GAMES:Z

Z
Developer	The Bitmap Brothers
Publisher	Virgin Interactive
Released	1996
Status	Supported
Tested on	0.74
Tested game version	Unknown
Links	Compatibility List
Commands
Executable
Installer	N/A
Setup
DOS Extender
DOS4GW.EXE	Unknown
Works with DOS32A	N/A

Z is a real-time strategy computer game.

How to Work

To get Z working on DOSBox, the CD is required. The following link gives step-by-step instructions on how to get Z working under XP/Vista, using DOSBox :- here.

Thanks to KISSMAD for the tutorial.

Also, Using DOSBox, Z multiplayer also works, but it requires a third party program, Hamachi. Again, the guide to doing this is on the ZZone Forum - here. Thanks to dark_helmet for this.

Gameplay

From Wikipedia -
Unlike other traditional real-time strategy (RTS) games, collecting resources or building specific structures is unnecessary for creating an army. Instead, regions and structures within their borders are captured by moving troops to their respective flags. Also, instead of using resources to build units, constructing each unit requires a pre-set amount of time. The more regions are under the player's control, the less the time required. More powerful units take more time to construct.

The objective of the game is to eliminate the opponent by taking out their command Fort: either by sending a unit to enter it, or by destroying it directly. Alternatively, destroying all of the opponent's units immediately wins the game.

At the start of every mission, each side is given control of their Fort (the CPU) and a small group of units. A host of unmanned turrets and vehicles are usually scattered about the map and sending a robot to these will allow the player to add them to their army. However, the assigned robot will remain in the captured vehicle or turret as a pilot or a gunner.

The game is significantly different from others of its type: For example, vehicle drivers can take damage from enemy fire, and if the driver is destroyed, the vehicle they were commandeering will be unmanned and can be captured by either side. At the time of its release, Z was also noted for being more complex, intense, and challenging compared to other games of its time, like the original Command and Conquer, where the gameplay usually boiled down to tankrushing AIs showing a lack of aggression.

The game starts off with simple, symmetric levels where the CPU starts with roughly the same hardware as the player. As the game progresses, the levels become more complex, demanding more skill to control all units effectively, and the computer gains an advantage in starting units. For example, the CPU's fort usually has substantially more powerful guard turrets. The computer also gains more logistic advantages.