More C&C 4 Clarifications from APOC

[Sonic 295]

In a follow up to the questions answered by Command & Conquer 4 Designer, Jeremy Feasel, APOC has posted some further clarifications to shed some light on the fans concern over some key areas of the new game.

 

Hey everyone,

 

A few things to add to Jeremy's replies and some of your further concerns.

 

- C&C 4 has been in development for well over a year already, so, please put to rest any fears this is a 1-year project. Most games don't announce until they are around 1 year or less from release and either way, our development team will not put a rushed game out on the shelf. They've been working quietly on this project for a while now. We have had multiple RTS teams in the building so while Red Alert 3 was being worked on, a lot of early go-ahead-forward work on C&C 4 was progressing.

 

- As of right now, you need to be online all the time to play C&C 4. This is primarily due to our "player progression" feature so everything can be tracked. C&C 4 is not an MMO in the sense of World of Warcraft, but conceptually it has similar principles for being online all the time. While some may be taken aback by this, we've been testing this feature internally with all of our world-wide markets. We wanted to make sure it wouldn't take away any significant market or territory from playing the game. We have not found or seen any results that have made us think otherwise. You won't need a fast connection, in fact, you could be on age-old dial-up, and have the same single player experience as everyone else. Online all the time won't cause lag for single-player. We've also heavily worked on the online infrastructure such that people with slower connections will not lag other players with faster connections in Multiplayer.

 

What we are doing for multiplayer for the game and with our infrastructure for this game is unlike any we've produced before and I think you will finally see the culmination of a lot of key leanings from past projects in C&C 4, in this respect.

 

We can elaborate more on gameplay details after all the magazines hit, plenty of details for you to check in those! Gamestar will have a very extensive story.

 

-APOC

The original post can be found here.

[Malevolence 6]

You won't need a fast connection, in fact, you could be on age-old dial-up, and have the same single player experience as everyone else. Online all the time won't cause lag for single-player. We've also heavily worked on the online infrastructure such that people with slower connections will not lag other players with faster connections in Multiplayer.

 

Thanks for that, for that I'll save my money and will not waste it on a dedicated EVGA Killer™ Xeno™ Pro (NPU) just to get the game to play smoother online. Phew.

[Silverthorn 0]

But not me, I'm already a working adult, so it's offline mode for me. But still, it's best that you have something that you gain rank for yourself. Or like playing DOTA game all by yourself as a practice.

 

Separate your rank from both offline & online is needed to prevent quick self rank. Here's how it looks like for example after playing C&C4 for a week & pure total offline.

 

Offline that time, I become Level 25. But when I logon online and play online, I'm back to Level 1. TOTAL SEPARATE!

If I play online instead and become Level 30, but when back to offline mode, I'm back to my usual Level 25. How about that?

[NODSOLDIERGIRL 2]

I really hope they bring an offline mode for this. C'mon EALA I have faith in you!

[Luk3us 63]

I just hope that EA's online services is better than Gamespys....

 

But then anything is better than Gamespy... Or at least I hope so...

[Sonic 295]

What the hell is all the moaning over the fact that you need to be online to play. If your playing single player all it does it track your stats and send them to EA's servers. I can't believe in this modern internet day and age people don't want the game connecting online. Both my computers are always connected to the internet as soon as they are turned on. So I don't see a problem.

 

Anyone who has Steam should be used to this, it works the same way.... and yes I know you can run Steam games in an "offline mode".

 

In all honesty, I have no issues with the fact that C&C 4 requires an internet connection play single player. All this bitching about demanding EALA put in some sort of offline mode is biggest pile of **** I've heard since the game was announced.

[Nmenth 290]

Well now, Sonic, my computer is also always online and I have a very fast connection. However, I do not want to be forced online just to play my game. If it's an online java game or something, that's understandable, but we're talking about a C&C game here.

It's not so much that I feel it's a nuisance, it's that when I buy their game, I get a free ball and chain shackled to my ankle along with it.

Although my internet has been working fine in the recent months, I've had some problems with it in the past that prevented me from getting online at all. If I suddenly lose my internet access (through no fault of my own), am I then essentially banned from playing my game?

I'm not complaining that EA is making me jump through hoops to play the game, I'm complaining that I can't play the game without their leash attached.

We want the freedom to play the game as we choose, asking for an optional offline mode is not that much.

Also, I may be wrong here, but it seems you are more offended by those of us 'moaning' over the online requirement than we are about not having it.

 

As obnoxious as moaning my be to those that disagree, if customers never spoke up when they had a problem with a product, either the company or we would be stuck with a whole lot of junk.

