C&C 4 Beta Uplink Series Part 1

[Sonic 296]

The Command & Conquer 4 Beta Uplink Series has begun on the Official C&C Site. This will be weekly series of articles that features insider tips in the multiplayer beta. Coverage of class-specific strategies, tier 3 units, map design, the upgrades system and much more. The first one begins with a basic overview of the new multiplayer gameplay. A sample can be seen below. Including a look at the multiplayer map called Pipeline Plateau.

 

BETA UPLINK PART 1 - MULTIPLAYER OVERVIEW

 

Command & Conquer 4 switches up the traditional skirmish gameplay by pitting GDI and Nod against each other in our new 5v5 Domination mode. Two teams of players attempt to take control of 5 Tiberium Control Network nodes scattered across the map, as well as several neutral tech structures. To capture these points, you are given control of a single, mobile base known as the Crawler, which is fully capable constructing all your units and structures on the move and deploying them directly to the front lines.

 

There are three classes to play per faction, each with their own unique Crawler and units - Offense, Defense, and Support. A note about your Crawler; it's your mobile base but don't panic if you're about to lose it. Losing your Crawler doesn't mean the end of the battle for you as you can quickly deploy a new Crawler at your Spawn Zone, or at an Uplink Tower you control. If the enemy is spawn camping, the joke's on them as your Crawler deploys from the skies and crushes their forces as it arrives on the battlefield!

Click here for part 1 of the Command & Conquer 4 Beta Uplink Series.

 

[Troopzor 5]

I sure hope I'm not the only one who is concerned about the lack of Tiberium. Even aesthetically...

 

TCN or not, It just doesn't feel right...

[Malevolence 6]

Looks like a decent multiplayer map. I hope to see more weathered effects and animation added to it.

[Luk3us 63]

I sure hope I'm not the only one who is concerned about the lack of Tiberium. Even aesthetically...

 

Well at least there is tiberium falling from the sky....

 

 

LOL

[BioBen 3]

So is the beta purely online multiplayer like RA3 or is there limeted skirmish/single player?

[Malevolence 6]

Well at least there is tiberium falling from the sky....

 

 

LOL

 

That was the most crazy moment in C&C history. I wish they could explain what was that all about.

[Sonic 296]

I sure hope I'm not the only one who is concerned about the lack of Tiberium. Even aesthetically...

This is just one map. Apparently the Junktown map is covered with Tiberium. Not fields though

 

So is the beta purely online multiplayer like RA3 or is there limeted skirmish/single player?

Its just online multiplayer. But you can set it up a 1 player only game (sandbox mode) for testing the units etc...

 

That was the most crazy moment in C&C history. I wish they could explain what was that all about.

They probably do.... in the singleplayer campaign.

[Silverthorn 0]

I think it still reminds me of the "Star Wars : Empire at War" skirmish gameplay, except without the faction bases to start with, but the gameplay wise is still the same, take control of all TCN nodes.

[BioBen 3]

Map looks kinda flat... and like C&C3

I really hope they change engine or majorly upgrade after this.

[sith_wampa 6]

If the enemy is spawn camping, the joke's on them as your Crawler deploys from the skies and crushes their forces as it arrives on the battlefield!

 

This is reassuring.

[Saracen 16]

Looks like a decent multiplayer map. I hope to see more weathered effects and animation added to it.

 

By Modern RTS standards it's quite small and rather poor, lacking any major design and functionality. If someone (for example) from the likes of Blizzard or Gas Powered Games came up with that, they'd be packing boxes at their desk 5 minutes later.

 

Multiplayer maps need a lot more tactical and strategic function. They should offer a range of scouting, ambush, and large scale battle possibilities. It should also be aesthetically pleasing, giving the player a grand or even epic sense of scale. This doesn't seem to offer any of that. It looks like a barren 1 vs 1 map developed out of some indie studio.

 

The screenshots from this article don't do much either. Looks like it needs a lot of work and polish. The whole game still looks 6 years behind the competition.

[PurpleGaga27 40]

Looks like a decent multiplayer map. I hope to see more weathered effects and animation added to it.

 

True. Without Tiberium, it's mostly poor map designs on most maps with mostly flat terrain. This map is one of them.

 

The question now is who are the mappers of C&C4? Greg Black is gone from EALA so he's not into multiplayer mapping. I thought maybe Jeremy Feasel would tell us something about C&C4 maps.

Edited December 11, 2009 by purplescrin

[Silverthorn 0]

Greg Black is gone? No wonder why he's missing from last month's BCPT.

 

Anyway, without Tiberium as I see (TCN nodes don't count), the Tiberium universe will never be the same, and I predict they'll be more than 50% of the C&C fans already left their faith and turn to other great games, even if they did buy C&C4 to read Kane's final story, any future C&C games will not be on their money terms anymore, that includes myself.

 

Even if the map contains Tiberium, but I fear those crystals might be just eye candy (Like C&C3's Tiberium glassier) rather than a resource.

[Nmenth 291]

By Modern RTS standards it's quite small and rather poor, lacking any major design and functionality. If someone (for example) from the likes of Blizzard or Gas Powered Games came up with that, they'd be packing boxes at their desk 5 minutes later.

Well now, Supreme Commander had a few barren maps that induced yawning just by looking at them... and the ones that weren't, were so complicated, it was difficult to wage warfare in them. I was actually thinking this map reminded me of Supreme Commander's, but didn't feel like mentioning it, but since you brought Gas Powered Games up...

 

Of course, Supreme Commander allowed you to build massive basses that took ten minutes to traverse, and C&C4... has no bases. Winner: Supreme Commander.

[PurpleGaga27 40]

Greg Black is gone? No wonder why he's missing from last month's BCPT.

 

He stated that from his Facebook page last month. He's free for now. I think he's the best CNC mapper EALA has got. Feasel is second-best.

 

I am sure there are new CNC4 mappers who tried to follow on how Greg Black made the MP maps.

[Silverthorn 0]

Well now, Supreme Commander had a few barren maps that induced yawning just by looking at them... and the ones that weren't, were so complicated, it was difficult to wage warfare in them. I was actually thinking this map reminded me of Supreme Commander's, but didn't feel like mentioning it, but since you brought Gas Powered Games up...

 

Of course, Supreme Commander allowed you to build massive basses that took ten minutes to traverse, and C&C4... has no bases. Winner: Supreme Commander.

 

When it comes to maps, I find Starcraft 2's are kind of innovative, especially I remember rocks which you can destroy. Tech structures which you have to occupy around it (Not capture by engineer).