Difference between revisions of "Command & Conquer: Generals"
(Cleanup, workaround for alt-tab crashes, d3d8to9 added) |
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{{ii}} The Origin and Mac App Store versions are already patched to the latest version. | {{ii}} The Origin and Mac App Store versions are already patched to the latest version. | ||
− | Retail Windows Generals patch v1.08 can be downloaded in many languages from [https://cncnz.com/downloads/generals-downloads/#patches CNCNZ]. | + | *Retail Windows Generals patch v1.08 can be downloaded in many languages from [https://cncnz.com/downloads/generals-downloads/#patches CNCNZ]. |
+ | *Retail Windows Zero Hour expansion patch v1.04 can be downloaded in many languages from [https://cncnz.com/downloads/zero-hour-downloads/#patches CNCNZ]. | ||
+ | *Old Mac OS X version patch v1.0.4: [http://web.archive.org/web/20140627120609/http://downloads2.macgamefiles.com/files/aspyr/patches/GeneralsZeroHourMac1.0.4_EN.dmg English], [http://web.archive.org/web/20190620161826/http://downloads2.macgamefiles.com/files/aspyr/patches/GeneralsZeroHourMac1.0.4_FR.dmg French], [http://web.archive.org/web/20190620162122/http://downloads2.macgamefiles.com/files/aspyr/patches/GeneralsZeroHourMac1.0.4_DE.dmg German] <ref>{{Refurl|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20110827212856/http://support.aspyr.com/index.php/kb/article/000566|title=Aspyr Support Center|date=2011-08-27}}</ref> | ||
− | + | ===Officially released extra map and mission (Generals only)=== | |
− | + | {{ii}}For Generals, EA Pacific released a official extra map and mission that were not included in the game. | |
− | |||
− | |||
− | === | ||
− | {{ii}}For Generals, EA Pacific released a official extra map and mission that were not included in the game | ||
# Download the single-player GLA-mission [https://files.cncnz.com/generals/cncgeneralsblacksheep.zip Black Sheep]; an official campaign mission which was cut from the final release, but was released in 2009 by EA | # Download the single-player GLA-mission [https://files.cncnz.com/generals/cncgeneralsblacksheep.zip Black Sheep]; an official campaign mission which was cut from the final release, but was released in 2009 by EA | ||
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===D3d8to9-wrapper=== | ===D3d8to9-wrapper=== | ||
{{Fixbox|description=Install d3d8to9-wrapper|ref={{cn|date=January 2020}}|fix= | {{Fixbox|description=Install d3d8to9-wrapper|ref={{cn|date=January 2020}}|fix= | ||
− | {{++}} | + | {{++}} Improves compatibility and stability of the game significantly by converting all Direct3D 8-API calls and lowlevel shaders to equivalent Direct3D 9 ones. |
{{++}} Compatible with Gentool and online multiplayer. | {{++}} Compatible with Gentool and online multiplayer. | ||
{{++}} Fixes the crash when Alt-Tab out of the game for the second time. Possibly fixes other crashes as well. | {{++}} Fixes the crash when Alt-Tab out of the game for the second time. Possibly fixes other crashes as well. | ||
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===Skip startup game intro=== | ===Skip startup game intro=== | ||
{{Fixbox|description=Move, delete or rename the intro-video's|ref={{cn|date=Oktober 2019}}|fix= | {{Fixbox|description=Move, delete or rename the intro-video's|ref={{cn|date=Oktober 2019}}|fix= | ||
− | {{ii}} This can be done on all Windows versions of the game. | + | {{ii}} This can be done on all Windows-versions of the game. |
