Red Alert 2 Installation

[@-Raylight]

Even in 2023, nothing can rival this cool installation setup. It immerses you so much into the game

[@birusk]

...

[@SeedSnatcher]

Not long after RA2 came out, installers in general started scaling back. Computers got faster, things started moving towards online installation, and we have ways of distracting ourselves. Culminating in our current state of just watching a little Steam progress bar. It's a very lost art.

[@birusk]

@@SeedSnatcher Yeah :(

[@pchtommy1268]

Wrong, installarers started to become lame since 2013 or 2014, installers back than still had images and sometimes music.

[@SoldierOfFate]

When I was younger, I thought my computer would explode if I didn't type in the serial key fast enough.

[@SimplyHaffar]

Miss them days.

[@smegmalasagna]

aaaaanddd.. hi again ^-^

[@SoldierOfFate]

Hello there, fellow C&C fan that keeps on running into me on random videos relating to the game. :P

[@mr.liyrikcal8193]

LOL

[@jimhuffman9434]

I felt the same way

[@CrysisFear]

You know a game is awesome when the Installation is already epic. RA2 is an Masterpiece in RTS games.,

[@feelx92ger]

I preferred TS and all before when they came out, free of any opportunist bestality raping a franchise for profit as they always did. Thanks, EA, for less than nothing. Kucan did his best to mediate, but as we can see, history does not forgive careerists slaughtering an idea.

[@CoffeeMaus]

@@feelx92ger In all fairness *some* of the stuff Westwood tried to pull under EA, like the MMO game was a bit ridiculous and despite studio butchery and constant miss management. The remaining Westwood team was still making some pretty good games right up until EA kill them off for good with Tiberian Twilight. Also, RA2 and TS are not a flawless works of art. 1v1 me.

[@emperorx5]

This, in my opinion is the best fucking way to install a game. It just immerse you even more to the game. The only game I can think that has another awesome installation was Starcraft 2. Actually come to think of it, Dustin Browder was the lead designer of both games.

[@stefantsarev4442]

There is no such thing as coincidence.

[@FloosWorld_AoE]

Nox's installer (also by Westwood) is very similar to RA2's

[@RetroDeathReviews666]

Installers used to be actually super cool and immersive like this. Games like Nox, Emperor Battle For Dune, Hexen 2, Witchaven 2, Spiderman 2002, Vampire The Masquerade Redemption, and a few others. Wish we still had them. Stuff like this imo makes it more immersive and makes you excited to play the game, before even starting it. Shame it'll never happen again...

[@mrbigglezworth42]

Mechwarrior 4:Mercenaries also had a brief world overview while it installed the game. Even Microsoft knew how not to be dicks with their developers back in the day.

[@TonyAKA30]

Back when even installing a game was entertaining.

[@MrMarinus18]

I think part of the reason was that PC's back then were more similar to each other. Now people will hate it if you artificially extent their installation time.

[@stefantsarev4442]

Blizzard knew that and hired the same team to make the installation of StarCraft II.

[@GrandmasterBeef]

it was a simpler, more innocent, age

[@Harkz0r]

It was, for the most part, only simpler and more innocent because we ourselves were younger and oblivious to a lot of the crap that goes on in board meetings and shareholder conferences and so on. But on the other hand, I also appreciate what you mean. Companies were always out to make money, but it also seemed as though processes were not quite so strictly controlled and that there was more room for developers to take creative liberties. (Those were the games I fell in love with and originally wanted to make myself, not so much the current crop.) Nowadays it feels to me as though many games from big studios are 'polished at a price'. I can't blame investors, as it's only natural to want some degree of guaranteed return, and titles nowadays are such huge scale undertakings in terms of time, manpower and raw capital that a degree of wariness and skepticism are inevitable, but somehow there seems to be a lot less variety as a result (as opposed to the PSX when you could have games like, say, Jumping Flash! and Abe's Oddysee on one side, and something like MGS1 on the other). I don't think it's purely nostalgia, but it's also true I haven't paid a lot of attention to indie studios today either.

[@CheapBastard1988]

@@Harkz0r Westwood Studio's went out of their way to hire artists and invested time (and money) in learning them how to use a computer. They also helped them to overcome technical limits to their ideas (especially on the players side's system requirements) instead of just saying it couldn't be done.

[@Gamer9o]

This, This is how every game installer should be!

