First Launch Flow
The first time a player launches Iron Curtain, the game runs the D069 First-Run Setup Wizard (player-facing, in-app). The wizard’s job is to establish identity, locate content sources, apply an install preset, and get the player into a playable main menu state — in that order, as fast as possible, with an offline-first path and no dead ends.
Setup Wizard Entry (D069)
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ SET UP IRON CURTAIN │
│ │
│ Get playable in a few steps. You can change │
│ everything later in Settings → Data / Controls. │
│ │
│ [Quick Setup] (default: Full Install preset) │
│ [Advanced Setup] (paths, presets, bandwidth, etc.)│
│ │
│ [Restore from Backup / Recovery Phrase] │
│ [Exit] │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
- Quick Setup uses the fastest path with visible “Change” actions later
- Advanced Setup exposes data dir, custom install preset, source priority, and verification options
- Restore jumps to D061 restore/recovery flows before continuing wizard steps
- The wizard is re-enterable later as a maintenance flow (
Settings → Data → Modify Installation/Repair & Verify)
Quick Setup Screen (D069, default path)
Quick Setup is optimized for “get me playing” while still showing the choices being made and offering a clear path to change them.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ QUICK SETUP [Advanced ▸] │
│ │
│ We'll use the fastest path. You can change any choice later. │
│ │
│ Content Source Steam Remastered ✓ [Change] │
│ Install Preset Full Install (default) [Change] │
│ Data Location Default data folder [Change] │
│ Cloud Sync Ask me after identity step [Change] │
│ │
│ Estimated download 1.8 GB │
│ Estimated disk use 8.4 GB │
│ │
│ [Start Setup] [Back] │
│ │
│ Need less storage? [Campaign Core] [Minimal Multiplayer] │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
- Defaults are visible, not hidden
- “Change” links avoid forcing Advanced mode for one-off tweaks
- Smaller preset shortcuts are available inline (no dead ends)
Advanced Setup Screen (D069, optional)
Advanced Setup exposes install and transport controls for storage-constrained, bandwidth-constrained, or power users without slowing down the Quick path.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ADVANCED SETUP [Quick ▸] │
│ │
│ [Sources] [Content] [Storage] [Network] [Accessibility] │
│ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ Sources (priority order): │
│ 1. Steam Remastered ✓ found [Move] [Disable] │
│ 2. OpenRA (RA mod) ✓ found [Move] [Disable] │
│ 3. Manual folder (not set) [Browse…] │
│ │
│ Install preset: [Custom ▾] │
│ Included packs: │
│ ☑ Campaign Core ☑ Multiplayer Maps │
│ ☑ Tutorial ☑ Classic Music │
│ ☐ Cutscenes (FMV) ☐ AI Enhanced Cutscenes │
│ ☑ Original Cutscenes ☐ HD Art Pack │
│ │
│ Verification: [Basic Probe ▾] (Basic / Full Hash Scan) │
│ Download mode: P2P preferred + HTTP fallback [Change] │
│ Data folder: ~/.local/share/iron-curtain [Change] │
│ │
│ Download now: 0.9 GB Est. disk: 5.7 GB │
│ │
│ [Apply & Continue] [Back] │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
- Advanced options are grouped by purpose, not dumped on one page
- Verification and transport are explicit (but still use sane defaults)
- Optional media remains clearly optional
Identity Setup
┌──────────────────┐ ┌────────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐
│ First Launch │────▸│ Recovery Phrase │────▸│ Cloud Sync Offer │
│ │ │ (24-word mnemonic) │ │ (optional) │
└──────────────┘ └────────────────────┘ └──────────────────┘
│ │
"Write this down" "Skip" or "Enable"
│ │
▼ ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Content Detection │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘
-
Recovery phrase — A 24-word mnemonic (BIP-39 inspired) is generated and displayed. This is the player’s portable identity — it derives their Ed25519 keypair deterministically. The screen explains in plain language: “This phrase is your identity. Write it down. If you lose your computer, these 24 words restore everything.” A “Copy to clipboard” button and “I’ve saved this” confirmation.
-
Cloud sync offer — If a platform service is detected (Steam Cloud, GOG Galaxy), offer to enable automatic backup of critical data. “Skip” is prominent — this is optional, not a gate.
-
Returning player shortcut — “Already have an account?” link jumps to recovery: enter 24 words or restore from backup file.
