Backgammon
First appeared in Retro Gamer issue 12
Author: Psion
Publisher: Sinclair
Recently I've managed to get my hands on an iPAQ PocketPC, a simply wonderful piece of noughties kit that I anticipate will last me many years to come and on which I am writing this Hall of Fame entry now. It'll come as no surprise to those who know me that one of the first pieces of software I downloaded for it was a spectrum emulator. And what spectrum game do you think I am now spending my time on it playing? Actually it's Backgammon by Sinclair.
Backgammon was one of the early Sinclair label releases, a very diverse range of software titles set up by Sinclair to get the Spectrum software market on its feet and running. Instantly recognisable (think Scrabble, Horace and Make-a-Chip), the brand carried the Sinclair logo across the top of the inlay and many of the most memorable titles were written by Psion. Backgammon, number 22 in the Games series, is not one of the most memorable titles, but it is written by Psion and I love it.
Why? Well there's nothing especially fantastic about it really, but it does do exactly what it says on the can, which is to give you a game of Backgammon - and a good one at that. The graphics are basic, but as good as you need them to be and the interface is extremely intuitive. Compare that with the much snazzier looking version I have on my mobile phone which I still haven't managed to get my head around in over a year of owning the thing.
For me it's Backgammon's very simplicity which makes up its appeal. That and the fact that it's the perfect game to dip in and out of when you've other things to be getting on with and need the odd five minutes distraction.
