You destroyed my command center. I'm impressed general. Few could survive this long. - Kwai
”
The command center was the hub of operations for each faction. It produced construction units and, in the case of the USA and China, provided radar. Generals Powers were also activated from the command center.
Players begin most games with a free, pre-constructed command center from one of the three combatants (USA, China, or the GLA) as well as an appropriate construction unit, eventually occupying the center of the player's base.
The USA Command Center came with a built-in radar and could build Construction Dozers. A Spy Satellite could be accessed periodically via the US Command Center every 1 minute.
China's Command Center can build Construction Dozers and could be upgraded with a radar.
The GLA Command Center trained Workers and like all GLA buildings would leave behind a GLA Hole that could rebuild the Center if destroyed. GLA generals could fortify the building against enemy attacks with Fortified Structures upgrade, while Prince Kassad could also conceal the building with Camo-Netting as he learned to do with all GLA buildings. A Fake Command Center could also be built as a decoy.
Being somewhat useless in the early game after the initial dozers or workers were constructed, the Command Center was sometimes sold for a small cash boost after basic construction had been completed; a second center would be constructed later in the game in order to employ General Powers. While a sensible tactic, selling it came with tradeoffs and risks for China and USA players, who would not have radar access and could not produce more Construction Dozers if the existing ones were destroyed.
A few scripted campaign missions and some fan-customized matches forgo a command center entirely.
Upgrades Command center with camo netting, rendering it invisible to enemy forces until it fires or is fired upon, or detected by detectors.
Purchasable at the building for a cost of $500. Prince Kassad only.
Command Centers of Zero Hour Generals[]
“
Nicely play, General.You destroyed my Command Center, now I be forced to fight dirty.... - Prince Kassad
”
The Command Centers for the specialized generals of Zero Hour were visually slightly different, with each having logos painted on the concrete apron in front of their main door representing their unique technology and play style:
Small circle with a larger circle around it(x 4) and a cross through it (crosshairs with extra rings)
Abilities[]
Icon
Name
Ability
Countdown Timer
Levels
Emergency Repair
Instantly repair vehicles in an area
4 minutes
1: Light repair
2: Medium repair
3: Serious repair
USA[]
Icon
Name
Ability
Countdown Timer
Levels
Spy Drone
Reveal targeted area permanently until destroyed. Cloaked and can detect stealth units
1.30 minutes
none
Construction Dozer
Build and repair American buildings. Clear mines
12 seconds
none
Spy Satellite
Revealed targeted area for 15–18 seconds. Spot hidden objects
1 minute
none
Para Drop
Drop Rangers from the C-130 Hercules plane at the targeted area
4 minutes
1: 5 Rangers
2: 10 Rangers
3: 20 Rangers
A10 Missile Strike
Strike the targeted area with gattlings and rockets by using A10 Thunderbolts. Reveal the targeted area and the A10 Thunderbolts paths
4 minutes
1: 1 A10 Thunderbolt
2: 2 A10 Thunderbolts
3: 3 A10 Thunderbolts
Fuel Air Bomb
Drop a bomb from the C-130 Hercules plane which firstly spread an amount of on-air fuel that takes about several moments later to explode. The explosion destroy everything in its range. Recommended for enemy concentrations. This special weapon does not has any long effect. Reveal the targeted area for a while. The processes are aborted if the plane has been destroyed before the bomb could be dropped.
6 minutes
none
Leaflet Drop
The Leaflet Drop is dropped by plane, and will spread propaganda leaflets over nearby targets. Any units will cease to fight while they take their time to consider the message delivered.
5 minutes
none
Spectre Gunship
When deployed, the Spectre Gunship will strafe the area for a given amount of time, bombarding the target with chainguns and its on-board howitzer.
5 minutes
1: 10 seconds
2: 15 seconds+
3: 30 seconds+
+ Only accessible by AF and SW General.
China[]
Icon
Unit/Upgrade
Cost
Descriptions
Build Time (s)
Levels
Construction Dozer
1000
Builds all Chinese structures and repairs buildings. Clears mines
Send a plane at the targeted area which drop a bomb that spread a set of cluster mines which harm enemies when go through it. Recommended to launch at your base entry or enemy production buildings (War Factory, Barracks, Supply Center, etc.). Does not harm Worker and Construction Dozer
4 minutes
none
Carpet Bomb
1 General's Promotion Point
One bomber drops its payload of high explosive bombs on the target area.
3 minutes
none
Nuke Carpet Bomb
1 General's Promotion Point
One bomber drops its payload of tactical nuclear bombs on the target area. General Tao only.
2.30 minutes
none
Artillery Barage
1 General's Promotion Point
Fires several howitzers from the outer map at the targeted area. The shells destroy everything in their way. Recommended to attack enemy concentrations (Level 1) and buildings (Level 2 & 3)
fixed a crash that would occur when upgrading a fake GLA command center
fixed an issue that caused a GLA player's support powers to become un-clickable after he captured an opponent's command center
Trivia[]
In the final game, the Command Centers of the individual generals are only differentiated by a symbol printed on the ground. However, every general was supposed to get a totally new Command Center specifically designed for that general. It was probably cut due to time constraints, but the normal models are all in the game files and can be viewed with a model viewer.
Tank General's Command Center is the only one that's fully absent. Maybe they never got around to finishing him. Note also that the two other Chinese Command Centers have a green roof, whereas the normal Command Center has a brown roof.
Some mods like Shockwave restores this feature, albeit with some changes and animations.
The American Command Center has an unused animation which shows the radar dish building up, like when the player purchased the radar upgrade. This is unused because America starts with radar at all times. However, the players may have been required to purchase the radar upgrade at some point in game development. Note also that in the Worldbuilder, the American Command Center appears without the radar dish, even though this is never seen in the game.
The music that plays when selecting the Chinese command center is part of the intro for the song Shi Wu De Yue Liang (The Full Moon), a song dedicated to the wives of Chinese soldiers.
Gallery[]
US command center in snowy map
China command center in snowy map
GLA command center in snowy map
GLA Command Center concept art
USA Command center concept art
Prototype versions of USA Command center
Render
Prototype versions of China Command center
USA Command Center render 1
USA Command Center render 2
Original model of General Townes Command center
Original model of General Malcolm Granger Command center
Original model of General Alexis Alexander Command center
Original model of General Tsing Shi Tao Command Center