This is a Hot Deal if you own Westwood's (Now EA's) Command and Conquer Renegade. It can also be purchased from Amazon.com in "The Command & Conquer Collection" for $15.00 which is $5.00 0ff!
I have installed "A Path Beyond" and it takes you to a first person perspective of the original Westwood's C&C Red Alert! These guys did an awesome job. I think it's even more fun than the original Renegade game!
Free Expansion/Mod can be had at http://www.apathbeyond.com
Interview from one of the Devolpers: I have been working on A Path Beyond for the past three and a half years and was part of Renegade's development team in 2002 for five months.
FAQ
Q: What is Red Alert: A Path Beyond?
A: Red Alert: A Path Beyond is a total conversion/expansion for Westwood's Command and Conquer: Renegade. It changes the units and structures to be like Westwood's 1996 smash hit Real Time Strategy game, Red Alert, which is comprised of a war between Allied and Soviet factions. RA:APB also has units from the expansions to Red Alert (Counterstrike and Aftermath). There are still some people who play older versions, so download mirrors for these may still available.
Q: What happened to Renegade Alert?
A: We're still here. The mod has changed names, but it's still the same game. Note that you can still use the old www.renalert.com link to access the site.
Q: How does this expansion format work?
A: RA:APB runs from a separate executable file than Renegade. It copies the necessary files from Renegade into its own folder (usually C:/Westwood/A Path Beyond). Upon installation, RA:APB is completely separate from Renegade, although you need a valid Renegade CD-Key to be able to play online.
Q: So does that mean I need Renegade to play RA:APB?
A: Sort of. If you don't have it, go buy it at your local electronics store, it's not very expensive. Illegal versions of Renegade will not work. You cannot play using Westwood Online without a legal retail copy of Renegade (and thus a serial for WOL).
Q: When will the next patch be released?
A: It will be done when it is done.
Gameplay Questions
Q: So how is this different from Renegade?
A: There are many, many changes. Every vehicle and infantry unit is new, and most weapons have been remodeled from their Renegade counterparts at this point. The game also features all-new maps to play on, as well as a host of new buildings. For details, read the RA:APB manual. It also boasts several new features, such as the ability to harvest in your very own Ore Truck to bolster your team's money supply, the ability to sneak into an enemy base as a Spy, completely ignored by base defenses, naval units, and the ability to place mines with vehicles.
Q: Will there be any new game modes?
A: While the primary focus of RA:APB is the Red Alert mode, where the objective is to destroy the enemy team's base, there will be several more modes of play available for the final release, including Capture the Flag, Deathmatch, and Assault. Assault is a special game mode where one team must defend a particular objective for a certain period of time from the opposing team.
Q: There are aircraft and boats or something, but I can't buy them from the Vehicles menu! How do I get them?
A: There are special Purchase Terminals for these units. They are marked with the unit's name, and are located at the Helipad, Naval Yard, or Submarine Pen, and will allow you to buy helicopters, warships, or submarines, respectively. To purchase a unit, walk up to a terminal and press the use key (default: E). If you have enough funds, the unit will appear in front of you.
Q: What new vehicles are there?
A: All of the vehicles in this game are new, although some share similarities in function to ones in Renegade, such as the Light, Medium, and Mammoth Tanks. New units include the Heavy Tank, V2 Rocket Launcher, Demo Truck, Anti-tank Mine Layer, Anti-personnel Mine Layer, Attack Sub, Missile Sub, Naval Transport, Hind Attack Helicopter, MAD Tanks, Tesla Tanks, and Rangers, to name several. For more information about how these units work, refer to the manual.
Q: How do I harvest Ore for my team?
A: Purchase an Ore Truck from the Vehicles menu at a Purchase Terminal. Drive it to a nearby Ore Field. The Ore Truck's bail will move up and down. When it stops moving and a large dollar sign ('$') appears, drive to the concrete drop-off pad of the Ore Refinery. Your team will receive $700, $1050, or $1400, depending on whether you visited an Ore, Gem, or mixed field.
Q: What do Spies do?
A: Spies appear to be members of the enemy team, and are ignored by base defenses. They only have a pistol and a fake version of an enemy weapon, but are invaluable in getting information on enemy troop variety and can plant A-Bomb Signal Flares more easily than other classes, thanks to their disguise.
Q: What do Thieves do?
A: Thieves can steal money from the Soviets. At present, when a Thief enters the bottom level of the Soviet Ore Refinery, he will earn $500 for his team every 20 seconds. The Soviets will not see any reduction in cash.
Q: My vehicle has limited ammo, how do I reload it?
A: If you're flying a helicopter, return to the helipad and land on it to reload. If you're driving a Mine Layer, return to the Service Depot.
Q: (Name of unit) isn't on (name of map)!
