Software:Z: Steel Soldiers

From HandWiki
Short description: 2001 video game
Z: Steel Soldiers
Developer(s)Bitmap Brothers[lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s)Eon Digital Entertainment[lower-alpha 2]
  • AU: SCi Games
Platform(s)Windows, iOS, Android
ReleaseWindows
iOS
  • WW: 16 April 2015[5]
Android
  • WW: 29 July 2015[6]
Genre(s)Real-time strategy
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Z: Steel Soldiers (originally released for Microsoft Windows simply as Steel Soldiers in North America) is a real-time strategy game released by the Bitmap Brothers in 2001 for the Windows platform and later by Kavcom Limited and KISS for Android and iOS in 2015. It is the sequel of their earlier game Z, and follows the same futuristic military science fiction storyline and battlefield gameplay. The graphics are enhanced from 2D to 3D.[7][8]

As a result of a breach in peace negotiations, players take control of one side as a leader of an army of robots. Playing the game primarily involves fending off robust opponents during battles to control a location, whilst expanding one's forces.[9] Objectives are met by occupying and holding territory rather than the more typical method of harvesting resources.[10][11]

Despite featuring solid fundamentals and gaining mixed or average reviews the game had minimal impact. While only receiving one gaming magazine award and garnering some criticism upon its release, the title was still an important technological advance for the development team.

Plot

Steel Soldiers is plot driven,[12] unlike the original game, which had little or no plot and consisted of two sides fighting each other for no given reason, while the game cutscenes were focused on comical, humorous situations. After 509 years of conflict MegaCom Corporation (red) and TransGlobal Empires (blue) are set to make peace and sign a treaty; in preparation, forces on both sides have reduced their military presence to a skeleton regiment.[13] The culmination of the peace treaty is the removal of both forces from the contested territory on Planet Rigal. The plot was written by Martin Pond. As the game is played it progresses with elements of intrigue and conspiracy.[14]

The peace initiative is brokered personally by Commander Keeler and TransGlobal's premier, Commander Rieman.[13] After a court martial judgement, the recently demoted Captain Zod, previously Commander Zod in the original Z, has been sending patrols into the demilitarized zone to spy upon the TransGlobal Empires.[13] The scouts Brad (one of the pilot robots from the original Z; the other one, Allan, is staying in the campbase) and Clarke find a secret landing strip and promptly shoot down a transport ship after this discovery.[15] The game begins with Zod sending in forces on a mission to retrieve the two missing scouts and find out "what the hell is going on", during which they find a broken box with the word "Omega" on it. Brad and Clarke's radio remains silent and although Zod lacks the proper authority, he is confident the peace agreement will remain intact but his aide Lassar is more concerned.[13]

Gameplay

Developers wanted an accessible strategy game combined with the immediacy of an arcade title. Consequently, the game was designed so a player could get into the action as quickly as possible.[16] Z: Steel Soldiers sports a humorous comic book style with a realistic 3D environment.[11][17] These graphics are best displayed on a moderately fast or recently purchased computer although game options allow playing the game on older Pentium II systems. This title is not compatible with Windows Vista.[17]

The game features the ability to scroll, rotate, zoom and tilt the isometric viewing position to gain a better perspective.[11] There is a high level of graphical detail such as reflections, shadows, weather effects and other environmental factors that can slow the frame rate on low end PCs.[18]

The game has an advanced artificial intelligence that makes holding defensive positions central to completing each mission.[11][19] There are 30 missions on six different worlds including desert, forest, volcanic, ice, archipelago and wasteland types. Each type of world has varying wildlife and lighting effects.[11] This sequel adds aircraft and water vessels to the units available. With the completion of missions comes the introduction of new buildings and armored units including rocket launchers, bombers, helicopters and tanks.

When the game is paused players can scroll across the playing area, but places not under their control will not display enemy buildings and unit commands may not be issued. There are three difficulty levels - easy, medium and hard.[20] Steel Soldiers has no tutorial, however the CD-ROM contains a 59-page game manual. The background music was designed to heighten the game's intensity. The game has a high score table and the ability to load and save games. There are options for changing the screen resolution, a gamma correction level setting and mouse sensitivity sliders. A free single-player demo is available for download.[17] Skirmish mode is a customisable secondary play mode based on a series of separate maps to the missions. Multiplayer games occur on another twenty additional maps.

