On the 24th of August, 1993, I posted a message on the backgammon newsgroup, rec.games.backgammon:

I've been contemplating creating a Macintosh FIBS game that offers a nice graphical interface to the FIBS system.

Is there any interest out there in such a program? How many of you use a Mac to play FIBS?

The response was immediate and positive. And the rest, as they say, is history...

Awards

MacFIBS has received many rave reviews over the years.

MacFIBS 2.1 was featured in a special booklet published by MacUser magazine entitled 50 All-Time Best Shareware Programs (the booklet was an insert in the September '96 newsstand issue of MacUser). It shares the stage with such classics as StuffIt Lite, Maelstrom, and DarkSide.

MacFIBS, like the other programs listed, received a coveted "5 mice" rating from the editors of MacUser. Describing MacFIBS, they wrote,

"Most users see FIBS as a UNIX-based, text-oriented system. MacFIBS changes that, offering a full Mac interface in color - a wonderful graphic front end to an ugly system."

Tucows gave MacFIBS a 5 cow rating, noting:

"MacFIBS is backgammon against others on the Internet. This is a graphical interface to the First Internet Backgammon Server. Of course, you can Telnet in, but MacFIBS makes it a totally different and much improved experience."

ZDNet's MacDownload.com gave the latest MacFIBS a 5 star rating:

"I'm really, really sorry I found this program. I like backgammon a lot, used to fancy myself pretty good at it, and used to have at least some free time. MacFIBS has changed much of that.

[...] It's what next-wave Internet apps should be like."

Some of my favorite user comments:

Your program RULES!! Yeah, yeah!! It rules.. RULES!! I just got 2.0.3. yesterday and feel the need to abandon all my work and play BackGammon 24-7...

Thanx...
Quinn,T.M.



I think MacFIBS is fantastic and you deserve some sort of award for creating it!

John S. Owen, M.D



I hope you've heard it before, but "Thanks for MacFibs." It is a great contribution to the 'net, and makes playing on FIBS a real joy. Excellent interface, very good documentation. Keep up the good work.

Richard McIntosh (rambeau on FIBS)



MacFIBS is the best piece of freeware or shareware I have ever used!

Roy_Jeff



MacFIBS, l'ottava meraviglia del mondo!!
Fantastico,grandioso,bellissimo!!!
Ci voleva proprio.

Grazie Fergy!
Roberto




Thank-you for MacFIBS.

There is a problem though... it is a very DANGEROUS program.

I may never get another hour of work done again! If I put it on my computer at work, I may never sleep again! A program too good for words, but I here goes...

Excellent !, Excellent !, Excellent !

There you are, three words.

Achilleas Plakitis
plakitis@spidernet.com.cy
Nicosia, CYPRUS




I just downloaded the latest version of MF - WOW! It's outstanding, a beautiful piece of work - it never ceases to amaze me that you can continually make it better.

Keep up the good work,
Mitch