Difference between revisions of "Command & Conquer: Red Alert"

Revision as of 11:52, 6 January 2014


⤏ 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

Released for free following the release of Red Alert 3.

Completely playable on modern PCs after installing the 3.03p fan patch.

CD/ISO installer is 16-bit and doesn't run under modern operating systems, see Availability for fanmade installers and workarounds.

Emulation guide is available below.

General information

CnC-Comm forums

CNCNZ subforum

Command & Conquer Wiki

PortableRA and ra303p patch discussion

Availability

Template:Availability Table

Like many 32-bit games released during the mid-90's, the game's installer is 16-bit. This and some other issues prevents you the game from being installed (using the ISOs released by EA or the game CDs) on modern operating systems and PCs. There are fan made installers and workarounds listed below.

A guide for installing the game from the CDs or ISOs can be found here.

Essential improvements

File:RA-hires.jpg

1024x768 resolution using the 3.03p patch.

Patch

3.03p

This patch contains:

Latest official 3.03 patch and community fixes (over 130)
New optional mods (no changes to default graphics or gameplay by default)
Support for newer Windows systems (including 64-bit)
Online (by CnCNet) and LAN playability up to 8 players (with a new lobby)
Support for higher resolutions
No-CD option
Missions from Counterstrike and Aftermath expansions

Complete feature list.

In the compatibility tab all compatibility options should be turned off.^[1]

Support for regular Red Alert installation, The First Decade and The Ultimate Collection.

Game data

Configuration file location

Template:Game data/row

System	Location

redalert.ini contains normal game settings.

ddraw.ini contains CnC-DDraw settings.

cncnet.ini contains CnCNet 5 settings.

Save game data location

Template:Game data/row

System	Location

Save game cloud syncing

System	Native	Notes
Origin

Video settings

File:RedAlertConfig.png

Video and input settings

File:RedAlerGameSettings.png

Game settings

These are video settings alongside the fan patch.

Template:Video settings

Input settings

Template:Input settings

Audio settings

Template:Audio settings

Online play

There are 2 online services to choose for Red Alert: XWIS and CnCNet 5. XWIS is the official replacement for Westwood's online service (WOL) which was shutdown in 2005. On the other hand, CnCNet 5 is supported by the community and runs by opening the external CnCNet 5 client. It's also the only service used by most of the online player base.

XWIS

XWIS is a community run replacement for Westwood Online (WOL), Westwood's online service. It's integrated directly into the game and the in-game 'Internet' menu uses this service. It's run by a community called Strike-Team and their official forums can found at http://xwis.net/forums/ . They do not seem to support Red Alert on their site nor forums. The online Red Alert community does not use XWIS, instead using CnCNet 5.

CnCNet 5

CnCNet 5 is another community run online service for older C&C games which uses an external client to launch the games it supports. It's where the online player base predominantly plays on. CnCNet 5 makes use of the ra303p patch to launch matches from its external client and to enable extra game options. CnCNet 5 also is automatically updated and comes with the ra303p patch, CnC-DDraw and a configuration tool. In addition to that it comes with better netcode support, the ability to pick spawn locations and set alliances, support for spectators and new game options plus map previews in the CnCNet 5 client. In the future a ladder will be added too.

In order to play the game online with CnCNet 5, you'll will need to download it from http://cncnet.org/download . On this page there also is a download link to a CnCNet 5 multiplayer version of the game which is about 15 MB in size. After downloading cncnet5.exe place it in your Red Alert game folder and run it. It should now download all needed files and prompt you to connect to the server with a name. Press the "Ok" button and then you're ready to play.

Issues unresolved

This list assumes you're using the patch. If you experience a new game issue, please make a support thread on the CnC-Comm forums.

Flickering mouse under cnc-ddraw (which is needed to fix game issues)
Left-handed mouse setups have problems with selecting multiple units.^[2]

Issues fixed

If you have problems with The First Decade or The Ultimate Collection, be sure to check this FAQ on EA forums.

General fixes

Instructions

Crash after overheating

Instructions

No videos after installing the patch

Instructions

Game is laggy after installing the patch

Instructions

Game speed/Map scroll rate issue

Instructions

No music in the portable version

Instructions

Mac/Linux Emulation

This is an emulation guide for the fan-made packs, not for the ISOs or CDs.

PlayonLinux/PlayonMac can also be set up to play with the same configuration (if you want a step-by-step guide, go to FunkyFr3sh.cncnet.org).

Install Wine through repositories or through official website and run or extract the installer under Wine.
Inside 'winecfg' create configuration options for ra95.exe and under the Library tab, add overrides for 'wsock32.dll' and 'ddraw.dll'.
Have fun!

