Command & Conquer: Generals/Unused Content in the Expansion/America

This is a sub-page of Command & Conquer: Generals/Unused Content in the Expansion.

America, General and Vanilla

Detention Camp

The Detention Camp, a structure in the base game, was removed in Zero Hour and its only function was given to the Strategy Center.
The developers probably removed it because they wanted to root out all that remains of the POW logic. That and the fact it didn't have anything other than the intelligence special power, compared to the Strategy Center which houses most USA upgrades.

Firebase

The Firebase has an unused animation of the howitzer undeploying back into the platform.

General Ironside

Another American general that was intended to appear in the Generals' Challenge, Ironside has a complete sound set and may have been an American "boss" general analogous to General Leang. No Generals' Challenge map exists for him and his actual faction design is unknown, although he has been recreated in several mods including the popular "Shockwave." Notably, the picture that is commonly passed off as his portrait is not in fact the one used in the development of Zero Hour, no official portraits of him exist.

Spectre Gunship

It seems like the Spectre Gunship used to work like a normal unit at first. If you click somewhere after it has bombarded the area but before it leaves the map, it will respond with move voices but not do anything. There are other unused sounds, like "Spectre is nearing the target area" which are equally unused.

Colonel Burton

For some reason, a highly detailed model for Colonel Burton was created but went unused. Since it's a detailed model, perhaps the developers intended for it to be used in the final cutscene of the mission Snow Fall, where Burton climbs a mountain to destroy the secret GLA lab.

Snow Bike Ranger

Apparently the original game was supposed to have Rangers and Rebels ride snow bikes, probably under snow conditions. However, there would be all kinds of issues with it like snow bikes entering transport vehicles. Their textures and models can also be found in the Sneak Peak which proves these were created for vanilla Generals and not Zero Hour.

Biohazard Tech

The Biohazard Tech has a full sound set for itself. The main problem with this is that you're never able to build one in-game - the Biohazard Tech only appears in one mission, and the code makes sure only the opposing player is able to build the Biohazard Tech. The second issue is that the Biohazard Tech itself does not actually use these sounds - he is completely mute.

There is an entry in the barracks' command set which would allow the Biohazard Tech to be trained by the American faction. Because the Biohazard Tech is set to be untrainable in the game code, this button does not appear in the game. The Biohazard Tech would have also been very redundant to the Ambulance, which also cleans up hazards.

Missile Defender

The Missile Defender's texture was changed in Zero Hour. The Missile Defender's model was for a Chinese unit, as evidenced by the its filename, which is prefixed with N, which is used to categorize Chinese units. It was later recolored blue when it was recycled as a USA unit.

But because Zero Hour was shipped with many development leftovers, The model's original, unedited texture probably slipped in, and overwrote the blue texture.

The Missile Defender's original model, according to a developer note, was replaced because its packing/unpacking animations do not fit the role of an offensive unit.

Base game	Zero Hour

The model to the right, named AISTNG, was likely the original Missile Defender mentioned in the developer note, since this is the only infantry model in the whole game with packing/unpacking animations.

Command Center

The American Command Center has an unused animation which shows the radar dish building up, like if you purchased the radar upgrade. This is unused because America starts with radar at all times. However, you may have been required to purchase the radar upgrade yourself at some point in game development.

Barracks Flags

These flags were made for the old USA generals of the original game, and were meant to be used in that game since their textures can be found there but only Zero Hour has the actual models. Presumably each general would have his own barracks that displays these flags, in the final game the flag of barracks displays the team color instead of any special textures.

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  Airforce

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  Tank Command

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  Special Forces

(Source: Stanislav.Saw for making the videos)

Aircraft Carrier

The American Aircraft Carrier, which normally only appears in the second American mission (but can be placed on custom maps via Worldbuilder) has unused wakes which would be used when the aircraft carrier is moving. But not only does the wake move in the wrong direction, but planes cannot land on moving objects due to game engine bugs, which forced the developers to make the aircraft carrier a static building.

Tank Drop

The selection pictures of the Tank Drop of the Chinese Tank General are found in the file where the American selection pictures are stored. On top of that, they depict American Crusader tanks, rather than Chinese Battlemaster tanks. This suggests that originally the Tank Drop was supposed to go to America, but since it does not really fit any of the factions, it may be either a relic of the prototype (which had an American Tank General), or a sign that the developers wanted to resurrect this idea for the expansion pack.

