feat(cli): Add -ignoreReplaySyncErrors for diagnostic replay playback

Core/GameEngine/Include/Common/CRCDebug.h

@@ -126,3 +126,4 @@
 extern Int NET_CRC_INTERVAL;
 extern Int REPLAY_CRC_INTERVAL;
 extern Bool TheDebugIgnoreSyncErrors;
+extern Bool TheDebugIgnoreReplaySyncErrors;

Core/GameEngine/Source/Common/CommandLine.cpp

@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 
 
 Bool TheDebugIgnoreSyncErrors = FALSE;
+Bool TheDebugIgnoreReplaySyncErrors = FALSE;
 extern Int DX8Wrapper_PreserveFPU;
 
 #ifdef DEBUG_CRC
@@ -751,6 +752,37 @@ Int parseLoadSave(char *args[], int num)
 	return 1;
 }
 
+// TheSuperHackers @feature bobtista 08/08/2026 Play a replay visually from the command line.
+Int parseLoadReplay(char *args[], int num)
+{
+	if (num > 1)
+	{
+		AsciiString filename = args[1];
+		if (!filename.endsWithNoCase(RecorderClass::getReplayExtention()))
+		{
+			printf("Invalid replay name \"%s\"\n", filename.str());
+			exit(1);
+		}
+
+		TheWritableGlobalData->m_loadReplayGame = filename;
+		TheWritableGlobalData->m_shellMapOn = FALSE;
+		TheWritableGlobalData->m_playIntro = FALSE;
+		TheWritableGlobalData->m_playSizzle = FALSE;
+
+		return 2;
+	}
+	return 1;
+}
+
+// TheSuperHackers @feature bobtista 08/08/2026 Let diagnostic replay playback continue past a CRC
+// mismatch without the UI report and pause that normal playback uses.
+Int parseIgnoreReplaySyncErrors(char *args[], int)
+{
+	TheDebugIgnoreReplaySyncErrors = true;
+
+	return 1;
+}
+
 //=============================================================================
 //=============================================================================
 
@@ -1200,6 +1232,8 @@ static CommandLineParam paramsForEngineInit[] =
 
 	// TheSuperHackers @feature bobtista 22/07/2026 Load a save game file from the command line.
 	{ "-loadsave", parseLoadSave },
+	{ "-loadreplay", parseLoadReplay },
+	{ "-ignoreReplaySyncErrors", parseIgnoreReplaySyncErrors },
 
 	// TheSuperHackers @feature xezon 03/08/2025 Force full viewport for 'Control Bar Pro' Addons like GenTool did it.
 	{ "-forcefullviewport", parseFullViewport },

Generals/Code/GameEngine/Include/Common/GlobalData.h

@@ -354,6 +354,7 @@ class GlobalData : public SubsystemInterface
 	AsciiString m_initialFile;				///< If this is specified, load a specific map from the command-line
 	AsciiString m_pendingFile;				///< If this is specified, use this map at the next game start
 	AsciiString m_loadSaveGame;				///< If this is specified, load a save game file from the command-line
+	AsciiString m_loadReplayGame;			///< If this is specified, play a replay file from the command-line
 
 	std::vector<AsciiString> m_simulateReplays; ///< If not empty, simulate this list of replays and exit.
 	Int m_simulateReplayJobs; ///< Maximum number of processes to use for simulation, or SIMULATE_REPLAYS_SEQUENTIAL for sequential simulation

Generals/Code/GameEngine/Include/Common/Recorder.h

@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ class RecorderClass : public SubsystemInterface
 	// Methods dealing with playback.
 	void updatePlayback();														///< The update function for playing back a file.
 	Bool playbackFile(AsciiString filename);					///< Starts playback of the specified file.
+	void loadQueuedReplay();													///< Play the replay file requested on startup.
 	Bool replayMatchesGameVersion(AsciiString filename); ///< Returns true if the playback is a valid playback file for this version.
 	static Bool replayMatchesGameVersion(const ReplayHeader& header); ///< Returns true if the playback is a valid playback file for this version.
 	AsciiString getCurrentReplayFilename();			///< valid during playback only