The configuration program requires .NET Framework 2.0.

If the configuration program doesn't work, then you have to do configure the game manually in redalert.ini or the aforementioned ddraw.ini. The settings for the internal resolution, sound and multiplayer options (not CnCNet) and languages are in redalert.ini.

Other information

Open source implementations

File:OpenRA.jpg

OpenRA

OpenRA is an implementation that is multiplatform. It re-imagines the game and its gameplay is completely different from Red Alert. It has a completely reimagined interface, supports high resolutions and is very well-supported. However, it's multiplayer-only and music has to be put separately into its Application Data folder.

Red Alert can be also played on Android (link to CnC-Comm.com).

Mods

Mods for this game are scarce, but there are some that are quite neat. Command & Conquer: Classic Revolution is an Aftermath mod and there's also Arda, which is a project currently in development that aims to both patch the game and make it more moddable, although incompatible with CnCNet or more precisely, other players' game versions. There are also some total conversions of the game like a Red Alert 3 conversion called The Red Alert.

Maps

Red Alert has support for external maps, both multiplayer and singleplayer. Links for them is at the beginning of this article. There's even a map creator you can find here and XCC Mixer to package the maps.

Languages

C&C patch also supports multiple languages. They can be found here under language packs section. Currently available languages are (besides English): German, French, Spanish, Russian

System requirements

Windows
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)	95	98
Processor (CPU)	Intel Pentium 75 MHz	Intel Pentium 120 MHz
System memory (RAM)
Hard disk drive (HDD)	40 MB	500 MB
Video card (GPU)	PCI video card 1 MB of VRAM

DOS
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)	5.0, Windows 3.1	6.2
Processor (CPU)	Intel 486 66 MHz	Intel Pentium 75 MHz
System memory (RAM)
Hard disk drive (HDD)	40 MB
Video card (GPU)	VGA or MCGA (256 colour) video card

