Welcome
to the DEN Soldier!
Lion's
Weekend Blurb
-
This weekend heralds in the first day of spring. Is
winter finally over? Well, that remains to be seen, but
so far this past week temps in my neck of da woods have
been in the 60 degree plus range. I took advantage of
the beautiful weather and started cleaning up the yard,
getting my boat and rods & reels ready for fishing
season, and taking a couple walks in the near-by woods.
Anyhoot, local farmers will tell ya that winter ain't
over till we have the Robin and Onion snows. I say when
the Fat Lady sings, it's over. But I'll give the benefit
of the doubt to the farmers since they are in tune with
mother earth...Lion
Note From Lion Sat - Mar 20, 2010, 9:24 am [EST] posted by Lion
I understand that many people in the C&C community have not been happy with the way the C&C4 game has turned out. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. I will not stop people from posting their thoughts.
Having said that, I ask that those of you posting on the comments section of the news to refrain from posting urls to websites that offer pirated copies of C&C4, or any information concerning pirated/illegal copies of C&C4.
CNCDEN Giving Away FREE C&C4! Fri - Mar 19, 2010, 8:43 am [EST] posted by Lion
Ok....listen up people. I have five copies of Command & Conquer 4 I'm giving away. The giveaway contest runs until Sunday night (midnight EST). Then sometime on this coming Monday I'll announce those who will be receiving a freeby.
I'll keep this very simple. To get in on your chance to win one of five copies of C&C4, just send an email to dalion@comcast.net and put in the subject line I want C&C4. This coming Monday I'll randomly draw five emails and send the winners their digi-download code. If YOUR a winner, you will be playing C&C4 on Monday!
PS: The C&C4 giveaway is open to everyone the world over.
C&C4 Reviews Thu - Mar 18, 2010, 10:07 am [EST] posted by Lion
Below are links to a couple reviews of C&C4. I'll post more when I get some time. It looks like average scores for the game are gonna be around 70%, so hopes of C&C4 being RTS game of the year ain't gonna happen. Not that I ever thought it would. I played in the C&C4 beta, and being the C&C veteran that I am, was disappointed with the game mechanics and overall feel of the game. It's just NOT Command & Conquer. Anyhoot, I have the full blown version of the game. I'll be playing the single player missions and report back on my final thoughts on Command & Conquer 4.
Full Gamespot C&C4 Review Here (Score = 7/10) GAMESPOT: "It's a good-looking, nice-sounding game with the thick and colorful C&C attitude you hoped to see. Yet the limited focus and flabby campaign make Tiberian Twilight a disappointment nonetheless. This is a good game, but such a renowned and beloved character as Kane should have received a more explosive goodbye."
Full GameInformer C&C4 Review Here (Score = 7.75/10) GAMEINFORMER: "Some of the reliance on cooperative play could be mitigated by a strong online backend, but C&C 4’s is middling at best. There is a friends list and rudimentary matchmaking, but the stat tracking and achievements leave me cold compared to better solutions like Modern Warfare. Forcing players to be online in order to play single player is lame as well."
Full VideoGamer C&C4 Review Here (Score = 7/10) VIDEOGAMER: "Is C&C4 a fitting finale? Well, the answer will vary depending on the type of C&C fan you are. If you're a series veteran who's stood by C&C from the very first FMV to the end of C&C3: Kane's Wrath, if you care about the canon and agonise over the art style, then, well, the answer is probably a big fat no. Why? Because C&C4 isn't very C&C at all. EALA's only done a Relic Entertainment and stripped away base building and resource gathering completely, replacing it with a class-based system and Modern Warfare-style experience gain."
Full GameSpy C&C4 Review Here (Score = 2.5/5) GAMESPY: "Okay, details. First thing you need to know is that EA Los Angeles (EALA) has taken the long-running real-time strategy series in a completely new direction: The base-building, resource-harvesting, tank-rushing model -- once the hallmark for RTS worldwide -- is totally dropped here. C&C4 replaces the venerable gather-and-build system with a little piece of just about every other significant RTS of the last few years; the majority of the gameplay is now rather unabashedly ripped off of Massive Entertainment's World in Conflict, while the capture-and-hold scoring system is somewhat more abashedly ripped off from Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II, and the new UI (no more sidebar interface) is re-purposed from EA's own C&C: Generals series."
C&C4 Launch News Thu - Mar 18, 2010, 9:21 am [EST] posted by Lion
Yes, the Lion is behind in the news this week. My life off the net has been rather hectic since Monday. Anyhoot, I'll group the majority of news related to the launch of C&C4 in this post.
APOC Addresses C&C 4's Online Requirement
Hey everyone,
I've seen some reviewers and many in the community worry about our "online all the time" for C&C 4, and the fact that such games as Mercenaries 2 were shutdown after only 2 years. Let me be frank and honest when I say, the fact that C&C 4 requires you to be online all the time for single-player and multiplayer, means we will absolutely not leave you in the dark should we need to ammend the servers for any reason in the long far away future.
C&C 4 is built on new back-end EA server technology that is the path to the future of EA online gaming, so I assure you, these servers are not sunsetting, if ever.
And if, in the many years ahead, such a thing needs to happen for any reason, we will absolutely put the time and effort in to ensuring the game can be played offline.
I sincerely understand your worries, even as a gamer myself, but I can assure you, having been the C&C CM for 5+ years, and still seeing people play old school C&C, this franchise has an indefinite shelf life. We're committed to that and explained this earlier on prior to C&C 4 releasing.
