If Joshua was familiar with games such as chess, then it's likely it was familiar with the concept of concession, i.e. one side admitting that they cannot win the game, something that is not uncommon in chess. Couldn't Broderick's character have ended the game by merely conceding defeat?
shareYou have to remember the W.O.P.R. was designed to simulate WWIII. It most likely played every scenario out. The difference is this movie stretches the A.I. into the early 2000's. They use an early game program to make the A.I. take the next step and it learns that nuclear war is just as futile as that game.
shareMaybe the rules of Global Thermonuclear War didn't have that option. WOPR had to 'learn' a new way to win given the parameters. Just a guess on my part.
shareOf course, we're dealing with a fictional computer, but along the same lines, I was surprised a great hacker like David didn't at least try to tell the WOPR to "stop" or "quit" the game.
shareNo way he could have given up he’s not French.
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