Bos Wars

Bos Wars

Company type	Open source
Industry	Video games
Founded	March 2004 (2004-03)
Founder	Tina Petersen
Headquarters	Multiple platforms
Products	Real-time strategy game
Website	www.boswars.org

Bos Wars is a free, open-source real-time strategy game available on multiple platforms. Built upon the open-source Stratagus engine, it takes place in a futuristic sci-fi military setting. Players focus on developing their war economy by efficiently managing energy and magma resources to construct forces and overcome opponents.

History

Originally created by Tina Petersen, the project changed leadership to François Beerten following Petersen's passing in 2003. The initial public version (v1.0) was launched in March 2004. In June 2007, the Stratagus engine was integrated into BOS, resulting in a rebranding of the game. Over the last ten years, there have been two updates, with the most recent release occurring in 2023.

Gameplay

Maps begin shrouded in fog of war, which dissipates as units explore but returns over areas no longer within sight to hide enemy movements. All players have equal access to buildings and units without requiring research; once sufficient resources are gathered, new structures, aircraft, land vehicles, and troops can be produced immediately.

The game’s resources consist of magma and energy: magma is extracted from rocks or generated via magma pumps positioned at hot spots; energy is collected from trees or morels or created through power plants.

Buildings are divided into three categories: basic (including power plants, magma pumps, radar stations, cameras, and vaults), unit production (such as training camps, vehicle factories, hospitals, and aircraft factories), and defense installations (gun turrets, cannons, missile silos).

Technical features

Developed using C++ and Lua, Bos Wars utilizes the SDL library for multimedia handling. Its core engine is derived from the Stratagus engine. Initially, the graphical engine and game data were separate components; however, they were unified in 2007 when Stratagus was merged into Bos Wars.

Although no official central matchmaking server exists, multiplayer gaming is supported through direct IP connections. Several websites assist players in exchanging IP addresses to facilitate online matches.

Reception and impact

Bos Wars has been featured in LinuxLinks’ lists of "42 More of the Best Free Linux Games" and their top 100 free games compilation. In 2010, PC Advisor characterized it as "an entertaining game" ideal for enthusiasts seeking a demanding RTS challenge. Conversely, Amiga Future criticized Bos Wars for feeling sluggish due to its limited sound effects, lack of background music, outdated visual style, minimal animations, and low detail levels. Despite its simple gameplay mechanics, it does not offer a deeply fulfilling experience.

See also

• List of open source games
• Stratagus

External links

• Bos Wars Homepage
• Savannah project
• Information about the game
• Basic guide
• An unofficial user manual