feat(headless): Implement ViewDummy

Core/GameEngine/Include/GameClient/View.h

@@ -331,5 +331,40 @@ class ViewLocation
 		}
 };
 
+// TheSuperHackers @feature bobtista 31/01/2026
+// View that does nothing. Used for Headless Mode.
+class ViewDummy : public View
+{
+public:
+	virtual Drawable *pickDrawable( const ICoord2D *screen, Bool forceAttack, PickType pickType ) override
+	{
+		return nullptr;
+	}
+	virtual Int iterateDrawablesInRegion( IRegion2D *screenRegion, Bool (*callback)( Drawable *draw, void *userData ), void *userData ) override
+	{
+		return 0;
+	}
+	virtual void forceRedraw() override {}
+	virtual const Coord3D& get3DCameraPosition() const override
+	{
+		static Coord3D zero = {0,0,0};
+		return zero;
+	}
+	virtual WorldToScreenReturn worldToScreenTriReturn(const Coord3D *w, ICoord2D *s ) override
+	{
+		return WTS_INVALID;
+	}
+	virtual void screenToWorld( const ICoord2D *s, Coord3D *w ) override {}
+	virtual void screenToTerrain( const ICoord2D *screen, Coord3D *world ) override {}
+	virtual void screenToWorldAtZ( const ICoord2D *s, Coord3D *w, Real z ) override {}
+	virtual void drawView( void ) override {}
+	virtual void updateView(void) override {}
+	virtual void stepView() override {}
+	virtual void setGuardBandBias( const Coord2D *gb ) override {}
+
+	// TheSuperHackers @bugfix bobtista 03/02/2026 Do not override View::xfer(). The base
+	// implementation must run to serialize valid view state for save file compatibility.
+};
+
 // EXTERNALS //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 extern View *TheTacticalView;		///< the main tactical interface to the game world

Generals/Code/GameEngine/Include/GameClient/InGameUI.h

@@ -669,7 +669,7 @@ friend class Drawable;	// for selection/deselection transactions
 
 	void incrementSelectCount() { ++m_selectCount; }			///< Increase by one the running total of "selected" drawables
 	void decrementSelectCount() { --m_selectCount; }			///< Decrease by one the running total of "selected" drawables
-	virtual View *createView() = 0;												///< Factory for Views
+	virtual View *createView(bool dummy = false) = 0;								///< Factory for Views
 	void evaluateSoloNexus( Drawable *newlyAddedDrawable = nullptr );
 
 	/// expire a hint from of the specified type at the hint index

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

@@ -1337,17 +1337,17 @@ void InGameUI::init()
 	been moved to where all the other translators are attached in game client */
 
 	// create the tactical view
-	if (TheDisplay)
+	TheTacticalView = createView(TheGlobalData->m_headless);
+	if (TheTacticalView && TheDisplay)
 	{
-		TheTacticalView = createView();
 		TheTacticalView->init();
 		TheDisplay->attachView( TheTacticalView );
 
 		// make the tactical display the full screen width and height
 		TheTacticalView->setWidth( TheDisplay->getWidth() );
 		TheTacticalView->setHeight( TheDisplay->getHeight() );
+		TheTacticalView->setDefaultView(0.0f, 0.0f, 1.0f);
 	}
-	TheTacticalView->setDefaultView(0.0f, 0.0f, 1.0f);
 
 	/** @todo this may be the wrong place to create the sidebar, but for now
 	this is where it lives */

Generals/Code/GameEngineDevice/Include/W3DDevice/GameClient/W3DInGameUI.h

@@ -69,7 +69,12 @@
 protected:
 
 	/// factory for views
-	virtual View *createView() { return NEW W3DView; }
+	virtual View *createView(bool dummy)
+	{
+		if (dummy)
+			return NEW ViewDummy;
+		return NEW W3DView;
+	}
 
 	virtual void drawSelectionRegion();			///< draw the selection region on screen
 	virtual void drawMoveHints( View *view );			///< draw move hint visual feedback

GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Include/GameClient/InGameUI.h

@@ -689,7 +689,7 @@ friend class Drawable;	// for selection/deselection transactions
 
 	void incrementSelectCount() { ++m_selectCount; }			///< Increase by one the running total of "selected" drawables
 	void decrementSelectCount() { --m_selectCount; }			///< Decrease by one the running total of "selected" drawables
-	virtual View *createView() = 0;												///< Factory for Views
+	virtual View *createView(bool dummy = false) = 0;								///< Factory for Views
 	void evaluateSoloNexus( Drawable *newlyAddedDrawable = nullptr );
 
 	/// expire a hint from of the specified type at the hint index

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

@@ -1367,17 +1367,17 @@ void InGameUI::init()
 	been moved to where all the other translators are attached in game client */
 
 	// create the tactical view
-	if (TheDisplay)
+	TheTacticalView = createView(TheGlobalData->m_headless);
+	if (TheTacticalView && TheDisplay)
 	{
-		TheTacticalView = createView();
 		TheTacticalView->init();
 		TheDisplay->attachView( TheTacticalView );
 
 		// make the tactical display the full screen width and height
 		TheTacticalView->setWidth( TheDisplay->getWidth() );
 		TheTacticalView->setHeight( TheDisplay->getHeight() );
+		TheTacticalView->setDefaultView(0.0f, 0.0f, 1.0f);
 	}
-	TheTacticalView->setDefaultView(0.0f, 0.0f, 1.0f);
 
 	/** @todo this may be the wrong place to create the sidebar, but for now
 	this is where it lives */

GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngineDevice/Include/W3DDevice/GameClient/W3DInGameUI.h

@@ -69,7 +69,12 @@
 protected:
 
 	/// factory for views
-	virtual View *createView() { return NEW W3DView; }
+	virtual View *createView(bool dummy)
+	{
+		if (dummy)
+			return NEW ViewDummy;
+		return NEW W3DView;
+	}
 
 	virtual void drawSelectionRegion();			///< draw the selection region on screen
 	virtual void drawMoveHints( View *view );			///< draw move hint visual feedback