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Welcome to the second version of
Gammonet
- new design, two connection types and intuitive
mouse based playing. Just one click and you can play backgammon online with
your friends from all over the world. Now it's
time to extend your fun and improve your skills! A few of
the game enhancements and features:
new 2D and 3D board design,

new checkers, having more shapes and colors, improved checkers animation;
several users with rating
support, resume game option;
playing optimization, minimum resources required.
The main page of the game contains two sets of
buttons: first one is normally displayed when you are playing, while the
second one appears when your mouse pointer is located in the right side of
the screen and it stays as long as your mouse pointer does not leave this
area; otherwise, the main button group is displayed back within two seconds.
The first you step need
to make in order to play a backgammon
game is to establish a connection with your opponent using the
Connect
page commands. After this, you can close that
page and return to the main one. Here you can either start a new game (or resume
the last one) with the current opponent, or you can open the
Chat window and
start chatting. Start command sends an invitation to your opponent, containing
the current game settings (cube, rules, rated). If the other player accepts, he
will temporary use the same game settings for the current match.
After the game was started and opening dice thrown, the
player who has the turn can move his checkers according to the dice value. When
he finishes the moves, one more click on the game board will change the turn and
the opponent can throw his own dice. This way the game continues until one player
bears off all his checkers or refuses a doubling proposal. Notice that if you resume a game initiated by the
opponent, your game settings will be affected accordingly. |
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The
Main menu has these
commands on big buttons, from top to bottom: |
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Exit
- you can
exit the program any time, even during a game; it will be automatically saved and
the connection will be closed.
Settings
- this
button will open a new page, containing all the game settings that you can change.
Menu details below.
Stop
- pressing this button at any
time will interrupt the current game, so you can start a new one. But notice, this will affect the score with a value
according to your position at that moment.
Play - you can start a new simple
game or a new match game, according with the length and rules you set in the Settings menu. Once you have started a new game, some options in this
menu are no longer enabled. If there is an interrupted game with the current
opponent, it'll be resumed.
Undo
- you can roll back any move
or moves made during a game. This is possible only for the checkers movements,
not for the cube actions you have accepted or refused.
Screen
- Toggle for the windowed
mode.
Menu
- if activated, this
button allows you to see the secondary game menu when pressed (no longer
affected by mouse position) |
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Secondary menu
commands, from top to
bottom:
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Minimize: minimizes the game
windows, so you can see your desktop and launch other programs. The game
can be restored with a click on taskbar.
Help: shows you a help page
with game info, such as rules, how to play, how to get in contact with
the author and how to buy.
Website: launches the default
Internet client directly to our main site, so you can see and download
the newest version of our game.
Version: It automatically checks if
a new version is available for download.
History: Pressing this button at any
time will display a history of your last 22 matches results. You can see
also the time when you played them and how they affected your ratings.
Statistics: The new window that
appears will show you some values of the game statistics (the current
turn and the previous one), including game and match odds, equity and
dice values.
Resume:
Allows you to
select a saved gamed to be resumed, from the local game folder.
Chat: Open / hide a
chat window with your opponent.
Save: Save the current game
position, so you can restore it later exactly from where you left the
game. The doubling status and stake will be saved in the same .sav file.
Watch: Load a game file (.gam) and
watch the entire game you have played and then saved.
Record: This button saves the game
you just finished in a text file, so you can watch it again later. Do
not save loaded positions or resumed games! Only an entire game is
recommended to be saved with this command.
Move: When you cannot decide what is
the best move in a certain position, this button will make the next
moves for you, as the computer would do if it plays with your men on
level two. If you consider this is not a good move, the
Back button allows you to restore
the last position and make your own move.
Finish: When you are sure about the
score of your current game, you can press this button and let computer
to auto-play it faster until the end. No doubling is allowed during this
period.
Match length: Two buttons you
can use to increase or decrease the match length (not during a game); the range
is 1..64 points.
Time: Shows you the local time and
the game/match duration.
Connect: This button opens
the
Connect page. Check
Direct connect
and
Messenger connect
for more information.
Flip: You can change the side of
your home, to the left or to the right part of the board. This would
also change the direction of the checkers movements. Your choice will be
saved.
Checkers: This button helps you
choose the type of the checkers : Clear, Classic, Modern, Metallic,
Gray/Blue, Yellow/Teal, Red/Green, Beige/Brown. Your choice will be
saved.
Board: This button helps you select
the game board from several 2D and 3D models. Your choice will be saved.
