First off, Podcast #4:
EA recently released a new podcast. In it Predator talks to Jason Bender, lead designer on C&C3 and Greg Black, the multiplayer lead on C&C3 about the new innovations in its technology. They talk about the return of the MCV from the classic C&C games, commenting on how it's a return to the old-school style of C&C.
The MCV will be good for quick battles and queuing buildings (such as Obelisks). There will also be a structure called the 'Crane' which is like a smaller Construction Yard, but is able to build multiple buildings. They also hint on the possible introduction of a 'mini-MCV' system, which is more like the Dozer system that was in Generals.
Next they discuss C&C3's interface. They refer to it as a hybrid of the classic C&C sidebar and the control system from BfME and Generals. Like the original sidebar system you are able to control your production queues from anywhere on the battlefield. However the game will also retain the BfME / Generals individual unit control where you could individually upgrade each unit. Also, on a side note, the units and structures will retain the descriptions which were present in Generals, but not in previous C&Cs.
Next item on the list is a rather new thing to the C&C games: Squads. Squads first came to our screens in Generals (remember the Angry Mob) and involved controlling a group of units as if they were one. This means that instead of producing each infantry separately, you produce them in a group and control them as a group. They do however say that not all infantry will be controlled by squads, the Commando and Engineers are implicitly mentioned as not being in squads. All basic ground infantry will apparantly be in squads (they specifically say Riflemen, Grenadiers, Missile Troopers and Zone Troopers). They mention that the more 'elite' the group gets, the less people are in the squad, citing the Zone Trooper and Sniper units as examples.
Lastly they discuss the game's speed and balance. They tell us that the game is not built for turtlers, saying that you have to get out there and be aggressive to succeed. They mention a few times that the game is going to have the same fast gameplay from the previous C&C games, though there are going to be options to slow the pace down. They say that the speed of the game seen in the demo will not be the actual pace of the game, that was just for presentation purposes. They mention that Nod has the early game advantage, and GDI having the late game advantage, they do say that the third faction will be mixed into that balance, though they are staying rather tight lipped on it.
You can download the podcast from this link.
Secondly, EA released five new screenshots, specifically showing us the Nod Avatar mech unit.
The first screen shows an Avatar and a couple of Nod tanks attacking a small GDI base defended by gun emplacements and a few Predator tanks. See the screen here.
The second screen shows Nod defending against a GDI assault composed of Mammoth Tanks and Juggernaut. It shows us the new-style Nod Obelisk and again shows us the Avatar mech. Screen here
The third screen shows a GDI MCV and a Rifleman Squad getting completely hammered by Nod missile troopers. This is as yet our first glimpse of the GDI MCV, which deploys into a Construction Yard. Screen here
The fourth screen shows another Mammoth vs. Avatars and Obelisk assault, this time at night and with two Obelisks (though the second is almost cut out of the picture). Screen here
The last screen shows a side view of what was happening in the first shot, namely the Avatar mechs attacking a GDI base on a small ridge. This time there are some Vertigo bombers, Nod tanks and a Juggernaut in the battle as well. Screen here
Next up is the article Mike Verdu has wrote for Gamespot on the user interface. He refers to the sidebar system being a combination of the classic sidebar from the original C&C games, and the command bar interface from Generals. The article includes a numbered screenshot of the sidebar, with each number referring to an explanation of that item in the article. The classic Repair, Sell and Toggle Power buttons seen in TS are returning, as is the advanced command bar from RA2, where you could order your troops to deploy or select them by type, only it has been improved with attack, force fire, stop and rules of engagement commands. The article also hints at the return of a 'Generals Powers'-like system. In C&C Generals players were promoted gained Generals Points after destroying a certain number of enemy forces, they could then spend these points on special units or superweapons. The powers mentioned in the article include artillery strikes, bombing runs, radar scans and reinforcements.
Read the article here
or See the screenshot here.
Lastly we have the recently released actors list. According to the list, the following people will star in the High Definition CNC3 Live Action Videos:
Michael Ironside (from Top Gun, also voices Sam Fisher from Splinter Cell)
Billy Dee Williams (from Star Wars Episodes V and VI, also the Colt .45 Spokesperson)
Josh Holloway (stars in Lost and CSI)
Tricia Helfer (stars in Battlestar Galactica and CSI)
Grace Park (stars in Battlestar Galactica and has starred in L.A. Law: The Movie)
Ivana Bozilovic (from Wedding Crashers and Van Wilder)
Shanon Cook (CNN reporter)
John Huck (Las Vegas Fox News anchorman)
Shauntay Hinton (the former Miss USA)
Joseph D. Kucan (does he need any explanation?)
So in all, as well as Kucan we have a whole host of Hollywood actors and actresses starring in the FMVs, as well as actual news reporters who will be playing reporters in the videos. Billy Dee Williams (Lando from the Star Wars films) had this to say:
EA also mention that they will integrate computer generated graphics into the videos to improve the quality and aid in developing the plot."This is the most fun I’ve had since Star Wars! The game’s story and universe are immersive and drew me right in. I was intrigued by my character, GDI Director Redmond Boyle, because he has more depth than I expected from a video game personality."
That's it for now
Have a nice day!
Dark Lord of the Sith and Nighthawk
