Command & Conquer: Generals

{{More citations needed section|date=March 2025}}

Command & Conquer Generals operates in a similar manner to that of other titles in the series - players construct bases and train units from these, acquiring resources on one of the game's maps to fund this, and then defeat their opponents by eliminating their bases and armies.{{cite web|url=http://www.cncgeneralsworld.com/generals/walkthrough/|title=C&C Generals: Walkthrough – C&C Labs|website=cncgeneralsworld.com|access-date=July 10, 2014|archive-date=June 14, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614105115/http://www.cncgeneralsworld.com/generals/walkthrough/|url-status=live}} Various units types are available for training, ranging from infantry to ground vehicles and aircraft, each focuses on specific roles (e.g. anti-vehicle), while base structures are divided between unit production, support facilities, and defensive counter-measures. Success in the game relies upon making the most out of mixing units, utilizing their advantages while countering their disadvantages with other units, in order to win against opponents - for example, rifle infantry are useful for countering anti-vehicle infantry, but need to rely on tanks to counter anti-infantry vehicles. Units that survive and manage to kill other units gain "veterancy" points, earning chevrons when they level up, effectively improve their abilities and making them more powerful; at the highest level, it also grants the ability to repair any damage when out of combat.

Training can be queued at production structures and units sent to rally points designated by the player, with the ability to research upgrades to improve certain units. In addition, players can also deploy superweapons which can decimate an opponent's forces, though must wait for a cooldown period to end before they can use it again. Factions in the game function similar in how they operate, but maintain differences in units and strategies:

• The United States rely on high-tech weaponry, such as military drones, lasers, and a dominant air force to deal with opponents, and are able to use supply units to airdrop infantry into occupied buildings, alongside flash grenades, to clear them out. In addition, they can improve power plants, their defensive structures link together to deal with enemy units, and they collect more supplies than the other two factions, but units are more expensive to produce.
• China relies on stronger tank and artillery units, and can use hackers to claim buildings or produce additional funds by stealing money from bank account online. In addition, their troop transports can detect stealth units, while their tanks and infantry can incur horde bonuses when grouped together. However, their power plants can cause damage to surrounding units and buildings when destroyed, they maintain a weaker air force, and require large armies to make horde bonuses work effectively.
• The Global Liberation Army rely on cheap units and terrorist-styled guerrilla warfare to overcome opponents, in which several vehicle units can be upgraded by salvaging parts from defeated enemy vehicles (infantry can also claim this for funds), using specialized infantry units to create ambushes and considerable damage. In addition, they do not require power for base structures, and any buildings that are destroyed will be automatically rebuilt if the enemy fails to destroy a tunnel entrance that is left behind. However, they must use builder units to collect supplies, with several needed to ensure funds are steady, and cannot build air units; this is compensated by having more anti-air units than the other two factions.

Generals functions differently to other titles in the series, in that base construction relies on dedicated builder units rather than a central construction building, but with the added ability of being able to construct buildings anywhere on the map. Resources are restricted to supply docks that have a limited amount for collection, with each faction able to construct units or buildings that provide continual resources as long as they are not destroyed. In addition, players can also make use of "Generals Powers" - a unique set of bonuses that can be purchased upon earning experience points during the game, which can confer additional abilities such as support powers (e.g. airstrikes), improvements to certain units, or access to additional units for construction.

In a single-player mode, players can tackle one of three campaigns, each dedicated to a faction and consisting of seven missions.{{cite web|url=http://gamerant.com/command-and-conquer-singleplayer-campaign/|title='Command & Conquer' Details: Singleplayer Campaign, Shorter Matches, & More|publisher=Gamerant.com|date=August 29, 2013|access-date=July 10, 2014|archive-date=December 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204152143/http://gamerant.com/command-and-conquer-singleplayer-campaign/|url-status=live}} While a training mission is provided to allow new players to become accustomed to the game, players can freely choose which campaign to tackle and at what difficulty, with each mission becoming moderately more difficult and featuring different scenarios to tackle.

