---
title: Robot Bowl
tags:
- bowling
- sport
years:
- '1977'
params:
  specs:
  - label: year of release
    value: '1977'
  - label: companies
    value: Exidy
  - label: type
    value: game
  - label: media
    value: arcade cabinet
  - label: systems
    value: Arcade
  - label: number of players
    value: 1 - 2 players (alternate)
  - label: staff
    value: Howell Ivey, Edward Valeau
  screenshots:
  - title: menu / options
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: menu / options
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: attract mode
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: player one starts
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: move your player left or right
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: ball is rolling
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: strike!
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: ''
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: hmmm, split one...
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: ''
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: 171 final score, not good enough...
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: arcade cabinet
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  machines:
  - /museum/misc-arcade-video-games
  company: /companies/misc
  oc_id: 678
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230601061255/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/software_detail.asp?id=678
    date: '2023-06-01'
---

This is the first Bowling arcade video game and maybe even the first bowling video game ever. The only other bowling games released as early as 1977 are the [RCA Studio II version](/software/bowling/), and [Meadows Lanes](/software/meadow-lanes/) (arcade, by Meadows Games) an almost exact copy of Robot Bowl. Apparently Meadow Games copied Exidy and not the contrary (though Meadows Lanes is even more crude graphically than Meadows Lanes).

To play the game (1 or 2 players), you have to move the bowler into position, bowl the ball fast or slow, and then hook the ball left or rigth.

In opposition to most other early Bowling games released later, you place your bowler where you want. Sadly this tend to make the game much too easy, strikes being fairly easy to achieve. Other games usually move automatically your bowler (or ball) continueously from left to right, challenging the player to throw the ball at the right moment.