Command & Conquer: Red Alert

Command & Conquer
Command & Conquer	1995
Command & Conquer: Red Alert	1996
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
Command & Conquer: Remastered	TBA

Key points

Released for free following the release of Red Alert 3.

3.03p fan patch is highly recommended to install.

If you want a modernized C&C experience, check out OpenRA.

Language support can be further extended with language add-ons.

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

General information

C&C Communications Center forums

CNCNZ forums

CnCNet

Command & Conquer Wiki

Availability[edit]

Source	DRM	Notes	Keys	OS
Retail		Also available as part of The First Decade.
Origin		The Ultimate Collection, bundled with other games in the franchise up to Tiberian Twilight. Included with Origin Access Basic.

Downloadable content (DLC) and expansions

Name	Notes
Command & Conquer: Red Alert: Counterstrike	Comes bundled with the The First Decade and Ultimate Collection compilations.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert: The Aftermath	Comes bundled with the The First Decade and Ultimate Collection compilations.

Unofficial downloads[edit]

OpenRA is a modernized open-source version of with mature support for "Red Alert".

PortableRA is available in installable or portable (stripped, multiplayer-only) form with add-ons. Extra contents included (PSX-exclusive cutscenes for the expansions and music).

RA1 Installer is a special installer that can either download the game, install it from old CDs/ISOs or patch an existing installation. Extra contents included.

RedAlert1.com is a bare-bones version optimized for multiplayer (small size, portable). Missions, music and cutscenes are omitted. The music and map editor are downloadable inside the CnCNet settings. The site offers a Mac-compatible version too.

Mac OSX Wineskin package - Mac-compatible web installer that works outside the box. Includes single-player campaign and extra contents for the single-player.

Installing CDs/ISOs on modern Windows systems[edit]

Like many 32-bit games released during the mid-'90s, 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.

The RA1 Installer (see above) includes an option to install games from original CDs/ISOs and patch the installation afterwards. More information available at CnC-Comm forums.

Essential improvements[edit]

1024x768 resolution using the 3.03p patch.

Patches[edit]

Official[edit]

Official patches are available.

3.03p Fan Patch[edit]

Patch is included in the installation via RA1 Installer (see above).

Not needed for fan-made packages, it is already present there.

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 (via CnCNet) and LAN playability up to 8 players
Support for higher resolutions
No-CD option
Missions from Counterstrike and Aftermath expansions (plus PSX videos for these missions and soundtrack)

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[edit]

External general settings (for the fan patch).

In-game options menu.

Configuration file(s) location[edit]

System	Location
DOS
Windows	<path-to-game>\*.ini^{[Note 1]}

redalert.ini contains normal game settings.

ddraw.ini contains CnC-DDraw settings (present after patch).

cncnet.ini contains CnCNet settings.

Save game data location[edit]

System	Location
DOS
Windows	<path-to-game>\savegame.***^{[Note 1]}

Save game cloud syncing[edit]

System	Native	Notes
Origin

Video settings[edit]

External options menu (for the original release).

External video settings (for the fan patch).

In-game video settings.

Graphics feature	WSGF	Notes
Widescreen resolution		A fan patch is required.
Multi-monitor
Ultra-widescreen
4K Ultra HD
Field of view (FOV)
Windowed	A fan patch is required.
Borderless fullscreen windowed	A fan patch is required. Disable borders, enable windowed, then stretch the resolution in the patch configuration program.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
Anti-aliasing (AA)
Vertical sync (Vsync)	A fan patch is required. Be sure to enable OpenGL too.^{[citation needed]}
60 FPS	A fan patch is required.
120+ FPS	A fan patch is required.

Input settings[edit]

External input settings (for the fan patch).

Keyboard and mouse	State	Notes
Remapping		A fan patch is required.
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity		For DOSBox set in the DOSBox configuration file.
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support		For DOSBox use the DOSBox Mapper (see the glossary page for other workarounds).

Audio settings[edit]

In-game audio settings.

Audio feature	State	Notes
Separate volume controls
Surround sound
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost

Localizations

Language	UI	Audio	Sub	Notes
English
German				See Language add-ons.
French				See Language add-ons.
Spanish				Fan translation, see Language add-ons.
Russian				Partial audio support; fan translation, see Language add-ons.

RA patch also adds support for Language add-ons.

