FICHEYE  Yes and yes... IceClean has a function command that I've been looking for... 'Perform all tasks and reboot'.

I just don't want to be drawn into the ever deepening complexity of a computers architecture. If somebody wants to learn to program, go for it. But I just want to trust that the software performs as advertised and run the application for the desired effect. IceClean gives the user BOTH options. And it's performed perfectly for me.

Onyx and some of the other programs make you develop a script, or run the tasks one at a time, or just require that you engage their learning curve once again. IceClean all the way!!

A progress bar would be nice, since a lot of people stare at their computer whenever any analysis is happening. But if it ain't broke, don't fix it.  
(Version 3.0.8)

FICHEYE  Well now. I enjoyed reading a comment that reflects, exactly, what I have felt about this game for some time. Thanks for the well worded vindication.

The game is really good, but questions arise when the skill level seems to be defined by the dice rolls and not by actual game play.   
(Version 5.7.3)

FICHEYE  Nice try. I stopped playing the game eventually. And the best way to get me to stop making comments is to stop digging in your heels about the perfection of your software. Also, disclosing my real name is an incredibly immature move by someone so intelligent and businesslike. Best to have a few positive reviews so that mine just goes down the list. I will report you to the management here since you are supposed to take it like a man when someone has a problem with your software. But I guess that may be the real issue here. By the way, where are all the positive reviews if I am so wrong about the game having some flaws? There should be a cascade, even an avalanche of supporting reviews, then I'd be pushed farther down the list and I'd forget about this game. But....  
(Version 5.6.1)

FICHEYE  When you download this thing it sits there, inert.

Then you click on it and you get a dialogue box saying that you need additional software at the quicktime site. Only when you get there it's not clear just which of the several components you need to download to make it work.

At this point I usually just delete. When you post ANYTHING requiring additional software and downloading, you need to indicate that right from the start, or else it feels like some kind of trick  
(Version 1.0)

FICHEYE  Boy, am I chagrined! I have received the dreaded 'five exclamation point' response. One thing is clear... everyone owns a rubber duck. And as long as this game has been around (both forms) there are negative reviewers who feel somewhat like I do. Never fear, because we are 'out of our element'... we can't possibly know anything... even noticing some slight problems in gameplay, or saying that the game isn't quite perfect gets a response meant to 'hush you up'. So...

This is a beautiful game. Perfect in every way. You will find the computer opponent to be fiercely intelligent. You will never notice any gameplay inequities because there aren't any. Buy this game. You won't be sorry. And if there are odd 'occurrences'of chance during a game, it's all in your imagination which you don't have very much of or YOU would have developed a game as fantastic as this one. Get on board! And remember... don't think you know anything, because it's all an illusion... knowing requires thinking, and that is just too difficult for us mere mortals. And remember... don't make any comments that might seem knowledgeable because you are 'out of your element' and you don't have the right swimmin' suit!!!!!

In conclusion ( and in all seriousness), I have to say this: Most people who make negative comments really do appreciate the skill required to create a game such as this. And the game(s) is/are very good for the most part. There are just times when there are weird things that happen (I'd better not say what they are), and, therefore, people will always make comments about these things that we can't possibly understand. You'll just have to forgive us. In the long run it is much better to have a nice beverage and play lots of games with a real person, using a real board and real dice. I now bow out of this 'discussion' most completely.  
(Version 5.6.1)

FICHEYE  Here's a suggestion... read my latest post. I think if we go in the suggested direction the debate will end once and for all.

I know it's a lot of fun defending an indefensible position, but let's just use numbers. I will concede to a mathematical position that proves or disproves the randomness issue.

Then I'll take up chess.  
(Version 5.3.4)

FICHEYE  Here's a tip...ALL backgammon games with a computer opponent are deeply flawed pieces of... software. But the debate , which is ongoing, is VERY interesting. It's amazing how doggedly people can stick to an opinion, either for or against, without really offering up any clear logic about any playing inequities. Typically a subject change takes place.

