Project Zeta · Work in progress

Running the Z demo on a new engine.

A modern C++23 and SDL3 engine for the demo version of Bitmap Brothers' Z. It works directly with the original game data and aims to preserve the look, controls, and gameplay on current systems.

Read the devlog ↓ See it running
StatusIN DEVELOPMENT
LanguageC++23
PlatformSDL3
TargetZ DEMO
Demo map running · gameplay fidelity in progress
Zeta running the Z demo map with the player base, robots, and original HUD
The demo map running in Zeta with the original terrain, units, buildings, and interface data.
01 · The goal

Get the original demo running again.

Zeta is my own engine for the single-player demo of Z. It loads the original game data at runtime instead of shipping converted assets, then rebuilds the surrounding engine with modern C++ and SDL.

The current build starts at the familiar menu and loads the demo map with its terrain, robots, vehicles, buildings, interface, music, and sound effects.

02 · Gameplay

Match the original feel, then improve carefully.

The main focus is behavior. Movement, combat, production, territory capture, and unit responses should feel like the original game rather than merely look similar.

Pathfinding Routing is being tuned so units choose paths and move around obstacles more like the original game.
Core systems Selection, movement, combat, projectiles, factories, territories, HUD, audio, and minimap are running.
Small improvements WASD and arrow keys can pan around the map, with mouse-wheel zoom for easier navigation.
Focused scope The goal is the demo and its single-player experience. Multiplayer is not part of the project.
03 · Current build

From the original menu into the demo map.

The original Z main menu running inside the Zeta engine
The original menu flow rendered by Zeta.
Zeta showing another area of the demo map after moving the camera
Keyboard camera movement across the running demo map.
04 · Under the hood

A modern engine for classic game data.

The engine uses C++23, SDL3, EnTT, and CMake. Gameplay is organized as small systems over an entity-component world, while maps, rendering, input, audio, and navigation remain separate engine layers.

C++23SDL3EnTTCMakeA*Original data
Development log

What works and what comes next.

Short updates focused on visible progress in the demo and engine.

milestone

The original demo is running

Zeta now starts from the original menu and loads the demo map into a working single-player game.

  • Original terrain, buildings, units, interface, music, and sound effects load from the demo data.
  • Movement, combat, production, territories, selection, minimap, and audio are working.
  • Pathfinding is being tuned to follow the original game's routing more closely.
  • WASD and arrow-key camera movement make it easier to navigate the map.
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