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50 EA games going offline due to GameSpy shutdown
EA's efforts to transition its GameSpy-based games have been in vain, after the publisher revealed 50 of its titles are going offline once the matchmaking service shuts down. Not only is it a big list of games, but it includes casualties like Battlefield 2142 for PC and Mac, and Star Wars: Battlefront on PC and PS2. Other games on the list include Battlefield 2 (PC), Command and Conquer 3 (PC and Mac), C&C Generals (PC and Mac), Red Alert 3 (PC and Mac), Crysis (PC), Crysis: Wars (PC), Crysis 2 (PC), Medal of Honor: Allied Assault (PC and Mac), Neverwinter Nights (PC, Mac and Linux) Neverwinter Nights 2 (PC and Mac), and Star Wars Battlefront 2 (PC and PS2). EA's service site has the full list of affected games, all of which lose their online services on June 30. "Unfortunately, due to technical challenges and concerns about the player experience, we do not have a solution at this time," EA said on its service page. The company noted some of the games retain sizable audiences, and it's "investigating community-supported options" in a bid to retain online functionality. However: "Significant technical hurdles remain, and at this time we don't have anything to announce." If EA doesn't come through, users may turn to services like GameRanger, which provides server support for some of the games in question. However, for many games it'll likely be so long and thanks for all the online fun soon after GameSpy's services go dark on May 31. [Image: EA]
Command & Conquer games 75% off on Steam this weekend
Now that Victory Games and a new Command and Conquer are official, it's time to be reminded of the series' decline over the years. Good thing Steam is there with deep discounts this weekend on the freefalling franchise. If you're looking for "serious" RTSing, check out Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars ($7.50). If you'd prefer something a little bit more quirky, go for Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 ($5). What about Command & Conquer 4? No such thing exists, sorry. But if it did, it would cost $5 right now. Just saying.
Mac games on sale at Direct2Drive until March 11
Wow, Macs as a gaming platform is totally en vogue this week. First, we've got Valve teasing something Apple related. Now, Direct2Drive is holding a sale on all its Mac games ... you know, all five of them. Kidding, there's way more than five. Some big ones in there too, like Dragon Age: Origins, offered at 50 percent off ($33). Other highlights include: Sims 3 – $25 Prince of Persia (the latest one) – $25 Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 – $15 World of Goo – $10 The sale lasts one week, until March 11, 2010, at 10AM Pacific. Looks like Direct2Drive wants to get one good sales push in before Steam allegedly comes to Mac.
EA says Red Alert 3 online multiplayer issues with Steam were 'quickly resolved'
Recently, some Steam users reported issues with recently purchased copies of Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 -- issues said to be caused by missing serial numbers required for online play that weren't included with digitally distributed copies of the game. EA today confirmed to Joystiq via Twitter that the issue had been "quickly resolved," further adding that "all is well back in Steam land." We've followed up with EA to find out the nature of the issue and for more information on its resolution, but until we hear back, you go enjoy dropping war bears into online matches. That's what they're there for, after all. %Gallery-16114%
This Wednesday: Bubble Bobble Neo, Red Alert 3: Commander's Challenge arrive on XBLA
Well, folks, it's not quite the Summer of Arcade anymore. Microsoft's Major Nelson has announced C&C Red Alert 3: Commander's Challenge and Bubble Bobble Neo as this week's Xbox Live Arcade releases. Despite the inclusion of "C&C Red Alert 3" right there in the title, the former game is a standalone experience and can be played without the original Red Alert 3 game disc. Each title will draw 800 ($10) from your account, assuming it doesn't go toward this week's Xbox Live deal, Lode Runner. %Gallery-68517%
Red Alert 3 'Commander's Challenge' costs $10, coming to 360 / PS3 this fall [update]
Update: To be clear, the Commander's Challenge content does not require a Red Alert 3 disc and will be sold as a standalone product. We're sorry for any confusion this may have caused. Though Command & Conquer Red Alert 3's Uprising expansion landed on PCs months ago, it seems a port of at least some of the expansion's content is heading to consoles this fall. The "Commander's Challenge" DLC standalone game is set to run you $10 and offers "50 intense challenges against a set of nine different commanders, including 16-time world champion "Nature Boy" Ric Flair." Sound familiar? That's because the ESRB let slip the first news of the DLC a little over a month ago. EA's official confirmation of the DLC game also speaks of "giant Soviet war bears" and an "army of psionic Japanese school girls," but that's all old hat for you Red Alert 3 players out there. Given the price and relative lateness of it, we're curious if anyone other than the most hardcore of RA3 fans will bother picking it up. Well, casual Red Alert 3 players?