Generals/Code/GameEngine/Source/Common/Recorder.cpp

@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include "Common/GlobalData.h"
 #include "Common/GameEngine.h"
 #include "GameClient/ClientInstance.h"
+#include "GameClient/MapUtil.h"
 #include "GameClient/GameWindow.h"
 #include "GameClient/GameWindowManager.h"
 #include "GameClient/InGameUI.h"
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@
 #include "Common/CRCDebug.h"
 #include "Common/OptionPreferences.h"
 #include "Common/version.h"
+#include "Lib/PathUtil.h"
 
 constexpr const char s_genrep[] = "GENREP";
 constexpr const UnsignedInt replayBufferBytes = 8192;
@@ -847,8 +849,14 @@ void RecorderClass::writeArgument(GameMessageArgumentDataType type, const GameMe
  */
 Bool RecorderClass::readReplayHeader(ReplayHeader& header)
 {
-	AsciiString filepath = getReplayDir();
-	filepath.concat(header.filename.str());
+	// TheSuperHackers @feature bobtista 08/08/2026 Open explicitly selected replay paths in place
+	// while preserving Replay directory lookup for menu filenames and existing command lines.
+	AsciiString filepath = header.filename;
+	if (!isAbsolutePath(filepath.str()))
+	{
+		filepath = getReplayDir();
+		filepath.concat(header.filename.str());
+	}
 
 	// TheSuperHackers @performance More buffered data reduces disk overhead and will improve fast forward playback
 	const UnsignedInt buffersize = header.forPlayback ? replayBufferBytes : File::BUFFERSIZE;
@@ -998,6 +1006,18 @@ void RecorderClass::handleCRCMessage(UnsignedInt newCRC, Int playerIndex, Bool f
 		//	playbackCRC, newCRC, TheGameLogic->getFrame()-m_crcInfo.GetQueueSize()-1, playerIndex));
 		if (TheGameLogic->getFrame() > 0 && newCRC != playbackCRC && !m_crcInfo.sawCRCMismatch())
 		{
+			// TheSuperHackers @feature bobtista 08/08/2026 Diagnostic playback continues past a mismatch
+			// without the UI report and the pause that normal playback uses.
+			if (TheDebugIgnoreReplaySyncErrors)
+			{
+				const UnsignedInt ignoredFrame = TheGameLogic->getFrame() - m_crcInfo.GetQueueSize() - 1;
+				DEBUG_LOG(("Replay CRC mismatch ignored\nInGame:%8.8X Replay:%8.8X\nFrame:%d",
+					playbackCRC, newCRC, ignoredFrame));
+				printf("CRC Mismatch in Frame %d (ignored)\n", ignoredFrame);
+				m_crcInfo.setSawCRCMismatch();
+				return;
+			}
+
 			// Since we don't seem to have any *visible* desyncs when replaying games, but get this warning
 			// virtually every replay, the assumption is our CRC checking is faulty.  Since we're at the
 			// tail end of patch season, let's just disable the message, and hope the users believe the
@@ -1074,6 +1094,46 @@ Bool RecorderClass::replayMatchesGameVersion(const ReplayHeader& header)
  * Start playback of the file. Return true or false depending on if the file is
  * a valid replay file or not.
  */
+// TheSuperHackers @feature bobtista 08/08/2026 Play the replay requested on startup, once the client
+// has created the shell layout that the playback returns to when it ends.
+void RecorderClass::loadQueuedReplay()
+{
+	const AsciiString filename = TheGlobalData->m_loadReplayGame;
+	TheWritableGlobalData->m_loadReplayGame.clear();
+
+	ReplayHeader header;
+	header.forPlayback = FALSE;
+	header.filename = filename;
+	if (!readReplayHeader(header))
+	{
+		DEBUG_LOG(("Replay '%s' could not be read", filename.str()));
+		TheGameEngine->setQuitting(TRUE);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	// A replay whose map is missing starts a game that cannot load, so reject it here instead
+	ReplayGameInfo gameInfo;
+	if (!ParseAsciiStringToGameInfo(&gameInfo, header.gameOptions))
+	{
+		DEBUG_LOG(("Replay '%s' contains invalid game options", filename.str()));
+		TheGameEngine->setQuitting(TRUE);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	if (TheMapCache == nullptr || TheMapCache->findMap(gameInfo.getMap()) == nullptr)
+	{
+		DEBUG_LOG(("Replay '%s' requires unavailable map '%s'", filename.str(), gameInfo.getMap().str()));
+		TheGameEngine->setQuitting(TRUE);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	if (!playbackFile(filename))
+	{
+		DEBUG_LOG(("Failed to play replay '%s'", filename.str()));
+		TheGameEngine->setQuitting(TRUE);
+	}
+}
+
 Bool RecorderClass::playbackFile(AsciiString filename)
 {
 	if (!m_doingAnalysis)