MegaCom ground forces overtake a TransGlobal Command Centre

Players control a group of robotic soldiers and vehicles in a two-sided war. At the start of each mission the current scenario and objectives are outlined. Level objectives vary considerably compared to the original from "Capture Aircraft Hangars and Shipyards" to "reach the EVAC point within a time limit". Some operations are timed with a countdown. Other mission duties are securing a landing area, to capture research facilities and evacuate personnel. The Command Centre is the headquarters and functions as a communications hub. If this building is destroyed the mission ends in failure.[13]

The gameplay is based around fast-paced battle action without resource gathering.[18] Winning the game requires speed and sound blitzkrieg tactics. The main aim is to gain territory by securing a sector after touching a flag.[8] Each mission begins with an introduction that includes a discussion of the goals and a preview across a sweeping landscape, briefly revealing geographical features and approaches to some strategically important flag locations. The more territory a player gains, the greater the number of units that may be built and provides more land for the construction of buildings. Unoccupied buildings that are neutral are owned with control of the sector. Each flag has a number between 1 and 5 depicted upon it.[14] The number represents a multiplier for the amount of credits a player will draw from that territory, each minute, when captured. Credits are used at factory buildings and research facilities to construct robots.

Other activities include canceling orders, building bunkers and gun turrets, issuing repair tasks and selling buildings for credits. Players have the ability to queue commands and set way points so that newly created units can automatically move to a location once built. Each unit and structure in Z:Steel Soldiers has a damage indicator. Colored radius rings mark line of sight limits[11] and weapon range boundaries for the currently selected unit.[7] Collapsed status panels include the Message and Information Panel from a leader cam (overhead view), a Unit Info View Panel and Minimap Panel displaying which territories are held by the TransGlobal Empires, MegaCom Corporation or are neutral. These panels are used to coordinate army unit movements, view mission goals and troop statistics.[13]

Development

On 24 August 2000, the Bitmap Brothers announced a deal with EON Digital Entertainment to publish a sequel to Z, then given a working title of Z2.[9] This was after the developers had secured all rights to Z2 from the publisher GT Interactive.[9] The Bitmap Brothers wanted to cater to both fans of the original and to players familiar with the RTS genre.[21] Cool Beans Productions produced several animations, presented as cut scenes between a few of the missions.[11]

This release was the first after a long break in titles for the pc, by the developers and as such was highly anticipated. Developers linked the delay to the substantial improvements between versions.[21] Originally the game was to be released in late February 2001. After its initial release in June, several patches were released to fix a number of bugs and other minor tweaks were made.


Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic70/100[22]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGame2/5[23]
CGW2/5[18]
Eurogamer7 out of 10[10]
Game Informer6.25 out of 10[24]
GameSpot6.8 out of 10[25]
GameSpy88%[7]
GameZone6.6 out of 10[26]
IGN8 out of 10[8]
Next Generation3/5[27]
PC Gamer (US)66%[28]
PC Zone90%[15]

After it was released the game received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[22] A majority described the game as a fun strategy game with great graphics.[29] A PC Zone review awarded a Classic Award to Steel Soldiers and concluded that the game's strong points were the sharp artificial intelligence, good use of ambient sounds and well-designed maps.[15]

A smaller number of reviews were less flattering describing the experience as standard, as one that would bore a veteran RTS gamer.[18][30] Z: Steel Soldiers is similar to other pc strategy games with a military science fiction theme including Ground Control (2000), StarCraft (1998) and Warzone 2100 (1999). Several reviewers commented that Steel Soldiers offers nothing new to the genre.[19][29]

Z: Steel Soldiers had a weak impact, compared to the more popular Warcraft II and Command & Conquer.[30] A few reviewers noted tiny annoyances and that the game was predictable while others described the games imperfections as significant. The game has been criticised over its lack of diversity, clumsy interface and generic sounds.[8] One review described the game as old-school, formulaic and lacking distinctive graphics.[20] The humour has been characterized as caustic and witty.[7] At least one reviewer suggested a game-speed toggle would have been a useful addition for players.[20]

John Lee reviewed the PC version of the game for Next Generation, rating it three stars out of five, and stated that "A boisterous 3D realtime strategy melee, with action, robot management, and rugged terrain, but you've seen much of it elsewhere."[27]

