Command & Conquer: Generals

Command & Conquer: Generals (cropped: Command & Conquer: Generals )
Original title	Command & Conquer: Generals
Studio	EA Pacific
Publisher	Electronic Arts
Erstveröffent- lichung	February 14, 2003
platform	Microsoft Windows macOS
Game engine	SAGE engine
genre	Real-time strategy
Game mode	Single player , multiplayer (Internet & LAN )
control	Mouse , keyboard
system advantages preconditions	OS : Windows 98 CPU : 800 MHz RAM : 128 MB Graphics card 32 MB, DirectX 8.1 compatible HDD space : 1.8 GB 8 × CD-ROM drive
medium	2 CDs , DVD-ROM , Mac App Store
language	English German
Current version	1.8
Age rating	USK PEGI
information	After being indexed, a censored version was published as Command & Conquer: Generals . After the list was deleted in 2013, the uncut version was released from the age of 18.

Command & Conquer: Generals (also cropped Command & Conquer: Generals in German-speaking countries ) is the first computer game in the Command & Conquer series with freely zoomable 3D graphics. Is also due to Command & Conquer: Generals a third universe is represented in which none of the previous parties. This was criticized by many fans, but many generals thought it was the best Command & Conquer in recent years, as it offered innovations for the first time.

Gameplay

Thematically, Generals does not play in the familiar Command & Conquer universe, which is why the game is not a successor in the true sense of the word.

Generals is set in 2020. In the game, the player can choose to take the lead over the Americans (in Generals : Western Alliance (WA)), the Chinese (in Generals : Asian Pact (AP)) or the “Global Liberation Army "(GBA; English Global Liberation Army (GLA); cropped: International Liberation Group (IBG), also International Liberation Front), a terrorist organization. Each of the three parties has its own units and tactics. The 21 missions are linked by a framework story about a conflict in the Middle East.

The graphics are in 3D and can therefore be freely rotated and zoomed. The units, buildings and explosions in particular offer a lot of detail when zoomed in. The game has a multiplayer mode over the Internet and network .

development

With the development of Generals was from Westwood Branch Studio Westwood Pacific, the renamed during the development work in EA Pacific and after the release of Generals with EA Los Angeles merged, started in the year 2000th At that time, Generals was conceived as a C & C1 -like game and should also contain other warring parties, including Russia and Africa.

reception

Reviews

About the censored version Generals

“I think it is extremely ridiculous that such changes are even necessary for the German market. Anyway, the new German version is just as fun. The driving force remains the fantastic and almost unchanged graphics, as well as the identical multiplayer mode. It's just a shame that so many strategists had to wait so long for C&C Generals, because the new version appears just in time for the add-on The Zero Hour. After all, the purchase price is now significantly lower. "

- Alexander Geltenpoth : PC Action September 26, 2003

To expand

“The single player campaign is much more atmospheric than that of the main game with its varied missions, war reporters and far more in-game cutscenes. In addition, there is the actually very challenging "challenge" mode, in which you have to cleverly tact with modified armies and at the same time from your adversary with nasty, situation-dependent comments such as "No more resources? Should I lend you something? " [...] For single players, the add-on offers more than the original game. "

- David Bergmann : PC Games

Reviews in gaming magazines

• GameStar : 90% (main game), 89% (expansion)
• PC Games : 10/03 85%
• PC Action : 11/03 87%

indexing

Command & Conquer: Generals , published in 2003, was indexed by the Federal Testing Office for Media Harmful to Young People (BPjM) in Germany at the beginning of 2003 due to its strong reference to current events such as the Iraq war and the plot of the game, which among other things requires the killing of civilians . The reason given was glorification of war. The game was available for purchase for two weeks before it could no longer be made publicly available. Germany and China were the only countries that put the game on their index. In September 2003, manufacturer Electronic Arts published a version specially tailored for the German market under the name Command & Conquer: Generals . Compared to the original, this has been significantly defused in numerous points:

• People have been replaced by cyborgs throughout ; The voices were replaced by robotic voices and the menu images were given a robotic appearance through metallic sheen, cables, etc. Ä.
• The suicide bombers were replaced by the so-called "rolling bombs", a large, remote-controlled TNT barrel on wheels.
• Civilians have been removed from the game entirely.
• The game parties were renamed by China , GBA and USA to the Asian Pact , IBG (International Liberation Group) and Western Alliance .
• City and country names have been changed to fictional names (e.g. Washington in Headquarters and Baghdad in Twin Sword City ).
• Anthrax was renamed acid .
• The angry mob , an angry crowd with Molotov cocktails and rifles, was renamed Cyborg Troop .
• The intro was deleted without replacement.
• In addition, a mission was completely removed from the GBA campaign. In this one should shoot down UN planes and collect the supply boxes. The boxes that could not be reached were later to be fetched from civilian huts, which could only be achieved by destroying the house and killing the civilians.

From the defused German version, however , the “original” environment can be restored with a so-called “ uncut patch ”.

