This update of Chris Crawford's seminal Balance of Power for Windows 1.0 features up-to-date information, 18 new countries (bringing the total to 80), and "multipolar level" in which countries can go to war of their own volition (you could, of course, take advantage of the situation by selling them arms or contribute troops).
Perhaps as a response to players' complaint of the steep learning curve of the first version, Chris added the "Crisis Advisory Board" who would give you advice during the crisis.
Overall, an excellent update of the best cold war simulation ever made, here compiled and patched beautifully to run under Windows 95/98 by our resident cracker Mok. There's no better geopolitical game on the market, even a decade after its release. If you have even a slight interest in politics, this game is a must-have.
Review By HOTUD
English 
Comments and reviews
To have color set the display in the Windows Setup Menu to 16 colors.
For instance XGA (640x480, 16 colors).
we do not reward failure
PS, If you're wondering why I need color, it helps my eyes aha.
Hello, I'm requesting assistance. Got windows 3.1 to work, and BoP. However, I have no color in BoP. Am I running the wrong graphic drivers or something for Windows 3.1? I have no knowledge of some of the older OS, hah.
Use Alt+F4 to close dialog boxes.
I got the windows version to run in dosbox/windows 3.11. Use Alt+Esc to close dialog boxes.
Esc key is not working. Don't download the windows version folks
Just found this site. I got the original BoP for Christmas in 1985 and played it for months on the original Mac (128k, no HD, etc). What a blast! Hope someone ports it to an online version so we can play it again.
what is social all about?
To everyone who is trying to run the program in windows XP, Vista, Win 7 and Win 8, stop trying. You need to run the game in windows 3.1.
To do this, find a copy of win 3.1, install and run it in DOSBox (with BOP in the drive where win 3.1 is installed) and run BOP from within win 3.1. Consult DOSbox on how to install win 3.1 in dosbox.
I keep trying to play it in DOSBox and it keeps saying the game requires windows, and my computer runs on windows, what am I suppossed to do?
it keeps saying that it cant run the file
It kept saying it was out of memory or something
Hi,
When I tried to install the game, I received an error message saying that it's incompatible with the 64-bit version of Windows. Any remedies? And please note that I am not a PC expert by any length ;-)
Thanks!
One of the advisers looks like Vladimir Putin.Must have gotten a promotion from his KGB days.See for yourself.
I played the original on my double-floppy-drive PC clone (XT class) on a Hercules monochrome screen. BoP was a GREAT game. I highly recommend Chris Crawford's book...it explains the innards and the equations he used.
I'd love to see a web version...anyone working on something like that?
This game is great!
There should be a revival of games like this. I played BOP as a kid. Great stuff!
No comment nor review for this game at the moment.