# electronicarts/cnc_red_alert

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6,678 stars · 1,361 forks · C++ · NOASSERTION · archived

## Links

- GitHub: https://github.com/electronicarts/CnC_Red_Alert
- Homepage: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2229840/Command__Conquer_Red_Alert_Counterstrike_and_The_Aftermath/
- awesome-repositories: https://awesome-repositories.com/repository/electronicarts-cnc-red-alert.md

## Topics

`command-and-conquer` `open-source` `real-time-strategy` `rts`

## Description

This repository contains the original source code for a classic real-time strategy game, serving as a legacy game engine implementation for managing units, maps, and combat mechanics in a military strategy setting. It functions as a real-time strategy game source code archive intended for preservation and technical study.

The codebase acts as a game modification base, allowing developers to create custom content and modifications using the original source. It provides a foundation for retro game modding and software archeology to analyze how historical game mechanics were programmed.

The project supports game engine research and the preservation of legacy software, ensuring the long-term availability of the technical implementation for educational and development purposes.

## Tags

### Part of an Awesome List

- [Strategy Game Engines](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/awesome-lists/devtools/strategy-game-engines.md) — Provides a complete legacy engine implementation for managing units, maps, and combat in a strategy setting.
- [Game Source Code](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/awesome-lists/devtools/game-source-code.md) — Contains the full original source code for a classic real-time strategy title for archival purposes.

### Game Development

- [C++ Game Engines](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/game-development/c-game-engines.md) — Implements a high-performance game engine using C++ for low-level memory and hardware management.
- [Game Loops](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/game-development/engine-architecture/game-loops.md) — Implements a central game loop to synchronize real-time simulation updates with frame rendering.
- [Real-Time Strategy Engines](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/game-development/game-engines-frameworks/game-engines/game-development-engines/real-time-strategy-engines.md) — Serves as a technical reference for studying the architecture of a real-time strategy game engine.
- [Game Modding Toolkits](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/game-development/game-modding-toolkits.md) — Provides the original source code as a base for creating custom content and gameplay modifications. ([source](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/electronicarts/cnc_red_alert@main/README.md))
- [Game Modification Frameworks](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/game-development/game-modification-frameworks.md) — Functions as a codebase foundation for developers to integrate community-created mods and content.
- [Preservation Archives](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/game-development/open-source-games/preservation-archives.md) — Provides a source code archive to ensure the long-term technical preservation of a legacy game. ([source](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/electronicarts/cnc_red_alert@main/README.md))
- [Retro Game Modding](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/game-development/retro-game-modding.md) — Allows the creation of custom levels and gameplay modifications using the original source code.
- [Unit Property Definitions](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/game-development/entity-property-definitions/unit-property-definitions.md) — Uses external configuration files to define unit properties, separating game balance data from core logic.

### Graphics & Multimedia

- [DirectX Application Development](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/graphics-multimedia/directx-application-development.md) — Utilizes the DirectX API to render 2D sprites and user interface elements on Windows.

### Software Engineering & Architecture

- [Fixed-Point Math Optimizations](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/software-engineering-architecture/integer-arithmetic/fixed-point-math-optimizations.md) — Employs fixed-point arithmetic for unit positioning to ensure deterministic behavior across different CPUs.
- [Software Archaeology](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/software-engineering-architecture/software-archaeology.md) — Enables the analysis of legacy source code to recover and understand historical game mechanics.

### User Interface & Experience

- [Event-Driven Input Handlers](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/user-interface-experience/form-and-input-management/input-handling/event-driven-input-handlers.md) — Processes player commands through an event queue to maintain simulation responsiveness.