[Silverthorn 0]

With respect, Sonic, you forgot that you're in a rich country, Asia & Southeast Asia doesn't have access to internet all the time, or worse, there are still many poor people out there, especially the Malays or Muslims (Possibly including those in the Middle East). Sure, I am connected all the time. But it's best that you still have something to make it available offline too. Internet fees for their houses are not cheap, even if the player may have their computer, but they may possibly not have any internet unless they go to the internet cafe. And when they're working, do you want them to go to the internet cafe or having them risk their jobs to play online while you're tracked by your company's internet activity tracking devices?

Edited July 15, 2009 by Silverthorn

[Gben 20]

Sonic - I think you're over-reacting to legitimate feedback about un-necessary, and IMO invasive, requirement.

[ErikKiller 0]

Guess what EA is trying to say is: "We've had enough of those ****ing PirateBay guys so everyone will suffer, u k wit dat?"

[Sonic 295]

With respect, Sonic, you forgot that you're in a rich country, Asia & Southeast Asia doesn't have access to internet all the time, or worse, there are still many poor people out there, especially the Malays or Muslims (Possibly including those in the Middle East). Sure, I am connected all the time. But it's best that you still have something to make it available offline too. Internet fees for their houses are not cheap, even if the player may have their computer, but they may possibly not have any internet unless they go to the internet cafe. And when they're working, do you want them to go to the internet cafe or having them risk their jobs to play online while you're tracked by your company's internet activity tracking devices?

New Zealand is far from a rich country. Our internet access is basically controlled by one giant company, prices are high per month, we have data capped plans and we are only now just getting widespread ADSL2+ in main centres.

 

Sonic - I think you're over-reacting to legitimate feedback about un-necessary, and IMO invasive, requirement.

Well I don't feel I am. What gets me annoyed is the fact that since the game has been announced I can't remember reading anything positive from all of the fan reactions. Its just constant, endless moaning. And this online/offline issue is another thing in the long list of problems people seem to think this game has.

 

C&C4 ships DRM free. It sounds like EA learned their lesson with RA3 (and other EA games releasing at the same time) with who SecRom issue. Don't blame EA so quickly for attempting to protect what is their intellectual property. Blame the pirates who steal the games.

 

In the end I guess I just don't see things the way you guys do

[Silverthorn 0]

Ok, some facts you gave. But here's one tricky part which I'm not sure if you know Southeast Asia, we are a lot poorer than NZ itself. Your currency is higher than my country's, but I do know that yours is lower than Australia's. That's why I still say your country is richer, well, but not that rich.

 

Anyway, about the Securom issue, it's best that they don't utilize it again, this so called limited installations has been a pain to many already, so it's best that you don't hurt them again when you're not supposed to. More over, having Securom installed also means crashing your OS when you don't remove it for a very long time after uninstalling the game as told by several high profile complaint Spore customers.

Edited July 15, 2009 by Silverthorn

[Malevolence 6]

What the hell is all the moaning over the fact that you need to be online to play. If your playing single player all it does it track your stats and send them to EA's servers. I can't believe in this modern internet day and age people don't want the game connecting online. Both my computers are always connected to the internet as soon as they are turned on. So I don't see a problem.

 

Anyone who has Steam should be used to this, it works the same way.... and yes I know you can run Steam games in an "offline mode".

 

In all honesty, I have no issues with the fact that C&C 4 requires an internet connection play single player. All this bitching about demanding EALA put in some sort of offline mode is biggest pile of **** I've heard since the game was announced.

 

Sonic, its very unfair if you are saying it this way. Yes you may have a good computer (Core 2, Core i7, Phenom II) with good GPU (Nvidia 9 series plus onwards, ATI 48XX series) that can play the high end games, yes you may have a high speed broadband internet, yes your country ISP's may be pretty excellent, but bear in mind not everyone have that luxury.

 

I am aware that there are some users out there (lucky me i'm not that case! ) having a pretty hard time just to get online in such modern times (2009!) because their countries ISP's su*k that much and they have no choice.

 

Some are forced to use a slow internet connection because the bills are expensive in their countries.

 

There are other users' having issues and sorts, you just can't blame them.

Edited July 15, 2009 by Malevolence

[Castleman12 0]

How about when/if theres another chance to ask questions to ask about a possible offline mode. Till then we can start focusing on different features of the game?

[Guest Stevie_K]

They are fighting against piracy here, that's very obivous, and theres really nothing we can do about it.

I understand, it's going to be this way with all games sooner or later. It's just sad when you are actually one of those who want's to buy the game instead of stealing it.

 

It's completely okay to give an opinion, and becouse the opinion doesn't fit yours doesn't make it bitchin or moaning imo.

 

I try to look at this from a positive perspective, INSTANT UPDATED AND PRECISE STATS!! awesome! I really can't complain about this since my pc is connected 24/7. but for those who aren't.. well..

