Download Red Alert for free (also legally)

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Sep 1st 2008 at 5:30PM }

Apparently convinced that it can no longer make loads of cash from a 13-year-old PC game, publisher EA has combined motivated marketing with measured magnanimity and released real-time strategy classic Command & Conquer: Red Alert for free. Where? Right at the bottom of this Red Alert 3 promotional page, which also dangles a free copy of Red Alert 2 in front of your nose. To get it, all you need to do is pre-order the game's third, deliciously cheesy installment.

And hey, if you're not sure what all this Conquer and Command stuff is, now's as good a time as any to shake Hitler by the hand and irrevocably wreck the timeline.

[Thanks, WiNG]

Tags: Command-and-Conquer, EA, Free, Red-Alert, Red-Alert-2, Red-Alert-3

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Limezor @ Sep 1st 2008 5:38PM

Great game, hope #3 is just as good.

WorMzy @ Sep 1st 2008 5:48PM

#3 is looking great. I'm in the multiplayer beta, and it looks great and plays just as well. Of course the strategy for winning is the same as it's been in C&C multiplayer games (e.g. harvest lots, fast. Then cheap-tank spam your opponent into submission.)

WhoMe @ Sep 1st 2008 6:02PM

The first C&C/Red Alert games were damn fine games, but then (of course) they went on to churn out a bajillion of these games which were not more than the same game but with different graphics and different names for the units. I was tired of this formula after the first Red Alert.

I resent them for not even trying to do something different. Not within the "main universe" or carrying the same name, because we all know the nerd rage that would trigger. But some sort of offshoot like Renegade, but still RTS, either highly tactical (think Soldiers: heroes of WWII) or highly strategical (think SupCom).

But who am I kidding, the masses still wet their pants over this, so why take any chances.

Also, while reading I thought, "wait this doesn't make any sense, it's too early for this to be a promotional stunt, right?" thinking it was just some buzz campaign, but then I read "To get it, all you need to do is pre-order the game's third, deliciously cheesy installment." and everything made perfect sense.

Haggard @ Sep 1st 2008 6:57PM

RA3 has very significantly changed the gameplay. The new units are pretty creative (if a little bizarre) and the whole game is sort of based on an amphibious land/sea/air thing where each unit can do two of the above, e.g. transform from a submarine to a plane, or a tank to a boat.

It looks very different to RA2 to me.

Kino @ Sep 2nd 2008 1:24AM

@WhoMe

Sounds like you need to check out a little game called Tiberium.

brickwalker0 @ Sep 1st 2008 5:40PM

cant believe the cut scenes are still live action.

and the acting is still bad.

jimbo @ Sep 1st 2008 5:46PM

Live action cut scenes are a staple of the C&C series, and I'll have it no other way.

GoldenS1104 @ Sep 1st 2008 11:43PM

Are you really putting down the acting? It's SUPPOSED to be cheesy and over the top. You're not supposed to take it seriously. Plus they get awesome actors... JK Simmons, Jenny McCarthy, Tim Curry, George Tekai. How can you not be in love with the live-action? I guess your avatar is fitting. >_

Bandapin @ Sep 1st 2008 5:50PM

Good times, good times. Most of it was cheesy, but some was fairly good, like the Allied side early on.

Jakka(Naked Peach Brigade) @ Sep 1st 2008 5:56PM

Yeah...but that game is older than five years anyway!

WorMzy @ Sep 1st 2008 5:56PM

I'll be pre-ordering my copy ASAP. Hopefully this offer applies to Europeans as well. D:

Also, the teaser on that page makes me think that the cutscenes aren't going to be as bad as I initially though. :O

BigD145 @ Sep 1st 2008 5:57PM

This needs to happen more often. It's great marketing and an acceptable replacement to standard advertising.

Metal_Gear @ Sep 1st 2008 7:49PM

It was done better with GTA, didn't have to pre-order anything, they just stuck a bunch of games including GTA and GTA2 for free on their site.
I hope Konami eventually do that with the origional 2 Metal Gears, I would like to see the first Final Fantasy's for free too but they are too busy squeezing some more cash out of them on the DS.

Still, on topic, I suppose this is pretty cool if you havent played the first two, not my kind of game but making sure older games never die is a great thing there are some forgotten gems out there.

Psaakyrn @ Sep 1st 2008 8:41PM

Technically, it's half half. They did offer something entirely free (RA original), but for RA2, I consider it to be in the same vein as the Orange Box combo (without portal and TF2).

Matt_M @ Sep 1st 2008 6:34PM

Man, this game always brings back good memories and great lines.

"He who controls the past commands the future. He who commands the future... conquers the past."

"Time vill tell. Sooner or later, time vill tell."

Amoveo @ Sep 2nd 2008 12:48AM

You know that's just a bad George Orwell ripoff right?

Maverick Saturn @ Sep 1st 2008 6:44PM

3 seems to have shaped up well, definatly giving it a try, got over the addiction of the other 2, so I have no intention on going back to them, not even for old tims sake. lol

gir @ Sep 1st 2008 8:30PM

I don't like the game cover for RA3. It could have been better.

RA2 was an extremely addictive game. I hope they do well on this.....hmm..I wonder if they'll bring back Yuri, that would be sweet!

Psaakyrn @ Sep 1st 2008 8:35PM

Something wrong with artsy WW2-era graphic styles?

Psaakyrn @ Sep 1st 2008 8:35PM

That's not very free... it's like bundling HL2 and EP1 with EP2

(not that I'm complaining, since TF2 and Portal was bundled too...)

Yourself @ Sep 1st 2008 9:20PM

Anyone else having issues installing this? I downloaded it, extracted the file, extracted the file within that, then followed the XP installation instructions, but when it got to the installation screen, it told me I needed to load the CD-ROM.

goo @ Sep 1st 2008 10:17PM

anyone know how to install on vista???

Psaakyrn @ Sep 1st 2008 10:51PM

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE DOWNLOADING: (seriously, read it, so you don't ask silly questions here.)

-This software contains support for Windows XP/98/Me/95 with installation instructions. This software is not supported by Windows Vista, however there are community driven strategies and tips available for making the software function on Vista which you can find on our various fan-sites.

-To install the software, you will need Winzip or Winrar to unrar the files. These files have also been compiled in to an ISO image. You will need to burn the ISO to a CD for the software to function or use a Virtual CD program to run the installation on your computer.

-Please do not mirror the files on your site. Please only use the download links available here.

-Please have fun