The 2008 Game Developer’s Conference is almost here. Microsoft has announced that on February 20th, they will post the keynote address from their own John Schappert on Xbox Live Marketplace, in HD. Additional GDC content may also become available, but we don’t know what that means. Gamerpics and themes? Trailers? Demos? We’re in wait and see mode already!
It’s been on many people’s “top tens” and “wish lists.” It’s been played by millions and loved by nearly all. It defined a generation of CARnage games. It was made by a team of only five men. Made famous on the N64 and original Playstation before the first Xbox was anything more more than a concept, it is Vigilante 8, and our friends over at IGN are carrying pictures and confirming the rumors that it is headed to the Xbox Live Arcade.
Hot off the presses, people, here’s the official press release from EA.
REDWOOD CITY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Feb. 14, 2008–After a seven-year hiatus, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced the return of Red Alert, one of the most beloved and best-selling real time strategy (RTS) series of all time. Command & Conquer(TM): Red Alert(TM) 3, for the PC, Xbox 360(TM) video game and entertainment system and the PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system, takes players on an epic adventure to a breathtaking alternate future spawned by time travel run amok. Developed by EA Los Angeles, Red Alert 3 breaks new ground in the RTS genre, featuring a fully co-operative campaign while bringing back the series’ light-hearted style and classic, action-oriented gameplay.
“The Red Alert games are known for challenging hardcore strategy gamers with depth, variety, and innovative gameplay. But they also belong to that rare breed of games that can draw in more casual players with their over-the-top stories, instantly accessible mechanics, and straight-to-the-fun design,” said Mike Verdu, General Manager of EALA. “With Red Alert 3, our team is continuing that proud tradition by introducing genre-first features like co-operative campaign play, which rewards veterans and casual players alike. In Red Alert 3, friends and family can always have your back!”
“It’s been too long,” said Chris Corry, Executive Producer at EALA. “Fans have been waiting for a new Red Alert game for seven years, and we’re working hard to ensure its well worth the wait. The team is staying true to the series’ roots while adding new elements like a co-operatively played story-driven campaign, an astounding new faction that will shake-up the Red Alert universe as we know it, and units that will help make Red Alert 3 everything our fans have been waiting for. And by bringing naval combat into the heart of the game design, we’re transporting that fast, fun and fluid C&C gameplay to the high-seas in ways that you’ve never seen before.”
In Red Alert 3, the desperate leadership of a doomed Soviet Union travels back in time to change history and restore the glory of Mother Russia. The time travel mission goes awry, creating an alternate timeline where technology has followed an entirely different evolution, a new superpower has been thrust on to the world stage, and World War III is raging. The Empire of the Rising Sun has risen in the East, making World War III a three-way struggle between the Soviets, the Allies, and the Empire with armies fielding wacky and wonderful weapons and technologies like Tesla coils, heavily armed War Blimps, teleportation, armored bears, intelligent dolphins, floating island fortresses, and transforming tanks.
Red Alert 3 asks the question “What If?” What if every bizarre research project and technology experiment for the last 70 years had actually borne fruit? What if the Philadelphia Experiment, time travel theory, teleportation, invisibility, Tesla technology, and a hundred other intriguing research projects had all paid off and gone mainstream? What if the Soviet Union survived and thrived; what would it look like 10 years in the future? What if the Japanese Empire had never fallen and instead became the ultimate high-tech military superpower? The end result is an imaginative and playful vision of an alternate future filled with possibility.
Command & Conquer fans eager to experience Red Alert 3 before anyone else can get early access to the beta(1) by picking up a copy of Command & Conquer(TM) 3: Kane’s Wrath or the Command & Conquer 3 Limited Collection later this year.
For fans of Red Alert and Command & Conquer, EA hosts a dedicated online Web cast that goes beyond the game and brings players all the latest series news, tips and strategies. The flagship show, BattleCast(TM) Primetime, is a unique program that offers a sportscast look and feel for featured fan multiplayer matches, including expert commentary. Command & Conquer, BattleCast Primetime can be seen on the official Command & Conquer website http://www.commandandconquer.com/.
This product is not yet rated by the ESRB, PEGI or USK. For more information about Red Alert 3 or the Command & Conquer series, please visit www.RedAlert3.com.
(1) Beta program is available for the PC only. An announcement about the Red Alert 3 beta dates will be made this summer.
About Command & Conquer
The groundbreaking Command & Conquer franchise was one of the first to introduce players to the modern RTS genre, has spawned over a dozen PC titles, and ranks in the top 5 best-selling PC franchises of all-time according to the NPD Group. Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars(TM) was the number #1 selling PC RTS of 2007 and recently won the “Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year” award from the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences. Additionally, Command & Conquer Red Alert 2 and Command & Conquer Generals were the number one best-selling* PC RTS titles in 2000 and 2003 respectively. Collectively, the series has sold over 25 million units worldwide to date. The franchise boasts one of the largest and most active fan communities in the world. For more information on Command & Conquer series, please visit www.CommandAndConquer.EA.com.
* According to NPD Group
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world’s leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, cellular handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS(TM), EA(TM), EA SPORTS BIG(TM) and POGO(TM). In fiscal 2007, EA posted revenue of $3.09 billion and had 24 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA’s homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA’s products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.
Electronic Arts, EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG, POGO, Command & Conquer, Red Alert, Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars, Command & Conquer Red Alert and BattleCast are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Xbox and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. “PLAYSTATION” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
CONTACT: Electronic Arts
Andrew Wong, 650-628-7281
Senior Publicist, EA Games Label
anwong@ea.com
Bryce Baer, 650-628-5102
Senior Manager, EA Games Label
bbaer@ea.com
Tammy Schachter, 650-628-7223
Senior Director, EA Games Label
tschachter@ea.com
SOURCE: Electronic Arts Inc.
Maybe it’s just not on the news, but I just don’t hear about this stuff very often. A family, without renter’s insurance, got robbed last week, in the middle of the day. Adults at work, kids at school, BAM. TV, laptop, everything… just like a team of movers stopped by.
Well, here’s the fun part. I found out about this through my involvement with the Xbox community.
DeaconBlade 360, the host and founder of Unscripted 360, posted the story on his blog. A) Because he knew the family. B) Because one of the kids saved up his own money to buy his own Xbox 360, and a week later it gets stolen.
One of the users on the site, TheRhymeScheme, came up with the idea of setting up a fund to get this kid a new 360. I seconded the notion, and away we went. We’re getting close, and have the support of KonsoleKingz.com, and are spreading the word even higher up the chain – but for now, we’re just kind of doing what we can.
People here have made donations to my former websiteNuAngel.net, others in websites I am a member of have simply and genuinely helped me in a time of need. “Pay It Forward” (not the movie) is important to me, the idea of helping people, who may in turn help someone else… showing that not everybody is BAD.
SUMMARY
This isn’t some armless legless goatless boy in kurblakastan, or some huge scheme – I know these people, I talk to them over the phone regularly, play games with them on Xbox Live, will be meeting them this fall @ PAX… the robbery made local news in Dallas, TX. We will be getting photos of the “gift giving” when it’s all said and done. It’s legit.
LINKS
Podcast where we (Deacon, myself, and others) talk about it in the first couple of minutes of the show.
That podcast link also contains the link to the original thread where we began the discussion.
The thread on U360 forums.
The Donation Link (PayPal) is embedded in the original post, and the podcast post, and at the top of MY post, here on WinBreak.com. Once you log in to PayPal, just tell’em NuAngel sent ya (“additional comments” right before you complete the transaction)!
Just wanted y’all to know.