The multiplayer mode can be played both over the Internet or a local area network (LAN).{{cite web|last=Radcliffe|first=Doug|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/command-and-conquer-generals-walkthrough/1100-2911873/|title=Command & Conquer: Generals Walkthrough|publisher=GameSpot|date=February 28, 2003|access-date=September 3, 2014|archive-date=January 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115053101/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/command-and-conquer-generals-walkthrough/1100-2911873/|url-status=live}} It adopts a similar format to skirmish mode whereby the goal is to eliminate the other team. Games over the Internet can be completely random, in the form of a Quick Match. Players can also play in Custom Matches where the number of players, the map and rules are decided upon by the host.

The online feature originally worked via GameSpy servers. After the shutdown of GameSpy in 2014, these were no longer available.

The macOS version of the game does not support multiplayer. Apple discontinued Game Center for online play with the release of macOS Sierra.{{cite web|title=FAQs: Command & Conquer: Generals Deluxe Edition (Mac App Store)|url=https://support.aspyr.com/hc/en-us/articles/204228334|website=Aspyr|access-date=November 25, 2018}}

Generals presents players with a separate musical score for each faction. {{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/command-conquer-generals-ea/id87057695|title=iTunes - Music - Command & Conquer: Generals (EA™ Games Soundtrack) [EA™ Games Soundtrack] by EA Games Soundtrack, Bill Brown & Mikael Sandgren|publisher=iTunes|date=November 8, 2005|access-date=July 10, 2014|archive-date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306093333/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/command-conquer-generals-ea/id87057695|url-status=dead}} The United States' theme music consists of grand, militaristic scores composed by Bill Brown and Mikael Sandgren. China's musical themes feature apocalyptic, orchestral scores combined with East Asian instrumentation. The GLA faction's theme soundtrack can be described as a combination of Middle Eastern and few South Asian sounds coupled with heavy metal music.{{citation needed|date=August 2016}}

Generals takes place in a near future where the United States and China co-operate to fight against the Global Liberation Army (GLA), a terrorist organisation based in Central Asia. In chronological order, the campaign is played through the Chinese, GLA and then the United States perspectives respectively.

A military parade in Beijing is attacked by GLA forces, culminating in the detonation of a stolen Chinese nuclear warhead and the beginning of the GLA's incursion inside China's borders. The Chinese mobilise to stall and contain the GLA, but in the process lose the Three Gorges Dam and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. Now on the offensive, the Chinese attack GLA strongholds, arriving at the terror cell's main headquarters in Dushanbe. Utilising nuclear weapons, the Chinese put an end to the GLA's offensive.

Despite losses to China, the GLA maintains its presence across Central Asia and the Middle East. In efforts to revive itself, the GLA raid UN convoys and incite riots in Astana. However, the United States enters the war and a GLA renegade sides with the Chinese with the intention to destroy the organisation. The GLA retaliate by attacking the Baikonur Cosmodrome, and uses the platform to launch devastating toxin attacks at highly populated cities.

The United States sends its forces to the Middle East, Baghdad, Hindu Kush and then Kazakhstan to finally put an end to the GLA---at one point, they must deal with a rogue Chinese commander supporting the terrorists. Despite losses incurred from GLA attacks and ambushes, the US are able to push the GLA back to their final stronghold in Akmola Region. With Chinese support, the US destroys the last GLA stronghold, ending the GLA's reign of tyranny.

Preliminary development of the game began in 2001.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/btg_ccgenerals/p1_01.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050907023237/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/btg_ccgenerals/p1_01.html|title=The First Hours of Command & Conquer: Generals - GameSpot Page 2: The Video Begins|archivedate=September 7, 2005|accessdate=March 1, 2025|website=GameSpot}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/command-and-conquer-generals-updated-preview/1100-2898051/|title=Command & Conquer: Generals Updated Preview|access-date=November 18, 2024|archive-date=January 23, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123161805/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/command-and-conquer-generals-updated-preview/1100-2898051/|url-status=live}} According to Mark Skaggs, the project lead, the team experimented with three game engines, the Quake engine, the Unreal engine, and LithTech, before finally settling on the W3D engine used previously by Command & Conquer: Renegade as the basis for what would later become the SAGE engine. By March 2001, the team was still unsure of what game they were going to create, although they had already decided it was going be named Generals. Different concepts for the game were thought of, including a fantasy game and a Lord of the Rings title. A Lord of the Rings video game running on the SAGE engine was later released in 2004.