Microwave Tank

An alternate version of the Microwave Tank selection picture exists within the game files. The same image is used in the manual for the microwave tank's icon, it shows the final model without a radar thing in front of chassis. Judging by this, This image was going to be the new one instead of we got in the final game if developers planned to hold final model in game or this was the older version shows the final model we got and developers planned to use the alternate Thunderbolt model instead of we got in final game but didn't managed to change model with new one due to time problems.

Patriot Battery

This selection picture of a Patriot Battery is unused. It could have been intended for Airforce General, since he's the only general who does not get a customized Patriot Battery, or maybe it was a planned redesign to Super Weapon General's patriot battery since microwave emitter ability is removed but cameo still shows a emitter wave. However, there are no clues on this one.

Bomb

This appears to be an alternative icon for the Fuel Air Bomb, or perhaps a ground attack icon for the Aurora.

Bradly, Griffon and Thorn

These are the textures for the old USA generals of the original game, a pre-release video confirms the names of two of these. Perhaps they were to show as in-game units at point in development.

Prototype Leftovers

Crusader

One of the many leftovers from the prototype that made it into the expansion is the old Crusader. The tank which is called the Crusader in the final game was called the Leopard tank in the prototype.

It's easy to notice the characteristic gold skin, shared across all prototype assets. The Crusader was able to be upgraded with a Hover upgrade, allowing it to travel across water. One leftover of this is the upgrade icon, which comes from the prototype and exists in both the original game and the expansion.

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  Old Crusader

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  Old Crusader, hover mode

Mammoth Tank

An untextured model of the Mammoth Tank from the prototype, although only the prototype contains both the texture and the model. The developer team intended for the Mammoth Tank from the original Command and Conquer to appear in the game at some point. However, the idea was scrapped very early on.

Predator

Another tank, with only a subtly different design. The art team was probably just brainstorming ideas at this point of development. There exists a Chinese version of this tank in the game files too, with the green texture and proper naming. Maybe it was actually a Chinese unit that was given to the USA or vice versa.

Detention Camp

This is another prototype leftover - an early idea for the Detention Camp based off the concept art. With this gold color and the looks of all the stuff, the game would have been much different than what it is now.

War Factory

Somehow, this prototype War Factory managed to sneak into the game. However, only the really damaged condition remains, although textures for the other conditions can be found. Note especially the early design of America's logo. It looks a lot like the logo of the Allies from Red Alert 2, actually.

The model has a violent shaking animation, which might've been used when it's destroyed.

Guardian Control Center

Now this is a building which does not have a counterpart in the final version. It was most likely related somehow to the cut Guardian Drones units, since the building, which doesn't have it's own concept art piece, is found in the concept art for the Guardian Drones and would've been needed in order for the Guardian Drones to function. Similar to how in Red Alert 2, a robot control center is required for the drones to be functional.

Guardian Drone

One of the many old drones for use with the old "guardian" drone system. All of the drones do exist in the game and can be placed with the Worldbuilder, however their stats are all just placeholders.

Medic Drone

A very old leftover from development of the original game. This drone would heal infantry, presumably, but was probably scrapped and replaced with the Ambulance later on.

Repair Drone

This Repair Drone was supposed to appear in the original game as confirmed by some prerelease screenshots but was cut for whatever reason.

Raptor

Again, this more boxy version of the Raptor with the gold skin is an old development leftover of the original game.

Missile Team

Originally, instead of a missile defender there was a two-man missile team that America was planned to build. There are lots of possible reason for removal of this unit. One is the fact that animating a two-man model is so difficult. Another reason is adding a two-man unit as one does not make so much sense (e.g sniper units killing two man with one bullet). They were probably replaced later by that mortar unit up there, then the final game's Missile Defender.

Security Wall

The Security Wall from the prototype can be found in Zero Hour files too. Unlike the cut walls from the final game, this Security Wall is not divided into sections and corners. It can be seen in some prerelease screenshots.

SEAL

A SEAL was planned for America, like the Navy SEAL from Red Alert 2. The problem with it is that it did not quite fit into the faction since everything it did was already covered by other American infantry.

America Airforce General

Hypersonic Aurora

A black Hypersonic Aurora was planned for Airforce General. Like the Aurora Alpha, it would release a fuel-air bomb, which has an absolutely insane one thousand damage (this would make it one of the most powerful weapons in the entire game). It has a model, voice set and a selection picture all done, but for one reason or another it was not implemented in the game.

