Command & Conquer 3 to invade Xbox 360

by Ross Miller { Nov 17th 2006 at 12:55PM }

How about some non-launch news today? EA has announced that the upcoming real-time strategy game Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars is bound for the Xbox 360 and will ship sometime in 2007. The development is being taken care of by the same team responsible for Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II, which garnered good reviews and houses some of the original C&C developers from Westwood. BFMII did sport impressive controls for a console RTS, which gives us some hope for C&C3's future.

As is common with Xbox 360 titles, downloadable content on Xbox Live Marketplace is promised, according to the press release.

This marks the first console-bound Command & Conquer title since Nintendo 64. RTS title has historically suffered from marred control schemes, as a mouse has always seemed to dominate over a joystick for cursor accuracy (and, subsequently, micromanagement).

See Also:
Lost, BSG actors join C&C 3: Tiberium Wars

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Tags: command conquer, CommandConquer, ea, electronic arts, ElectronicArts, tiberium wars, TiberiumWars, west wood, WestWood

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Saneless @ Nov 17th 2006 12:57PM

If you ask me, Console RTS are just BEGGING to have voice-response controls. People say how wonderful PCs are because of KB and mouse, but that's crap compared to "Build Laser Tank" vocal commands, which IMO should be the norm.

Austin Powers @ Nov 17th 2006 12:59PM

Title: Conquer & Conquer 3. Might want to update that.

denney @ Nov 17th 2006 12:59PM

DO NOT BUY IT. I BET YOU IT WILL HAVE SPYWEAR. PLUS ITS EA THEY MAKE SHIT GAMES. EA SUCK. DONT PLAY THE GAME.

Danny @ Nov 17th 2006 1:00PM

Nice title.

BB @ Nov 17th 2006 1:09PM

I'll be getting this game. I loved LOTR:BFME II and I will love this game.

cman321 @ Nov 17th 2006 1:08PM

let's hope the online code is better than LOTR:BME2

BlindsideDork @ Nov 17th 2006 1:10PM

#1

Nice idea but it is hard to accomodate languages and then different accents on top of it. The only way around it is if they made you record a phrase to do a command and just look for those sounds.

But even with that...that isn't the issue with console RTS, it is scrolling across the field are selecting a group of troops. Joysticks are not the perfect way to do it.

That Fuzzy Bastard @ Nov 17th 2006 1:19PM

What makes me sad is that Lost Magic, on the DS, had such crappy RTS play. The DS could be a great RTS system---top screen for full map view, bottom screen for battle micromanagement, with one tap to select a unit and tap+pad for right-clicking. No one's done it yet, but... Maybe someone could?

The Wii's high-speed pointing action (and general mouse-ness) could also have potential for the RTS, especially since EA has been so excited about the system.

For my next trick, I'll explain why the Wii FPS's are screwing themselves by trying to emulate mouselook when they should... ah, but I digress...

Pulse @ Nov 17th 2006 1:15PM

I have mixed feelings on this game, there was a stage I was unhappy with C&C as it was getting rather repetitve, and although there was strategy, it was merely the same kind of routine build tanks go destry stuff, build aircrafts, go destry stuff, but then I like it for other reasons, I'm not getting this for 360, as it would suck balls even with the comfortable joystick, all that annoying attempts to target moving marines and vehicles with a controller that requires an analougue to do anything like the old C&C games on PS1 would only drive me mad, I would prefer to use Wiimote, Sixxaxis or a mouse, so I'll get the PC version.

crono141 @ Nov 17th 2006 1:29PM

yeah, DS FPS could be much better if they emulated Wii style pointing.

ConstyXIV @ Nov 17th 2006 1:32PM

C&C? With a joypad? With XBLM "content" from EA?
Dear.
God.
No.
However, I would like to see them port Red Alert 2 to the DS. Two reasons:
1) It's portable, and can handle online play. (Impromptu C&C lan parties FTW!)
2) The DS is the only current-gen system that is 100% EA-proof. It can't have spyware of use (no browser), and no marketplace to nickel/dime us.

Koekoenutt @ Nov 17th 2006 1:37PM

I think it's personally disappointing that this title will come out for the XBox360. To me, It seems that they just see this as a big computer market, and since the new CnC will be very amazing graphically, when it comes to RTS, that they just want to make this to show off. EA does suck, however I did enjoy the most recent CnC: Generals with the expansion pack. Only problem was, It was really buggy and EA wasn't quick at all to fix these problems.

Will the XBox360 online play mix with the computer play? I hope not. Its not even the joystick that is the problem, its just being free to do whatever you want wiht a mouse and keyboard, its a big thing for micro-managing to be able to have teams setup. RTS isnt just click and attack. Sure Command & Conquer has a more intense, fast paced action to it where you dont have to worry about doing special moves with heros like Warcraft 3 or having a certain mix like Age of Empires/Mythology. Yet, it still takes skill and flanking and most important, how fast you build and manage your base.. which is a big issue with consoles.