Mute: Mute or un-mute the game
sounds. |
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Settings
page, which includes the user's rating and experience values |
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If Nickname button is
pressed, the game users list will appear in the center.
This game allows up to ten players to be enlisted, with
independent ratings. The player can be selected from
users table, and the nickname can be edited in the
Current
user
field. If no valid player is selected, the program will
try to get the windows' logged username. |
Checkers speed: It can be adjusted in
four steps, from slow to instant. For not accelerated graphic displays we
recommend the instant option;
Dice animation: Enables or not a short
dice animation;
Bar display: When the mouse cursor is
positioned over a checker which can be moved, the destination point (s) may
be shown with a dot or by lighting up its bar number;
Show info: A tip with current button
action can be displayed in the upper side of the game frame;
Rated games:
enable the rating calculation for your games;
Left mouse button: The move executed
when left mouse button is clicked can be determined by the value of the left
or of the biggest die;
Board: The playing board can be selected
from two wood models 2D and 3D;
Checkers: The game checkers could be
Black/White, simple or having several shapes and colors;
Nickname: At the game start, the name of
the current computer user will be selected by default . This name can be
changed, and other nicknames can be added in the Users list (up to ten
players).
Rating: Your rating starts at 1500, and
it will increase when you win and it will decrease when you lose. The
Experience is computed by adding the length of all played matches; it can be
Reset at any moment, even restored if
you have changed your mind.
The opponent's
rating is loaded and displayed only when connection was made and it is
updated when a new match is started.
Doubling cube: If playing matches, you
can enable the doubling cube; when enabled, the Jacoby and Crawford rules
can be validated too.
Match length: It can be adjusted between
1 and 64, with two buttons, up and down; Show allows to be displayed in the
score area.
Sound FX: Several sound effects can be
enabled, for clicks, errors, etc. If so, their intensity can be adjusted by
clicking on the volume bar.
Voice alerts: Several voice alerts can
be enabled, for load, double, etc. If so, their intensity can be adjusted by
clicking on the volume bar.
Log file: A text file named bclog.txt
can be created in the game's folder; it contains the matches start and end
time, as well as their scores;
White dice: The white dice can be
automatically rolled after the black's moves, but this can not be done when
doubling cube is enabled;
Menu:
Displays a button for secondary menu
activation;
Registration: It points to a field where
the registration string can be entered (or pasted). |
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Direct
connect |
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This is the first
mode to connect with your backgammon opponent. The 'direct'
connection is implemented using the TCP/IP protocol, allowing you to
play in a local network and over the Internet as well.
Description
Two communication sockets are created on your
computer and the opponent's, and they can transfer data when the link
between them is established. The TCP protocol of this connection uses
the IP addresses of both computers' adapters and the port 6317. You'll
need this information if your computer is connected via a router or if
there is a firewall requiring additional set up. The game tries to
add itself to the windows' firewall exception list, so normally you
should not worry about this. This connection type works perfectly in
these cases:
- both computers are directly connected to the
Internet and they have public IP addresses;
- or they are connected in a local network,
having local IP addresses from the same class;
If your configuration is none of the above (you
use a router or a proxy server to connect with) we do not guarantee that
the connection can be made, even if those devices are properly set.
How to connect
There are a few simple steps in order to make
the connection and start playing.
1. One of the players must know the
opponent's IP address. This can be done by opening the Connection Status
window, then Support tab (Windows XP), or by opening the Network and
Sharing Center, clicking View status, then Details tab (Windows Vista).
Your adapter's IP can be found also in the game
Connect page
,
left side, first combo box. If you have several adapters, you must
select here the one you want to use for connecting. Either way once you found
out your IP address (format *.*.*.*), it has to be sent to
your opponent (via e-mail, messengers, phone).
2. The player receiving the opponent IP
address must enter (or paste) it in the next field, as in this picture:

3. Now the connection can
be initiated by pressing the button; wait a few seconds and you should normally see 'Connected' in the Status line and
his nickname and
rating in the Opponent line. Notice that the opponent player must wait
to connect with this page opened, until he sees the same information in
the two lines. Once the connection is made, this page can be closed and the
game can be started by one of the players; the Chat is also possible at
this moment.