Some of the Aurora icons and model were mixed up just before the game's release. In the final game, the Superweapons General is the one that uses the black Aurora model for the Aurora Alpha bomber. However, the Alpha's icon is that of a white Aurora with a grey stripe pattern, which is yet another Aurora model that went unused in the final game, it is the correct model for the Superweapons General.

B2 Carpet Bombing

Unused	Used

There are two selection pictures of the B2 Carpet Bombing special power in the game, but only the right one is used. The left one is probably unused because you can't really recognize the aircraft in that picture due to the side view.

Comanche

Unused	Used

An unused full color version of the comanche stealth upgrade graphic exists. The resolution (and unused voice lines) suggest this was intended as the unit's icon at a point where the comache was built stealthed.

Solo Drone

AirF_Command_ConstructAmericaVehicleBattleDrone suggests that battle drones could be constructed by the airforce general. A special graphic was made called "SASoloDrone". Its name was given the unique string of CONTROLBAR:AirF_ConstructAmericaVehicleBattleDrone but doesn't exist in the csf file. Its tooltip still uses the base battle drone text which mentions a vehicle. Functionally it just creates the drones his vehicles create.

America Laser General

Laser Units

Surprisingly, despite being the Laser General he has only one real laser unit at his disposal (the Laser Crusader). However, unused voices suggest there were way more laser units planned which were never implemented. Such units include the Laser Ranger, the Laser Humvee (with upgradable Laser Gun), the Laser Paladin, the Laser Stealth Fighter, the Laser Comanche, and even the hero unit Colonel Burton was supposed to come in a laser variety. None of these can be found in the game due to time constraints.

The laser paladin does 70 damage compared to the regular paladin which does 60 damage. However a reload time of 1 second doubles the damage per second compared to a laser crusader.

Laser Cannon

The Laser Cannon was a planned version of the Particle Cannon for Laser General. It would be significantly weaker than the Particle Cannon, but have a longer duration time and be available much earlier in the game (after the Airfield). It's all finished and can be placed with the map editor, so one wonders why it was never used.

Laser Guided Howitzer

Fitting in with the overall laser theme, the Fire Base of Laser General was supposed to get a laser guided attack, just like the Missile Defender. It was never implemented for whatever reason.

America Superweapon General

Aurora Alpha

The Superweapon General was also supposed to have her own variant of the powerful Aurora. As mentioned before, the Aurora icons and model were mixed up just before the game's release. In the final game, the Superweapons General is supposed to use this model but she actually uses the one that was planned for Airforce general. The Aurora Alpha, however, uses the correct selection icon.

Superweapons

The Superweapons General was supposed to get two American mock-ups of the two other superweapons in the game, the Nuclear Missile Silo and the Scud Storm. These mock-ups are, very creatively, called the Cruise Missile Silo and the Tomahawk Storm, and are designed to complement the Particle Cannon in looks.

The Cruise Missile Silo is partially finished and can be placed on maps with the map editor, however it has certain bugs, such as the missile launching sideways, and the building magically morphing back into the Chinese Nuclear Missile Silo at nighttime. Of the Tomahawk Storm, only the model and the selection picture remains.

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  Tomahawk Storm

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  Cameo

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  Cruise Missile Silo

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  Cameo

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  The Cruise Missile model

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EMP Patriot Defense Emitter

The EMP Patriot was supposed to get a defense emitter at close range which mainly protected against infantry which came close to the missile battery (so it would not try to attack the infantry and disable itself in the process). A design change led to its removal but selection picture still shows a radio wave spreading around from battery.

Repair Vehicle

The Repair Vehicle was a planned replacement for the Ambulance for Superweapon General. It would repair vehicles near it, instead of infantry. It was probably intended to work together with the Support Stealth Fighter below, but was scrapped. Instead, all Ambulances were made to heal both infantry and vehicles.

Support Stealth Fighter

A special "support" Stealth Fighter was planned for the Superweapon General. It would heal infantry beneath it in a similar manner to the Ambulance, and was probably supposed to complement the Repair Vehicle above. However, only the voice set remains.

Point Defense Drone

The Battle Drone of Superweapon General was supposed to get a Point Defense Laser to protect its master from incoming missiles and to help combat infantry. It is present in the code, but never used in the game. This fits her the least as Lasers are not her specialty. The graphic uses the standard battle drone icon. The single drone could destroy 5 projectiles per second, making it the best point defense weapon as avengers and airforce general weapons can only destroy 4. This weapon also means it could do up to 500dps against infantry it targets.