES | es-ES | EUR 1.99 | 5 | 3.8 | 2.40 |
CA | en-CA | CAD 2.99 | 4 | 2.8 | 2.40 |
IT | it | EUR 1.99 | 4 | 5.0 | 2.40 |
BR | pt-BR | BRL 6.9 | 3 | 3.7 | 2.40 |
GB | en-GB | GBP 1.99 | 3 | 4.3 | 2.40 |
FR | fr-FR | EUR 1.99 | 2 | 3.5 | 2.40 |
AT | de-DE | EUR 1.99 | 1 | 4.0 | 2.40 |
MX | es-MX | MXN 19 | 1 | 5.0 | 2.40 |
NL | nl | EUR 1.99 | 1 | 5.0 | 2.40 |
AO | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
AR | es-MX | USD 0.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
AU | en-AU | AUD 2.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
BB | en-GB | USD 0.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
BE | en-GB | EUR 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
BF | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
BJ | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
BO | es-MX | USD 0.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
BS | en-GB | USD 0.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
BW | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
CD | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
CG | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
CH | de-CH | CHF 2 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
CI | fr-FR | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
CL | es-MX | CLP 990 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
CM | fr-FR | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
CO | es-MX | COP 4900 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
CR | es-MX | USD 0.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
CV | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
DK | en-GB | DKK 19 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
DO | es-MX | USD 0.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
DZ | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
EC | es-MX | USD 0.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
GA | fr-FR | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
GH | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
GT | es-MX | USD 0.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
GW | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
HN | es-MX | USD 0.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
IE | en-GB | EUR 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
JM | en-GB | USD 0.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
KE | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
LR | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
LU | en-GB | EUR 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
LY | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
MA | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
MG | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
ML | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
MU | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
MW | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
MZ | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
NA | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
NE | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
NG | en-GB | NGN 3200 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
NI | es-MX | USD 0.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
NZ | en-AU | NZD 3.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
PA | es-MX | USD 0.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
PE | es-MX | PEN 4.9 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
PT | pt-PT | EUR 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
PY | es-MX | USD 0.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
RW | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
SC | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
SL | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
SN | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
ST | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
SV | es-MX | USD 0.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
TD | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
TN | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
TT | en-GB | USD 0.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
TZ | en-GB | TZS 5900 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
UG | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
UY | en-GB | USD 0.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
VE | es-MX | USD 0.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
ZM | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
ZW | en-GB | USD 1.99 | 0 | — | 2.40 |
Change log 29 changes · US
✎
releaseNotes updated
When viewing game collections, can now filter games by search term
✎
description updated
The Pulsar Chess Engine plays Chess and six variants all with multiple levels. The variants are Chess960, Crazyhouse, Loser's, Atomic, Three Checks and Giveaway
✎
subtitle updated
Multilevel Chess Program
✎
name updated
Pulsar Chess Engine
◆
Version 2.40 released
When viewing game collections, can now filter games by search term
◆
Version 2.30 released
Added two classic game collections to the existing, Botvinnik and Karpov. Users who have already installed the extra PGN/games can delete it and have the option to reinstall with the new collections.
◆
Version 2.27 released
Crash Fix
◆
Version 2.25 released
Added "Show Game Data" to Game menu when viewing games
◆
Version 2.21 released
Fix for bug in writing promotions to log file introduced with change to more standard PGN.
◆
Version 2.20 released
Writes game log for chess games in a more standardized format to be read by more outside apps if exported
Fix for when reviewing giveaway games in the log file it was sometimes ending early and not showing the complete game
◆
Version 2.15 released
Fix for users current level choice increasing by one when exiting review mode by starting a game
Fix for crazyhouse pieces not being droppable from captured piece palette in review mode
added numbers 1-8 next to first eight level names
Fix
◆
Version 2.10 released
Now animates pulsar's moves with an option to turn this off in settings.
◆
Version 2.00 released
Fixes for some buttons being to close to top of screen on iPhone.
◆
Version 1.97 released
Added a new level after difficult
◆
Version 1.96 released
Fix to flip the coordinates on chess board with new flip feature
◆
Version 1.95 released
Option to flip the board on the review screen
Chess engine analysis available in chess960
◆
Version 1.94 released
Added four new game collections for new installs. Existing users who delete their extra game collections will have the option to get the current ten extra game collections.
◆
Version 1.93 released
Games were retract move is used will be marked unrated in the log file game listing
◆
Version 1.92 released
fixed excessive redrawing bug
◆
Version 1.91 released
Made the regular chess easy level a little easier. Level 2 is the old easy as that level wasn't much different and level 3 resumes as normal
fixed bug on some devices that when app first launches there was a delay on making first move
Can n
◆
Version 1.90 released
Fixed some layout sizing issues introduced in last release.
◆
Version 1.89 released
Support for all iPhone screen sizes
◆
Version 1.88 released
bug fixes covering new updates
◆
Version 1.87 released
Show book moves now on by default when looking at games from game collections and the user's log file
Added translation of "How to beat Pulsar" in German and Italian
◆
Version 1.86 released
Added "How to beat Pulsar" help option on Game menu
◆
Version 1.85 released
Better support for dark mode
Settings and New game view which were broken in dark mode before, fixed
Black board background option in settings
In Open log file flow, option to get additional PGN game collections
◆
Version 1.80 released
German Translation
◆
Version 1.79 released
Translated to French
◆
Version 1.78 released
Translated into Spanish
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