The idea of backgammon suppliers is very much a development in the most recent period of the history of this ancient game. The first backgammon players thousands of years ago made their own boards, and also used easily available materials like bone or clay to make the pieces. The growing popularity of the game and the development of mass production and international trade has now resulted in a situation that can be summed up with the phrase backgammon suppliers go international. The introduction of the Intranet in the last decade and a half has been a great boon for backgammon suppliers. It has enabled them to easily reach a much wider potential group of customers. It also has encouraged specialization. While at one end of the market companies produce standard low price backgammon sets that are within the budget of most people in the western world, craftsmen are encouraged to produce specialized backgammon sets to appeal to the artistically inclined, or simply to wealthy people who are looking to add to their list of unique possessions. In addition to the boards, checkers and dice that you would expect to find produced and marketed, the backgammon suppliers go international in many other related areas. Two major products that have appeared in increasing numbers in recent times are books about backgammon and software versions for personal computers. Among the other kinds of products the suppliers have brought us, are scorecards, and position cards, and even cups and posters with backgammon motifs.