A: Not all units appear on all maps. Certain maps follow a certain "Tech Level," which limits the strength of the units available to both sides. Red Alert: A Path Beyond Tech Levels roughly equate to Red Alert Tech Levels. This is supposed to mix things up a little and make people come up with different strategies, instead of always buying Mammoth Tanks or whatever other high-cost units are available. Some maps may not include helicopters or naval units even though they are 'full tech' (no limitations on infantry or vehicle purchases) because the map in particular was not designed for them. Maps that have reduced Tech Levels include North By Northwest, Metro, and Canyon River. Maps that have helicopters available include Volcano, Ridge War, and A Path Beyond. As of 0.9935, the only official map with naval units is Shallow Grave.
Q: Where is the Chrono Tank/Mobile Radar Jammer/Chronosphere/Iron Curtain/insert unit from Red Alert here?
A: Several units and buildings from the original game have yet to be implemented. You will see most of them in the final release.
Q: What happened to the Phase Tranpsort?
A: It was removed from 0.993 because of balance issues and improper use. It may be re-implemented in the 1.0 release, however.
Q: Will there be any fixed-wing aircraft (Yaks or MiGs)?
A: Not in a controllable form. They may be implemented in a scripted fashion, but will not be controlled directly by the player, as the Renegade engine does not support fixed-wing aircraft physics.
Bugs and Installation Issues
Q: I get this weird "Subscript Out of Range" error when I try to run RA:APB!
A: You are using an outdated patch. RA:APB has had seven releases, and it is possible to install the game correctly by installing each incremental patch in the correct (increasing numeric) order, but it is highly recommended to install the full 0.9935 patch if you do not have RA:APB installed on your computer. If you're trying to patch from 0.993, keep in mind that the incremental 0.9935 patch increments from the 0.9932 version, not the 0.993 version.
Q: Why is the installer freezing/taking so long?
A: It's patching a large file called always.dat. If the installer appears to have stopped, it is in the middle of patching this file. The 0.9935 patch has a percentage indicator for each individual item installed, so you can keep tabs on how close it is to being done, but the older installers do not have this feature.
Q: I found a bug, where do I report it?
A: Register at the Red Alert: A Path Beyond forums, and post the bug in the Bug Reporting section. Screenshots, if applicable, are helpful in diagnosing bugs. Also, be sure to search the forums and the FAQ (the former of which can be searched using the Search function) for bugs similar to yours that have already been posted before posting your own, as it isn't useful to have 20 reports of the same bug.
Modding Questions
Q: Can I make maps for Red Alert: A Path Beyond?
A: Sure! For each public beta we release a set of development tools for this purpose. Impress us with your talents! (Note: Please don't claim that any assets that the tools supply, such as textures and geometries and whatnot that come with the tools, are yours. We take pride in our work and don't like seeing it stolen.)
Q: Where can I find fan maps or get help with making my own fan maps?
A: There is a section for this on the forum.
I have installed "A Path Beyond" and it takes you to a first person perspective of the original Westwood's C&C Red Alert! These guys did an awesome job. I think it's even more fun than the original Renegade game!
Free Expansion/Mod can be had at http://www.apathbeyond.com
Interview from one of the Devolpers: I have been working on A Path Beyond for the past three and a half years and was part of Renegade's development team in 2002 for five months.
FAQ
Q: What is Red Alert: A Path Beyond?
A: Red Alert: A Path Beyond is a total conversion/expansion for Westwood's Command and Conquer: Renegade. It changes the units and structures to be like Westwood's 1996 smash hit Real Time Strategy game, Red Alert, which is comprised of a war between Allied and Soviet factions. RA:APB also has units from the expansions to Red Alert (Counterstrike and Aftermath). There are still some people who play older versions, so download mirrors for these may still available.
Q: What happened to Renegade Alert?
A: We're still here. The mod has changed names, but it's still the same game. Note that you can still use the old www.renalert.com link to access the site.
Q: How does this expansion format work?
A: RA:APB runs from a separate executable file than Renegade. It copies the necessary files from Renegade into its own folder (usually C:/Westwood/A Path Beyond). Upon installation, RA:APB is completely separate from Renegade, although you need a valid Renegade CD-Key to be able to play online.
Q: So does that mean I need Renegade to play RA:APB?
A: Sort of. If you don't have it, go buy it at your local electronics store, it's not very expensive. Illegal versions of Renegade will not work. You cannot play using Westwood Online without a legal retail copy of Renegade (and thus a serial for WOL).
Q: When will the next patch be released?
A: It will be done when it is done.
Gameplay Questions
Q: So how is this different from Renegade?
A: There are many, many changes. Every vehicle and infantry unit is new, and most weapons have been remodeled from their Renegade counterparts at this point. The game also features all-new maps to play on, as well as a host of new buildings. For details, read the RA:APB manual. It also boasts several new features, such as the ability to harvest in your very own Ore Truck to bolster your team's money supply, the ability to sneak into an enemy base as a Spy, completely ignored by base defenses, naval units, and the ability to place mines with vehicles.
Q: Will there be any new game modes?
A: While the primary focus of RA:APB is the Red Alert mode, where the objective is to destroy the enemy team's base, there will be several more modes of play available for the final release, including Capture the Flag, Deathmatch, and Assault. Assault is a special game mode where one team must defend a particular objective for a certain period of time from the opposing team.