− | {{ii}} You need to apply this to both Generals and its expansion pack. | + | {{ii}} You need to apply this to both Generals and its expansion pack Zero Hour. |
# Go to <code>{{P|game}}\Data\english\Movies</code> | # Go to <code>{{P|game}}\Data\english\Movies</code> | ||
# Move, delete or rename the following files: <code>EA_LOGO.BIK</code>, <code>EA_LOGO640.BIK</code>, <code>sizzle_review.bik</code> and <code>sizzle_review640.bik</code>. | # Move, delete or rename the following files: <code>EA_LOGO.BIK</code>, <code>EA_LOGO640.BIK</code>, <code>sizzle_review.bik</code> and <code>sizzle_review640.bik</code>. | ||
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==Issues fixed== | ==Issues fixed== | ||
− | ===Game does not start (Origin)=== | + | ===Game does not start or is very slow (Origin)=== |
− | {{Fixbox|description=Disable Origin | + | {{Fixbox|description=Disable Origin in-game|ref={{cn|date=July 2016}}|fix= |
+ | {{ii}} This issue affects especially old versions of Origin. It seems that nowadays Origin in-game doesn't cause these issues anymore. | ||
# Select the My Games tab in Origin. | # Select the My Games tab in Origin. | ||
# Right-click Generals/Zero Hour and select "Game Properties". | # Right-click Generals/Zero Hour and select "Game Properties". | ||
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==="Technical Difficulties" error/Serious Error=== | ==="Technical Difficulties" error/Serious Error=== | ||
− | {{ii}} This problem occurs on modern | + | {{ii}} This problem occurs on modern Windows-versions; one of the methods below should fix it: |
{{Image|Command and Conquer Generals Error.png|Error message}} | {{Image|Command and Conquer Generals Error.png|Error message}} | ||
− | {{Fixbox|description= | + | {{Fixbox|description=Create or edit Options.ini|ref=<ref>https://answers.ea.com/t5/C-C-The-Ultimate-Collection/READ-FIRST-Common-Issues-and-Solutions/m-p/222060/highlight/true#M687</ref>|fix= |
{{ii}} The install process very often fails to create <code>Options.ini</code>, causing this error. | {{ii}} The install process very often fails to create <code>Options.ini</code>, causing this error. | ||
{{ii}} Set <code>AntiAliasing = 6</code> (maximum) for AMD/ATI or <code>AntiAliasing = 4</code> (maximum) for Nvidia. | {{ii}} Set <code>AntiAliasing = 6</code> (maximum) for AMD/ATI or <code>AntiAliasing = 4</code> (maximum) for Nvidia. | ||
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}} | }} | ||
− | ===Shell map (menu background) is | + | ===Shell map (menu background) is static=== |
{{Fixbox|description=Set Windows XP Service Pack 2 compatibility mode|ref={{cn|date=October 2019}}|fix= | {{Fixbox|description=Set Windows XP Service Pack 2 compatibility mode|ref={{cn|date=October 2019}}|fix= | ||
+ | {{ii}} It is a very rare issue. | ||
# Go to the properties of <code>generals.exe</code> or one of its shortcuts. | # Go to the properties of <code>generals.exe</code> or one of its shortcuts. | ||
# Enable Windows XP Service Pack 2 [[#Windows Compatibility Mode|compatibility mode]]. | # Enable Windows XP Service Pack 2 [[#Windows Compatibility Mode|compatibility mode]]. |
Revision as of 22:11, 27 January 2020
Developers | |
---|---|
EA Pacific[1][2] | |
Zero Hour | EA Los Angeles |
macOS (OS X) | i5works[3][4] |
Publishers | |
Electronic Arts | |
OS X | Aspyr Media |
Engines | |
SAGE | |
Release dates | |
Windows | February 10, 2003 |
macOS (OS X) | April 14, 2004 |
Warnings
- The macOS (OS X) version of this game does not work on macOS Catalina (version 10.15) or later due to the removal of support for 32-bit-only apps.
