What is this?

Answers to popular questions go here.

For extended graphics configuration and performance issues, go here.

The current public version is known as "Beta, Cold Fusion" version number 1.3.1
This is what everybody plays now. You will need to install 1.3.0 and then the 1.3.1 patch.

The next public update is known as "Beta, Patch 4" version number 1.4.0
This is being developed actively and will introduce some fixes and new maps

The next public full version is known as "Gamma" version number 2.0.0
This is being developed actively, and is a HUGE overhaul of gameplay and graphics

General Questions

Q: Is this free to play? Is it standalone?
A: Yes. This is 100% free to download and play. It is 100% standalone.

Q: Do I need to have any other paid software first?
A: No. The current full installer will automatically & freely give you updated versions of neccessary components (latest DirectX 9 for example).

Q: Do I need to own any other games to play this?
A: No. We encourage you to try the original Command & Conquer games however.

Q: Is this legal? Do people [EA] know what you are doing?
A: Yes. They have shown us great support, and you can find some of our coverage here.

Q: Who works on this game?
A: Bluehell Productions. Check the staff page on the official site for the latest team listing.

Q: What is Bluehell supposed to mean?
A: It's an engine bug. An allusion to a collission "feature" the engine has, that sends you spinning into a pale blue oblivion should two vehicles intersect wrong. One or the other is generally sent to "blue hell." This bug is solved in Gamma.

Q: Do you have stairs in your house?
A: We are protected. Most of the senior APB staff members, along with a number of moderators and current/former testers, are all properly protected.

General Game Questions

Q: What is the plot?
A: Red Alert in first person. It is an alternate-timeline World War II, set around two decades later than the actual one.

Q: What is this engine?
A: W3D with enhancements. The same engine used in Earth & Beyond, Emperor: Battle for Dune, Battle for Middle Earth, and the precursor to the engine in newer EA RTS games.

Q: What are the system requirements?
A: Windows 2000 or better. If you can reliably run Windows 2000 natively or emulate it properly, you can run A Path Beyond in some fashion. Linux and Mac users can use emulation (WINE, etc) to great success.

Q: What is the goal in the game?
A: Complete your objective. Much like the original Red Alert, most of the time this means destroying the enemy base.

Q: What is the general flow of the game?
A: Purchase a unit, defend your base, attack the objective. Along the way, collect ore for money and engage the enemy int he field.

Q: How do I join a server?
A: Use the launcher. There is a command-line method as well, +connect ip:port +netplayername yourname +password password-if-there-is-one

Q: How do I talk in the game?
A: T or Y depending on if you want to talk to your team, or everybody. You can change all your controls to suit your preferences.

Unit Questions

Q: How do I purchase units?
A: Look for Purchase Terminals inside your base; press E to list the units for purchase, ESC to close it, and click a unit if you want to buy. You must have enough cash.

Q: How do I earn cash?
A: Attack, defend, mine, or steal. Attacking and repairing gains money, but using an Ore Truck in an ore field will bring your whole team money. Allies can use a Thief to steal money for the whole team.

Q: How do I repair things?
A: Technician, Engineers, Mechanics, Medics. Technicians and Engineers heal buildings, Mechanics heal vehicles and Medics heal infantry.

Q: How do I repair myself?
A: "Refill" and service areas. Infantry can select the "Refill" option at a purchase terminal every 13 seconds to fully heal. Press the refill icon for free health.

Vehicles can be repaired at a Service Depot (ground/air) or a Naval Yard/Sub Pen side dock area (naval). Press the period/decimal/dot key to repair, for a fee.

Q: How do I get ammunition?
A: "Refill" and service areas. Infantry can select the "Refill" option at a purcase terminal every 13 seconds to regain ammunition such as C4; you cannot refill an Engineer's golden wrench ability or a thief's stealing ability.

Helicopters can be re-armed at a Helipad, just land in the middle and wait. Minelayers can be re-armed at a Service Depot, just drive over the middle for an instant refill.

Q: How do I use a certain unit?
A: Before you buy, read the manual or ask a teammate. Some units might hurt your team or be entirely worthless in the current situation, and you don't want to waste your money.

Q: Is there friendly fire?
A: MAD Tanks and Demolition Trucks have friendly fire even though other units do not. Some servers rarely play with full friendly fire, but these two units always harm friendly units to some degree.

Q: How do I disarm flares/C4/mines?
A: It depends. Only Engineer and Technician "repair" attacks disarm enemy flares and C4, damaging them instead of healing them. Nothing else can damage those objects, and you cannot damage friendly flares or C4.

Mines can only be effectively cleared by shooting them directly with explosive weaponry; small-arms fire takes a long time to destroy mines. You cannot damage friendly mines, and Technicians and Engineers have no effect on them.