Bolo (computer Game)
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''Bolo'' is a
video game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...
initially created for the
BBC Micro The BBC Microcomputer System, or BBC Micro, is a family of microcomputers developed and manufactured by Acorn Computers in the early 1980s as part of the BBC's Computer Literacy Project. Launched in December 1981, it was showcased across severa ...
computer by
Stuart Cheshire Stuart David Cheshire is a Distinguished Engineer, Scientist and Technologist (DEST) at Apple. He pioneered Zeroconf networking while employed at Apple. Zeroconf was originally released by Apple as Rendezvous, but later renamed Bonjour. Subsequent ...
in 1987, and was later ported by Cheshire to the Apple
Macintosh Mac is a brand of personal computers designed and marketed by Apple Inc., Apple since 1984. The name is short for Macintosh (its official name until 1999), a reference to the McIntosh (apple), McIntosh apple. The current product lineup inclu ...
. Although offered for sale for the BBC Micro, this version is now regarded as lost. It is a networked multiplayer game that simulates a
tank A tank is an armoured fighting vehicle intended as a primary offensive weapon in front-line ground combat. Tank designs are a balance of heavy firepower, strong armour, and battlefield mobility provided by tracks and a powerful engine; ...
battlefield. Currently, a Windows version known as Winbolo remains in operation and continues to have a small but active player base.


Name

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." 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".
Bolo Bolo may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional entities * Bolo, in the Bolo universe, ''Bolo'' universe, the name of sentient supertanks * An List of Dick Tracy characters#Enemies, enemy in the ''Dick Tracy'' series * Bolo, a characte ...
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 John Keith Laumer ( – ) was an American science fiction author. Prior to becoming a full-time writer, he was an officer in the United States Air Force and a diplomat in the United States Foreign Service. His older brother March Laumer was ...
.


Description


Networking

The Macintosh version of Bolo supported up to sixteen concurrent networked players, using
AppleTalk AppleTalk is a discontinued proprietary suite of networking protocols developed by Apple Computer for their Macintosh computers. AppleTalk includes a number of features that allow local area networks to be connected with no prior setup or the ...
over a
Local Area Network A local area network (LAN) is a computer network that interconnects computers within a limited area such as a residence, campus, or building, and has its network equipment and interconnects locally managed. LANs facilitate the distribution of da ...
, or UDP over the
Internet The Internet (or internet) is the Global network, global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. It is a internetworking, network of networks ...
. All AppleTalk network connection types were supported, including
LocalTalk LocalTalk is a particular implementation of the physical layer of the AppleTalk networking system from Apple Computer. LocalTalk specifies a system of shielded twisted pair cabling, plugged into self-terminating transceivers, running at a ra ...
, EtherTalk, TokenTalk, and
AppleTalk Remote Access AppleTalk Remote Access (ARA) was a protocol stack that allowed AppleTalk to be run over modems. It became a fairly major product for Apple Computer in the early to mid-1990s when their first portable and laptop computers were available (and very p ...
. The current Windows version continues to support 16 players, who join via an active games page or the game's Discord channel.


References


Further reading

* 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 In computer science, programming by example (PbE), also termed programming by demonstration or more generally as demonstrational programming, is an end-user development technique for machine learning, teaching a computer new behavior by demonstratin ...
system. * Silberman, S. (1995)
O Bolo Mio
NetGuide Magazine, May issue. Archived from on 5 June 2020.


External links


Bolo home page

Stuart Cheshire
the author of ''Bolo''
Winbolo game download page

Winbolo player hub website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bolo (Video Game) BBC Micro and Acorn Electron games Classic Mac OS games MacOS games 1987 video games Linux games Windows games Video games developed in the United Kingdom Multiplayer and single-player video games Military science fiction video games