C&C - Free to Play Developer Diary: Beyond the Battle Part 1

[Plok 327]

The first in a series of developer diaries for Command & Conquer - Free to Play, titled "Beyond the Battle" has been released through IGN. In this video, the developers discuss their aims with the new Command & Conquer game and compare it with the oldies. This episode features Sam Bass, Chris Tamburrino, Jeremy Townsend, Jason Savopolos, Jon Van Caneghem and Louis Castle. You can also see the reveal of four new generals.

The same video can be found on IGN right here.

[Johnnyxp64 20]

not that much of "development" diary, more like sort interview-preview.

 

also sort>..i hope 2nd episode is improved, still i love their passion and that they want the rebirth of cnc community.

 

i just hope it doesnt have the faith of aoe online

Edited May 9, 2013 by Johnnyxp64

[PurpleGaga27 40]

Besides Sam Bass, I am surprised to see Louis Castle returning to EALA.

[Sonic 295]

Louis Castle is not part of Victory Games. He was a guest.

[Gben 20]

Nice video.

 

I'm pretty sure the community immediately, emphatically and repeatedly let the developers know in previous games when things weren't balanced... nothing like the 'years later' line someone mistakingly said. The difference I expect though, is the team has an actual 'budget' to listen and develop patches in response to the feedback - something we've been sorely missing in the past.

[Johnnyxp64 20]

Nice video.

 

I'm pretty sure the community immediately, emphatically and repeatedly let the developers know in previous games when things weren't balanced... nothing like the 'years later' line someone mistakingly said. The difference I expect though, is the team has an actual 'budget' to listen and develop patches in response to the feedback - something we've been sorely missing in the past.

 

yeah, and the phrase, (a patch after 3 months) like the problem was that the game was offline and not standalone for not been supported properly! yeah right!

but the way thay are talking about that this is all up to the funs, its kinda worring, they get paid so that we will fix teh game and make it fan? why are not get paid then? :/

the game has to be up to certain level of quality and attract players and after that, users as always will help making it better....

 

i really hope will not be like diablo 3 all over again, where the game is after 1 years still in developement after shipping, wit the help of teh fans! and they call that "we listen to our community"

 

game developers and designers are geting paid to do the job for the players and support them, not give all the hard dessicion work to fans and the develpers will provide as with the engine and the servers to play!

after all not all of the users in a community have great ideas!

[Sonic 295]

Actually the fans are having bigger impact more than you think Johnnyxp64

[Plok 327]

This is yet to be proven.

[Johnnyxp64 20]

Actually the fans are having bigger impact more than you think Johnnyxp64

well for alsmost 2,5 years myself with Nukewave and Apoc where running the community bug database, the user really provied a lot of feedback but the "orders" i had was try from the 50 bugs to find the 10 more critical so we can fix them!

i mean what about the other 40?

 

and there was always left overs and patches that was not "funded" and never show the daylight

the dev team was great their managers and ea, bosses was the idiots that where not paying attention to after sale support.

 

i have really hight hopes for the new cnc title, as a veterna since 1995 i want this to become the leader in rts once again, i want a damn good come back!

 

 

This is yet to be proven.

indeed

Edited May 9, 2013 by Johnnyxp64

[keithktam 2]

it seems that they would use CG characters this time round and not real live cut scene.

[Plok 327]

That shouldn't be much of a problem. Renegade also used full CG cutscenes. I just wonder how much will they cost us

[Johnnyxp64 20]

That shouldn't be much of a problem. Renegade also used full CG cutscenes. I just wonder how much will they cost us

 

i prefair CG from actors this time, its costin less time to make and its more flexible in changes!

the actors can continue providing great acting over their voices.

 

example Blizzard Cinematics and Voice Talents.-

[Karl Oskar Dehn 0]

wow this info is nice, but i see one thing that bothers me, most of the generals are not the same, i understand that USA and EU are not the same, the the american generals cant be a part of the EU generals, but dr. Thrax and general Tao are some of the most beloved generals, especialy thrax, so it would be nice to see some familiar generals as well.

[PurpleGaga27 40]

EA_Cire posted something interesting according to this post

 

 

The team is a different one compared to the former EALA RTS team - While we preserved a valuable number of former key players that worked on the franchise for a while (One of our guys worked on every CNC since RA1 for example), we also tried to add new flavors to the mix with professionals that worked/created other Strategy games or were valuable add due to their knowledge in general game design, art or engineering.

The team definitely feels different because it is - Not just the mix of people, but also how we are set up with multiple offices and EALA being our "HQ".

It looks like there's probably 1% of former Westwood employees working in EALA right now.

[keithktam 2]

EA_Cire posted something interesting according to this post

 

It looks like there's probably 1% of former Westwood employees working in EALA right now.

the janitor may be.....

joke in case you don't get it

 

i prefair CG from actors this time, its costin less time to make and its more flexible in changes!

the actors can continue providing great acting over their voices.

 

example Blizzard Cinematics and Voice Talents.-

 

i did some thinking this morning and wondering why live action scene have been a tradition in C&C, back in the good old day, 94, 95 perhaps, we just don't have the computer power to do good cg character, and in specific, facial animation, so while all the other elements were done in CG, the human element if you will, was handle with real actors/actresses. and only until starcraft 1 was born, i think that was 98, we finally have the power to do ok cg characters, so here you go then i guess.

 

That shouldn't be much of a problem. Renegade also used full CG cutscenes. I just wonder how much will they cost us

you see, i am in a similar position guessing how this is all gonna work, money wise i mean. I am however more interested in their so called new business model. they said it would be free to play, EA ain't charity, someone has to paid, buying new skin or art or voices, that just not solid enough, but then if you can buy different general or new units, then it destroys the free2play purpose just like in TA...

 

is strange to see that they were doing facial animation shown in the video, cause from my assumption, they should be doing work to meet a multilayer beta, that facial animation should belong to some kind of single player campaign, are they working on it now?? or that might be for some kind of advertising/promotional video....

Edited May 10, 2013 by Sonic
Merged 2 posts here

[Plok 327]

is strange to see that they were doing facial animation shown in the video, cause from my assumption, they should be doing work to meet a multilayer beta, that facial animation should belong to some kind of single player campaign, are they working on it now?? or that might be for some kind of advertising/promotional video....

Well, singleplayer is confirmed to be there, but, again, who knows will it be built in with the free build or will we have to pay for it.

[keithktam 2]

Well, singleplayer is confirmed to be there, but, again, who knows will it be built in with the free build or will we have to pay for it.

my feeling telling me that is probably one of those options that to be paid. cause that sounds more solid as other things they said player can gain by paying just not gonna get them any real money.