[Generals : Evolution] Beta 0.3 Release news

C&C Generals Evolution: Beta 0.3 Released!

It's finally here, after a year in development, a new start for Generals Evolution, Beta 0.3 is ready for release!

What's up?

It's been a year of on and off development for me and sgor00 and I'm not going to sugarcoat it - it's been quite a rough ride. At this point in time engine is really struggling to keep up with all the content, features and additions we're putting in it. But despite all the struggles and roadblocks we've managed to assemble everything into a fully playable and mostly complete Generals experience on Red Alert 3 engine.

A new start?

I'm calling it like that because a lot of under the hood systems were completely overhauled and expanded, instead of mashing every single Generals unit into just 3 factions, Beta 0.3 is offering 3 factions with 3 subfactions for each, meaning 12 fully playable factions, each with couple of unique units, abilities and quirks, just like in Zero Hour. We've also expanded on that front by adding a bit of variety into each faction with such things as brand new units, abilities and brought back couple of concepts that were cut or unfinished during development of Zero Hour due to time constraints. We've also fixed countless amounts of bugs and issues, completely overhauled and enhanced SkirmishAI and added/remade couple of Skirmish maps. We've managed to cram 22 new units across all factions, 11 upgrades, fix/add some crucial game mechanics like Point Defense Lasers and ECM Missile Jamming as well as updated bunch of VFX where it was needed.

So, let's see changelog for the 0.3.

CHANGELOG FROM 0.21 to 0.3

Launcher:

• ● Renamed launcher internally and externally in an attempt to avoid false positive detection from antivirus software.
  
• ● Added Windowed mode launch button, button to open Red Alert 3 Profiles folder and Red Alert 3 Mods folder.
• ● Brand new interactive HTML documentation.

Code:

• ● Separated all generals into proper subfactions with their unique stats, units and abilities.
• ● Separated every single faction unit and structure in the game for all generals with unique stats and abilities.
• ● Countless balance changes to everything in the mod to bring it a bit closer to original game balance.
• ● All factions can now build up to 3 superweapons each.
• ● Added faction emblems to Command Centers.
• ● Removed build limit from secondary economy structures ( Drop Zone, Internet Center, Black Market ).
• ● Complete SkirmishAI overhaul, AI is now using proper units, unique attacks and tactics depending on subfaction.
• ● SkirmishAI can now research upgrades.
• ● More Multiplayer colors.
• ● Increased Command Center build radius.
• ● Increased Engineer capture time for all factions when capturing enemy structures.
• ● Power Meter now rendering properly.
• ● ECM Tank can now deflect incoming enemy missiles.
• ● Completely reworked Point Defense Lasers.
• ● Added ability for napalm projectiles ( Inferno Cannon shells/MiG Napalm Missiles ) to trigger firestorms.
• ● Added Mammoth Tank for USA.
• ● Added Particle Tank for Laser General.
• ● Added Laser Ranger for Laser General.
• ● Added Laser Sentry Drone for Laser General.
• ● Updated Laser Humvee visuals.
• ● Updated Laser Comanche visuals.
• ● Laser Humvee, Laser Crusader, Laser Paladin, Laser Comanche require power and will turn off.
• ● Added Alpha Aurora for Superweapon General.
• ● Added Hypersonic Aurora for Airforce General.
• ● Added King Raptor for Airforce General.
• ● Added Chinook for all USA Generals and Combat Chinook variation for Airforce General.
• ● Added Stealth Comanche.
• ● Updated visuals of Comanche/Helix helicopter blades.
• ● Updated USA Supply Truck model and animations.
• ● Added Medic ( heals infantry ).
• ● Added Mechanic ( repairs vehicles ).
• ● Added Guardian Tank for Superweapon General.
• ● Added Amphibious Transport ( Campaign/Spec-Ops only ).
• ● Added Battle Master Mark II for Tank General.
• ● Added Nuclear Battlemaster for Nuke General.
• ● Added TaskMaster for Infantry General.
• ● Added Minigunners for Infantry General.
• ● Added Fortified Bunker for Infantry General.
• ● Updated animations for Red Guard.
• ● Added Speaker Tower for Assault Troop Crawler.
• ● Added Iron Dragon for China.
• ● Added Nuke MiG for Nuke General.
• ● Added Flak Tank for Demolition General.
• ● Added Manticore APC for Stealth General.
• ● Added Toxin Tunnel Network for Toxin General.
• ● All jets now have "Return to Airfield" ability.
• ● All Airfields now have "Recall all Aircraft" ability.
• ● Reorganized GLA salvage upgrades ( 1 rank ( veteran ) -> first salvage, 2nd rank ( elite ) -> second salvage, 3rd rank ( heroic ) -> heroic second ).
• ● Updated all unit damaged visuals.
• ● Destruction models ( debris ) will now show appropriate HouseColor ( faction color ).
• ● Hopefully fixed SCUD Storm game freeze/crash issue.
• ● Fixed friendly structures being enterable/captured by allies.
• ● All General Special Powers should spawn relative to Command Center.
• ● Flashbangs will no longer target faction structures.
• ● EMP missiles should now deal proper damage to aircraft.
• ● Updated and fixed Anti-Air sight ranges of all Anti-Air units.
• ● Added toxin death variations for all infantry.
• ● Fixed GLA Palace health.
• ● Removed Particle Cannon damage resistance from Internet Center.
• ● Fixed Microwave Tank and ECM Tank visual auras not being offline when affected by EMP.
• ● Added Advanced Control Rods upgrade for Superweapon General.
• ● Added Camouflage Upgrade for GLA.
• ● Added Worker Shoes Upgrade for GLA, finally.
• ● Added Anthrax Gamma Upgrade for GLA Toxin General.
• ● Added Suicide Explosion ability for all GLA Demolition General units.
• ● Added Camo Netting Upgrade for GLA Stealth General.
• ● Added Stealth Comanche Upgrade for Airforce General.
• ● Added Drone Armor Upgrade for USA.
• ● Added Tactical Nuke MiG Upgrade for Nuke General.
• ● Added Isotope Stability for Nuke General.
• ● Added Autoloaders Upgrade for Tank General.
• ● Updated Particle Beam effects for USA
• ● Unique Particle Beam effects for Superweapon General
• ● Unique Particle Beam effects for Laser General
• ● Updated Nuclear Missile explosion FX.
• ● Fixed Nuclear Missile smoke trail.
• ● Added damage transition FX to all units.
• ● Updated Damaged unit state visuals.
• ● Added flaming trail to destroyed aircraft.
• ● Tweaked small vehicle explosion FX.
• ● Updated SCUD Launcher and Storm missiles explosion FX.
• ● Tweaked small nuclear explosion FX.
• ● Updated PDL effects.
• ● Updated Inferno Cannon shell trails and FX.
• ● Updated Fuel Air explosion.
• ● Updated Firestorm effects.
• ● Updated Toxin Tractor effects.
• ● Updated Dragon Tank effects.
• ● Added pink signal smoke to Drop Zone.
• ● Updated several FX textures to fix compression artifacts.
• ● Updated Nuclear Missile explosion sound.
• ● Updated Vehicle explosion echo sounds.
• ● Added explosion echo to MOAB and Fuel Air Bombs.
• ● Updated mixing on majority of sound effects.
• ● Reduced frequency for Taunt/Fear voice lines.

