Contained in the supply code are some fantastic reminders of what Home windows recreation growth from 1995 to 2003 was actually like. One skilled modder posted some gems on Bluesky, like a “HACK ALERT!” textual content string added simply to stop the Watcom IDE from crashing due to a “magic textual content heap size” crash: “Who is aware of why, however it works,” wrote that poor soul.
This author’s private favourite is that this little bit in the RampOptions.cpp file in Generals, credited to John Ok. McDonald Jr., which expresses considerations about “TheRampOptions” present with a set worth:
if (TheRampOptions) {// oh shit.return;}
Along with serving to out modders and entertaining skilled coders, the GPL-licensed supply code releases do loads to assist protect these video games, such that they are often reworked to run on future platforms. Initiatives like OpenRA and OpenSAGE already provide open supply reimplementations of these video games’ code, however having the unique supply can solely assist. C&C neighborhood stalwart Luke “CCHyper” Feenan labored with EA leaders to get the code again right into a build-ready state and stated in a press launch that the up to date code ought to make the traditional video games simpler to patch sooner or later.
As a part of the supply code launch, the Command & Conquer crew dropped off 35 minutes of footage, newly discovered within the archives, of alpha and archive footage from the later Sage-engine primarily based Generals and Renegade video games.
Archival footage from alpha variations of Command & Conquer: Generals and Renegade, launched by EA as a part of their supply code launch.
It is heartening to see that with the suitable mixture of individuals and goal, traditional video games can discover renewed curiosity and longevity inside an enormous writer.