My word won't be taken as a 100% promise by anyone, that is a no brainer, but let me say, if the future of our franchise is any indication for what we have spoken of in high level form, we will always ensure you can play C&C 4.
I do not want this to be another "online debate" topic because there are already plenty to discuss and chime in. I am locking this thread only because I want it to be a statement to you that we are committed to the online servers of C&C 4.
Thanks, APOC
C&C4 Launch Trailer
I have a little time on my hands for the next few days, so I'll get caught up on the news, plus see if peeps are enjoying playing the C&C4 game. I have the game but haven't had time to play yet. Will try out the single player missions tonight IF I can stay connected. I understand some people are having some trouble staying connected to the servers, so we'll see.
PS: There's a new C&C Motion Comic released. Head HERE for that.
C&C4 Coming Tuesday, March 16th Mon - Mar 15, 2010, 10:18 am [EST] posted by Lion
I received several emails this past week asking why I haven't announced the release date for C&C4. I assumed everyone knew that, but for those of ya that don't, it's coming on Tuesday in the USA. Don't know about other locations around the world.
C&C4 Dev Chat Download Sat - Mar 13, 2010, 10:26 am [EST] posted by Lion
Did YOU miss the developer chat with Sam Bass and hosted by IGN.com's Editor Eduardo Vasconcellos via Facebook and Vivox Chat? If so, now's your chance to download and MP3 of the chat and learn about what was discussed during the chat. Were new secrets revealed?
The Idris Corporation Story Sat - Mar 13, 2010, 10:18 am [EST] posted by Lion
On the official C&C4 website APOC has posted up an article that explains the story behind the Idris Corporation, who are part of the C&C4 story. Here's a snip from that article:
The Idris Corporation began its life as GDI's internal "public works" division, responsible for much of the work maintaining and establishing Blue Zones in the pre-Tiberium War 3 era. In the aftermath of the GDI Council formalizing their alliance with Kane, this division was tasked with the construction and maintenance of the Nod leader's putative Tiberium Control Network and began to expand rapidly.
The following year, faced with escalating Nod/GDI infighting as to the project’s direction, the council voted to spin off the division into an independent corporation, to be lead by an experienced, politically neutral figure – one Elias Caruso.
Caruso was a well respected private developer best known to the public for playing a major role in the massive but ultimately doomed post-Tiberium War 3 reconstruction effort. Having watched in horror as the rapidly expanding Northern European Tiberium field consumed his "model city" of New Eden in 2052, Caruso came to believe above all else that the control and eradication of the alien crystal was essential to the continued existence of humanity. More than his vast resources or technical expertise, it was this vision, this all consuming passion, that convinced the council that Caruso was the man for the job.
Those of ya interested can head HERE for more on the Idris Corporation.
Inside the Music of Tiberian Twilight Wed - Mar 10, 2010, 5:28 pm [EST] posted by Lion
On the official C&C4 website, APOC has posted up a little blog from Audio Director for Command & Conquer 4, Nick Laviers. Here's a snip from that blog:
Hello, Nick Laviers here, Audio Director for Command & Conquer 4 (you may remember me from Red Alert 3). For the last couple of weeks since we finished Tiberian Twilight I've been priming our official Soundtrack for iTunes release (Amazon and the rest) on the day the game ships. I’m really pleased with the way it's turned out and excited about getting it into your hands and finding out what you think of it. This is the first of a series of three blogs where I'm going to give away some extra info about the work of each of the three composers. First up is James Hannigan and the work he did on creating melodic 'themes' for the game.
C&C Motion Comic EP1 Mon - Mar 8, 2010, 8:32 am [EST] posted by Lion
Here's the word as posted by APOC on the official C&C4 website.
The Command & Conquer Motion Comic debuts with a 4-part episodic miniseries leading in to the story of Command & Conquer 4 Tiberian Twilight.
Watch Episode 1 in our new section at commandandconquer.com/motioncomic, with exclusive wallpapers and high-res HD download as well.
EPISODE ONE - AN UNEXPECTED HERO. The year is 2068, and Tiberium has nearly destroyed our world. Christian Pierce, a young farmer and militiaman who is quickly losing his livelihood to the encroaching crystals, leaves his family and heads for the nearest GDI Blue Zone to find work. But what he finds there isn't just a job. It's destiny.
C&C4 Multiplayer Beta Closing Soon Fri - Mar 5, 2010, 11:18 am [EST] posted by Lion
Those of you who want to play C&C4 before the release, you best be getting at it. The multiplayer beta servers will be shutting down this coming Monday, March 8th. So you have this weekend yet, and that's that.
Head HERE for your last shot at playing in the beta. The retail launch of C&C4 is March 16th.
Night Moves Prequel Mission Video Tue - Mar 2, 2010, 4:44 pm [EST] posted by Lion
According to word on the official C&C4 website, when you pre-order Command & Conquer 4, you will gain access at launch on March 16th, to an exclusive prequel mission entitled, "Night Moves".
In this mission, a prequel to the C&C4 campaign, you assume the role of a commander working for Gideon, leader of the anti-Kane Nod Separatist movement, as he lays a trap for none other than the Tiberium Prophet himself. Check out this exclusive video on the fiction and gameplay behind the "Night Moves" prequel mission below, and learn more about why you'll definitely want to play this mission. You can also view the video HERE as well.