EA: Red Alert 3 looks best on PS3, thanks to delay
Since changing its tune about "skipping" a PS3 release of Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3, citing the platform's "exotic and tough" development climes, EA Los Angeles actually says its time learning the ins-and-outs of the architecture has been for the best. Speaking to 1UP, producer -- and former games journo -- Greg Kasavin claims the PS3 version (the "Ultimate Edition") is the best-looking of the bunch, sporting better water effects and more detailed units. In addition, the "general color palette" is somehow improved. As we've previously reported, the PS3 release of Red Alert 3 is launching with free DLC maps and includes a whole bunch'a bonus material (making-of clips, bloopers and other vignettes).The moral of this story: Developers can make PS3 perform some neat tricks if they just take the time to get to know it. Sometimes simply over a cup of coffee; other times while tackling one of those team-building obstacle courses together.
Red Alert 3 'Ultimate Edition' coming to PS3
The EA Store now has a listing for Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Ultimate Edition for PS3. The publisher had previously announced that the PS3 version would utilize the "high-defness of Blu-ray" and now, comrades, we have a better idea of what that means.The Ultimate Edition, which currently doesn't have a release date, features bloopers, new battleground maps, developer strategy videos and behind-the-scenes footage. The game's soundtrack will also be available, along with a "Unit Profiles video encyclopedia." The most titillating item on the disc is the "Girls of RA3" presented in full "HD Blu-ray with enhanced visuals." That's, like, twice the Blu-rays. Sadly, if the controls are anything like the Xbox 360 version, no amount of special videos will prevent you from begging for a keyboard and mouse.[Via PS3 Fanboy]
Cue the groaning: Writers Guild announces video game nominations
The Writers Guild of America has announced five nominees for best video game writing in 2008. This will be the Guild's second year giving out the award, with last year's nod going to Dead Head Fred. Hmm, well, this year's nominees are certainly an interesting group and are sure to generate some conversation about what constitutes good writing in a game ... provided said game was written by an eligible WGA member, that is. Fallout 3 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Tomb Raider: Underworld Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 Dangerous High School Girls in Trouble! Although most of those titles are instantly recognizable, Dangerous High School Girls is an indie title that's (clearly) gaining some recognition. Are you betting on the dark horse? The winner will be announced Feb. 7.[Via Big Download]
EA games roll onto Steam
EA has accepted the warm embrace of Steam and will begin using the digital distribution service. Following reports that Spore was crawling out of the primordial ooze to Steam, Valve announced today that several of the latest EA titles are available now, with many more coming over the next couple weeks. Available now: Spore Spore Creepy & Cute Parts Pack Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning Mass Effect Need for Speed Undercover EA Sports' FIFA Manager 2009 Coming Soon: Mirror's Edge Red Alert 3 Dead Space Sister site Big Download contacted EA to find out if older PC games would become available, but the publisher wouldn't comment. Also, in case you're wondering, EA games on Steam apparently don't install or use third-party DRM set-ups. According to Valve "the only DRM it uses is Steam itself."[Via Big Download]
Alert! C&C Red Alert 3 demo now on XBLM
Available for download off the Xbox Live Marketplace is a fresh and alert Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 demo. The 1.5GB demo download can be grabbed in all Xbox Live regions and (from what we gather from the demo description) features single and Live multiplayer play. Also according to the Red Alert 3 demo description, the game comes complete with "War Bears" and "psychedelic Japanese schoolgirls" ... no, really. That's what it says.[Via Major Nelson]
Shipping this week: Banjo's Edge at War edition
The holiday onslaught continues as we are once again greeted by numerous heavy hitters. We've got your Mirror's Edge, your Banjo, your Call of Duty, your Command & Conquer. Please let us remind you that we are only two weeks into November and the gaming bonanza has yet to be fully unearthed. So, choose and choose wisely. Unless you're filthy rich, of course (and if you are, could you spare us a few bucks?). Call of Duty: World at War Mirror's Edge Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts Pro Evolution Soccer 09 WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009 Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 Rock Revolution [Via Joystiq]
Red Alert 3 trailer showcases actors, kinda sorta
There are a few things that are wrong about the trailer you just watched, if you haven't watched it yet we'll wait. The montage of female actors taking on roles in Red Alert 3 is criminally short with a disclaimer that players can witness more by purchasing the special edition of the game. Now, we're not saying it's criminally short because we just want to look at beautiful women but can these actors get a name card?Quick blurry images of female actors and not one mentions them by name but the male actor portion of the video is complete with multiple shots of each actor, their credits and spends so much time showing off one actor we could have read their biography if included. We know Electronic Arts wants to hype up the anticipated sequel and the Collector's Edition but let's use a little tact, shall we? We're not mad though because George Takei is one sexy beast of a man.