The extension published afterwards, The Zero Hour , only appeared in a defused version in the German version. However, it is also compatible with the originally uncut version of the main game. Although there have been for the expansion also Uncut mods created that make people again from the cyborgs, but these have only an English language edition because the voices contained in the German version were already distorted.

On September 30, 2013, the BPjM canceled the indexing prematurely.

Warring parties

USA / Western Alliance

The USA ( United States of America , in the cut version called Western Alliance (WA)) is a conventional war party with modern weapons and strong units that are comparatively expensive in the game. In addition to a large arsenal of ground-based combat units, the US armed forces also have a distinct air force. Fighter jets ( F-22 Raptor ), stealth bombers ( F-117 Nighthawk ), supersonic bombers and attack helicopters ( RAH-66 Comanche ) are available as air units . Units with a laser missile defense system are exclusively reserved for the USA. The money supply is guaranteed, among other things, by drop zones that receive a replenishment every two minutes. The US super weapon is a particle cannon with a very limited effective radius, but can still be steered even after it has been fired.

Global Liberation Army / International Liberation Group

The GBA ( Global Liberation Army , in the cut version referred to as the International Liberation Group (IBG)) is a terrorist organization with the intention of destroying the United States and the People's Republic of China. The GBA mainly acts with suicide bombers and cheap vehicles from ambush. It has neither air units nor strong tanks. However, the quadruple gun, the marauder tank, the fighter jeep and the SCUD launcher can improve their guns through rubble from the destroyed units, as can the scorpion and the acid tractor (toxin tractor) in the add-on. The GBA's super weapon is the SCUD storm with its numerous anthrax missiles.

China / Asian Pact

The PR China ( People's Republic of China , in the cut version referred to as the Asian Pact (AP)) has extremely strong armored units. The giant Overlord Armor is by far the most powerful single unit in the game. The flying units of the Chinese are the MIG fighter jet and the helix helicopter (only zero hour). The Chinese armed forces have the nuclear missile as a super weapon. The supply of money is guaranteed by hackers , who, in contrast to the black markets and drop zones of the GBA (IBG) and the USA (WA), represent an easier target to attack.

The Zero Hour

Command & Conquer: Generals - Zero Hour
Original title	Command & Conquer: Generals - Zero Hour
Studio	EA Los Angeles
Publisher	Electronic Arts
Erstveröffent- lichung	September 19, 2003
platform	Windows , macOS
Game engine	SAGE engine
genre	Real time strategy game
Game mode	Single player , multiplayer (Internet & LAN )
control	Mouse , keyboard
system advantages preconditions	OS : Windows 98 CPU : 1000 MHz RAM : 128 MB Graphics card 32 MB, DirectX 8.1 compatible HDD space : 1.2 GB 8 × CD-ROM drive
medium	2 CDs
language	English German
Current version	1.04
Age rating	USK PEGI

The expansion Zero Hour (English Zero Hour ) complements the tactical options by giving the three armies additional nine generals (three each for each party) with their own specialties. Some of the generals have specialized units at their disposal, but in return they lose the ability to build certain units. There are also three new campaigns, each with five missions, and the new game mode, "Challenge", in which you as one of the generals must compete against each of the other generals and at the end you play against a "Boss General" ( The Tigress ).

The following generals are added:

Generals of the USA (WA)

General Alexis Alexander

Super weapon general: Alexis Alexander, a female general in the US Marines, can build a better and cheaper particle cannon (super weapon) and the very powerful Alpha Aurora bomber; In addition, the upgrade of the fusion reactor results in a higher energy output than the standard upgrade. In addition, the super weapon general has EMP patriot missile systems that temporarily switch off the vehicle and aircraft electronics with a hit. But their tanks are missing.

General Malcolm "Ace" Granger

Air Force General: Granger, a US Air Force General, has stronger and better air units and can equip them with some new upgrades. His raptors have more and better missiles. They also have a laser anti-missile gun. Furthermore, the stealth bomber (in contrast to the other generals of the WA) is available from the start. However, he cannot build armored units.

General "Nadelspitze" Townes

Laser General: General Townes specializes in futuristic technologies of the 21st century. His focus is on laser technology, which is used, for example, in laser anti-aircraft guns and laser tanks, but which also requires a lot of electricity. Its power supply is therefore its sore point, as defensive systems and tanks are put out of operation if the power supply fails. In addition, he cannot build Tomahawk rocket launchers.

Generals of the GBA (IBG)

"Dr. Trax "

Acid General: At Dr. Trax rebels and tunnel systems are equipped with acid weapons. There are also additional upgrades so that the acid becomes stronger. In addition, it starts with the beta upgrade that you would normally have to research first (+ 25% damage to all acid weapons). Instead, the gamma upgrade can be researched, which makes the acid weapons even more effective. In return, he does not have any cloaked units.

Prince Kassad

Undercover General: Prince Kassad can completely camouflage all units and buildings. He is an insidious opponent who often attacks his opponents with surprise attacks. He also received the general upgrade "GPS jamming transmitter" earlier, with which all units in the target area can be camouflaged. He can't build tanks for that.