Ports

See also

  • List of strategy video games

Notes

  1. ↑ Steam, Android, and iOS versions developed by TickTock Games.[1]
  2. ↑ Steam, Android, and iOS versions published by Kavcom and KISS.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sykes, Tom (August 1, 2014). "Z: Steel Soldiers returns to active duty, with reworked art and controls". https://www.pcgamer.com/z-steel-soldiers-returns-to-active-duty-with-reworked-art-and-controls/. 
  2. ↑ "Countdown to Steel Soldiers, day 1". June 13, 2001. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/06/13/countdown-to-steel-soldiers-day-1. 
  3. ↑ "2001 Releases". http://www.eurogamer.net/release-dates.php. 
  4. ↑ "Steel Soldiers (2001) Windows release dates". MobyGames. http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/steel-soldiers/release-info. 
  5. ↑ "Z Steel Soldiers Out Now on iOS". April 16, 2015. http://www.kavcom.co.uk/2015/04/17/z-steel-soldiers-out-now-on-ios/. 
  6. ↑ Ballard, Ryan (July 29, 2015). "RTS game Z Steel Soldiers leaves beta and Tegra exclusivity and is now fully released on Google Play". https://www.droidgamers.com/news/rts-game-z-steel-soldiers-leaves-beta-and-is-now-fully-released-on-google-play/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Hiles, Bill (18 June 2001). "Z: Steel Soldiers". GameSpy. http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/june01/steelsoldiers. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Adams, Dan (15 June 2001). "Steel Soldiers". IGN. http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/06/15/steel-soldiers. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Z: Steel Soldiers - Press Release". The Bitmap Brothers. 24 August 2000. http://www.bitmap-brothers.co.uk/company/press-releases/games/z-steel-soldiers-1/index.htm. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Bye, John "Gestalt" (28 June 2001). "Z: Steel Soldiers". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_z2. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 Walker, Trey (27 February 2001). "Steel Soldiers Preview [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006""]. GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/articles/steel-soldiers-preview/1100-2690102/. 
  12. ↑ "Z: Steel Soldiers". The Bitmap Brothers. http://www.bitmap-brothers.co.uk/our-games/present/z-steel-soldiers/index.htm. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 Steel Soldiers Survival Handbook (Game Manual). MegaCom Press. 2001. p. 10. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Steel Soldiers for Windows - MobyGames". MobyGames. http://www.mobygames.com/game/steel-soldiers. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "PC Review: Z: Steel Soldiers". PC Zone. 2001. 
  16. ↑ Bye, John "Gestalt" (17 November 2000). "Mike Montgomery of the Bitmap Brothers". Eurogamer. Eurogamer Network. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/i_bitmap. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 "Z: Steel Soldiers". Mastertronic Group. http://www.mastertronic.com/productSoldOut.asp?pid=145&productLabelID=1. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Chin, Elliott (September 2001). "Better Dead Than Zed (Z: Steel Soldiers Review)". Computer Gaming World (206): 91. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_206.pdf. Retrieved 20 November 2016. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Fulljames, Stephen (2001). "PC Review: Z: Steel Soldiers". Computer and Video Games (Future plc). http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=8607. Retrieved 20 November 2016. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 "Steel Soldiers (PC)". CNET Networks. 12 June 2001. http://reviews.cnet.com/pc-games/steel-soldiers-pc/1707-9696_7-30977272.html. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 IGN staff (28 July 2000). "Z2 Interview". IGN. http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/07/29/z2-interview. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Steel Soldiers for PC Reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/steel-soldiers/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  23. ↑ Baize, Anthony. "Steel Soldiers - Review". AllGame. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=31627&tab=review. 
  24. ↑ "Steel Soldiers". Game Informer. 2001. 
  25. ↑ Osborne, Scott (12 June 2001). "Steel Soldiers Review". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/steel-soldiers-review/1900-2773894/. 
  26. ↑ Krause, Kevin (21 June 2001). "Steel Soldiers". GameZone. http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r16901.htm. 
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Lee, John (October 2001). "Finals". Next Generation (Imagine Media) 4 (10): 99. 
  28. ↑ "Z: Steel Soldiers". PC Gamer. 2001. 
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Criscito, Jeff (2002). "Steel Soldiers Metallic Eye Candy". Game Industry News. Noble Order Press Enterprises. http://www.gameindustry.com/review/item.asp?id=298. 
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Klepek, Patrick. "Steel Soldiers Review for PC". Gaming Age. http://www.gaming-age.com/cgi-bin/reviews/review.pl?sys=pc&game=steel. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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