⤏ Go to series page | |
Command & Conquer | 1995 |
Command & Conquer: Red Alert | 1996 |
Command & Conquer: Sole Survivor | 1997 |
Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun | 1999 |
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 | 2000 |
Command & Conquer: Renegade | 2002 |
Command & Conquer: Generals | 2003 |
Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars | 2007 |
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 | 2008 |
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 - Uprising | 2009 |
Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight | 2010 |
OpenRA (unofficial) | 2010 |
Command & Conquer (2013) | Cancelled |
Command & Conquer Remastered Collection | 2020 |
Renegade X (unofficial) | EA |
Key points
- Small but dedicated community.
- The Mac App Store version of this game does not work on macOS Catalina (version 10.15) or later due to the removal of support for 32-bit-only apps. An official 64-bit update is in the planning to make it compatible again with macOS Catalina. [5]
- Framerate is tied to gamespeed: 30 FPS.
General information
- C&C:Online - fan-hosted multiplayer server replacement (Windows version only)
- EA's Official Command & Conquer site
- Command & Conquer Wiki - A wiki for everything Command & Conquer-related
Availability
Source | DRM | Notes | Keys | OS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Retail | SafeDisc DRM[Note 1]. | |||
Mac App Store | Deluxe Edition. Updated for compatibility with modern systems. Multiplayer is not compatible with the Windows and original OS X releases. | |||
Origin | Bundled with other games in the franchise up to Tiberian Twilight. Included with EA Play. |
- SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see above for affected versions).
- Deluxe Edition includes the base game and the Zero Hour expansion
DLC and expansion packs
Name | Notes | |
---|---|---|
Command & Conquer: Generals – Zero Hour | Comes bundled with the The First Decade and Ultimate Collection compilations. |
Essential improvements
Patches
- The Origin and Mac App Store versions are already patched to the latest version.
- Retail Windows Generals patch v1.08 can be downloaded in many languages from CNCNZ.
- Retail Windows Zero Hour expansion patch v1.04 can be downloaded in many languages from CNCNZ.
- Old Mac OS X version patch v1.0.4: English, French, German [8]
Officially released extra map and mission (Generals only)
- For Generals, EA Pacific released a official extra map and mission that were not included in the game.
- Download the single-player GLA-mission Black Sheep; an official campaign mission which was cut from the final release, but was released in 2009 by EA
- Download the skirmish/multiplayer map Flash Fire for two players
- Extract the folders from the ZIP-files
- Place the folders in
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Data\Maps
to be able to use them in-game - Start Generals (NOT Zero Hour)
- Click on
Solo Play
- Click on
Skirmish
- Click on
Select map
- Click on
Unofficial maps
- Click on either
Black Sheep
orFlash Fire
- Click on
Accept
to use the mission or map - Click on
Play game
for the Black Sheep mission or setup the skirmish Force Fire map
Gentool
- Still actively supported and updated.
- It restores online play and contains many enhancements and fixes for the game.
- Gentool is compatible with all the Windows-versions of Generals.
- Gentool requires the game and expansion pack to be patched to the latest version.
Gentool provides enhanced game controls, optimizations and fixes for both Generals and its expansion pack Zero Hour. The latest version can be downloaded from here.
The main features of Gentool include: [9]
- Redirects the online login screen to the C&C:Online server instead of the closed GameSpy ones to restore the online services
- Crash and exploit fixes
- Support for custom widescreen resolution
- Better compatibility with recent Windows versions
- Better anti-cheat detection for online play and replays
- Adjustable camera height, pitch and rotation
- Adjustable scroll speed
- Adjustable FPS limiter (when the game runs too fast.)
- Contains an internal update mechanism to keep Gentool up-to-date and download the latest version of extra maps that can be used in skirmish or online play
- Includes a automatic patch that allows up to 1200 maps to be used in-game
The in-game Gentool menu, where you can access all these features, can be opened by pressing the Insert
-key on the keyboard.
D3d8to9-wrapper
Install d3d8to9-wrapper[citation needed] |
---|
|
Get online play working again (Windows)
Get network play working again[citation needed] |
---|
|
Restore mod- and command-line-parameter support (Origin, The Ultimate Collection)
- The Ultimate Collection was released with no support for command-line-parameters or mods.
