Backgammon Classic Board Live 17+

Fair, Fun, and Free!

In my old review I requested doubling for online games and a version of this has been added. Doesn’t change that bad players will generally always accept, and then can get very lucky, but I like that it’s there and the developer remains active. Secondly, the game is not rigged, you’re just not that good. Backgammon is an incredibly simple game in which luck plays a large factor. However, the difference between an excellent player and an average player is knowing where to place your counters in order to maximise rolls. It’s hugely frustrating when the computer seems to get a fortuitous sequence of rolls however, the app simply plays better than your mate or your mum who you can beat regularly and therefore think you’re great. Finally, the review claiming the game is 'ruined' by ads - you're playing on an Apple device but won't pay 99p to remove ads and support a developer who, has not only created this app but, pays to host online games? Seriously, you need to get some perspective in your life.

Developer Response ,

Thank you for the fair and great comment!

Abysmal game - don’t bother

Lazy computing. The only algorithm that adjusts the difficulty is one that looks at what you need (and then throws something else) or what the computer, itself, needs (and then throws exactly that). You will be astonished at how biased the game is. Honestly, it’s like playing against a child who gets to tell you what was thrown, without you being allowed to see the dice. More to the point, it teaches you nothing about the game because the computer suffers effectively zero jeopardy when taking a risk, while there is literally no risk worth you taking, yourself, because you will be punished for it nearly every time. When you have a piece off the board and, say, 3 beds are occupied, marvel at the amount of doubles you throw. When roles are reversed, be amazed and disappointed at how often the computer throws the exact perfect combination to ruin your game. If you have any interest in learning how to play the game, please avoid this version. It has nothing to do with ‘backgammon’ beyond the name of the app and what it looks like. Backgammon is a game of risk, strategy and planning, but when the dice are doped, all that is removed from the equation. Of course it’s easier to program loaded dice than reaction to random throws. A lot easier.

Sick of the bias

Loved playing this game but not sure I can take any more of the bias. It would be better if the developer made it clear how the different levels of difficulty are maintained as it’s unfair to allocate a particular percentage of wins to a difficulty level and then maintain that regardless of play. I’ve played more than a thousand games and you cannot change the percentage of wins for each difficulty, if you get ahead or behind it corrects. What’s the point of playing? Come to look for answers and see a snarky review covering everyone’s concerns praised up by the developers. You may like the review, but you seem to have no understanding of what your customers need from their free time. It isn’t being ground down by your difficulty level algorithm.