Infantry models from Renegade were used in maps to test the capabilities of the engine. As a proof of concept, the team took a number of Red Alert 2 units and put them on a test map. Because these units had already been created in a 3D program, it was "relatively easy" for the team to get them working in the 3D engine.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/btg_ccgenerals/p2_03.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050409201320/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/btg_ccgenerals/p2_03.html|title=The First Hours of Command & Conquer: Generals - GameSpot PAGE 7: A Proven Concept|accessdate=March 1, 2025|archivedate=April 9, 2005|website=GameSpot}}

The team also thought of creating a new product line, much like the Tiberian and Red Alert subseries. Ideas for such a product line were an "ancient warfare" game and a game with "futuristic robot armies."

One of the factions that was potentially going to be in the final game was an "African warlord" faction. Freelance concept artist TJ Frame, who designed most units in Red Alert 2, drew few sketches of possible units but the idea of an African side was eventually rejected, and the team kept brainstorming other potential factions. By mid-October, official design meetings commenced for Generals.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/btg_ccgenerals/p3_01.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050418205112/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/btg_ccgenerals/p3_01.html|title=The First Hours of Command & Conquer: Generals - GameSpot Blurring Fiction and Reality|accessdate=March 10, 2025|archivedate=April 18, 2005|website=GameSpot}}

Early on in development, it was clear the game would feature three sides. During the final week of development on Yuri's Revenge, producer Harvard Bonin was still debating the sides and considering whether the team should drop the modern-warfare idea in Generals. The United States was considered as a possible evil faction.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/btg_ccgenerals/p3_02.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050429162351/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/btg_ccgenerals/p3_02.html|title=The First Hours of Command & Conquer: Generals - GameSpot Page 9: Indecision and Uncertainty|accessdate=March 1, 2025|archivedate=April 29, 2005|website=GameSpot}}

By the end of 2001, the team had gone through five or six iterations of the unit list. However the exact factions had yet to be decided upon. A European faction was considered for inclusion in the game,{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/btg_ccgenerals/p4_01.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050418205113/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/btg_ccgenerals/p4_01.html|title=The First Hours of Command & Conquer: Generals - GameSpot It All Comes Together|accessdate=March 1, 2025|archivedate=April 18, 2005|website=GameSpot}} and concept art was drawn for it.https://www.artstation.com/artwork/QYyQr

By the start of 2002, the team were fully dedicated to Generals' development. At one point during development, the SAGE engine was given to Westwood Studios for the creation of an upcoming project in the Tiberian series.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/btg_ccgenerals/p4_03.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050409164748/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/btg_ccgenerals/p4_03.html|title=The First Hours of Command & Conquer: Generals - GameSpot Page 14: A New Moniker|archivedate=April 9, 2005|accessdate=March 1, 2025|website=GameSpot}}

The source code for Generals, and its expansion pack Zero Hour, was released in 2025.{{Cite web |last=Preston |first=Dominic |title=EA open-sources four more Command & Conquer games |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/621397/command-conquer-open-source-ea-red-alert-renegade-generals |access-date=February 28, 2025 |website=The Verge |date=February 28, 2025 |language=en |archive-date=February 28, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250228102236/https://www.theverge.com/news/621397/command-conquer-open-source-ea-red-alert-renegade-generals |url-status=live }}

{{Video game reviews

| MC = 84/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/command-and-conquer-generals/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|title=Command & Conquer: Generals for PC Reviews|website=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=June 15, 2010|archive-date=March 11, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250311133920/https://www.metacritic.com/game/command-and-conquer-generals/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|url-status=live}}

