Had to register, damn my buddy for linking me here. My fingers started to itch so bad, I couldn't resist registering.
Before you go tl;dr, let me summarize: I want to see a sequel to RA1, not a sequel to RA2. Don't get me wrong, RA2 is a good game but a big joke, and the atmosphere in the first game is far superior. Also, Volkov & Chitzkoi pwns anything and everything RA2 can muster.
Anyways. I don't think, and I certainly hope not, that we'll get C&C4 next. C&C3 is still fresh and especially with the expansion pack(s) it'll stay that way. I think EA should start working on RA3. It's been a while now and RA2 was a complete farce. I want EA to make a game akin to the first Red Alert. Basically try to recreate the same kind of interesting, kind of sci-fi but still recognizable world. The Tiberium storyline is far more sci-fi than the RA one, I think everyone will agree. And to me that contrast has a lot of appeal. Red Alert is one of the finest game ever as far as I'm concerned. It's a game with many strengths. I got it for christmas '95, and I still have that same box, twelve years later. And I'm still a C&C fan.
A possible third faction in RA3 could be the Asian alliance thingy they mention in the Red Alert manual. Basically, as I see it, to defend themselves against Soviet might the Asian countries banded together and formed some kind of alliance. So I think that for RA3 you could have these three factions; The classic Allies, who use chrono & prism tech, and naval power; the Soviets, who use mass infantry, tesla tech and powerful tanks; and these Asians, who'll probably use advanced bizarre techs courtesy of the Japanese (like humanoid robots and such) plus the more basic approach of the Chinese (numbers!). I think this would make for an interesting mix and an interesting, multi-facetted third faction.
I want units that are more clearly thought through than the ones in C&C3. The problem with C&C3 is that balance is mad. Just try to compare it to the very tightly balanced Starcraft and it just gets bombed back to the stone age. And SC is still played and loved whereas C&C3 has lost a lot of its initial steam (ppl get bored after 3 months). Basically the important thing about balance is that every unit should have a use, a place where it excels, and some kind of versatility. It should feel useful and unique. A problem with C&C3 is that the massive difference between unit types. A unit good against massed infantry totally sucks butt against everything else (heard of the Black Hand?). In Starcraft there is no such thing. A similar unit in SC is the Firebat, which is useful for its splash damage and stim packs. It can deal some damage against vehicles but it really excels against zerglings and such. That's what I want to see. Not total exclusive usefulness but a focused usefulness that has some wiggle room.
The units in C&C3 quite often are too similar and just become overshadowed and forgotten. The Predator and the Scorpion, for example, are the same thing except they look different and have some different stats. The Scrin has a similar vehicle (can't recall its name) that has the added ability to eat tiberium. Now, that's a little extra ability that adds some flavor and tactical opportunities. Good. A simple no-brainer unit upgrade like the Railguns is NOT tactical whatsoever. Any noob and any elite player gets railguns, money permitting. Full stop. A good unit upgrade is the siege mode for the siege tank in SC. It adds range and (splash) damage, but becomes immobile and gets a minimum range. Not nearly as big a no-brainer, and requires some thought to use properly. It can also be countered (for example by dropping units right next to the tanks using dropships). Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not madly in love with SC or anything but everybody knows it so examples work, plus it really IS well balanced.
Another example is the anti-infantry units like the Black Hand and the Grenadiers. How often do people use these? Practically never. It is a much better idea to get units that can take on more unit types, like Pitbulls or the Nod buggy (forgot its name atm). So these "forgotten" units are failures, simple as that. Regrettable, especially since the Black Hand appear to be meant to be strong, elite units. Better units are Shadow Teams, who have some fun uses, or, to a somewhat lesser degree, Sniper Teams, since they can spot for your Juggernauts (they are otherwise pretty much useless).
Well, I digress. Alot.
