Development versions
A total of three different demo versions were found, two of which are pre-release, and one beta demo version:
- beta demo (no download link currently)
- demo (1997-10-16): 7kdemo.exe
- demo (1997-10-20): 7kdemo.exe
- demo (1997-12-11): 7kdemo.exe
The most noticeable development change that occurred is that the terrain tiles were completely redrawn. Early screenshots and the beta demo show this pre-release terrain. All other demo versions have the tiles similar to the final release. Pre-release demos do not have build-up animations for buildings, and starting kings in each scenario have pre-set names (in the full version, the player's name is used everywhere except the tutorial).
Additionally there appears to have been a snow terrain planned for the game but this was cut and another version later included with Ancient Adversaries.
A useful feature to identify later pre-release versions is that the reputation meter on the top bar shows both the thumbs up and thumbs down icons while the final version only shows either up or down depending on the player's current reputation dynamics.
It is now established that the working title of the game was Ambition.
Official screenshots
Screenshots come from a number of sources, some in lower resolution than the original (800x600):
- Enlight Software: early shots showing pre-release terrain, downsized
- Buka.com: Buka is a Russian software publisher, most screenshots show pre-release terrain, some are in original resolution
- Computer Games Online preview: had a few shots in good quality, only one preserved by the Wayback Machine
- GamesDomain review: heavily cropped pre-release screenshots
- Realms of the Kingdoms: the site had official images but only thumbnails are preserved
- screenshots.net: some official screenshots, but converted to JPEG and with site watermark added; only a few images preserved by the Wayback Machine
- Secret Service Issue No. 50 cover disk A: a few downsized screenshots (one identical to a shot found at cdmag.com) and with the magazine logo covering like 15-20% of each image
- Absolute Games.RU: a few pre-release shots (see attachment)
Ancient Adversaries has one demo, with two scenarios equally not found in the full game. The same limitations apply as to the original demo versions: Fryhtans and Seats of Power are not available.