[@calencor]

now its like, You ran out of bandwidth

[@MrKrashmoney]

"Encryption code required. You have 30 seconds to comply." 12 year old me: Hurry hurry hurry gotta hurry, crap, DAD, HELP! Also the text on the right side of the screen: SEAL team scrambled, enter CD-KEY to avoid immediate liquidation. Now THAT's some DRM! ;)

[@hindusgamepro]

no shit

[@HowToComputeMore]

I tried waiting it out from the start. It didn't matter at all

[@Teraforce88]

That used to scare me to, though not as much as the Tiberian Sun manual, which contained the following line in the introduction: "All personnel reviewing this report must have security clearance level RED or greater. Violation of security procedure is a court-martial offence and is punishable by death."

[@trollsthatlol1]

LOL yes:p

[@Raptor501st]

I thought my pc was going to explode =)

[@racer927]

Don't mind me, I just like writing unofficial flavor text. 4:30 "This Russian-based design appears to be an improvement over the experimental "Tesla Tanks" that were built out of old Radar Jammers during the Soviet Counterstrike, field intelligence claims the electricity is able to arc over walls and other fortifications." 4:42 "This autonomous drone has advanced locomotion, independent AI, and appears to be equipped with heavy duty drills, saws, and cable cutters. For what purposes they are used for is unknown." 4:54 "The Allied Construction Yard, in its packed state, is carried by a Valiant HF16 up-fit as our latest Mobile Construction Vehicle. Remember: if multiple Allied Construction Yards are present on the battlefield then the H key on your command terminal will center your view on the one you have set as the primary building." 5:05 "The Soviet MCV, by comparison, is much more rustic in its design. None-of-the-less, it is just as capable of deploying and packing up as our own MCV." 5:17 "This is Germany's latest anti-armor tank hunter. It's fitted with an advanced anti-tank gun that fires a SABOT AP slug. However, this round will do minimal structural damage to buildings compared to our Grizzly's HEAT shells and the limited pivot leaves it unable to effectively target infantry." 5:28 "Reconnaissance from the Korean Navy has informed us of the "Typhoon" attack submarine, it appears to be powered by a fission reactor, enabling it to stay submerged for long periods of time. V-22 Ospreys on our Destroyers are equipped with Air-to-Subsurface missiles for these kinds of naval threats." 5:40 "The "Kirov" airship is a classic case of abusing loopholes. Despite the best efforts to disarm Soviet air superiority, they've developed a workaround in the form of slow but near-invulnerable airships. So far our Patriot missile defense system is the only counter as we are still developing the missile batteries of the Aegis-class cruiser." 5:54 "This is our Grizzly medium MBT, chosen over the British Guardian heavy tank due to a need for more mobile units. It's equipped with a 105mm smoothbore cannon firing HEAT shells and are capable of engaging enemies on the move." 6:05 "This appears to be the Soviet's successor to the omnidirectional landing craft used by them in Great World War II, it's capable of traversing land and sea due to its hover-skirt and is fitted with heavier armor than our own transports." 6:16 "German prodigy, Albert Einstein, has revealed very little about this experimental ambush unit other than the fact that he's designing it to be hidden by an "artificial mirage" generator and is equipped with a high-energy, infrared beam cannon. Any additional information is highly classified on a need-to-know basis." 6:27 "This appears to be a cheaper successor to the V2 ballistic missile platform from the war in Europe. It appears to carry the rocket on a platform that can be elevated to launch the rocket in an indirect arc versus its predecessor." 6:39 "The Soviet's more direct answer to our Hornet Aircraft Carriers for long-range naval units. The appropriately named "Dreadnought" has twin V3 missile launchers capable of engaging targets from afar." 6:50 "Another confidential design from Einstein. This appears to be related to his top-secret experiments with the electromagnetic spectrum. Information so far points to magnifying light on the visible spectrum to the point of creating a devastating beam of energy focused on the target like a magnifying glass. Any additional information is on a need-to-know basis."

[@Banana_John]

Reading these while watching the installation is so damn cool

[@tling321]

where do you get these information?

[@racer927]

@@tling321 I just made them up.

[@reinielldeguzman70]

I also remembered when it said, "Military Software detected, top secret clearance required"

[@JewelOfSoul]

"Warning! Military software detected." I think this was in the autorun program that executed when you inserted the CD.

[@himothaniel]

I was always jolted when it said that

[@gumbykid314]

the best game install ever

[@OlviMasta77]

gumbykid314 The installers for RA1and CNC are epic as well.