Don't be bear naked in Warhammer Online; preorder Red Alert 3!
You can put down that syringe full of bear hormones – EA's got a much easier (and more affordable!) way of transforming yourself into that most noble of Mother Nature's creatures: simply don Korssar's Helm. You see, the "magical Kislevite helm is imbued with the spirit of the wild North and will magically transform the wearer into a ferocious bear."There are some caveats however: your ability to live your life as a bear will be limited to the virtual confines of EA Mythic's Warhammer Online MMO (a deal breaker for some, to be sure) and those willing to confine their bearness to WAR will still need to preorder Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 on PC to access the magical helm. Preorder cross-promotion? Clever move, EA. Great to see publishers further incentivizing preorders ... but we're sure there's at least a handful of WAR-heads eager to play as a bear (a bear!) but uninterested in picking up Red Alert 3. In other words: don't throw away those bear hormones just yet.
Red Alert 3 skipping PS3 due to 'exotic and tough' development
Apparently, developing games for the PlayStation 3 is roughly comparable to that one time we pushed a wheelbarrow full of lovely, scantily clad ladies up and down the beach -- "exotic and tough." Speaking to VideoGamer.com, EALA producer Amer Ajami used those words to elaborate on the decision to halt PS3 development of the Hitler-free real-time strategy romp, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3. "We actually announced a PS3 version early on but that was when we were still doing a lot of technical exploration of the architecture," explained Ajami. "PS3 is a very powerful system but as you guys know it's very exotic and tough to develop for and our engine really at the time wasn't designed for PS3." Couch commanders need not give up all hope, though, as Ajami notes EA "might go back and do something with the PS3 later on." Also just like that time we pushed a wheelbarrow full of lovely, scantily clad ladies up and down the beach.**We went back to apologize. Gallery: Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3
C&C: Red Alert will be 360 console exclusive [update]
Update: For clarity's sake (she's a demanding girl), Eurogamer specifically says that EA has "halted work" on the PS3 version of Red Alert 3 and that development on it "has most definitely been paused." So, reeling back our fanboy speculation a touch, this means that the status of the project is still up in the air as EA hasn't officially canceled it. We cool now?Interesting news out of the EA camp today as it was just announced that the Playstation 3 version of the upcoming Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 has been canceled halted with no reason given. Eurogamer is reporting that EA has stopped production on the PS3 version leaving its development at a question mark status and will focus their developing efforts on the Xbox 360 and PC versions. Also, it's good to know that the cancellation "on pause " status of Red Alert 3 for the PS3 will not affect the game's scheduled Fall release on other platforms. So, the only place to get your console RTS fun this Fall will be Red Alert 3 on the 360 ... or Halo Wars on the 360. That is if Ensemble can get it out the door sometime this year.
Red Alert 3 going to consoles too
Click for high-resolution image. Perhaps you've already heard about the unveiling of Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 through the cover of PC Gamer's upcoming April issue. But perhaps you haven't heard that this latest installment in the Command & Conquer franchise is making its way to consoles. That's right, EA has announced that Red Alert 3 will be going multi-platform on both the PS3 and the Xbox 360. A big theme in the Red Alert series is time travel, and if there was any lesson that the series could teach us, it would be that it's never a good idea to try and alter the past. In Red Alert 3, history as we know it is warped by time traveling Soviets who end up doing more harm to themselves than good; instead of saving their precious "Mother Russia," they rekindle a sleeping dragon in the east, "The Empire of the Rising Sun." With a new faction vying for power, there will be tons of new units like armored bears mixing in with the more familiar likes of war blimps, tesla tanks, and intelligence dolphins. But with the Japanese Empire thrown into the mix, can we expect to see some super giant robots? We certainly hope so. On another note, Red Alert 3 features a co-operative campaign mode, which is designed to let players team up with a friend during the main campaign. Naval combat is hinted to undergo a rather large change according to EA Los Angeles executive producer Chris Corry who said that they've taken it "into the heart of the game design." So we'll probably be seeing a lot more oceanic battles in this Red Alert. Along with the announcement of World in Conflict going to the PS3, this bit of news is a double score for RTS fans. %Gallery-16114%
