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.
- GameSpy online services have been shut down (see Network for solutions).
Key points
- Small but dedicated community.
- Framerate is tied to gamespeed: 30 FPS.
General information
- Command & Conquer Wiki - A wiki for everything Command & Conquer-related
- C&C:Online - fan-hosted multiplayer server replacement (Windows version only)
- Generals section on CNC.community
- Generals section on CNCNZ.com
- Zero Hour section on CNCNZ.com
- Zero Hour section on GameReplays.org
Availability
- SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see above for affected versions).
- The Deluxe Edition includes the base game and the Zero Hour expansion.
DLC and expansion packs
Name |
Notes |
|
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.
GenPatcher
- Can be used to get the game in an optimal state after installation. Includes many of the essential fixes/additions listed below like Gentool, DirextX-installation, dbghelp.dll-removal and restoration of mod- and command-line-parameter support.
- Officially supports the CD-, The First Decade- (English) and Origin (English and German) versions of the game.
Genpatcher can be downloaded from the Legionnaire website.
GenTool
- Still actively supported and updates automatically.
- It restores online play by linking to C&C:Online and adding cheat-detection.
- Fixes several known causes of crashes and exploits.
- Provides improved compatibility with modern Windows-versions, improved widescreen-support and enhanced/adjustable game controls.
- GenTool is compatible with all Windows-versions of Generals and its expansion, as long as they are patched to the latest official version.
- The in-game Gentool menu, where you can access all its features, can be opened by pressing the
Insert
-key on the keyboard.
The latest version can be downloaded from the GenTool website.
D3d8to9-wrapper
Install d3d8to9-wrapper[10]
|
- 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.
- Fixes the crash when Alt-Tab out of the game for the second time. Possibly fixes other crashes as well.
- Allows the usage of ReShade, overlays and other similar tools.
- Can decrease performance on old and very slow hardware.
- Download the latest version of d3d8to9. Thus download the
d3d8.dll file.
- If you also use Gentool: rename the file to
d3d8x.dll to make sure you don't overwrite Gentool.
- Place the file in
<path-to-game> of both Generals and its expansion pack.
- Play the game.
|
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]
|
- The executables will be replaced with original Generals and Zero Hour executables with full support for mods and command-line-parameters, but with the CD-check disabled.
- Circumvents the annoying Generals Origin Launcher by letting you start the game directly, but you can still use the origin launcher to start the game if you want.
- Fully supported by GenTool.
- Go to the Gentool Executables page.
- Download both the
Generals108EXE.zip and GeneralsZH104EXE.zip files.
- Extract
generals.exe from Generals108EXE.zip archive and place it in <path-to-game>\Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour\Command and Conquer Generals . Confirm that you want to overwrite the original generals.exe .
- Extract
generals.exe from GeneralsZH104EXE.zip archive and place it in <path-to-game>\Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour\Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour . Confirm that you want to overwrite the original generals.exe .
|
Use Medstar's fixed launchers (The Ultimate Collection)[11]
|
- An unofficial patch that provides a slight enhancement to the default launchers provided with the Origin release (fixes some registry entries and allows command line arguments to function properly).
- Download the last released version from ModDB.
- Extract the file from the ZIP file.
- Run the installer.
|
Skip startup game intro
Move, delete or rename the intro-videos[12]
|
- You need to apply this to both Generals and its expansion pack Zero Hour.
- Go to
<path-to-game>\Data\english\Movies
- Move, delete or rename the following files:
EA_LOGO.BIK , EA_LOGO640.BIK , sizzle_review.bik and sizzle_review640.bik .
|
Uncensoring the German release
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/ |
System |
Native |
Notes |
Origin |
|
|
OneDrive |
|
Requires enabling backup of the Documents folder in OneDrive on all computers. |
Video
In-game advanced video settings.
In-game options screen for Zero Hour expansion.
In-game advanced video settings for Zero Hour expansion.
- 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. See D3d8to9-wrapper on how to fix this.
Set widescreen-resolution in-game with Gentool[13]
|
- GenTool allows you to set common widescreen resolution in-game and automatically adjusts camera height according to the resolution.[14]
- Install GenTool.
- Open Generals or Zero Hour.
- Go to the in-game Options menu.
- Set the game to a resolution of your liking.
|
Set resolution manually in Options.ini[15]
|
- Can be used in case GenTool doesn't allow to set the specific unusual resolution you want.