I have an idea! Let's start over. Let's start here... Everybody play 50 games using VARIOUS backgammon games. Absolute, Davids, Freeplay (yechh). 50 games with EACH application. Let's start with just ONE data set - How many times does the computer win the opening roll? No subject change, no obfuscation. then we will all decide on another randomness test. I suggest for the next one we look at randomness 'problems' with in the last field where any player who is taken off has to come back on. ( I often see the computer get back on to hit me with only one space open as well, whereas I can have three spaces open and not get on for several rolls). I will concede to any data formulated opinion that shows true randomness after a well documented and thorough proving method. That's the one thing lacking here.

Just think... whoever formulates a 'proving' scheme will end this debate once and for all, and everyone will happily buy these games when they feel that the test data has been exhaustive, rigorous, and unbiased. Show me the numbers! Being the kind of person that I am (Negative, curmudgeonly, and cranky), I assume at the outset that this logical path will NOT be undertaken. But, that being said, good luck everybody, and may the best data set win!  
(Version 5.3.4)

FICHEYE  Sure. Have fun.  
(Version 5.3.4)

FICHEYE  You have no idea what you are talking about. And furthermore, after all this time BOTH of Mr. Byrums games are gathering complaints because a larger audience noted the inequities in gameplay as well.

Why don't you actually document how many times the computer opponent gets the opening roll just for starters? I started taking notes on this software because of the fact that... out of all the game software out there, this developers board games have generated some of the most consistent complaints about the same thing.

Of course, and I'll say it again and again... Artificial intelligence is financially out of our reach as of yet. Beyond having a fairly straightforward ability to stack pieces and take standard moves, the only way to program a 'level' of play is for the computer to get rolls which counter yours. If anyone starts to document the math behind some of the action there is a post by someone who says "Wow, you've got so much time on your hands". The debate and denials are incredibly interesting in their unerring repetition.   
(Version 5.3.4)

FICHEYE  There are a lot of pro's and cons about any backgammon game. I have played this game a lot, and have found the dice rolls to be strangely in favor of the computer in many situations. The developer says NO. And there are defenders of this software as well. But here is the true story.

Until the development of true artificial intelligence for computers, the only way for the programmer to make it seem like there is a 'human' playing against you is for it to go into a mode where it favors itself for a series of rolls. Upon very close examination of the game play responses of the computer opponent it can be clearly seen that there is no 'intelligence' as to where the pieces are moved to... nor can any be possible without an artificial intelligence much more highly advanced than we could ever afford. Thusly, the only way for the computer to seem like it is responding in a more experienced way is for it to get the perfect roll to take your player off the board, or to get doubles many more times than you do during the game.

Of course, the developer (And not just David Byrum) could never admit to this flaw in the application or else no one would ever buy it. And to those that defend it... well, all I can say is that, yes, some of us DO have a lot of extra time on our hands, so we play many games in a row, at which point we experience the inequities of gameplay inherent in this type of software. But for you to criticize us for complaining about something you like... it's a human trait, but rather small minded.

The real solution is to play another human. Or play the game using an 'online' mode to play... another human. You can defend this software type until the cows come home, but the computer will never play fair. It's not possible. No way. Uh uh. No. Not ever.

I will anxiously await the firestorm of negative rebuttal. But in the end... no way. Go play with your rubber duckie.  
(Version 5.6)

FICHEYE  I have a new iMac 2.16 mhz. Lots of room on my hard drive. When I first downloaded this application it displayed the preview of the movie perfectly.

Now I have 'updated' to the newest version. Twice. It will not display the preview without seeming to stop and start and act oddly. I created the smallest file possible for this experiment. All of my iMovie files play without any problem, no matter how large. This program does lots of things that iMovie doesn't do. I'd love for it to work better, but until they address the preview problem it's not very much fun to work with. That's what initially attracted me to this application. Fun and ease of use. Now I'm just frustrated. I'm sure other users have had the same problem, so I suspect that the recent reviews were not posted by actual 'users'.  
(Version 4.1b15)

DENNIS HASTINGS  This game is really great. The music is superb, and there is a sort of out-of-control feel to the main 'explorer'. Great for adults and kids alike. If these folks are making more games, give 'em the 18 bucks for R and D. !  
(Version )