About Electronic Backgammon Sets
Backgammon is one of the world's most popular board games and is played in dozens of countries. Over the centuries the game has changed very little, but with the advent of cheap, miniature electronic components, backgammon has become portable. Electronic backgammon sets are available in a variety of sizes and models to fit almost any budget.
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Function
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Traditional backgammon is somewhat portable in that the checkers, dice, and doubling cube all fit within the playing board, which also doubles as a case. Electronic miniaturization, however, has made backgammon even more portable, particularly in the cramped confines of modern travel. Most sets are handheld and can fit into carry-on luggage to be played on trains, buses and airplane seats without worry of losing pieces or even needing another player.
Types
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Electronics manufacturer Excalibur has come out with a number of different electronic backgammon sets, each with different functionality and different prices. For instance, the 337 Dual Player model uses a screen with the majority of the electronics while players use two separate controllers to compete against each other and retails for around $40. The "Executive Touch" model uses a stylus which interacts with the touch-sensitive screen to move pieces and make die rolls and retails for around $25. The ET 477 "Einstein" model also is a touch screen with a stylus, but is smaller and retails for only about $15.
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Identification
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Another manufacturer of electronic games which also has a backgammon model is Microgear. It's sole entry in the field is a handheld backgammon set which uses various buttons to manipulate the checkers, dice and doubling cube. The retail price for this model is around $10; surprisingly, customers who have purchased it via Amazon have left much more positive feedback than for almost any model offered by Excalibur.
Features
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For those consumers who have a handheld personal data assistant (PDA), Stand Alone Inc. (see Resources, below) offers Backgammon Pro for the Palm OS. This program allows the owner's PDA to be turned into a touch-screen electronic backgammon set. Retailing for $15, the Backgammon Pro offers fully functional doubling cubes, the ability to take back moves, and even suggests moves if a player feels "stuck" in their game. Upgrades also are made available periodically for a nominal fee.
Considerations
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Free versions of electronic backgammon are available on the Internet. Some of these games are offered by companies interested in inserting commercials to the player's "down time" in a new type of marketing called "direct marketing" or "targeted marketing." Nabisco, for instance, offers players a chance to play a "Snackwells"-branded backgammon against a human (although anonymous) player or against the computer.
Other Websites are run by off-shore casinos and allow a player to compete for money. There are very few regulations covering these online casino sites, so caution is advised and certain precautions should be taken to safeguard your identity. Still, given that the player is competing against other players around the world and has a fair shot at winning some money, these versions can be very alluring.
Finally, other Websites offer "free" backgammon which may or may not be played against human opponents but is paid for by banner advertising. Most of these Websites generate income by selling advertising space to corporations or other Websites and can dictate the price charged by how many unique visitors the Website receives each day. So while the game will be free to the consumer, they may have to deal with commercials, banner ads or other marketing ploys in order to play backgammon electronically.
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