I would like to see RTS come to the consoles, especially the Wii due to it being the only console i feel would be the closest to the computer. Unfortantly, I do not like computer brand games coming to the consoles, especially by EA, just to suck money out of people and try to show off. They should have made a Command & Conquer strickly for the XBox360 thats based on console's control scheme, then to adapt the next big computer RTS into XBox360.

Matt, Xbox MVP @ Nov 17th 2006 1:54PM

I met with the dev team that handled the BFME2 conversion to a console game. They are all cool guys, lead by Louis Castle (creator of Westwood studios, that created C&C). It was somewhat obvious to us (although they never said anything) that it would be coming out.

lets just put the gun down and we go get me those fries @ Nov 17th 2006 2:39PM

i want starcraft for ps3; so i can use it with my keyboard, mouse, and headset.

Koekoenutt @ Nov 17th 2006 2:48PM

I dont get why anyone wants to get an oldschool RTS game and put it on like the PS3, just becuase it can use a keyboard and mouse. Just use your computer, as Im sure its easier to find a game than it would be on the PS3 to play.

The only thing I think would be right, is to put them on portable systems like teh DS and PSP. The DS would be superior for like someone said, Red Alert 2, becuase of the control scheme. Both would work online, but the PSP lacks the controls. Still would be nice though, if they made a RTS just for the controls and not a port over to the system.

Most people who are hardcore RTS gamers, hate the control schemes on consoles. The N64 and PS1 version was so grudging to play compared to the computer. I just dont think it will be easier to move the market place over and get people to play them on consoles over computers, it would just open up for people who aren't that into RTS to enjoy.

Until they can make a game based on a console's control schemes, I dont think I will ever think of playing RTS on a console over a computer. The closest would be the Wii, and even then it would be hard to micro-manage and create teams beyond 4, assuming they would use the D-Pad or something to create teams.

Someone said Voice activation would be the way to go, but even then it would still require heavy use of the mouse and keyboard. You would have to set a Primary for each building when you have more than one, who say some winded sentence just to make sure it can pick up what you want to build and what building. Maybe quick commands for a few things, but I dont see basing the game on just voice activation would really work "better".

AzaMcWazza @ Nov 17th 2006 3:34PM

They need to get it to the Wii. A pointer controller will kick arse for RTS games.

meddow @ Nov 17th 2006 4:12PM

Cant w8!!!

James @ Nov 17th 2006 5:25PM

To those who suggest Wii RTS: play with the wiimote at a Gamestop, etc., then come talk to me. I'm going to buy one Sunday, don't get me wrong, but at least in the kiosk the pointer did not work fantastically well for me, "Mr. Coffeehands". I was able to click (large) buttons pretty well, but could not hold the pointer in, say, a 2-inch square (on the ~26" LCD TV) if my life depended on it. Maybe tweaking the sensitivity would help, I guess, but I think if you're looking for a one-to-one mouse equivalent, you'll be disappointed.

Also, some points
* agree with those who want a DS RTS (RA2 FTW!!!)
* voice commands will remain a gimick for the foreseeable future -- you WILL look like that retarded kid on the Nerf commercial pointing his gun and yelling "FIRE FIRE FIRE!!!"
* it's tragic that Westwood fell to EA, but I liked Generals and still hold out *some* hope that CnC3 won't be total crap
* ESPECIALLY now that they have XNA to play with, there is NO EXCUSE to keep the 360 ver from playing online with PC users. I would *love* that, since my wife could play on the PC with the mouse she likes, and I could play on the 360 -- not because I like the controller or anything (PLEASE support USB mice/keyboards!), but because I'm too cheap to buy another PC high-spec enough to play CnC3

Koekoenutt @ Nov 17th 2006 6:06PM

The reason I don't want the PC version to mix with the XBox360 version is due to the fact that the PC version has an upper hand. Like Ive stated before, the person the computer will have a quicker start and organization. You might disagree, but even on the computer, the use of simple hotkeys makes a difference between the average decent player and a really good player. Let alone the advantage of placing your F1-8 keys to certain areas of the map to quickly go there, along with the mini map.

Just seems like it would be worse for the XBox360, and even upsetting, when beaten by someone who has the ability to control things 2x as fast as you. Im not sure how XBox Live works exactly, but would the servers be ran under Microsoft supervision, or would it be strickly EA servers? It would work, and theres no excuse that it wouldnt work, yet I think there is an excuse to why the two games should be seperate online.

mike @ Nov 18th 2006 4:37AM

This is cool, I read this at Gamasutra as well. Now I dont have to buy a new beefy pc to play a game which I know I'll love since I own pretty much all of the C&C games and the game's cast has quality actors. I believe the guys with BFMEII will do it justice on the console and I'm a big PC RTS guy.