To zoom out in Generals Zero Hour, scroll the mouse wheel, but it only goes up to the stock limit. To raise the camera height further in single player and replays, players install GenTool and set the height in its menu with the Insert key. In multiplayer GenTool leaves the height alone, and Control Bar Pro gives you the widest view there.
Default camera controls
Without any extra tools, the game gives you this:
| Action | Mouse | Keyboard |
|---|---|---|
| Zoom in or out | Wheel | Num 8 and Num 2 |
| Reset the camera | Click the wheel | Num 5 |
| Pan across the map | Hold the right button and drag | Arrow keys |
The zoom-out limit is set in the game files, so the wheel won't take you past a certain height.
GenTool: camera height in single player and replays
GenTool is an add-on by xezon, a single d3d8.dll file in the game folder. How to install it is covered in the GenTool guide.
- Start the game and press Insert.
- Find the Camera Height option and turn it on.
- Set the value. The higher it is, the higher the camera.
- Start a mission, a skirmish against bots or open a replay.
You have to set this before the match loads. The GenTool docs warn that at high altitude the game renders the whole terrain, and FPS can drop. Players in the Steam discussions say they've pushed the camera to +1000 in single player.
Camera pitch
GenTool changes pitch in any mode, multiplayer included:
- PgDown and PgUp: hold them down and the angle changes smoothly;
- Home: reset to the default angle;
- the same on the numpad: Num 3, Num 9 and Num 7.
In a multiplayer match the pitch won't go below 37.5°; in replays you can go down to 16.5°. Along with the angle, GenTool adjusts height and scroll speed.
Multiplayer: Control Bar Pro
Online, GenTool doesn't change camera height, so no player gets an unfair edge. According to answers in the Steam discussions, Control Bar Pro gives the most view there: it's a replacement bottom bar by -ExiLe`. It's easiest to install through GenPatcher on the additional content tab.
If the map edges disappear
With the camera raised high, you'll sometimes see that the terrain isn't fully drawn. The common fix is to add this line to Options.ini:
DrawEntireTerrain = Yes
The file is in Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour Data. That's also where the resolution is set; widescreen has its own guide.
Editing GameData.ini
Modders change the limit in the game files themselves. Inside the INIZH.big archive there's Data\INI\GameData.ini with the line MaxCameraHeight = 310.0. A bigger number raises the camera ceiling. The archive is opened with Final Big Editor.
This method has downsides. Back up INIZH.big before editing. For online play, all players need identical files, or the match will desync. So for normal play, GenTool and Control Bar Pro are the safer choice.
On a phone
In ZeroFront you move the camera with one finger and use two fingers to pan and zoom, like a photo in your gallery. The rest of the gestures are on the Android controls page.
FAQ
Why won't the mouse wheel zoom out any further?
The height limit is set in the game files. The only way to raise it without editing files is GenTool, and only outside multiplayer.
Can I zoom out further in multiplayer?
GenTool doesn't change the height there, as a limit against unfair play. Pitch works, but not below 37.5°, and Control Bar Pro widens the view.
The camera is higher, but the game started lagging. What do I do?
At high altitude the game draws more terrain. Lower the value in the GenTool menu or turn down the graphics.
How do I reset the camera?
Press Num 5 or click the mouse wheel. The pitch resets with Home.
To play Zero Hour on your phone, open the bot @generals_mobile_bot for the APK and a 24-hour free trial.