Command & Conquer 4 Developer Q&A #2

[Sonic 294]

With the new look Official C&C Site now online, the second Developer Q&A has also been posted. So here's the latest Command & Conquer 4 info direct from the developers.

 

Will infantry be single units or squads?

Infantry appear as single entities in C&C4. This helps improve gameplay by way of better performance on low-end machines, better unit readability and easier unit control. We’ve moved all GDI infantry into hefty power armor, while Nod is making heavy use of cybernetic technology. Even the engineer has better equipment. (I like to imagine he’s still wearing that yellow hardhat under his power armor.)

 

Is there a cap to how many turrets the defense player can use?

Defense players have a power limit in the same way that units have a Command Point limit. This means they can build a dozen or so structures at one time. The defense class certainly brings the most raw strength to the field, as their structures are very potent and they also have a good number of units to control. Their structures can’t chase you across the map, though, so it’s all about placement.

 

Does power play a role as a resource for any of the factions?

Both Nod and GDI use power on the Defense class. Each structure costs a set amount of power, with better structures costing more power.

 

How customizable is a player’s Crawler?

Crawlers are quite customizable. They have a set amount of cargo capacity, which improves over time. You can load up units, structures, upgrades, powers and crawler enhancements as you advance through the game. You will collect more goodies than you can fit in your crawler, so it is up to you to decide what you will take into each match. The best bet is to outfit each class for a certain strategy, then change classes mid-match to out-maneuver your enemy.

 

What kind of neutral tech structures will be in the game?

We have a variety of tech structures, such as long range cannons, structures for infantry to garrison, and many others still in production that we are not yet ready to reveal. One of my favorites grants your team a forward deploy zone, which can be strategically crucial.

 

Are there any map specific elements that promote the usage of certain units?

Each unit has its pros and cons in relation to map features. Several GDI units can jump up and down cliffs, while some Nod units can burrow, providing stealth and the ability to ignore cliffs. Speed is a big factor, too. With maps big enough to hold 10 players you can imagine that it takes an attack bike or an aircraft to get across the map quickly. If your friend needs help now, a Mammoth Tank might be too slow to get there. Both unit choice and teamwork are fundamental to victory in C&C4.

Got a question of your own that you want answered? Post it in the Ask A Developer thread on the Official C&C Forums.

[Nmenth 290]

Infantry appear as single entities in C&C4.

Yay, good news.

[rEdaSbLood 1]

it may be a good thing that they are changing things, but this is just not C&C..

[Gben 20]

Yeah I like the infantry news.

 

And it seems, well i guess it's obvious, that you plop a stand-along turret anywhere on the map. I was wondering whether you needed a deployed crawler for them to work?

I'm guessing you need to deploy, in order to build, and I assume you can go off and redeploy and build a new set.

Is that how everyone imagines it?

[Malevolence 6]

So power plants will be back?

 

Love the great news on single infantry.

[Luk3us 63]

Yes the way they had those squads or mobs, weren't that great in TW/KW. So glad its back to singular infantry.

 

Although the squad mechanic does work in other games, its very different to what they had in TW/KW.

[Silverthorn 0]

it may be a good thing that they are changing things, but this is just not C&C..

 

I fear for the worse too, Reda, I felt my heart completely shattered when MyCNC's C&C4 report tells about the WiC clone gameplay. The true color which many famous C&C sites hide them, but MyCNC wasn't afraid to reveal such information.

[rEdaSbLood 1]

well its gonna probably be a great game, but simply the title should not be C&C

[Silverthorn 0]

well its gonna probably be a great game, but simply the title should not be C&C

 

But the game is still C&C because of GDI & Nod, to me, it's still a big dilemma to either keep or discard the C&C title when it comes to things like GDI & Nod but with the gameplay as WiC. The most obvious choice of getting rid of the C&C title is when they do it for Generals 2, Generals is NEVER a C&C, so it deserves NOT to have the C&C title.

[rEdaSbLood 1]

ill agree on the sides making it a C&C game. but, they should make it like C&C Assault: Tiberium Twilight or something.

[Silverthorn 0]

Title wise, it has been fixed. So I can't change the whole thing since I'm not an EA employee. But overall, it's now or never, and it's all in EA's hands.

[hagren 0]

well its gonna probably be a great game, but simply the title should not be C&C

It has FMVs, Kane, GDI and Nod, even the Forgotten, so if they utilize these aspects for a great singleplayer experience, I embrace it as the next CnC

[rEdaSbLood 1]

it is C&C universe, but the gameplay is not core C&C. anyways its just a pet peeve of mine. im excited =]

[Raptor 4000 0]

I fear for the worse too, Reda, I felt my heart completely shattered when MyCNC's C&C4 report tells about the WiC clone gameplay. The true color which many famous C&C sites hide them, but MyCNC wasn't afraid to reveal such information.

 

Out of pure curiosity, do you have a link to said article?

[Sonic 294]

MyCNC's report is in Chinese but an English version can be found here http://forums.commandandconquer.com/jforum...list/20902.page.

[Wee_Ooh 0]

I'm gone for a week and there's already more CnC4 news. Looks like they changed some stuff, too. Didn't Apoc say that infantry were in squads before? Say what you will about EALA, but they really make an effort to listen to their fans. The CnC community is one of the best of any game franchise.

 

Sounds like some good stuff. I'm sooo glad to hear that infantry are not in squads. I kind of figured, but it's nice to hear that there will be other game modes and the population cap is raised significantly. I'm glad to hear about subterranean units, and the Nod crawler surfacing from underground is a nice touch. I guess you called it, Mal.