ISA video cards are not supported

References

[1] CnC-DDraw optimal configuration

[2] C&C Comm Center - RA95 Can't select (drag) multiple units

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 {{++}} Released for free following the release of [[Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3|Red Alert 3]].
 {{++}} Completely playable on modern PCs after installing the [[#3.03p|3.03p]] fan patch.
-{{++}} Dedicated community forums at [http://cnc-comm.com/community/ CnC-Comm].
+{{--}} CD/ISO installer is 16-bit and doesn't run under modern operating systems, see [[#Availability|Availability]] for fanmade installers and workarounds.
-{{++}} Works under wine for Linux and Mac, see [[#Mac/Linux emulation|below]].
+{{ii}} Emulation guide is available [[#Mac/Linux emulation|below]].
-{{++}} Large and growing online community with 250 players online at peak every day on [[#CnCNet 5|CnCNet 5]].
-{{--}} Installer is 16-bit and doesn't run under modern operating systems, see [[#Availability|Availability]] for fanmade installers and workarounds.
 '''General information'''
@@ Line 66: / Line 64: @@
 {{ii}} <code>redalert.ini</code> contains normal game settings.
 {{ii}} <code>ddraw.ini</code> contains CnC-DDraw settings.
-{{ii}} <code>cncnet5.ini</code> contains CnCNet 5 settings.
+{{ii}} <code>cncnet.ini</code> contains CnCNet 5 settings.
 ===Save game data location===
 {{Game data|
 {{Game data/row|Windows|{{p|game}}\savegame.***}}
+}}
+===[[Save game cloud syncing]]===
+{{Save game cloud syncing
+|origin                = true
+|origin notes          =
+|steam cloud           =
+|steam cloud notes     =
+|gamesave manager      = false
+|gamesave manager notes=
 }}
@@ Line 158: / Line 166: @@
 ==Issues unresolved==
-{{ii}} This list assumes you're using the ra303p patch. If you experience a new game issue please make a support thread on the [http://cnc-comm.com/community/ CnC-Comm forums].
+{{ii}} This list assumes you're using the patch. If you experience a new game issue, please make a support thread on the [http://cnc-comm.com/community/ CnC-Comm forums].
 :* Flickering mouse under cnc-ddraw (which is needed to fix game issues)
+:* Left-handed mouse setups have problems with selecting multiple units.<ref>[http://cnc-comm.com/community/index.php?topic=2512.0 C&C Comm Center - RA95 Can't select (drag) multiple units]</ref>
 ==Issues fixed==
+{{ii}} '''If you have problems with The First Decade or The Ultimate Collection, be sure to check [http://www.commandandconquer.com/forums/index.php/topic/20082-common-problems-updated-07052013/ this FAQ] on EA forums.'''
-Make sure you install the [[#ra303p|ra303p fan patch]] before consulting these fixes. The patch comes with a lot of fixes.
 === General fixes ===
@@ Line 169: / Line 177: @@
 {{Fixbox/fix|Check these if you haven't}}
 {{ii}} If you have not found a fix, be sure to also check:
+:# If you have installed the patches properly.
 :# If everything in the compatibility tab is unchecked (Right click shortcut -> Properties).
 :# If you have enabled "Back buffer in Video memory" and disabled "Allow hardware filled blits".
-:# If you may be able to run it using a different renderer or enabling/disabling Single CPU affinity.
+:# If you may be able to initiate the game/lobby with administrator privileges.
+:# If you may be able to run it using a different renderer or enabling/disabling "singlecpu" in ddraw.ini
 :# If you changed from CnC-Ddraw to DDwrapper in Video Options.
 }}
-=== "Unable to set video mode" error ===
+=== Crash after overheating ===
 {{Fixbox|1=
-{{Fixbox/fix|Change the resolution}}
+{{Fixbox/fix|Edit ddraw.ini and enable "singlecpu"|ref=<ref>[http://cnc-comm.com/community/index.php?topic=2233.0 C&C Comm Center - C&C overheats my laptop]</ref>}}
-{{ii}} There are 3 ways how to fix this error:
-:# Change the resolution.
-:# Change CnC-Ddraw to DDWrapper.
-:# Enable windowed mode.
-::* If you really want to play fullscreen, you might want to check how to enable [[#Video settings|Borderless fullscreen windowed mode]].
 }}
-=== No videos after installing the ra303p patch ===
+=== No videos after installing the patch ===
 {{Fixbox|1=
 {{Fixbox/fix|Download the videos}}
@@ Line 191: / Line 196: @@
 }}
-=== Crash after overheating ===
+=== Game is laggy after installing the patch ===
+{{Fixbox|1=
+{{Fixbox/fix|Change the renderer in ddraw.ini to "gdi"|<ref>[http://cnc-comm.com/community/index.php?topic=2674.0 C&C Comm Center - CnC95 laggy and unresponsive after gold edition patch, help!]</ref>}}
+}}
+=== Game speed/Map scroll rate issue===
 {{Fixbox|1=
-{{Fixbox/fix|Enable single-core affinity|ref=<ref>[http://cnc-comm.com/community/index.php?topic=2233.0 C&C overheats my laptop - CnC-Comm.com]</ref>}}
+{{Fixbox/fix|Set the slider in-game}}
-{{ii}} One of the reasons for this could be that the game's demands for CPU are unoptimized for modern systems. To fix this enable single core affinity in the configuration tool, under the 'Video Options' tab.}}
+:* While in-game, press Esc to open a menu, press game controls and move the game speed slider to adjust the game speed or scroll rate slider to adjust the scroll speed.
+}}
-=== The map is put in a small box with black around it. ===
+=== No music in the portable version ===
-:* Not actually an issue; it happens because the map is smaller than the monitor resolution. There is no fix and it's just graphical glitching. Opening and exiting the options menu helps redraw the screen.
+{{Fixbox|1=
+{{Fixbox/fix|Go to CnCNet lobby and download the music in the settings}}
+}}
 ==Mac/Linux Emulation==
 {{ii}} This is an emulation guide for the fan-made packs, not for the ISOs or CDs.
-{{ii}} [[PlayOn|PlayonLinux/PlayonMac]] can also be set up to play with the same configuration.
+{{ii}} [[PlayOn|PlayonLinux/PlayonMac]] can also be set up to play with the same configuration (if you want a step-by-step guide, go to [http://funkyfr3sh.cncnet.org/playonmac_playonlinux/ FunkyFr3sh.cncnet.org]).
 :# Install [http://www.winehq.org/ Wine] through repositories or through official website and run or extract the installer under Wine.
 :# Inside 'winecfg' create configuration options for ra95.exe and under the Library tab, add overrides for 'wsock32.dll' and 'ddraw.dll'.
-:# Run RedAlertLauncher.exe under [http://www.mono-project.com/Main_Page Mono]. If you don't have it or it doesn't work, run the game directly (ra95.exe or cncnet.exe).
 :# Have fun!
+{{ii}} The configuration program requires .NET Framework 2.0.
 {{ii}} If the configuration program doesn't work, then you have to do configure the game manually in redalert.ini or the aforementioned ddraw.ini. The settings for the internal resolution, sound and multiplayer options (not CnCNet) and languages are in redalert.ini.

Developers
Cover image missing, please upload it
	Westwood Studios
Publishers
Original	Virgin Interactive
Current	Electronic Arts
Release dates
DOS	October 31, 1996
Windows	October 31, 1996