Q: There are aircraft and boats or something, but I can't buy them from the Vehicles menu! How do I get them?
A: There are special Purchase Terminals for these units. They are marked with the unit's name, and are located at the Helipad, Naval Yard, or Submarine Pen, and will allow you to buy helicopters, warships, or submarines, respectively. To purchase a unit, walk up to a terminal and press the use key (default: E). If you have enough funds, the unit will appear in front of you.
Q: What new vehicles are there?
A: All of the vehicles in this game are new, although some share similarities in function to ones in Renegade, such as the Light, Medium, and Mammoth Tanks. New units include the Heavy Tank, V2 Rocket Launcher, Demo Truck, Anti-tank Mine Layer, Anti-personnel Mine Layer, Attack Sub, Missile Sub, Naval Transport, Hind Attack Helicopter, MAD Tanks, Tesla Tanks, and Rangers, to name several. For more information about how these units work, refer to the manual.
Q: How do I harvest Ore for my team?
A: Purchase an Ore Truck from the Vehicles menu at a Purchase Terminal. Drive it to a nearby Ore Field. The Ore Truck's bail will move up and down. When it stops moving and a large dollar sign ('$') appears, drive to the concrete drop-off pad of the Ore Refinery. Your team will receive $700, $1050, or $1400, depending on whether you visited an Ore, Gem, or mixed field.
Q: What do Spies do?
A: Spies appear to be members of the enemy team, and are ignored by base defenses. They only have a pistol and a fake version of an enemy weapon, but are invaluable in getting information on enemy troop variety and can plant A-Bomb Signal Flares more easily than other classes, thanks to their disguise.
Q: What do Thieves do?
A: Thieves can steal money from the Soviets. At present, when a Thief enters the bottom level of the Soviet Ore Refinery, he will earn $500 for his team every 20 seconds. The Soviets will not see any reduction in cash.
Q: My vehicle has limited ammo, how do I reload it?
A: If you're flying a helicopter, return to the helipad and land on it to reload. If you're driving a Mine Layer, return to the Service Depot.
Q: (Name of unit) isn't on (name of map)!
A: Not all units appear on all maps. Certain maps follow a certain "Tech Level," which limits the strength of the units available to both sides. Red Alert: A Path Beyond Tech Levels roughly equate to Red Alert Tech Levels. This is supposed to mix things up a little and make people come up with different strategies, instead of always buying Mammoth Tanks or whatever other high-cost units are available. Some maps may not include helicopters or naval units even though they are 'full tech' (no limitations on infantry or vehicle purchases) because the map in particular was not designed for them. Maps that have reduced Tech Levels include North By Northwest, Metro, and Canyon River. Maps that have helicopters available include Volcano, Ridge War, and A Path Beyond. As of 0.9935, the only official map with naval units is Shallow Grave.
Q: Where is the Chrono Tank/Mobile Radar Jammer/Chronosphere/Iron Curtain/insert unit from Red Alert here?
A: Several units and buildings from the original game have yet to be implemented. You will see most of them in the final release.
Q: What happened to the Phase Tranpsort?
A: It was removed from 0.993 because of balance issues and improper use. It may be re-implemented in the 1.0 release, however.
Q: Will there be any fixed-wing aircraft (Yaks or MiGs)?
A: Not in a controllable form. They may be implemented in a scripted fashion, but will not be controlled directly by the player, as the Renegade engine does not support fixed-wing aircraft physics.
Bugs and Installation Issues
Q: I get this weird "Subscript Out of Range" error when I try to run RA:APB!
A: You are using an outdated patch. RA:APB has had seven releases, and it is possible to install the game correctly by installing each incremental patch in the correct (increasing numeric) order, but it is highly recommended to install the full 0.9935 patch if you do not have RA:APB installed on your computer. If you're trying to patch from 0.993, keep in mind that the incremental 0.9935 patch increments from the 0.9932 version, not the 0.993 version.
Q: Why is the installer freezing/taking so long?
A: It's patching a large file called always.dat. If the installer appears to have stopped, it is in the middle of patching this file. The 0.9935 patch has a percentage indicator for each individual item installed, so you can keep tabs on how close it is to being done, but the older installers do not have this feature.
Q: I found a bug, where do I report it?
A: Register at the Red Alert: A Path Beyond forums, and post the bug in the Bug Reporting section. Screenshots, if applicable, are helpful in diagnosing bugs. Also, be sure to search the forums and the FAQ (the former of which can be searched using the Search function) for bugs similar to yours that have already been posted before posting your own, as it isn't useful to have 20 reports of the same bug.
Modding Questions
Q: Can I make maps for Red Alert: A Path Beyond?
A: Sure! For each public beta we release a set of development tools for this purpose. Impress us with your talents! (Note: Please don't claim that any assets that the tools supply, such as textures and geometries and whatnot that come with the tools, are yours. We take pride in our work and don't like seeing it stolen.)
Q: Where can I find fan maps or get help with making my own fan maps?
A: There is a section for this on the forum.
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