Eurogamer's Live C&C 4 Q&A

[Sonic 296]

On Monday it was reported that Eurogamer would be hosting a live interview with Command & Conquer 4 senior producer Mike Glosecki and lead designer Sam Bass. The fans asked the questions and both Mike and Sam have answered them. A full log of this Q&A session is now available. Here is a sample.

 

Petrarch asks: The Tiberian storyline is where C&C all began - with that coming to a close, does this mean this is the last we'll see of GDI & Nod? And can you tell us about this climactic end to the story?

 

Sam Bass: This is definitely the end of the Kane-GDI-Nod-Tiberium saga - while the universe may continue, we felt that the time was ripe to bring the story that began in Tib Dawn to a satisfying conclusion. Can't tell you what happens at the end though... But I can tell you that we've been plotting this for a long time, and that we think you'll find what we've come up with pretty cool.

 

SeesThroughAll asks: Are you aware of how displeased consumers are with the internet connection requirement for playing the single player campaign, where it should not be necessary at all? Can't you simply store a player's profile locally until the next time the player connects online, and update the information at the server, instead of forcing us to keep our laptops connected at all times, and thus restrict our possible single player gameplay time?

 

Mike Gloseki: Well, we are always paying attention to our community. There's actually quite a lot of benefits playing our game online: your progression through the game is tracked and you can resume your game on any computer in the world as long as you log in. It also allows us to ensure that the game sessions are fair; that everyone has actually earned the items that they are bringing into multiplayer matches.

 

In addition, you do not need to have the disk in the drive to play the game. I'm always losing my game disks...

 

Petrarch asks: Will Joe Kucan be given the opportunity to direct cut-scenes again? And can you give tease or tell us who will be starring alongside him? Is Kiefer Sutherland in it?

 

Sam Bass: Nope, Joe isn't directing this time around. However, we've made some significant changes to how we're doing our cinematics this time around, with an emphasis on a dynamic, mobile first person POV and a shift away from camp into a grittier, more realistic space.

 

Can't talk about the cast though, or I might mysteriously vanish while out walking one evening.

Check out the full chat log right here.

[Mighty BOB! 5]

your progression through the game is tracked and you can resume your game on any computer in the world as long as you log in.

Online-stored game saves eh?

 

If you lose your internet connection then you will have a period of time to re-join before you are dropped from the match.

Stupid. Really really really stupid.

 

Right now we're focusing on the PC and have no further announcements to make today.

Hmm, interesting "I can neither confirm nor deny plans" statement coming after they already said it was PC exclusive.

[Nmenth 291]

Well, we are always paying attention to our community. There's actually quite a lot of benefits playing our game online:

Avoiding...

 

your progression through the game is tracked and you can resume your game on any computer in the world as long as you log in.

Does it have to be installed on that computer? If so, then you have to either assume those guys in Lower Slobbovia have C&C4, or take your disk(s) with you.

 

In addition, you do not need to have the disk in the drive to play the game. I'm always losing my game disks...

I've lost my internet connection more often than my game disks.

 

Trying not to be negative, but 1: it's my nature and 2: they are making it hard not to be...

[mirza044 4]

From day to day EALA devs becoming more pathetic in their poor excuses...

[Silverthorn 0]

Are they still thinking of letting me getting connected all the time?! No no no! Sure, I am connected all the time right now, but I'm only online in this state is to use the continuous connection just for the sake of torrenting downloading things, not because being always online for MSN Messengers and stuff.

 

So I still say it's a no go for pure online, what will happen if you're out by a lightning strike. And one thing for the entire EA team including APOC, you all think America & its people who can afford high speed connection, but what about those poorer people in poorer countries with much slower connections?! Sure, we do have high speed connections too, but buying them is not cheap either as they only come available in the maximum package!

Edited August 13, 2009 by Silverthorn

[Webboy 0]

it's funny, isn't it?

 

YOU HAVE TO REJOIN YOUR ****OWN**** SINGLEPLAYER CAMPAIGN!!!!

 

it's either the biggest revolution ever since the original C&C or the biggest joke ever in the industry..

[Luk3us 63]

There's actually quite a lot of benefits playing our game online: your progression through the game is tracked and you can resume your game on any computer in the world as long as you log in. It also allows us to ensure that the game sessions are fair; that everyone has actually earned the items that they are bringing into multiplayer matches.

 

So quite a lot equals three in EA land?

 

The first, yip, you can't do that offline!

 

The second, being able to play anywhere, is hardly a worthy feature. Because to do so, the game has to be installed on the computer. So that implies that you will know the game is available on the computer you are going to BEFORE HAND. Which means you could just as easily copied your information and taken it with you. Its a convenience factor sure, but really will anyone care?

