microsoft internet backgammon server down

People drop out all the time when they’re losing. You have to play as many as three games against the stupid computer (only three because the stupid computer always accepts doubles, no matter how bad its position).

When your opponent drops out before the match is complete, you don’t get an automatic win. Which brings me to my biggest complaint of all. Gosh, those guys sure don’t embarrass easily. That Microsoft’s program plays worse than a rank novice should be an embarrassment to the boys in Redmond. It, with the help of a few lucky rolls, beat the world champion. What’s with that? Don’t programmers at Windows know anything about either backgammon or artificial intelligence? A computer program that could play near world-class backgammon was developed back in the eighties. Thanks.Ī far more important quibble is that the computer opponent is the stupidest backgammon player on earth. It felt like we could almost understand each other.īy the way, five point matches are better than three point matches. It was fun having a temporary, anonymous friend for a few matchs.

On the new version, I have to play against a new, random opponent on every match. Previously, I could continue playing against the same opponent for as long as we both wished. I wish they’d bring that back.Ī more significant quibble is that the new version gives me a new opponent at the end of every match. I used to like knowing if I was playing against someone who spoke Chinese or Russian or French. It’s a nice board, but I have a few quibbles about the changes from the old version.Ī minor quibble is that the new version no longer tells you what language your opponent speaks.

These days, when I play, it’s on Windows System 7. If you’ve read my book, A Lady Pays Her Penalties, you know that I enjoy playing backgammon on the Internet.

Microsoft internet backgammon server down