OpenRA: Red Alert, Command and Conquer, Dune 2000, Rebuilt for the Modern Era (openra.net)

Article summary

OpenRA is an open-source project that rebuilds classic real-time strategy games, including Red Alert, Command and Conquer, and Dune 2000, with modern features and gameplay. The latest playtest release includes new random map generators, updated campaigns, and balance changes. The project is community-driven and allows for modding and custom map creation. OpenRA is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Main themes

• OpenRA project
• Classic game rebalancing
• Real-time strategy gameplay
• AI difficulty and balance
• Death ball strategy
• Game modding and customization
• Community engagement and feedback

What commenters say

• The original Command and Conquer games were very difficult to beat, with the AI having a significant resource advantage.
• Some players found that exploiting AI weaknesses, such as targeting harvesters, was an effective way to win.
• The concept of a 'death ball' is a common strategy in real-time strategy games, where a large group of units is used to overwhelm the opponent.
• Different games have implemented various mechanisms to mitigate the effectiveness of death balls, such as limiting unit selection or introducing area-of-effect attacks.
• Some players enjoy the challenge of building and executing a successful death ball strategy, while others find it unbalanced or unfun.
• The balance of units and strategies in games like Advance Wars and Command and Conquer is a subject of debate among players, with some arguing that certain units or approaches are overpowered.
• Improving the AI in classic games can make them more challenging, but also risks disrupting the original balance and gameplay.
• The use of 'cheese' strategies, which exploit AI weaknesses, is a controversial topic, with some players seeing it as a legitimate way to win and others as an unfair tactic.