Bolo (1987 video game)

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1987 video game

Bolo

Developer(s)| Various
Publisher(s)| Various
Platform(s)| BBC Micro, Mac OS, Mac OS X, Linux, Windows
Release| 1987
Genre(s)| Tactical shooter
Mode(s)| Single-player, multiplayer

Bolo is a video game initially created for the BBC Micro computer by Stuart Cheshire in 1987, and was later ported by Cheshire to the Apple Macintosh.[1] Although offered for sale for the BBC Micro,[2][3] this version is now regarded as lost.[4] It is a networked multiplayer game that simulates a tank battlefield. Currently, a Windows version known as Winbolo remains in operation and continues to have a small but active player base.[5] [6]

## Name

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According to the Bolo Frequently Asked Questions page: "Bolo is the Hindi word for communication. Bolo is about computers communicating on the network, and more importantly about humans communicating with each other, as they argue, negotiate, form alliances, agree strategies, etc."[7]

Another tank game with the same name was created for the Apple II in 1982. In the user manual, Cheshire wrote that this was "an unfortunate coincidence".[1]

Bolo is also the name for a class of self-aware tanks in a series of stories initially published in 1960 by science fiction writer Keith Laumer.

## Description

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Screenshot from the game

## Networking

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The Macintosh version of Bolo supported up to sixteen concurrent networked players, using AppleTalk over a Local Area Network, or UDP over the Internet.[8][9][10] All AppleTalk network connection types were supported, including LocalTalk, EtherTalk, TokenTalk, and AppleTalk Remote Access.[1] The current Windows version continues to support 16 players, who join via an active games page or the game's Discord channel.[11][12]

## References

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1. ^ a b c "MacBolo Instructions". Archived from the original on 18 May 2007. Retrieved 27 May 2007.
2. ^ go-dax (January 1989). "Bolo!". Acorn User. p. 139. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
3. ^ idesine (November 2020). "Delos D.Harriman talks about unreleased Bolo". World in Pixels.
4. ^ "Lost and Found". Stairway to Hell. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
5. ^ "WinBolo.com: Downloads". www.winbolo.com. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
6. ^ "WinBolo.net: Index". winbolo.net. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
7. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". Archived from the original on 18 May 2007. Retrieved 27 May 2007.
8. ^ Cory L. Scott (May 1995). "rec.games.bolo Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Part 1".
9. ^ Cory L. Scott (May 1995). "rec.games.bolo Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Part 2".
10. ^ Moore, Eric (1996). "The Bolo Game: Exploration of a High-Tech Virtual Community". Advances in Consumer Research. 23: 167–171. Retrieved 1 November 2021.167-171&rft.date=1996&rft.aulast=Moore&rft.aufirst=Eric&rft_id=https://www.acrwebsite.org/volumes/7937/volumes/v23/NA-23/full&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Bolo+(1987+video+game)" class="Z3988">
11. ^ "WinBolo.net: Active Games". winbolo.net. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
12. ^ "Join the WinBolo Discord Server!". Discord. Retrieved 10 July 2023.

## Further reading

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* Andrew Wilson and Stephen Intille, "Programming a Bolo Robot: Recognizing Actions By Example", MIT Media Lab Fall 1995 - this paper describes using Bolo as a system for developing a programming by example system.
* Silberman, S. (1995). O Bolo Mio. NetGuide Magazine, May issue. Archived from on 5 June 2020.

## External links

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* Bolo home page
* Stuart Cheshire, the author of Bolo
* Winbolo game download page
* Winbolo player hub website