Sam Bass Interview at CNCSaga.de

[dbjs2009 25]

CNCSaga.de have just posted a new interview with Sam Bass, the Lead Designer of Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight. In this interview he discusses few things about Kane and the Command & Conquer 4 story, as well as his work on past Command & Conquer games. Below are some sample questions.

 

CNCSaga.de: Hello Samuel: Please tell us something about yourself.

Sam Bass: Hi! Let's see, about myself…well I'm English, I own a miniature dachshund and last night I cooked a recipe from Martha Stewart Living.

 

CNCSaga.de:You have worked as lead-designer on many C&C-titles. Which differences did you feel?

Sam Bass:I was lead on Kane’s Wrath, and then campaign / story lead on CNC4. Each game is its own unique bundle of delights and problems – with Kane’s Wrath, I was trying to bridge the narrative gap between Tiberian Sun and CNC3, while also creating a slightly more “old school” campaign. With CNC4, it was more a matter of teasing as much entertainment as I could out of a relatively experimental design while bringing the CNC1-CNC4 arc to a satisfying conclusion; definitely more of a high wire act than with Kane’s Wrath.

The full interview can be found by clicking here, A German version is also available.

[Sonic 296]

I was lead on Kane’s Wrath, and then campaign / story lead on CNC4. Each game is its own unique bundle of delights and problems – with Kane’s Wrath, I was trying to bridge the narrative gap between Tiberian Sun and CNC3, while also creating a slightly more “old school” campaign. With CNC4, it was more a matter of teasing as much entertainment as I could out of a relatively experimental design while bringing the CNC1-CNC4 arc to a satisfying conclusion; definitely more of a high wire act than with Kane’s Wrath.

See that bold text, sadly Sam did not do this with the C&C 4's weak ending.

[Guest Stevie_K]

I have very mixed opinions on his explanations and answers.

[PurpleGaga27 40]

One question missing to Sam Bass: What happened to the second Scrin invasion? I don't think C&C5 will have the next Scrin invasion after Kane and his followers disappeared from Earth through the Scrin portal to another dimension of the universe. That is the missing part of C&C4 and the same goes to what happened to the Forgotten.

 

The idea of the Tiberium Control Network used to suck up Tiberium makes its less fun to play on the battlefield without Tiberium.

[Guest Stevie_K]

I don't get the idea of going that way with the story.

 

The previous Tiberium universe games have all been building up to the grand final climax where the planet succumbs to the fatal crystal.

And then the ultimate villain just creates a ******* sucktion network, "saves" the planet and leaves into an other dimension through the anus of an overlord. wtf

 

[Luk3us 63]

I tend to look at the C&C universe ending with those nice comic video things they had. That last one had a nice ending. C&C4 never happened in my mind.

[Nmenth 291]

C&C4 never happened in my mind.

It'd be nice if EA took that stance too and designated C&C4 as officially non-canon (that's almost a paradox), then made a new, real ending.

[[NE]Fobby[GEN] 10]

The interview was a bit shorter than I'd expect. There's still a lot of questions I'd have about C&C4 that were not asked in an interview. Anyway, good to see he's a RenX fan

[Silverthorn 0]

See that bold text, sadly Sam did not do this with the C&C 4's weak ending.

 

Since you point out Sam Bass didn't make the bad ending, then what else? I think we can't blame him too much though, I'm pretty sure deep in his heart, he also feels the pressure from the greedy & evil EALA execs, Greg Black already felt it, but will the remaining ones like Sam Bass & Jim Vasella will feel the pressure? If only I wish they leave EALA sooner.

[Gben 20]

I tend to look at the C&C universe ending with those nice comic video things they had. That last one had a nice ending. C&C4 never happened in my mind.

 

Y'know, I just realised I was thinking the same way too.