- These two options can be simple undone by using the
repair
option in Origin for each game in The Ultimate Collection.
Replace the executables of the games[citation needed] |
---|
|
Use Bibber's unsupported "fixed launchers"[citation needed] |
---|
|
Skip startup game intro
Move, delete or rename the intro-video's[citation needed] |
---|
|
Skip all mission news intro videos (Zero Hour)
Move, delete or rename the mission intro-videos[citation needed] |
---|
|
Game data
Configuration file(s) location
System | Location |
---|---|
Windows | %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Data\ %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour Data\ |
macOS (OS X) | ~/Library/Containers/com.aspyr.command.conquer.generals.appstore/Data/Documents/Command & Conquer Generals/User Data/ ~/Library/Containers/com.aspyr.command.conquer.generals.appstore/Data/Documents/Command & Conquer Generals Zero Hour/User Data/ |
Save game data location
System | Location |
---|---|
Windows | %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Data\Save\ %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour Data\Save\ |
macOS (OS X) | ~/Library/Containers/com.aspyr.command.conquer.generals.appstore/Data/Documents/Command & Conquer Generals/User Data/Save/ ~/Library/Containers/com.aspyr.command.conquer.generals.appstore/Data/Documents/Command & Conquer Generals Zero Hour/User Data/Save/ |
Save game cloud syncing
System | Native | Notes |
---|---|---|
Origin | ||
OneDrive | Requires enabling backup of the Documents folder in OneDrive on all computers. |
Video settings
Widescreen resolution
- Setting the game to a resolution that is normally not available in-game, causes the game to crash after alt-tabbing out of the game for the second time.
Set widescreen-resolution in-game with Gentool[citation needed] |
---|
|
Set resolution manually in Options.ini[citation needed] |
---|
|
Camera height
- Adjusted camera height only applied to replays and singleplayer.
Adjust camera height in-game through Gentool[citation needed] |
---|
|
Adjust camera height[citation needed] |
---|
|
Input settings
Audio settings
Localizations
Language | UI | Audio | Sub | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
English | ||||
French | ||||
German | An uncensored version of C&C Generals was shortly sold. The censored version, titled "C&C Generäle", is more widely available and known and uses separate patches. | |||
Italian | ||||
Korean | ||||
Polish | ||||
Brazilian Portuguese | ||||
Spanish | ||||
Traditional Chinese | Not available in P.R.China. | |||
Russian | Fan translation by «DK team» |
VR support
3D modes | State | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
vorpX | G3D User created profile, requires DGVoodoo2 v 2.55.4. For required ini tweaks see profile introdution. Note: Profile may not work with the latest wrapper, in case of issues please report to the vorpx forum.
|
Network
Multiplayer types
Type | Native | Players | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
LAN play | 8 | |||
Online play | 8 | Official services have been shut down; use GenTool to get online play working again (Windows only). |
Connection types
Type | Native | Notes |
---|---|---|
Matchmaking | ||
Peer-to-peer | ||
Dedicated | ||
Self-hosting | ||
Direct IP |
Ports
Protocol | Port(s) and/or port range(s) |
---|---|
TCP | 80, 6667, 28910, 29900, 29920 |
UDP | 4321, 27900 |
- Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support status is unknown.
Issues fixed
Game does not start or is very slow (Origin)
Disable Origin in-game[citation needed] |
---|
|
"Technical Difficulties" error/Serious Error
- This problem occurs on modern Windows-versions; one of the methods below should fix it:
Create or edit Options.ini[12] |
---|
AntiAliasing = DrawScrollAnchor = GameSpyIPAddress = 0.0.0.0 Gamma = 50 IPAddress = 0.0.0.0 IdealStaticGameLOD = High LanguageFilter = false MoveScrollAnchor = MusicVolume = 55 Resolution = 800 600 SFX3DVolume = 79 SFXVolume = 71 ScrollFactor = 50 SendDelay = no StaticGameLOD = Low UseAlternateMouse = no VoiceVolume = 70 |
Set Windows XP Service Pack 2 compatibility mode[citation needed] |
---|
|
Install d3d8to9-wrapper[citation needed] |
---|
See D3d8to9-wrapper. |
Fully reinstall[13] |
---|
|
DirectX 8.1 error (Windows)
- Full error: 'Please make sure your have DirectX 8.1 or higher installed. Also verify that your video card meets the minimum requirements'.
