Welcome to my page...You may download the freeware chess program M.A.N.I.A.C (named after the first computer, to ever play chess) from this page. This, started of as a project for a VB course, that I was taking in college and eventually become a full-fledged senior project. The program is written in VB, and it's strongest points are it's graphical interface and it's highly unorthodox play of the game. It allows the play of multiple variants (even play them online), and you may also add your own chess variant. You may also setup multiple personalities to play with. The program, is contained in a 3.31 MB zip file, which contains all the required dll files including the VB runtime files.

 

This program requires Windows 95 or higher .Send comments and suggestions, to subra.nagappan@gmail.com.

This program is distributed as freeware and may be freely distributed with all its accompanying files.

Click here to download Maniac 1.11(3.36 MB zip file - click on the download icon from google drive)

Click here for Maniac screenshots

Click here to view a simple tutorial on using Maniac to play online games

Please note that, the documentation for the program, is actually the paper I submitted for my senior project, so it will contain added info on the program's inner working, and the HTML version was actually converted from the word version - so the layout might not be appropriate, since the word version was originally intended to be a 40-page paper.

Click here for Maniac's documentation (this does not include the docs for the 'internet' version of Maniac)

Details from the new readme updated as of September 2023

Thank you for downloading this Chess program. This readme file has been updated as of September 2023.

Background: Created in 2001 for a college project and initially shared online. This is a re-release with an updated readme file.

Changes: Made minor adjustments to some configuration files.

Source Code: I don't have access to the original code, so major modifications aren't possible.

Compatibility: Designed for Windows. I've not been successful running it with Wine on Mac.

Images: Some copyrighted images were used in the original development. The software is and will remain free.

Engine Strength: Suitable for casual play and exploring different chess variants. If you're looking for more advanced engines, there are stronger options available. Check the links on the hosting website.

Please read the disclaimer before use.

DISCLAIMER AND TERMS OF USE

By accessing, downloading, or using this Maniac Chess software program (hereinafter referred to as "the Software"), you hereby acknowledge and agree to the following terms:

No Warranty or Liability: The author and distributor of the Software explicitly disclaims any and all warranties, whether expressed or implied, related to the Software. You understand that the Software is provided "as is" without any guarantee of functionality, safety, or appropriateness for a particular purpose. In no event shall the author, contributors, or anyone associated with the Software be held liable for any damages, losses, or any negative consequences that may result from using the Software.

Your Responsibility: By choosing to use the Software, you accept full responsibility for any and all results, outcomes, or effects, both intended and unintended, that may arise from its use. You are advised to exercise due diligence and caution while using the Software.

Distribution Rights: You are granted the right to freely distribute the Software, provided that all accompanying files, documentation, and original materials are included without alteration. The Software must be distributed without charge, and no monetary gains should be derived directly from its distribution without explicit written permission from the author.

Use at Your Own Risk: All users are explicitly informed that they are using the Software entirely at their own risk. It is the user's responsibility to assess the Software's suitability for their specific needs, to ensure proper installation, and to maintain appropriate safeguards like backups.

By proceeding with the installation or use of the Software, you indicate your understanding of and agreement with the above terms. Should you not agree with these terms, you are advised not to access, install, or use the Software.