[ghost_zero 0]

Aren't dial-ups still mostly paid per minute (don't have such an internet connection)?

So being online would pretty soon add to those internet bill.

Btw.: There are broadband internet connection with transfer limits and then it isn't that great, if you would have to be online all the time (even if it is only a small transfer) when in reality there is no real need for this.

Btw.2: I won't buy StarCraft 2 (at least not until it has reached a pretty cheap price) since I know there won't be a LAN-mode. So it will probably be the same with this game - as it doesn't even have an offline single-player mode.

 

Also: Regarding the software piracy statement (actually I hate to use that word here as software piracy has absolutely nothing in common with the "definition" of piracy):

If the companies are going to far with their anti-piracy measures the only thing the will achieve will be even lesser sales because than those who bought the game before, will stop being because they will just feel "teased". Furthermore, I still think that most of those who haven't bought a game but still played it, wouldn't buy it anyway - even if they can't "copy" it.

Edited July 16, 2009 by ghost_zero

[Mighty BOB! 5]

What gets me annoyed is the fact that since the game has been announced I can't remember reading anything positive from all of the fan reactions. Its just constant, endless moaning.

Hey I tried to keep half of one of my posts positive.

 

I like some of these ideas, just in different proportions/ratios to what they're presenting...

[Wildshield 0]

ehh... Guess ill just wait for the game and give my imput then.

[ghost_zero 0]

Btw. I want to add that by requiring an internet connection the game will be completely unplayable once the servers are gone and in contrary to Blizzard it is pretty likely that this will happen sooner or later.

Now some might say that the same goes for the activation: That is a bit different because here the activation could be removed pretty easily by Patch. This can't be done with a game that builds upon the need to have an online connection.

 

However, with such Game services like OnLive will probably have it even easier or will become even more popular because if I already need an internet connection why shouldn't I do it that way. Especially, since I don't require new hardware because of the performance.

Edited July 16, 2009 by ghost_zero

[Castleman12 0]

They could always just make it like Battlefield 2 where you have either an offline or online profile. That or it comes with like a wireless adapter with it, doubt it but who knows.

[Silverthorn 0]

Speaking of Blizzard, Ghost Zero, they did mention of getting rid of LAN and make people put their time on Battle.net, but the petition which I read in IGN became so intense and has tons of people signing it. But I'm not sure if the Blizzard devs will listen and re-enable it, even if they decide not to put LAN back, pirates will do whatever it takes to make it LAN-playable again, similar to how RA3 lost its LAN play and then the TeknoGods modders re-enable it.

[hagren 0]

I already made that suggestion at the off. boards and directly to Apoc, hopefully it will achieve something, since that would be a win/win situation.

[ghost_zero 0]

Speaking of Blizzard, Ghost Zero, they did mention of getting rid of LAN and make people put their time on Battle.net, but the petition which I read in IGN became so intense and has tons of people signing it. But I'm not sure if the Blizzard devs will listen and re-enable it, even if they decide not to put LAN back, pirates will do whatever it takes to make it LAN-playable again, similar to how RA3 lost its LAN play and then the TeknoGods modders re-enable it.

 

I know about the petition but the Diablo 3 graphic petition had even way more signs and it was mostly ignored by Blizzard.

Regarding LAN by "modders" it depends on how far this mod was implemented: If there is nothing, you can't re-enable it.

[Silverthorn 0]

I know about the petition but the Diablo 3 graphic petition had even way more signs and it was mostly ignored by Blizzard.

Regarding LAN by "modders" it depends on how far this mod was implemented: If there is nothing, you can't re-enable it.

 

Enabling LAN is not sure, since RA3 got it, it's good.

 

And wow, is Blizzard beginning to lose its shine? I like how it functions now, since EA screwed themselves up last time instead of getting better throughout the years, Blizzard should be on the same track as well. Hoho, I'm quite of a devil to see this spark up!

 

EDIT : Oh yeah, hagren, since you told APOC about the LAN, I also hope you tell him that Blizzard is on the knife edge and the petitions over there (Both SC2's LAN & Diablo 3's graphics) are going to be an advantage for EA to use, in that way, Blizzard will get pounded for leaving their doors not securely locked in the first place.

Edited July 16, 2009 by Silverthorn

[Gben 20]

Hardware specs and internet connections aside, my issue is the principle - that they are forcing me to connect online for little or no reason.

Tracking stats online for a mostly SP experience seems ridiculous justification. And although I have not played battlefield 2, the offline/online profiles seems like a reasonable and obvious solution.

I assume though this is, as you say, for piracy purposes... but just like DRM this is probably going to cause more hassles for us legitimate people rather than slow down the cheaters.

 

(Sigh... isn't there someway the companies can protect themselves without all these hassles. The banks can... why not the Entertainment Industry!?!?)