Content Detection
┌──────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Content Detection │────▸│ Scanning for Red Alert game files... │
│ │ │ │
│ Probes: │ │ ✓ Steam: C&C Remastered Collection found │
│ 1. Steam │ │ ✓ OpenRA: Red Alert mod assets found │
│ 2. GOG Galaxy │ │ ✗ GOG: not installed │
│ 3. Origin/EA App │ │ ✗ Origin: not installed │
│ 4. OpenRA │ │ │
│ 5. Manual folder │ │ [Use Steam assets] [Use OpenRA assets] │
└──────────────────┘ │ [Browse for folder...] │
└──────────────────────────────────────────┘
- Auto-probes known install locations (Steam, GOG, Origin/EA, OpenRA directories)
- Shows what was found with checkmarks
- Steam C&C Remastered Collection is a first-class out-of-the-box path: if found,
Use Steam assetsimports/extracts playable Red Alert assets into IC-managed storage with no manual file hunting - If nothing found: “Iron Curtain needs Red Alert game files to play. [How to get them →]” with links to purchase options (Steam Remastered Collection, etc.) and a manual folder browser
- If multiple sources found: player picks preferred source (or uses all — assets merge)
- Detection results are saved; re-scan available from Settings
- Import/extract operations do not modify the original detected installation; IC indexes/copied assets live under the IC data directory and can be repaired/rebuilt independently
Content Install Plan (D069 + D068)
After sources are selected, the wizard shows an install-preset step with size estimates and feature summaries:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Install Content │
│ │
│ Source: Steam Remastered assets ✓ │
│ │
│ ► Full Install (default) 8.4 GB disk │
│ Campaign + Multiplayer + Media packs │
│ │
│ Campaign Core 3.1 GB disk │
│ Minimal Multiplayer 2.2 GB disk │
│ Custom… [Choose packs] │
│ │
│ Download now: 1.8 GB Est. disk: 8.4 GB │
│ Can change later: Settings → Data │
│ │
│ [Continue] [Back] │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
- Default is
Full Install(this wizard’s default posture), with visible alternatives - D068 install presets remain reversible in
Settings → Data - Optional media variants/language packs appear in
Custom(and can be added later) - The plan may combine local owned-source imports (e.g., Remastered assets) with downloaded official/Workshop packs; the wizard shows both in the transfer/verify summary.
Transfer / Copy / Verify (D069)
The wizard then performs local imports/copies and package downloads in a unified progress screen:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Setting Up Content │
│ │
│ Step 2/4: Verify package checksums │
│ [███████████████░░░░░] 73% │
│ │
│ Current item: official/ra1-campaign-core@1.0 │
│ Source: HTTP fallback (P2P unavailable) │
│ │
│ [Pause] [Cancel] │
│ │
│ Need help? [Repair options] │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
- Handles local asset import, package download, verification, and indexing
- Proprietary/owned install imports (e.g., Remastered) are treated as explicit import/extract steps with progress and verify stages, not hidden side effects
- Resumable/checkpointed (restart continues safely)
- Cancelable with clear consequences
- Errors are actionable (retry source, change preset, repair, inspect details)
New Player Gate
After content detection, first-time players see a brief self-identification screen (D065):
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Welcome, Commander. │
│ │
│ How familiar are you with Red Alert? │
│ │
│ [New to Red Alert] → Tutorial recommendation │
│ [Played the original] → Classic experience profile │
│ [OpenRA veteran] → OpenRA experience profile │
│ [Remastered player] → Remastered profile │
│ [Just let me play] → IC Default, skip tutorial │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
This sets the initial experience profile (D033) and determines whether the tutorial is suggested. It’s skippable and changeable later in Settings.
Transition to Main Menu
After identity + source detection + content install plan + transfer/verify + profile gate (or “Just let me play”), the player lands on the main menu with the shellmap running behind it.
Ready screen (D069) summary before main menu entry may include:
- install preset selected (
Full/Campaign Core/Minimal Multiplayer/Custom) - content sources in use (Steam/GOG/OpenRA/manual)
- import summary when applicable (e.g.,
Steam Remastered imported to local IC content store; original install untouched) - cloud sync state (enabled / skipped)
- quick actions:
Play Campaign,Play Skirmish,Multiplayer,Settings → Data / Controls,Modify Installation
Target: under 30 seconds for a “Just let me play” player with auto-detected assets and minimal/no downloads; longer paths remain clear and resumable.