}}

After its release, Generals received mostly positive reviews. Based on 34 reviews, Metacritic gives it a score of 84/100, which includes a score of 9.3/10 from IGN.{{cite web|last=Adams|first=Dan|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/02/07/command-conquer-generals-3|title=Command & Conquer Generals - PC Review|publisher=IGN|date=February 7, 2003|access-date=June 15, 2010|archive-date=October 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001101929/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/02/07/command-conquer-generals-3|url-status=live}} Generals has received the E3 2002 Game Critics Awards Best Strategy Game award.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamecriticsawards.com/2002winners.html|title=2002 Game Critics Awards|publisher=Game Critics Awards|access-date=June 15, 2010|archive-date=April 10, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410064402/http://gamecriticsawards.com/2002winners.html|url-status=live}} GameSpot named Generals the best computer game of February 2003.{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050123151422/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/gotm/030803/index.html | url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/gotm/030803/index.html | title=GameSpot{{'}}s Month in Review: February 2003 | author=((The Editors of GameSpot)) | date=March 8, 2003 | work=GameSpot | archive-date=January 23, 2005 | url-status=dead }} During the 7th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences awarded Generals with "Computer Strategy Game of the Year"; it also received nominations for "Computer Game of the Year" and "Game of the Year".{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=2004&idGame=250 |title=D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details Command & Conquer: Generals |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |website=interactive.org |access-date=August 3, 2023 |archive-date=August 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803182018/https://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=2004&idGame=250 |url-status=live }}

In the United Kingdom, it sold over 100,000 units during the first half of 2003. This made it the United Kingdom's second-best-selling computer game for the period, or seventh across all platforms. At the time, Kristan Reed of GamesIndustry.biz wrote that its performance proved "you can still have big hits on PC".{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030812221201/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?section_name=ret&aid=1780|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?section_name=ret&aid=1780|title=UK Charts 2003: Summer Report|last=Reed|first=Kristan|date=June 11, 2003|work=GamesIndustry.biz|archive-date=August 12, 2003|url-status=dead|access-date=January 22, 2019}} Generals received a "Silver" sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA),{{cite web|url=http://www.elspa.com:80/?i=3942|title=ELSPA Sales Awards: Silver|work=Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221154943/http://www.elspa.com/?i=3942|archive-date=February 21, 2009}} indicating sales of at least 100,000 copies in the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/112220/ELSPA_Wii_Fit_Mario_Kart_Reach_Diamond_Status_In_UK.php|title=ELSPA: Wii Fit, Mario Kart Reach Diamond Status In UK|last=Caoili|first=Eric|date=November 26, 2008|work=Gamasutra|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918063107/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/112220/ELSPA_Wii_Fit_Mario_Kart_Reach_Diamond_Status_In_UK.php|archive-date=September 18, 2017}} The game's Deluxe release received another "Silver" award from ELSPA.

The game was banned in China, for "smearing the image of China and the Chinese army".{{cite web |url= http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-05/29/content_334845.htm|title= Swedish video game banned for harming China's sovereignty|date= 2004-05-29|publisher= Xinhua}}

Initially, the game was released in Germany under its international title Command & Conquer: Generals. However, the Bundesprüfstelle für jugendgefährdende Medien (Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young People) placed the game onto the "List of Media Harmful to Young People" two months after the initial release, which, by law, forbids further public advertising and any sale for people under 18 years of age. The BPjM stated that the game trivialized war.{{cite web|url=http://www.schnittberichte.com/schnittbericht.php?ID=3688|title=Command & Conquer: Generäle|publisher=schnittberichte.com|date=January 28, 2007|access-date=January 23, 2011|archive-date=November 2, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102225118/http://www.schnittberichte.com/schnittbericht.php?ID=3688|url-status=live}}

Due to the restrictions, in the middle of 2003, EA released a localized version specifically for the German market called Command & Conquer: Generäle, with references to terrorism and real-world countries and places removed, as well as removing civilians and altering unit names and appearances. For example, the "terrorist" bomber unit is a "rolling bomb" and all other infantry units are changed into "cyborgs" (e.g., Red Guard becomes Standard Cyborg).