[@guguigugu]

when games were being made by nerds for nerds, not by corporations for consumers

[@Fendy27x]

Fun fact: you searched for this video

[@KiR2RuN4FuN]

Da, comrade!

[@coldfusionstormgaming1808]

Eight minutes and 40 Seconds , i just sat down and watched this video in fullscreen with my feet up and enjoyed the show!, That's how fcking good this game is!. This is seriously one of the best games ever made!.

[@Damocles178]

Why can't all installation screens be as awesome as this especially when we have to spend god knows how long installing a game nowadays? Still was and still is the best installation ever! :D

[@aura7342]

Hello after 4 years. Because game companies are now cheap AF.

[@jianh1989]

these days people run NVMe and install time took... 5mins max? Depending on game size yeah.

[@Shinesart]

@@jianh1989 Or you could make it like that when downloading 100 of GB of files even when install time is fast.

[@YALE70]

Back when installing a game was an experience in itself.

[@jimhuffman9434]

"Encryption code required you have thirty seconds to comply". When I was a kid, that statement came across as "input the CD key or die"

[@itsnouse-yourswillbeastill2562]

This and Battlezone are among my favorite Installations. Mainly because they utilize the dead time while the install shield is packing up the game files. Also it builds up towards the actual game which only can get you more anticipated and excited to start playing the game.

[@annoying5andy]

Back in those days, I've always wanted to date that russian girl.

[@ahha6304]

And now you found out she's actually Bulgarian lady LOL

[@plutarchvonpluto6439]

I thought she was polish.

[@ahha6304]

@@plutarchvonpluto6439 that's real life, not her role

[@CheapBastard1988]

Lieutenant Zofia: "Russian winters are cold da. Perhaps this winter can be different."

[@Talinthis]

i still do

[@Daevawolf]

RA2 really was amazing, right down to even the installation. This is the only downside to how fast computers have gotten, we will likely never be able to experience something this immersive again.

[@TheTrueEmke]

Warning! Military software detected. Top secret clearance required. Best way to start a Setup.

[@requem90]

Once they announce remaster, hope they will bring back this awesome wizard!

[@Megadriver]

I felt so badass installing this as a kid... I was in my own little fantasy of running some spec-op agency. Why aren't installations nowadays entertaining. All you get now is a few pictures and a status bar that moves far too slowly.

[@nepumin7781]

Ya, it's sad :/

[@AdamSisko6]

i was worry that i was the only one with my own little fantasy :D hahah

[@Megadriver]

@Art Terapija Tell me about it... It's like today's games require proper gaming rigs so they run smoothly enough to be enjoyable.

[@JackMacLupus]

Okay, who else thought that the "Decryption Code Required. You have 30 seconds to comply." was real and feared the installation whould abort when you didnt entered the key in time? XD

[@vojtechhavranek1176]

You know you're going to have some quality time when even the installation is a masterpiece. Who on Earth would click "I want to return to Windows" after that?

[@Danphiroud]

"The following are technical specs on current battlefield weapon systems. Observe carefully commander, you may have to command this units, in combat. " *Shows soviet tesla tank*

[@ImperatorRom]

Well as an allied commander you could capture one :P but yeah he should have said "you may face these units in combat" to keep the allied tone going.

[@OnionChoppingNinja]

This is a testament to how great a game Red Alert 2 was: even installing it was a f-ing experience!

[@kylenguyen7371]

Loved that "30 seconds to comply" moment. reminded me of the ED-209. I remember this when my step-dad was installing this. Such a shame my 'First Decade' copy didnt have this.

[@Hirmikss]

Back in my days games were so heavily restricted that only top branch of the US millitary could play them

[@heatherhutchinson3625]

It is very strange, but I still remember the installation key code in my mind after so many years ... no ... decades.

[@Student4Life89]

when you become military commander in Ukraine

[@caseycorr8068]

stumbled into weird youtube and I'm watching a video of the installation of a ~20 year old game with 100k views and its ... pretty good

[@Damocles178]

Possibly the only game with an installation worth sharing with the world; honestly you'd nearly want to reinstall the game again and again just to hear this :)

[@teryn3723]

MY GOD! I never would have thought i will see this MASTERPIECE AGAIN!

[@khormunhuai5901]

westwood, one of the most significant part in our history.

[@Foxkey]

Yeah I was actually thnking I had 30 seconds for serial number :D

[@vegarose4638]

Throwing a briefing into the installation, which takes place before the game is set to take place? I've never seen this in another game and I'm so glad that Westwood did this... RA2 has got to be my favorite C&C game...

