Personal Computing Today


Backgammon

Publisher: Microdeal
Machine: Dragon 32

 
Published in Personal Computing Today #16

Backgammon

Unfortunately the tape is not supplied with specific instruction on play, so you have to be a backgammon player to appreciate it. On loading you choose the number of players. Zero means the computer plays itself, one you play the computer, and two you play a friend. A level of difficulty is then selected (0 - easy to 9 - impossible) and the option of whether to use Microdeal's light pen, which would make the game a lot easier to play. Sound and dice roll input are then slected and the screen changes to high resolution graphics, which are nowhere near as good as the standard of graphics I have come to expect. Generally there were too many numbers flashing on and off.

The main advantage of the tape is that you haven't got to persuade a friend to play with you - the computer will, and it has a good error trapping system.

A disadvantage is there are too many numbers to remember. To make a move, not only do you have to remember your dice throws and work out your move, but you have to work out the reference numbers of the points you are moving to and from. This is nothing at first but later in the game it gets taxing. I enjoyed watching the computer play itself at level nine, except the speed made it impossible to assimilate the computer's tactics.

Overall, it is not a game I would pick as I would prefer to play the game on one of the traditional boards.