Until 19 June 2006, multiplayer gameplay was supported by Microsoft Gaming Zone. Age of Empires also facilitated online and network play with up to 8 people simultaneously. Variations of random map, such as the resource-heavy "Deathmatch", are also available. Aside from the campaigns, there is a game mode called "Random Map", in which a different map is generated for each new game. The campaigns follow the history of the Egyptian, Greek, Babylonian and Yamato civilizations there's also a complete campaign specially made for the demo version that takes place in the Hittite empire. Campaigns are a collection of scenarios which are completed in a linear fashion. The game features four single-player campaigns in which the player is required to complete specific objectives. Advancement between ages is researched at the Town Center, and each advancement brings the player new technologies, weapons, and units. These are the Stone Age (Mesolithic/Paleolithic), the Tool Age (Neolithic/Chalcolithic), the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. A major component of the game is the advancement through four ages. Each civilization has technologies unique to them, so that no civilization possesses all the technologies possible within the game. Each with individual sets of attributes, including a varying number of available technologies and units. Resources must also be preserved, as no new resources become available as the game progresses, meaning, if you cut a tree down, the tree will not come back. To assure victory, the player must gather resources in order to pay for new units, buildings and more advanced technology. Even with the Field Gun's Dug-In ability, it does not exactly prevent Musketeers from two shotting them.Age of Empires requires the player to develop a civilization from a handful of hunter-gatherers to an expansive Iron Age empire. However, the Field Gun's damage is not quite up to speed with the Musketeer's defense, so it may take Field Guns more than two hit to kill them, so again it is balanced out. Unlike the Cannon, the Field Gun has extra mobility and range to compete against the Musketeer's increased range, so it will be hard for Musketeers to shoot them. The Field Gun is effective against the Musketeer because of their superior range. With the Grenadier's range of 2, it is balanced out, so Musketeers will need to rely on their range more in these scenarios. The Musketeer is effective against Grenadiers because of their range of 7 and their combat bonuses. However, in hilly and rocky maps with no forests, the Musketeers will have an advantage over them, and with a range of 7, they can hit a Ranger, cause considerable damage and possibly not take a counter attack from them on the next turn. Neither side has bonuses against each other, but with the Ranger's new stealth ability it can be hard for the Musketeer to kill them. They should also be wary of their low defense as it can be exposed and easily damaged by Dragoons. Musketeers will therefore be ineffective against Dragoons, and will have a hard time killing them, unless they have an attack bonus. Dragoons have combat bonuses and high movement speed to counter Musketeers, as well as a super strong defense.