Install DirectX 9.0c[citation needed] |
---|
|
Remove dbghelp.dll[citation needed] |
---|
|
Serious error/crash when Alt-Tab out of the game for the second time
Install d3d8to9-wrapper[citation needed] |
---|
See D3d8to9-wrapper. |
Set Windows XP Service Pack 2 compatibility mode[citation needed] |
---|
|
Other information
API
Technical specs | Supported | Notes |
---|---|---|
Direct3D | 8.1 | |
OpenGL | OS X only. | |
Shader Model support | 1.4 | [citation needed] |
Executable | PPC | 32-bit | 64-bit | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Windows | ||||
macOS (OS X) | Install the version 1.0.4 patch for Intel support. 64-bit Intel support is only available in the digital re-release. |
Middleware
Middleware | Notes | |
---|---|---|
Audio | Miles Sound System | |
Cutscenes | Bink Video (Windows), QuickTime.framework (macOS) | |
Multiplayer | GameSpy |
System requirements
Windows | ||
---|---|---|
Minimum | Recommended | |
Operating system (OS) | 98 | ME, 2000, XP |
Processor (CPU) | Intel Pentium III 800 MHz AMD Athlon 800 MHz | |
System memory (RAM) | 128 MB | 256 MB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) | 1.8 GB | |
Video card (GPU) | Nvidia GeForce 2 ATI Radeon 7500 32 MB of VRAM DirectX 8.1 compatible | Nvidia GeForce 3 DirectX 9.0c compatible |
macOS (OS X) | ||
---|---|---|
Minimum | ||
Operating system (OS) | 10.9.5 | |
Processor (CPU) | Intel 2.2 GHz | |
System memory (RAM) | 4 GB | |
Hard disk drive (HDD) | 5 GB | |
Video card (GPU) | ATI Radeon HD 3870 Nvidia GeForce 330M Intel HD 3000 256 MB of VRAM |
- OS X requirements are for the Mac App Store version
Notes
References
- ↑ EA ANNOUNCES PUBLIC TEST FOR COMMAND & CONQUER GENERALS - Blue's News - last accessed on 2016-9-12
- ↑ GameSpy: Command & Conquer: Generals - Page 1 - last accessed on 2016-9-12
- ↑ Aspyr: Command & Conquer Generals hits beta - Macworld - last accessed on 2016-7-23
- ↑ Aspyr Media Inc. Ships Electronic Arts' `Command & Conquer Generals' for Macintosh - Business Wire - last accessed on 2016-7-23
- ↑ MacOS Catalina, 64-bit, 32-bit, and related Questions - last accessed on 2019-10-20
- ↑ Not Loading in Windows 10; this will break thousands of - Microsoft Community - last accessed on 2017-01-16
- ↑ Microsoft - MS15-097: Description of the security update for the graphics component in Windows: September 8, 2015 - last accessed on 2018-02-16
- ↑ Aspyr Support Center - last accessed on 2011-08-27
- ↑ Gentool documentation - last accessed on 2019-10-20
- ↑ Bibber is closing his site - last accessed on 2019-10-19
- ↑ Gentool widescreen resolution - last accessed on 2019-10-19
- ↑ https://answers.ea.com/t5/C-C-The-Ultimate-Collection/READ-FIRST-Common-Issues-and-Solutions/m-p/222060/highlight/true#M687
- ↑ http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/544479-cc-generals-and-zero-hour-technical-difficulties/