ABPA BACKGAMMON
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Backgammon was one of those early games that was initially released with full color documentation, as well as overlays displaying the American Backgammon Players Association (ABPA) logo.
Graphics: 2
Sound: 2
Replay Value: 2
Notes: 1- or 2-player game; one of the few early releases with a computer opponent
The sound used for the computer's "thinking" is the same as the one used in Checkers. It's a fine game, and I really do enjoy the traditional board game, but why make it into video game? Sure, you can play even when you can't locate a live opponent, but come on! We're talking a video game console here!
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| ROM | No ROM variants have been identified. |
| Box | The Intellivision, Inc. white label version and 'sleeved' French-Canadian versions are quite rare. The standard French-Canadian version is uncommon as well. So far, seven variations have been found. |
| Manual | Twelve variants have been identified. |
| Overlays | Versions with and without the ABPA logo are the primary difference. Two different overlay variations are known to exist. |
| Label | To date, three labels have been recorded. |
| Easter Eggs | No Easter Eggs have been found. |
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A total of seven Backgammon box variants have been documented.
| Image | Vendor | Part Number | Year | Origin | Description |
 | Mattel Electronics | 1119-0910 | 1979 | U.S.A. | Plastic tray; part number on top; © Mattel, Inc. Hawthorne, CA on bottom; refers to Keyboard Component on cover |
| Image not available. | Mattel Electronics | 1119-0910 | 1979 | Hong Kong | Plastic tray; part number on top; © Mattel, Inc. Hawthorne, CA on bottom; refers to Keyboard Component on cover |
 | Mattel Electronics | 1119-0910-G1 | 1980 | Hong Kong | Plastic tray; no part number on top; © Mattel, Inc. Hawthorne, CA on bottom |
 | Mattel Electronics | 1119-0510 | 1979 | Hong Kong | French-Canadian; plastic tray; no part number on top; © Mattel Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada on back |
 | Mattel Electronics | 1119-0910 | 1979 | Hong Kong | French-Canadian outer sleeve refers to original Keyboard Component; internally, same as standard 1119-0920 (Hong Kong); did the internal box vary? |
 | Mattel Electronics | 1119-0810 | 1979 | Hong Kong | International Edition; plastic tray; no part number on top; © Mattel, Inc. Hawthorne CA on bottom of box; slots in back for extra manual(s); slots inside for overlays; ABPA logo removed from front and spine |
 | Sears | 3878-0910 | 1978 | Hong Kong | Plastic tray; blue game title on top and back |
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A total of twelve Backgammon manual variants have been documented.
| Image | Vendor | Part Number | Year | Origin | Description |
 | Mattel Electronics | 1119-0920(A) | 1979 | U.S.A. | Full color; on back cover, both the Mattel logo and text beneat the running man logo have the registered trademark symbol |
 | Mattel Electronics | 1119-0920(B) | 1979 | U.S.A. | Green monochrome artwork |
| Image not available. | Mattel Electronics | 1119-0920(C) | 1979 | Hong Kong | NEED CONFIRMATION; Green monochrome artwork; submitted by Hankster |
 | Mattel Electronics | 1119-0920-G1 | 1979 | Hong Kong | Green monochrome artwork |
 | Mattel Electronics | 1119-0720 | 1979 | Hong Kong | French-Canadian; green monochrome artwork |
 | Mattel Electronics | 1119-8920 | 1979 | Canada | French translation; included in 'sleeved' version with a 1119-0920-G1 (Hong Kong) English manual; green monochrome artwork; plain paper as opposed to glossy |
 | Mattel Electronics | 1119-0820 | 1979 | Hong Kong | British English; green monochrome artwork; plain paper rather than glossy; ABPA logo removed; also contains replacement overlay order form and Intellivision Game Owner's Club application |
| Image not available. | Mattel Electronics | 1119-0820-G1 | 1979 | Hong Kong | NEED CONFIRMATION; British English; green monochrome artwork; plain paper rather than glossy; ABPA logo removed; submitted by Hankster |
 | Mattel Electronics | 1119-0121 | 1979 | Hong Kong | German version; blue monochrome artwork; ABPA logo removed |
| Image not available. | Mattel Electronics | PC-1119-0920 | 1979 | U.S.A. | PlayCable version; ABPA logo removed from front cover; green monochrome artwork; part number on back |
| Image not available. | Intellivision Inc. | 1119-0920-G1 | None | U.S.A. | Staple along top edge |
 | Sears | 3878-0920 | 1979 | Hong Kong | States FOR 2 PLAYERS on cover, but game can be 1- or 2-player |
There were also some variations of the 'Running Man' and Mattel logo on the back cover.
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Back cover of rev. A (U.S.A.)—note ® next to Mattel Electronics logo in the center of the 'running man' rectangle |
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Back cover of rev. B (U.S.A.)—note ™ next to Mattel Electronics logo in the center of the 'running man' rectangle |
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Back cover of rev. G1 (Hong Kong)—note ™ next to Mattel Electronics logo in the center of the 'running man' rectangle and missing ® in the 'available from Mattel Electronics' text |
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A total of two Backgammon overlay variants have been documented.
| Image | Vendor | Part Number | Year | Origin | Description |
 | mattel | 1119-4289 | 1979 | U.S.A. | Includes ABPA logo |
 | mattel | 1119-4289 (A) | 1979 | U.S.A. | Rev. A—ABPA logo removed |
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A total of three Backgammon label variants have been documented.
| Image | Vendor | Part Number | Year | Origin | Description |
 | Mattel Electronics | N/A | None | No origin; ™ lower left, next to ABPA logo; purple background; lists American Backgammon Players Association beneath BACKGAMMON label | |
 | Mattel Electronics | N/A | None | Hong Kong | Green background, no APBA logo; origin upper right |
| Image not available. | Intellivision Inc. | N/A | 1980 | U.S.A. | Origin lower right; © I.I. 1980 to left of origin; ™ small, centered vertically on right edge; smaller label, rounded corners; submitted by Hankster |
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 | Title screen for Backgammon. |
 | Not much to describe here. It's Backgammon! |