A fundamental component of Red Alert , for either side, is gathering ore. In the majority of the missions, there are a fixed number of ore fields which may be plundered. Ore is essential to your war effort and as a result, ore fields can be the focus of battles. If you gather ore more quickly and efficiently than your opponent, you will ultimately be in a better position to win the game. Defense of ore harvesters and ore refineries is essential to a good battle strategy.
Power generation is another important element.
Buildings require power in order to function. You must therefore have one or more power plants online at any given time. Red Alert is played on an overhead map that shows a top-down representation of units, structures, and terrain. At the far right hand side of the screen is a menu bar from which you can build different types of units and buildings. Control is accomplished with the mouse and you can scroll up, down, left, and right on the map.