Network[edit]

Multiplayer types

Type	Native	Players	Notes
LAN play		8	Versus Use the 3.03p fan patch to enable modern LAN support.
Online play		8	Versus The original multiplayer service is no longer available. Use the 3.03p fan patch and CnCNet.org to re-enable support.

Connection types

Type	Native	Notes
Matchmaking
Peer-to-peer
Dedicated		See: CnCNet.org.
Self-hosting
Direct IP

Online play[edit]

CnCNet[edit]

Official forums

An unofficial community-run online service for older C&C games.

Uses an external client to launch its own improved lobby that supports private games, pre-determined alliances and spawn locations, its own online map folder, map preview, spectator mode, kick/ban and better chat capabilities (ignore, whisper, Mumble voice chat).

Predominantly used by Red Alert players.

Supports playing over LAN.

Already included in the 3.03p patch.

Additional lobby sound add-ons

XWIS[edit]

Official forums

A semi-official, community-run replacement for Westwood Online (WOL), Westwood's online service.

In-game 'Internet' menu redirects to this service.

XWIS service is not used by online Red Alert community.

Issues unresolved[edit]

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
Left-handed mouse setups have problems with selecting multiple units.^[2]

Issues fixed[edit]

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

General fixes[edit]

If you have not found a fix, be sure to also check:

Check these if you haven't^{[citation needed]}

If you have installed the patches properly.
If everything in the compatibility tab is unchecked.
If you have enabled "Back buffer in Video memory" and disabled "Allow hardware filled blits".
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.

Crash after overheating[edit]

Edit ddraw.ini and enable "singlecpu"^[3]

Game is laggy after installing the patch[edit]

Change the renderer in ddraw.ini^[4]

Game speed/Map scroll rate issue[edit]

Set the slider in-game^{[citation needed]}

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.

"Unable to set video mode" error[edit]

Change the resolution^{[citation needed]}

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 Borderless fullscreen windowed mode.

No music in the portable version[edit]

Go to CnCNet lobby and download the music in the settings^{[citation needed]}

No videos after installing the patch[edit]

Download the videos^{[citation needed]}

If you happen to have the game on CD, that means No-CD option is turned on. Either turn off the option in the configuration tool or download the videos.

Other information[edit]

API[edit]

Technical specs	Supported	Notes
DirectDraw	3
DOS video modes	MCGA, VGA

Executable	32-bit	64-bit	Notes
Windows

Middleware[edit]

	Middleware	Notes
Multiplayer	Westwood Online

Maps[edit]

C&C has support for external maps, both multiplayer and singleplayer.

CnCNet includes its own online map folder.

Map editors can be downloaded inside CnCNet's game options.

Cnc-Comm.com - Mapping discussion

Re-implementations[edit]

OpenRA - community developed recreation that tries to modernize the classic gameplay and UI.

The Red Alert - A total conversion of Red Alert 3

System requirements[edit]

DOS
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)	5.0	6.2
Processor (CPU)	Intel 486 66 MHz	Intel Pentium 75 MHz
System memory (RAM)	8 MB	16 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	40 MB
Video card (GPU)	VGA or MCGA (256 colour) video card

Windows
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)	3.1, 95	98
Processor (CPU)	Intel Pentium 75 MHz	Intel Pentium 120 MHz
System memory (RAM)	8 MB	16 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	40 MB	500 MB
Video card (GPU)	PCI video card 1 MB of VRAM DirectX 3 compatible

ISA video cards are not supported

Notes

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 When running this game without Administrator elevation, activity in %PROGRAMFILES%, %PROGRAMFILES(X86)%, and %WINDIR% might be redirected to %LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore\ (more details).

References

[gamedir-2] 1.0 ^1.1 When running this game without Administrator elevation, activity in %PROGRAMFILES%, %PROGRAMFILES(X86)%, and %WINDIR% might be redirected to %LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore\ (more details).

[1] CnC-DDraw optimal configuration

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

[4] C&C Comm Center - C&C overheats my laptop

[5] C&C Comm Center - CnC95 laggy and unresponsive after gold edition patch, help!

[1]

[Note 1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

Developers

	Westwood Studios
Expansions	Intelligent Games
Publishers
Original	Virgin Interactive
Current	Electronic Arts
Release dates
DOS	November 22, 1996
Windows	November 22, 1996