[@Antphoneigh]

Tiberium Sun's install was amazing to watch.

[@melissag1364]

That guitar riff in the background tho

[@daddysmurf2266]

Best game installtion in the history of game installtion maybe forever

[@wyattarthur5275]

I was so little when I played this game I thought for years Yuri was a real person

[@SWA-Projects]

The coolest installation setup ever! I was just brought back to childhood🤘 Good old days

[@Chronoir3]

I so much miss the early decades

[@commanderz5226]

fucking best setup ever!!!!T_T not even a single game match this gaming since 1994 to now.....

[@Naughtylius]

Whoah, this installer still feels awesome, even after ~24 years...also i will never forget how this "you have 30 seconds to comply" fawked me as a kid. I typed code in more than that and ...nothing happened. Then again, and still nothing. My older brother suggested switching disk from soviet to allied but i reply it is ridiculous, that installer on soviet disk is corrupted. But we switched...and it worked xD It haunts me to this day xD

[@zanagi]

the immersion is insane on this game. i remember installing it into my pentium 2 pc

[@ottomuller4948]

Back then you got a good game for a reasonable price, which worked. Today you pay much more and get an unfinished game where you have to install another 50GB of bugfix after a certain time... I love this installation of Red Alert 2

[@JeroxB]

Red Alert 2 installation was definetly the only one i completely watched everytime :D. The music and the awsome blueprint kind of photo´s from the units were so interesting :].

[@iCABALi]

The only crime was not clicking, "I want to play Red Alert 2 now".

[@fishyfinthing8854]

The way they make sound and move, even after you installed and play, the game still retain it’s charm. This is epic, not many game come close to this UI satisfaction.

[@KoeSeer]

back when devs are really making their installation menu amazing, not just 'installation wizard now blablabla'

[@igorgarciaolvra]

Puts, essa instalação e muito foda, nunca vi uma instalacao tao cinematografica em nenhum jogo antes

[@TKbullet]

That was my very first game and the best game I have ever played. It truly deserves to be remastered.

[@darkrisk6656]

I agree with you

[@commanderz5226]

Still best even in 2022

[@N7KOM]

Rad as hell. The cd key screen is classic.

[@Cayden1988]

Damn this installation type is a thing of the past. What a relic. Wish they still made them.

[@stanky9lax]

no "warning! military software detected! top secret clerance required!" ?

[@earl5167]

Here kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6OcoKWkpKirh9E

[@commanderz5226]

Still here 2023

[@BryanBrockAndrews]

Thanks so much for having this! Now that the EA copy is the only one I can get to run on my machine, I don't get to watch the installation story anymore.

[@1000Staver]

Ahhh I remember that on my old pc that game was taking about an hour to install. Such memories :,)

[@mrbigglezworth42]

Back when even the installation program gave you little bits of insight into the games setting and background. A shame we can't have nice things anymore.

[@FherMan]

Oh my God I really like the little story it has about Albert Ainstein... Oh and the part of Encryption Code Required You have 30 to "comply" (I am not pretty sure about that word... But I love this Installation process hahahhahaa

[@terminator572]

José Meléndez EINSTEIN YOU FUCKING PLEBEIAN

[@BioClone]

That moment when a sudden W A R N I N G...! awakes the whole family because speakers were too high

[@chevronso25]

I remember during the typing in of the cd key makes you shit out of yourself.. it's like a time bomb or a nuclear bomb gonna launch if not gonna key in at once :/ :)) memories of an 8 year old boy during that time :)

[@Sebbson]

The G.O.A.T

[@KalleBowo]

This brings back memories. This game felt so awesome right from the beginning with this ingenius installation. Good times!

[@imranhazim5434]

This installation still awesome and you feel like commander need to hear this serious briefing.

[@VonGrav]

This.. was the coolest installation menu EVER MADE

[@AlbertWesker-ps5hb]

It make me feel like I am doing a real military thing LOL, BEST GAME EVER

[@vibri_]

I miss when videogames weren't afraid of showing off their flair and style like this, and didn't take themselves too seriously. It's sad to see how nowadays something like this would get called "cringeworthy and clunky xXDDddD!1!". Fuck nowadays gamers.

[@cetri777]

even the installation process is badass.

[@terranrepublic7023]

Deploying a SEAL team to terminate some dude pirating a video game. I can only imagine how peaceful the world was before 9/11...