Generals/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameClient/GameClient.cpp

@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 #include "Common/ActionManager.h"
 #include "Common/GameEngine.h"
 #include "Common/GameState.h"
+#include "Common/Recorder.h"
 #include "Common/GameUtility.h"
 #include "Common/GlobalData.h"
 #include "Common/PerfTimer.h"
@@ -520,6 +521,10 @@ void GameClient::update()
 			{
 				TheGameState->loadQueuedSaveGame();
 			}
+			else if (TheGlobalData->m_loadReplayGame.isNotEmpty())
+			{
+				TheRecorder->loadQueuedReplay();
+			}
 		}
 	}
 

GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Include/Common/GlobalData.h

@@ -355,6 +355,7 @@ class GlobalData : public SubsystemInterface
 	AsciiString m_initialFile;				///< If this is specified, load a specific map from the command-line
 	AsciiString m_pendingFile;				///< If this is specified, use this map at the next game start
 	AsciiString m_loadSaveGame;				///< If this is specified, load a save game file from the command-line
+	AsciiString m_loadReplayGame;			///< If this is specified, play a replay file from the command-line
 
 	std::vector<AsciiString> m_simulateReplays; ///< If not empty, simulate this list of replays and exit.
 	Int m_simulateReplayJobs; ///< Maximum number of processes to use for simulation, or SIMULATE_REPLAYS_SEQUENTIAL for sequential simulation

GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Include/Common/Recorder.h

@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ class RecorderClass : public SubsystemInterface
 	// Methods dealing with playback.
 	void updatePlayback();														///< The update function for playing back a file.
 	Bool playbackFile(AsciiString filename);					///< Starts playback of the specified file.
+	void loadQueuedReplay();													///< Play the replay file requested on startup.
 	Bool replayMatchesGameVersion(AsciiString filename); ///< Returns true if the playback is a valid playback file for this version.
 	static Bool replayMatchesGameVersion(const ReplayHeader& header); ///< Returns true if the playback is a valid playback file for this version.
 	AsciiString getCurrentReplayFilename();			///< valid during playback only

GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/Common/Recorder.cpp

@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include "Common/GlobalData.h"
 #include "Common/GameEngine.h"
 #include "GameClient/ClientInstance.h"
+#include "GameClient/MapUtil.h"
 #include "GameClient/GameWindow.h"
 #include "GameClient/GameWindowManager.h"
 #include "GameClient/InGameUI.h"
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@
 #include "Common/CRCDebug.h"
 #include "Common/OptionPreferences.h"
 #include "Common/version.h"
+#include "Lib/PathUtil.h"
 
 constexpr const char s_genrep[] = "GENREP";
 constexpr const UnsignedInt replayBufferBytes = 8192;
@@ -849,8 +851,14 @@ void RecorderClass::writeArgument(GameMessageArgumentDataType type, const GameMe
  */
 Bool RecorderClass::readReplayHeader(ReplayHeader& header)
 {
-	AsciiString filepath = getReplayDir();
-	filepath.concat(header.filename.str());
+	// TheSuperHackers @feature bobtista 08/08/2026 Open explicitly selected replay paths in place
+	// while preserving Replay directory lookup for menu filenames and existing command lines.
+	AsciiString filepath = header.filename;
+	if (!isAbsolutePath(filepath.str()))
+	{
+		filepath = getReplayDir();
+		filepath.concat(header.filename.str());
+	}
 