General Rodall "Boom" Juhziz

TNT General: General Juhziz has strong bombs, which makes bomb vehicles, suicide bombers and motorcycles much more powerful. Furthermore, after an update, all of his units acquire the ability to blow themselves up and cause great damage.

Generals of China (AP)

General Ta Hun Kwai

Tank General: General Kwai can build cheaper tanks . In addition, he is the only one who has the Emperor, a greatly improved overlord tank, at his disposal. The Battlemasters can be equipped with the upgrade car charge, then they shoot three times as fast and cause great damage. However, the aircraft and infantry cost more and there is no support from artillery units.

General Tsing Shi Tao

Nuclear General: General Tao can build nuclear-powered tanks that fire radioactive projectiles unlike traditional tanks, and his power plants provide more energy than ordinary power plants. MIGs can be equipped with nuclear weapons through an upgrade , making them a highly effective weapon. In addition, he can immediately build nuclear artillery without general skills. In contrast to the other playable generals, he has only one disadvantage: As long as the isotope stability upgrade has not been developed in the propaganda headquarters, his nuclear-powered tanks explode in a larger explosion when destroyed, thus damaging all units in their vicinity. In an army with several tanks, this can lead to a chain reaction, which has devastating effects, especially for General Tsing Shi Tao's own army.

General "Anvil" Shin Fai

Infantry General: General Fai can train large, inexpensive and at the same time strong infantry troops. His troops have a machine gun and can also attack air units. All infantry units have veteran status at the start. Its bunkers can hold 10 instead of 5 infantry units and immediately have a mine belt. He also has an improved troop transport and a more troop listening post. In return, he cannot build Battlemasters, Gatling or Overlord tanks.

Others

General Leang aka The "Tigress"

The last general challenge is against the "tigress". It possesses the best weapons and super-weapon technologies of all parties. This general is only available as the boss in challenge mode.

Your advantages:

• Hackers can be trained once the barracks are in place.
• The special forces and super weapons of all three parties can be built
• King Raptors can be built on the airfield.
• The GBA tunnel system, the US Patriot batteries and the Chinese Gatling guns are buildable.
• All super units (Colonel Burton, Black Lotus, Jarmen Kell; censored: Commandobot, Blackbot and Infiltrator) are buildable.

successor

On December 10, 2011 EA announced that the developer studio BioWare would develop Victory Command & Conquer: Generals 2 , with an expected release date of 2013. Six months later, the game was renamed Command & Conquer and as a free-to-play game presented. On October 29, 2013, EA announced that after negative feedback during the game's closed alpha phase, development had been discontinued.

Trivia

The Russian Embassy in Great Britain used a screenshot from the extension zero hour instead of a real picture of the situation in a Twitter short message about the civil war in Syria . The report was published on May 13, 2016 with the content "Extremists near Aleppo receive several truckloads of chemical ammunition".

Web links

• Command & Conquer: Generals at MobyGames (English)
• Command & Conquer: Zero Hour at MobyGames (English)
• Comparison of the cut versions Cut - Uncut by Command & Conquer: Generals at Schnittberichte.com
• Comparison of the cut versions USK 16 - ESRB Teen, 13+ by Command & Conquer: Generals - The Zero Hour at Schnittberichte.com

Individual evidence

1. ↑ concept art. In: cnc-source.com. Retrieved January 7, 2018 . 
2. ↑ Collection of information on the Westwood plans. In: petroglyphgames.com. Retrieved January 7, 2018 . 
3. ↑ Alexander Geltenpoth: Test report from PC Action “Nur cyborgt”. (No longer available online.) In: PC Action . September 26, 2003, archived from the original on June 19, 2009 ; accessed on January 1, 2015 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
4. ↑ David Bergmann: Game test report zero and important . In: PC Games . October 29, 2003, accessed February 26, 2017 . 
5. ↑ C&C Generals put to the test - Great strategy game without Tiberium and time travel. In: gamestar.de. March 1, 2003, accessed January 7, 2018 . 
6. ↑ Database entry for Command & Conquer: Generals - Zero Hour. In: gamestar.de. Retrieved January 7, 2018 . 
7. ↑ Command & Conquer: Generals removed from the index. In: Schnittberichte.com. September 30, 2013, accessed February 26, 2017 . 
8. ↑ EA reveals Command & Conquer Generals 2. In: presse.ea.de. December 10, 2011, accessed February 26, 2017 . 
9. ↑ Robert Purchese: BioWare's Command & Conquer: Generals 2 repurposed for new free-to-play venture. In: Eurogamer.net . August 15, 2012, accessed August 15, 2012 . 
10. ↑ EA cancels Command & Conquer: Generals 2. In: commandandconquer.com. October 29, 2013, accessed October 29, 2013 . 
11. ↑ Dennis Reisdorf: Curious: Russian Embassy uses screenshot from Command & Conquer. pcgames.de, May 16, 2016, accessed on November 9, 2016 . 
12. ↑ Russian Embassy embarrasses itself with "Command & Conquer" images. In: Stern . May 13, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016 .