- For Generals, open
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Data\Options.ini
- For Zero Hour, open
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour Data\Options.ini
- Change the Resolution line to your liking, like this:
Resolution = 1920 1080
|
Camera height
- Adjusted camera height only applied to replays and singleplayer.
Adjust camera height in-game through Gentool[citation needed]
|
- This also sets the game to automatically draw the entire map to avoid visual glitches at high camera heights.
- Install Gentool.
- Open Generals or Zero Hour.
- Press the
Insert -key on your keyboard to open the in-game Gentool menu.
- Increase the
camera height by a total maximum of 1000.
|
Adjust camera height[citation needed]
|
- It seems like this often doesn't work.
- Using this in online matches could be seen as cheating.
- For Zero Hour, go to
<path-to-game>\Data\INI and paste the file GameData.ini into this folder
- You can get a modified version of this file on Mod DB
- Change the height of the camera to your liking, like this:
MaxCameraHeight = 800.0
DrawEntireTerrain = Yes
|
Input
Audio
Audio feature |
State |
Notes |
Separate volume controls |
|
|
Surround sound |
|
Uses whatever your speaker layout is for the default playback device. Only tested on Win10 w/ Origin Edition. (When using Dolby Digital Live on a Sound Blaster Z) |
Subtitles |
|
|
Closed captions |
|
|
Mute on focus lost |
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
[16] |
Spanish |
|
|
|
|
Traditional Chinese |
|
|
|
Not available in P.R. China. |
Russian |
|
|
|
Fan translation by «DK team» |
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
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.
VR support
Issues fixed
Game does not start or is very slow (Origin)
Disable Origin in-game[citation needed]
|
- 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.
- Right-click Generals/Zero Hour and select "Game Properties".
- Check the "Disable Origin in Game for this game" option.
- Click OK and launch the game.
|
"Technical Difficulties" error/Serious Error
- This problem occurs on most game errors and is not descriptive; one of the methods below should fix most common causes:
Create or edit Options.ini[17]
|
- The install process very often fails to create
Options.ini , causing this error.
- For Generals, open
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Data\options.ini
- For Zero Hour, open
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour Data\options.ini
- Create
options.ini yourself if it isn't located in that folder!
- Replace its contents with the following and save your changes:
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]
|
- Go to the properties of
generals.exe or one of its shortcuts.
- Enable Windows XP Service Pack 2 compatibility mode.
|
Fully reinstall[18]
|
- A full reinstallation is a last resort that seems to work for most users.
|
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[19]
|
- Happens when DirectX 9.0c, DirctX 8.1 is included, is not yet installed on your Windows installation.
- Download the DirctX End-User Runtimes (June 2010). It contains DirectX 9.0c.
- Run the downloaded installer.
- Tell it to extract the necessary files to a folder of your choosing.
- Go to the folder where you extracted the files to.
- Run DXSETUP.exe as administrator.
- Install it.
- You can now safely remove the extracted files from step 3. They are no longer needed.
- Reboot your computer.
|
Remove dbghelp.dll[20]
|
- Known error; sometimes the dbghelp.dll file, a debug file, gets accidentially left in the installation folder and cause problems.
- Go to
<path-to-game> .
- Locate
dbghelp.dll and delete it.
|
Serious error/crash when Alt-Tab out of the game for the second time
- This is caused by the outdated engine.
- Happens especially when the game is set to resolutions that it originally didn't support.
Set Windows XP Service Pack 2 compatibility mode[citation needed]
|
- It is a very rare issue.
- This can also be done intentionally by running the game with the
-quickstart parameter to speed up initial loading.
- Go to the properties of
generals.exe or one of its shortcuts.
- Enable Windows XP Service Pack 2 compatibility mode.
|
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. 32-bit only as a planned 64-bit update was cancelled in May 2020. |
Middleware
|
Middleware |
Notes |
Audio |
Miles Sound System |
|
Cutscenes |
Bink Video (Windows), QuickTime.framework (macOS) |
|
Multiplayer |
GameSpy |
Server inaccessible since July 2014; use C&C:Online for a community server. |
Officially released extra map and mission (Generals only)
- For Generals, EALA released an 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 EALA
- 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)
- Go to Solo Play -> Skirmish -> Select map -> Unofficial maps
- Click on either
Black Sheep
or Flash Fire
- Click on
Accept
to use the mission or map
- Click on
Play game
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
- ↑ SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows 10[5] or Windows 11 and is disabled by default on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 when the KB3086255 update is installed.[6]
- ↑ SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows 10[7] or Windows 11 and is disabled by default on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 when the KB3086255 update is installed.[8]
References