Enable DirectDraw and use cnc-ddraw:
Maybe this is a useful solution for Windows 10 and 11 owners, it also works on Windows 7 (I tested it here).
By default, the GOG version is configured to run in Direct3D, and there is no option in "Setup.exe" to change this.
However, here is a quick and easy solution for using the DirectDraw renderer with the cnc-ddraw wrapper.
So let's go...
- Open the game's root directory and look for the "tzar.ini" file, open it and look for the line "DIRECTXDEVICE=1", change the value 1 to 0, leaving it like this...
"[VIDEO]
BUFFER_IN_VIDEO_MEMORY=0
DIRECTXDEVICE=0
DIRECTDRAW_DEVICESNUMBER=2
SETUPFXDEVICE=0"
- Save the file;
Note: 0=DirectDraw | 1=Direct3D
- Open "Setup.exe" and make any changes to video, audio and etc... That are necessary for your use;
- Download the latest version of
cnc-ddraw
- And unzip the contents of the file into the game's root directory, that is, where the executable is located;
- Open "cnc-ddraw config.exe", and in "Presentation" change to "Fullscreen Upscaled", and activate "VSync" below;
- Before you start playing, be sure to disable any compatibility options in the game shortcut (cnc-ddraw doesn't like these things);
- Now run to kick lots of dragon butts!
"All knowledge must be spread!"