In September 2013, the restrictions were lifted and the uncut version was released with an 18+ rating.{{Cite web|url=https://www.schnittberichte.com/svds.php?Page=IndexDocs&ID=2091&idid=1326|title=Listenstreichung - Command & Conquer - Generäle (Schnittberichte.com)|first=Gerald|last=Wurm|website=www.schnittberichte.com|access-date=December 4, 2024|archive-date=January 23, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123162335/https://www.schnittberichte.com/svds.php?Page=IndexDocs&ID=2091&idid=1326|url-status=live}}

In September 2003, an expansion pack called Generals – Zero Hour was released, which continues the story of Generals. In December 2011, a sequel, Command & Conquer: Generals 2, was announced, due to be released in 2013. Generals 2 was repurposed as a free-to-play game known as simply Command & Conquer.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/events/gamescom-2012/story.html?sid=6391569|title=Next Command & Conquer goes free-to-play|last=Sinclair|first=Brendan|publisher=GameSpot|date=August 15, 2012|access-date=August 18, 2012}} The new game would have started with the Generals franchise and may have expanded to the rest of the franchise post-release. The game's project was cancelled on October 29, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.commandandconquer.com/en/news/1380/a-new-future-for-command-conquer|title=A New Future for Command & Conquer|publisher=Victory Games|date=October 29, 2013|access-date=January 6, 2014|archive-date=September 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140925025608/http://www.commandandconquer.com/en/news/1380/a-new-future-for-command-conquer|url-status=live}} Later in November, EA said that the game will still be developed by a new game studio,{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-11-19-command-and-conquer-will-be-resurrected-after-its-untimely-cancelation|work=EuroGamer|title=Command and Conquer will be resurrected after its untimely cancellation: C&C Ultimate Collection buyers will still get the beta - by a new studio|first=Jeffrey|last=Matulef|date=November 19, 2013|access-date=January 26, 2014|archive-date=February 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201221347/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-11-19-command-and-conquer-will-be-resurrected-after-its-untimely-cancelation|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/11/19/ea-plans-to-resurrect-command-conquer-at-new-studio|title=EA Plans to Resurrect Command & Conquer at New Studio: At least according to a support listing.|first=Luke|last=Karmali|work=IGN|publisher=IGN Entertainment, Inc.|date=November 19, 2013|access-date=January 26, 2014|archive-date=February 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223063646/http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/11/19/ea-plans-to-resurrect-command-conquer-at-new-studio|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Cancelled Command & Conquer to continue development at new studio: Free-to-play Command & Conquer brought back from the dead|url=http://www.videogamer.com/pc/command_conquer_generals_2/news/cancelled_command_and_conquer_to_continue_development_at_new_studio.html|work=VideoGamer|publisher=Pro-G Media Ltd.|first=David|last=Scammell|date=November 19, 2013|access-date=January 26, 2014|archive-date=February 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201214414/http://www.videogamer.com/pc/command_conquer_generals_2/news/cancelled_command_and_conquer_to_continue_development_at_new_studio.html|url-status=live}} but no further news emerged and the project appears to be abandoned.

{{Reflist|2}}{{Creative Commons text attribution notice|cc=by3|URL=https://tcrf.net/Prerelease:Command_%26_Conquer:_Generals|from this source=|author=User:Sgt.McHale on The Cutting Room Floor|url=https://tcrf.net/index.php?title=Prerelease:Command_%26_Conquer:_Generals&action=history|author(s)=|vrt=}}{{Command & Conquer series}}

{{SAGE engine games}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Command and Conquer: Generals}}

Category:2003 video games

Category:Alternate history video games

Category:Aspyr games

Generals

Category:Commercial video games with freely available source code

Category:EA Pacific games

Category:Fiction about the People's Liberation Army

Category:I5works games

Category:MacOS games

Category:Military of the United States in fiction

Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games

Category:Real-time strategy video games

Category:SAGE (game engine) games

Category:Video games about nuclear war and weapons

Category:Video games about terrorism

Category:Video games developed in the United States

Category:Video games scored by Bill Brown

Category:Video games set in China

Category:Video games set in Hong Kong

Category:Video games set in Iraq

Category:Video games set in Kazakhstan

Category:Video games set in Kyrgyzstan

Category:Video games set in Tajikistan

Category:Video games set in the future

Category:Video games set in Turkey

Category:Video games set in Yemen

Category:Windows games

Category:Works banned in China