4. When the game is
ended, one player must disconnect by pressing again the button. The
IPs used will be automatically saved and will be displayed next time a
connection is needed. Notice that the local IP address could be
dynamically allocated in some network configurations and it has to be
checked and entered again if it was changed meantime. If the connection
is interrupted while playing, the game will be automatically saved and it can be resumed
anytime, if the connection is restored. |
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Messenger
connect |
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This is the second
mode to connect with your backgammon opponent. The 'messenger'
connection is made by using the Yahoo Messenger, allowing you to play
with anyone from all over the world, simpler and faster.
Description
This connection type requires that both you and
your opponent to be registered with Yahoo services, having messenger IDs.
Each person you want to play with must be added in your Contact list, for
easy access. The game was tested with Yahoo Messenger versions 8.xx and
9.xx, working under Windows XP and Vista. Some settings have to be made
in Y! messenger Preferences menus (Ctrl + Shift + P):
- Select Archive, check 'Yes,
save all my messages, but clear them each time I sign out' -
recommended or 'Yes, save all my messages';
- Select Alerts & sounds, then disable
the sound alerts and messages from the bottom right corner when a
contact goes online/offline - recommended, but not mandatory;
How to connect
There are a few simple steps in order to make
the connection and start playing.
1. Both players have to launch Yahoo
Messenger and sign in as visible or not; one player opens a chat window
with the opponent (double click on the contact name) and send something,
such as 'Do you want to play backgammon?';
2. Run Gammonet and open the game
Connect page,
focus on the right side of the window. The upper combo box shows the Yahoo users,
select here the current one if not displayed. The next one shows the
opponent's name and / or ID, select here the person you want to play with
(see the picture below):

3. Once the opponent has opened this page
and selected appropriate options, you can initiate the
connection by pressing the button. Wait a few seconds and you'll
normally see 'Connected' in the Status line and the opponent's nickname
/ rating. If this doesn't happen within ten seconds, you should disconnect
and try again. Once the connection is made, this page can be closed and
the game can be started by one of the players; the Chat is also possible
at this moment.
4. When the game is
ended, one player must disconnect by pressing again the button. The
selected IDs will be automatically saved and will be displayed next time
a connection is needed. If the connection is interrupted (sign out)
while playing, the game will be automatically saved and it can be resumed anytime,
if the connection is restored.
Do
not chat in Yahoo window during the backgammon game, because your text
could interfere with the game codes! |
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Registration |
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After your order is placed, you will receive a
registration e-mail with the game code in an attached text file. To complete
the process, you could: 1. Save the
text file to the game's folder from user's Documents
or
2. Copy the serial code and press enter it
(paste) in the
registration field from the bottom part of the Settings page, and restart
the game.
You have to perform the game registration when
you are logged as administrator. In case you are using a Windows version
newer than XP and you choose method 1, you have to Unblock the text file
you have saved to your local disk. Also, the game executable should have set
the option 'Run as administrator'. |
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Keyboard commands |
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BACKSPACE
- same as the UNDO command from the menu bar;
M - same as the Move command from the menu bar;
ENTER - play a new game;
S - flip sides;
L -
show / hide the chat window;
C - change checkers;
N - displays the game menu
P - stop the current game;
T - settings page;
O - toggle for the windowed mode
Q - allows you to end
current game and match
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H - help page;
Z - minimize window;
X
- exit to OS;
W - backgammon website;
U - check for a new version;
R - history page;
I - time information;
E -
connect page;
A - statistics page;
D -
doubles the game stake, same as a click on the cube.
Message box: Enter
or Space
is OK, while Esc
or N
is NO.
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Miscellaneous |
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To roll the dice, just click anywhere on the game board.
To make a move or bear off, click on the
checker you want or on its triangle. If the checker is on the bar, click it
to move it in the opponent's home. Usually, the left mouse button makes the
biggest die, while the right one makes the smallest. If this cannot happen due
to the opponent checkers, it will try to make the other die. This rule
applies also when you are on the bar.
If
the SHIFT key is pressed during the mouse
click, current checker will be moved with both dice values when possible;
To double the stake, click on the doubling
cube if you own it or if it is in the board's center.
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Game requirements |
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Minimum:
- Processor PIII / 700Mhz or equivalent;
- Memory 128Mb RAM; 30Mb on a hard disk;
- Video card with resolution 1024 x 768 pixels, 16 bit mode;
- Sound blaster card or compatible;
- Windows XP any edition.
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Recommended:
- Processor P4 / 1.5Ghz or equivalent;
- Memory 256Mb RAM; 50Mb on a hard disk;
- High speed video card , 1024 x 768 pixel resolution, 24 bits;
- Sound blaster stereo card or compatible;
- Windows Vista, 7 or 8. |
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