Maps:

• ● Updated music playlist for all Skirmish maps.
• ● Properly separated music between singleplayer and multiplayer to prevent spoilers for multiplayer
• ● Added special combat music triggered by first usage of each side superweapon.
• ● Fixed black border at the top of the screen.
• ● Added bunch of new terrain textures.
• ● Added map Lone Eagle.
• ● Added map Hostile Dawn.
• ● Added map Sand Serpent.
• ● Added map Forgotten Forest.
• ● Twilight Flame updated to new version with increased scale, new lighting and balance.
• ● Fallen Empire - updated lighting and polished wall props.
• ● Autumn Garden - updated water blend in center lakes.
• ● Naval Yard - rebalanced north player position.
• ● Defcon 6 - reworked cliffs.

UI:

• ● Updated load screen pictures and added some new.
• ● Added preview artworks into Spec-Ops menu. Placeholders for future campaign missions.
• ● Added ShellMap as a Spec-Ops placeholder map to prevent crash to Desktop

New Maps!

Here's brand new 0.3 additions ● remake of Lone Eagle, Hostile Dawn, Sand Serpent and Forgotten Forest!

Tech Trees!

Since we've completely reworked how faction selection works and added 9 new generals, here's some handy guides to help you make right special power choices and let you get acquainted with new additions!

China

GLA

In-Game Screenshots!

Future plans?

Right now? Take it easy for a while. Yet again working on this thing was quite stressful because of several reasons, the more content we add into the mod the more seams engine is starting to show, things fall apart pretty quick and it's incredibly difficult to track some issues down. I personally need to take care of HL1MMod, HL2MMod and my contract work before I resume working on this thing full-time, so it will be a while 'til 0.4, unless there's some game breaking bug.

Brand new things we want to see:

- Add missing units like combat cycles and more faction specific units.
- More infantry units, we currently have only basic infantry in the mod.
- SpecOps missions.
- Couple of Co-Op missions.
- Brand new Skirmish maps.

Things we'd need to polish:

- All Faction Structures.
- SkirmishAI needs a complete rewrite and overhaul.
- Polish existing units, fix their issues to our best abilities.
- More differences between generals/subfactions.
- Tune up performance where possible.
- More VFX enhancements.
- More sounds for all things.

How can you help?

If you wish to show your appreciation towards project, please consider backing us up on Patreon for one or couple of months. You can also join our Discord server and hang out with sgor00 and other folks, I won't be there much because I really need to concentrate on my job.

In Conclusion

We're happy it's over for time being and we hope you'll enjoy playing Beta 0.3, also please join our online event.