How to play Command & Conquer Generals Zero Hour on steam?
By -NickName - 12th March 2024 - 20:28 PM
Hello Generals!
If you are reading this, it might be because you just bought Command & Conquer: The Ultimate Collection from Steam. The version on Steam is a bit different, and thus causing some issues when trying to install the game, use GenPatcher and GenTool and playing online. This topic will help you out.
How to use Genpatcher for Steam? We start of with GenPatcher. GenPatcher will apply fixes to your version of the game, and make sure you will have the right version others have too when playing the game. It helps fixing any issues your version might face.
GenPatcher is now working with the game from Steam. Go to this website to download GenPatcher and find more information.
Steam might update the game, and it is unsure if this will cause any future issues with GenPatcher. If you follow Legionnaire Generals, you will see if there have been any updates.
On the linked website of GenPatcher you will also find a guide on how to install C&C Generals, how to play online, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and also a way to get tech support by joining the linked Discord server.
Legionnaire Generals also made a video with a GenPatcher Tutorial. The link can be found here, or can be watched below.
Does GenTool work with Steam? GenTool has been updated too, players used to have a black screen with GenTool when purchasing the game of Steam, but this has been fixed. You can install GenTool without using GenPatcher, however, this will disable most of GenTool's features like widescreen support and Control Bar Pro support. For more information on the Control Bar Pro, you can click on this link here. It is highly recommended to apply the fixes with GenPatcher before installing GenTool.
GenTool is the anti-cheat program of Zero Hour, and you might get kicked from games if you are not on GenTool. Games will be uploaded here. If you suspect a player from cheating, this is where you can check for that.
GenTool can be downloaded directly from the website, go here.
How to play Command & Conquer Generals Zero Hour online with Steam?
There are several ways on how to play Zero Hour Online. To play online, you need GenPatcher to fix any issues and to make sure you are on the same version of the game as the other players. GenTool is highly recommended, see above. For Revora, GenTool is mandatory.
How to play on Revora? Revora is the remake of the official EA server, that went down years ago. Online play is still possible, throughout Revora (or C&C:Online). A guide for setting up Revora can be found here. Legionnaire Generals also made a guide on how to play on Revora, check out the video here or below. If you have joined the online server, you can find any games that are being hosted at cnc-online.net.
As this is the official server, you might get caught when not following the fair play rules. Bug abuse, map hack, intentional disconnecting. These are all offenses that can get you in trouble, and you might risk a suspension or even a ban when doing it. You can report a player for any of these things in the Fair Play Section of GameReplays.
Ps. Connecting on Revora might be tricky. It is not possible to connect when you are on IPv6. Revora only works with IPv4, a VPN might help you out with this. If you have any connection issues, you can get help throughout this link. This will guide you to the C&C:Online Discord server. Also don't use the C&C:Online Launcher for Zero Hour, this will not work.
How to play on GameRanger? An alternative to Revora is GameRanger. This is also a good place to find games and players. GameRanger is free to download and can be downloaded here.
Once again, Legionnaire Generals (how great is he?) has made a guide on how to set up GameRanger with C&C Generals Zero Hour. Go here for the video, or watch below.
How to play on Radmin VPN? Many players, mostly competitive players, are on Radmin for their games. Radmin allows you through a VPN network to connect with other players, it works like Hamachi. Hamachi can also be used, but most players are on Radmin, or the other two previously mentioned platforms.
Dominator made a guide on how to download, how to install and how to play on Radmin. See the video here or below.
Where to find competitive games? On Revora and GameRanger you will find a lot of casual players and games. Revora does have a ranked ladder for 1v1s and 2v2s, named Shatabrick, which can be found through here. However, most competitive players are playing on a Discord Ladder. Here you will have a ranked leader board, and also a monthly leader board. From time to time, it might be even sponsored and it has over 750 players. You will find good players and matches almost every time of the day.
Tournaments will be hosted frequently on GameReplays. Most of them will be free for everyone to join, and quite a lot are even sponsored. The biggest prize pool was the World Series 2023, with a prize pool over $8,000. If a new tournament comes up, it will be released in the General Discussion of GameReplays. These will usually also be announced in the several Discord servers the community has.
After a tournament is over, the topic with (most of) the streams, replays, bracket and other information will be moved over to the Tournament Section.
GameReplays has also a replay section. Here you can upload your own replays for others to watch, or you can watch replays of others. Event Replays are replays from previous tournaments. You can also find Expert Replays (replays of the top players). This might be helpful for beginning players on learning the basics of the game.
Tech Support If you are still facing issues with installing the game, playing online or other problems, even after downloading and installing GenPatcher, you can reach out and ask for help. On the website of GenPatcher you are linked to the Community Outpost Discord server. Here you'll find a channel for tech support which you can use.
The Zero Hour Community The Zero Hour community is still going strong, with a lot of players that cannot leave this beautiful old game. More than 20 years after its release, tons of people are still playing it on a daily base. There is even a yearly LAN event, where dozens of people meet and play the game. This event is currently being organized and will be in The Netherlands later this year. If you are interested in this, follow the Youtube channel of the Community Outpost (link).
If you have any questions, you can post in the topic linked below.
