Bicycle Board Games | 
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| From: Microsoft
Category: Video Games
This item is no longer available
Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 19599
Format: Cd-rom
Platforms: Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows 95
Genre: board_games
Media: CD-ROM
Operating System: Windows 98
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 3 x 2.1 x 0.5
UPC: 659556912093
EAN: 0659556912093
ASIN: B00005O1GJ
Release Date: November 15, 2001
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| Features:
| • | Collection of 15 classic board games | | • | From the simplicity of Cross and Circles to the complexity of Chess | | • | Five new games | | • | Ten improved games | | • | For 1 or 2 players |
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| Accessories:
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| Customer Reviews:
 Good selection, but Backgammon weak July 25, 2005
J. I. Cohen
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This package contains a good selection of popular board games. The graphics are good, if unexciting. The same applies to the music and sound effects. The controls are simple and intuitive, and there are tutorials for all the games. Installation was straightforward.
The opponent characters are annoying and repetitive, but they can be turned off or muted. An online option would have been nice, but the game never pretended to have one. For me, the biggest problem is the weakness of the backgammon game.
Backgammon is the only game in this selection that I am very experienced at. I've never played in a tournament, but I've been playing on-and-off for most of my life, both in real life, online, and against computer opponents. I consider myself quite a strong player. While I did not buy this package specifically to play Backgammon, the quality of its game was obviously important to me. Unfortunately, you would have to be a very weak player to find it much of a challenge on the highest skill level, 'Expert'. If I played ten games at this level and only won eight, I would think I was having a very bad day. The two supposedly lower skill levels seem to play exactly the same; if you selected the 'Random' skill level option, You would not be able to tell which level you were playing against on a given game. This is a fatal problem, and the graphics and sound simply can't make up for it. If only some of the resources dedicated to the opponent characters were used to improve the opponent AI! There are a large number of superior backgammon games on the market. I would recommend Quick (formerly Geert's) Backgammon, a very small (about 480k installed), no-frills programme that plays a decent game. The graphics and sound are very basic, the controls are not very intuitive (but easy enough to learn), and it would probably still not be enough of a challenge for a very advanced player; but when it comes to gameplay, it beats Bicycle's version hands down.
The other games are fun enough at my skill level, hence the relatively favourable score I've given the package overall. I don't know if I would feel the same if I was more experienced with any of them. I am not familiar enough with similar board games compendiums to recommend any alternatives.
 Rating on Chess Only December 26, 2004
jwh_Denver
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
The chess game has 3 levels of play including a "random" selection on which level the game plays at. Thing is I haven't noticed a bit of difference in the level of play and the programming is really bad. The game will make the same moves over and over. Another thing, if I can beat any chess game at "Expert" the game is really really bad. Too bad the CD itself wasn't good for something.
bicycle board games December 10, 2003
Debra E Gibson (Corning, CA United States)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
The game has great graphics but cheats like no body's business. Just when you are ahead the computer will make you loose. It will always roll whatever number on the dice it needs and you can bet the bank you won't. It also has some minor problems that cause some irratation. The old man will say gross things if you are playing as the little girl. I felt the need to turn off the sound it was so gross.
Full of Bugs April 24, 2003
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
I'm sorry I had to give this game even one star. This game package is so full of programming bugs that it is ridiculous. Don't waste your money. Go buy another game package.
Cheats like a son of a gun January 19, 2003
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Graphics are great, but the game cheats. It is amazing, you are close to winning and all of a sudden it starts rolling double sixes, while you get double ones (in Batgammon)
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