 

The third is who ****ing cares? Honestly, if I'm playing someone online, I'm not going to care if they "earned" all those units or not. I don't care if they don't have a life and wasted their entire weekend playing comp stomp so they could have every single unit on day 4 of release.

 

Besides the whole concept of "earning" these units is ridiculous anyway. If you want to earn experience you should have to do so in online games. You can't possible compare the "experience" I'll get from playing online games, with someone playing a skirmish matchup.

[Gben 20]

On Monday it was reported that Eurogamer would be hosting a live interview with Command & Conquer 4 senior producer Mike Glosecki and lead designer Sam Bass. The fans asked the questions and both Mike and Sam have answered them. A full log of this Q&A session is now available. Here is a sample.

Petrarch asks: The Tiberian storyline is where C&C all began - with that coming to a close, does this mean this is the last we'll see of GDI & Nod? And can you tell us about this climactic end to the story?

 

Sam Bass: This is definitely the end of the Kane-GDI-Nod-Tiberium saga - while the universe may continue, we felt that the time was ripe to bring the story that began in Tib Dawn to a satisfying conclusion. Can't tell you what happens at the end though... But I can tell you that we've been plotting this for a long time, and that we think you'll find what we've come up with pretty cool.

Check out the full chat log right here.

 

Wut?

 

What is the universe without:-

1) Kane

2) GDI v Nod

3) Tiberium

or even

4) Base building

[Mighty BOB! 5]

Whatever happened to earning REAL experience? You know, the kind you get in your brain by doing things, seeing the results, doing them again and maybe changing it up a bit, seeing the results, and making mental connections that make you a better player?

 

Am I understanding this correctly? You NEED an internet connection to play a game you PAID FOR?!?!

Yes.

[Mighty BOB! 5]

You'll probably be able to make more than one account. You just can't have more than one logged in at the same time.

[Sonic 296]

Am I understanding this correctly? You NEED an internet connection to play a game you PAID FOR?!?!

This is nothing new really. It was basically the same for RA3. You needed an internet connection to install and activate the game.

 

The simple fact of the matter is this. There are still many months to go before this game gets released, plus a big beta test. And many of the issues and concerns will be addressed.

 

Many of you guys should just relax and not get so wound up and stressed about C&C 4. Its just a game.

[Malevolence 6]

EA sure made a bi**h of things by making the franchise harder and harder for loyal gamers to enjoy. First we had some online authentication, DRM and now this, though it does not really affect me I do sympathize those who's having bad internet connections (especially in some countries and places where their ISP's stink). I was telling some of my friends that there's C&C4, and they were excited, but when I went into detail explaining about these little stuff such as this internet issue in particular, they were simply turned off by it.

[Guest Stevie_K]

Wut?

 

What is the universe without:-

1) Kane

2) GDI v Nod

3) Tiberium

or even

4) Base building

 

It can be a lot of things. But it would be a shame print "C&C" on the box.

[Silverthorn 0]

Just like I and even our former C&C fathers, Brett & Adam predicted, EA will be themselves instead of following Westwood's footsteps, which results making the franchise going into a pile of problems & mishaps.

[Mighty BOB! 5]

This is nothing new really. It was basically the same for RA3. You needed an internet connection to install and activate the game.

At least you couldn't time out of your own single player games in RA3. *shakes fist*

[Malevolence 6]

This is nothing new really. It was basically the same for RA3. You needed an internet connection to install and activate the game.

 

No it wasn't RA3 only requires ONCE to connect to the internet to activate the game, after that you can choose offline mode all you want. But in C&C4 you need internet ALL THE TIME. How are they the same?

[Silverthorn 0]

RA3's was much better, a one-time online needed for verification is ok, but purely online?! Definitely NOT that move, I rather spend my entire connection all the time for the sake of torrenting movies, not some Messengers & MMO-gaming.

[Sonic 296]

No it wasn't RA3 only requires ONCE to connect to the internet to activate the game, after that you can choose offline mode all you want. But in C&C4 you need internet ALL THE TIME. How are they the same?

I was simply stating RA3 needed an internet connection to install/activate, the basic premise is the same for C&C4, only now you must be online to play. It tracks your stats etc. So it has a purpose... its not the most ideal solution I will admit.

[Silverthorn 0]

It maybe ideal to track your status while you're online, but unfortunately, that kind of move is more like for MMO games. And what's worse is that EA failed to create both worlds for online & offline goers, take a Flash game called "Zombie Assault 2", that SWF file can be collected for offline gameplay, but the creator who made that game has 2 modes, offline gameplay which is more difficult while online gives you a free gun while keeping your original ranks (Which offline mode cannot). But for EA's C&C4 case, it's a total failure, they turn C&C4 into another World of Warcraft. That's not incredible, that's epic fail!