 	// TheSuperHackers @performance More buffered data reduces disk overhead and will improve fast forward playback
 	const UnsignedInt buffersize = header.forPlayback ? replayBufferBytes : File::BUFFERSIZE;
@@ -1000,6 +1008,18 @@ void RecorderClass::handleCRCMessage(UnsignedInt newCRC, Int playerIndex, Bool f
 		//	playbackCRC, newCRC, TheGameLogic->getFrame()-m_crcInfo.GetQueueSize()-1, playerIndex));
 		if (TheGameLogic->getFrame() > 0 && newCRC != playbackCRC && !m_crcInfo.sawCRCMismatch())
 		{
+			// TheSuperHackers @feature bobtista 08/08/2026 Diagnostic playback continues past a mismatch
+			// without the UI report and the pause that normal playback uses.
+			if (TheDebugIgnoreReplaySyncErrors)
+			{
+				const UnsignedInt ignoredFrame = TheGameLogic->getFrame() - m_crcInfo.GetQueueSize() - 1;
+				DEBUG_LOG(("Replay CRC mismatch ignored\nInGame:%8.8X Replay:%8.8X\nFrame:%d",
+					playbackCRC, newCRC, ignoredFrame));
+				printf("CRC Mismatch in Frame %d (ignored)\n", ignoredFrame);
+				m_crcInfo.setSawCRCMismatch();
+				return;
+			}
+
 			//Kris: Patch 1.01 November 10, 2003 (integrated changes from Matt Campbell)
 			// Since we don't seem to have any *visible* desyncs when replaying games, but get this warning
 			// virtually every replay, the assumption is our CRC checking is faulty.  Since we're at the
@@ -1077,6 +1097,46 @@ Bool RecorderClass::replayMatchesGameVersion(const ReplayHeader& header)
  * Start playback of the file. Return true or false depending on if the file is
  * a valid replay file or not.
  */
+// TheSuperHackers @feature bobtista 08/08/2026 Play the replay requested on startup, once the client
+// has created the shell layout that the playback returns to when it ends.
+void RecorderClass::loadQueuedReplay()
+{
+	const AsciiString filename = TheGlobalData->m_loadReplayGame;
+	TheWritableGlobalData->m_loadReplayGame.clear();
+
+	ReplayHeader header;
+	header.forPlayback = FALSE;
+	header.filename = filename;
+	if (!readReplayHeader(header))
+	{
+		DEBUG_LOG(("Replay '%s' could not be read", filename.str()));
+		TheGameEngine->setQuitting(TRUE);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	// A replay whose map is missing starts a game that cannot load, so reject it here instead
+	ReplayGameInfo gameInfo;
+	if (!ParseAsciiStringToGameInfo(&gameInfo, header.gameOptions))
+	{
+		DEBUG_LOG(("Replay '%s' contains invalid game options", filename.str()));
+		TheGameEngine->setQuitting(TRUE);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	if (TheMapCache == nullptr || TheMapCache->findMap(gameInfo.getMap()) == nullptr)
+	{
+		DEBUG_LOG(("Replay '%s' requires unavailable map '%s'", filename.str(), gameInfo.getMap().str()));
+		TheGameEngine->setQuitting(TRUE);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	if (!playbackFile(filename))
+	{
+		DEBUG_LOG(("Failed to play replay '%s'", filename.str()));
+		TheGameEngine->setQuitting(TRUE);
+	}
+}
+
 Bool RecorderClass::playbackFile(AsciiString filename)
 {
 	if (!m_doingAnalysis)

GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameClient/GameClient.cpp

@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 #include "Common/ActionManager.h"
 #include "Common/GameEngine.h"
 #include "Common/GameState.h"
+#include "Common/Recorder.h"
 #include "Common/GameUtility.h"
 #include "Common/GlobalData.h"
 #include "Common/PerfTimer.h"
@@ -541,6 +542,10 @@ void GameClient::update()
 			{
 				TheGameState->loadQueuedSaveGame();
 			}
+			else if (TheGlobalData->m_loadReplayGame.isNotEmpty())
+			{
+				TheRecorder->loadQueuedReplay();
+			}
 		}
 	}