[@charge03]

I love this setup game.

[@akhodagu]

Anyone else remember nearly shitting themselves trying to enter the encryption key before time ran out ?

[@danleyrubica8529]

October 23, 2000 - Red Alert 2 was released Happy 20th birthday Red Alert 2 today!

[@elaxter]

thanks for this. this is what's ingrained itself in my memory

[@quatrevingt-dix8473]

One of the coolest thing that ever happened

[@TajwarShahid]

2024 and i love Red Alert 2

[@EagleEye404]

I still remember the code -> 020736-428526-011875-6507 😁

[@SushixSushi]

Someone remember now?

[@neogastropoda1]

is it sad that i can remember 3 serial keys for this game and one for its expansion 13 years on. I installed this many times a a kid

[@ZETxZ4]

Wow and i thought i was the only one like that, back then i've installed this game 3 - 4 times a day, because of my brother uninstalling it, lol

[@richardtan9163]

What the heck LOL installing nuclear command code , weather command code, prism command code, etc. I thought that was real back in that time when I was small

[@ErickÁvila1965]

9 years of old...aaa this game is so perfect:-D

[@fathurshaon123]

No need to prepare for war. The reds have won without even putting in much effort :")

[@agentjake4505]

I remember that installation screen. It it the same menu from the game.

[@davvvvo]

2:36 those are german leopards. and the mcv at 4:59 is a volvo.

[@Damocles178]

+Vinyl Stash Ha you're right. I actually never really thought of the MCV being a volvo but sure enough there's the logo and all :)

[@SoldierOfFate]

Well, Volvos are known to be durable monsters. They're literally built like tanks.

[@JayHawke84]

German Leopard Panzers took Moscow in RA1...

[@samirabaza]

the one and only game that has fun during installation

[@emperorx5]

@rebirthangel Awesome thing is that RA2 and SC2 has the same lead designer which may be the reason why I love both games

[@perahoky]

The golden age of gaming, awe!

[@vars7553]

Perhaps the most kino installation in history of video games

[@necromorph1109]

Even the Installation Process got you hyped.

[@M3lw4r3]

>Installation plot from Alliance perspective >"The following are technical specs on current battlefield weapon systems. Observe carefully, commander. You may have to command these units in combat." >Proceeds to show 2 soviet units right at the beginning Right, lol. I get that you can by stealing buildings but the weird thing is that they showed the soviet units first

[@racer927]

It could also be interpreted as briefing the Allied Commander on field reports of Soviet vehicles. Like: "This super-heavy tank appears to be based on the twin cannon "Mammoth" seen in the later stages of World War II. If this tank is capable of engaging land and air targets like the Mammoth, then you are advised to engage this vehicle with extreme caution." or "We know very little about this Russian-based design but it appears to be a redesign of the experimental "Tesla Tank" that the USSR strung together from their Radar Jammer vehicles."

[@danijel124]

Even the instalation menu for this game was cool af xd :)

[@frankhu130]

I used to keep running install.exe back then just to enjoy this music and such cinematic feeling.

[@Davian_Thule]

When games were damn well made, that even their installation was not a waste of time

[@TheFibrewire]

Holy fuck this installer is oozing personality!!! What a masterpiece of a game.

[@hotcoldman777]

*Enter CD-Key to avoid immediate liquidation*

[@MarioFanaticXV]

Just got the Ultimate Collection about a month ago; I found out Red Alert 1 and 2 had these installers. Did any other CnC games do something like this?

[@Dygeron92]

Well, I'm pretty sure Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun has an installer like this. The DOS version of Command & Conquer (1995) has a rather cool installer as well. Look it up.

[@MarioFanaticXV]

***** Thanks, I'll be sure to watch those before I play them, after I finish up RA3.

[@ZETxZ4]

MarioFanaticXV Does the Ultimate Collection includes this installation?Because i had "The First Decade"pack and it didn't included it, was so dissapointed about that =[

[@MarioFanaticXV]

***** Nope; you don't see any installation screens for Origin (which you have to use for the Ultimate Collection), since it installs it automatically after downloading it.

[@SoldierOfFate]

+MarioFanaticXV All the Westwood C&C games did this up until Renegade. Then came Generals, and they were a thing in the past. Sadly.

[@jianh1989]

I always followed and sweat bullets on that "you have 30 seconds to comply" thing. Stupid me.

[@Scarfacex11]

the only installer that i wait from 0-100%