210 replies to this topic

[RaiDK]

It's all unofficial until something is announced.

[ultimentra]

EA needs to pay all members of the ROTR team large amounts of money, give them an engine, and however much time they need to develop. Then we will see an awesome Generals 2.

Edited by ultimentra, 07 April 2009 - 02:43.

[Golan]

Yeah, and some very bad quarterly financial statements from EA.

[Shirou]

ultimentra, on 7 Apr 2009, 4:42, said:

EA needs to pay all members of the ROTR team large amounts of money, give them an engine, and however much time they need to develop. Then we will see an awesome Generals 2.

Only too bad it would take a little while...

[CommanderJB]

Some of you might have seen this already, blbpaws posted this analysis of the 'C&C: Arena' business about a week back:

Quote

C&C Arena Speculation

Evidence uncovered indicates that it is quite likely that there is, or was, a game entitled or code-named Command and Conquer: Arena in development at EALA. There's a lot of speculation going around, but it's important to ground that in facts. I've done some investigation, and here's what I have found.

The game probably would have had or has Full Motion Videos or in-game cinematics, possibly computer-generated. The Third Floor, an LA-based previsualization company, worked on the game, as did Shadowplay Studios, also based in LA. Both companies also worked on Red Alert 3 and Need for Speed, also published by EA. Shadowplay Studio and The Third Floor have a long history of working together on a variety of projects.

The game was likely in development dating back to at least early 2008. Chat records reveal that a Blockbuster survey that dated to at least January 2008 included a question about C&C Arena. Additionally, it is likely that C&C Arena predated Red Alert 3, suggesting that the game is the cancelled quasi-C&C shooter Tiberium. When describing their work for Red Alert 3, The Third Floor writes:

Because of our success on C&C Area [sic], Electronic Arts came back to us with a project that was even more epic. As the much-anticipated next installment of C&C, Red Alert 3 already had a very strong fan base, so the expectations were running high. But utilizing the strengths of both Shadow Play and The Third Floor, we rose to the challenge.

Working closely with world-renowned director Richard Taylor, the cinematics were developed in accordance with his vision. Over 3 minutes of final cinematics were created for in-game cutscenes and marketing materials.

When listing his credits, The Third Floor CEO Chris Edwards lists C&C Arena before C&C Red Alert 3. Finally, when C&C Arena was mentioned on The Third Floor's website, this order was also used.

The following posting was on The Third Floor's website until recently--it has since been taken down. It was uploaded to Photobucket by an anonymous user. In it, you can clearly see the promotional material for C&C Arena used by The Third Floor. The written text reads as follows:

The Third Floor teamed with Shadowplay Studio to take Electronic Arts’ concept of an epic robot battle from previs all the way to final cinematics. The highly detailed world was fleshed out from scratch by The Third Floor and Shadowplay teams.

Parse this carefully. Many are reading this as saying that C&C Arena will be all robots. I do not believe this is accurate. I believe it merely refers to a single cutscene done by The Third Floor and Shadowplay, which perhaps has mostly or only robots. The "from scratch" part only means, I think, that they worked on the scene from nothing, not that it's a whole new universe, as some speculators have suggested.

There is a lot of speculation about the game being made available for free and supported through micropayments. I do not think this is the case. The best I can tell, this rumor dates to a comment by "thisguyinhere" on February 5th, 2008. I can find no corroborating evidence, and lots of evidence that points against it.

Now for my own speculation: I believe this title is a reference to Tiberium, the canceled C&C shooter. The title, content, and timeframe all fit ("Arena" is added to shooter titles on occasion, such as Quake 3: Arena). I believe these two companies did previsualization work for the game before it was canceled.

I believe that we'll see a non-RTS C&C at some point, maybe even with this name, but what we have seen here isn't it.

He makes a strong case, and having read it I'm quite inclined to agree with him.

[Kichō]

Another possible C&C4 leak...

Quote

Freelance 3d Artist
The Third Floor

(Privately Held; Animation industry)

April 2008 — Present (1 year 1 month)

EA - Command and Conquer Red Alert 3 cinematics.
Blizzard - Star Craft Cinematics Pre-vis
Blizzard - Diablo 3 Cinematic Pre-vis
Dean Wright's - Kingdom Come
Disney's / Robert Zemeckis- Mars Needs Moms
Jon Favreau - Iron Man 2
Untitled Japanese Project
EA - Command and Conquer 4 cinematics

Source:


Thanks to Kodaemon for finding this

[JJ]

....or typo.

[Nem]

Leakage:
[attachment=6731:Generals...eme_Test.MP3]

Edit: File Attached

Edited by Nem, 15 April 2009 - 05:32.

[BeefJeRKy]

Nem, on 15 Apr 2009, 1:23, said:

Leakage:
Generals...eme_Test.MP3

Edit: File Attached

:o Sounds authentic enough to me.

[deltaepsilon]

We should just get E-Studios Fallout Studios to make the game, problem solved.

By the way, linky no worky.

Edited by deltaepsilon, 15 April 2009 - 08:00.

[CommanderJB]

Now we're talking. Or, rather, listening. Interesting also is the 'theme-deadline' date given on your original YouTube source; July 2009. Not very long really. I wouldn't be one iota surprised if we get a Generals II announcement sometime around then; in fact all that will really surprise me at this point is if we don't get official confirmation by the end of the year.
There is always the possibility that the music is from somewhere else entirely as there are no details of the leak, and I suppose it sounds somewhat subdued for a faction theme, but I think with the sheer weight of probability that EA has Generals II in the works, there's really every chance it's authentic.

Edited by CommanderJB, 15 April 2009 - 08:09.

[Chyros]

Nem, on 15 Apr 2009, 7:23, said:

Leakage:
Generals...eme_Test.MP3

Edit: File Attached

Hmmm, it's not as good as the Gens/ZH GLA themes IMO, though also definitely not as bad as the Gens/ZH USA themes. Could be better, could be worse.

[Mathias]

Anything can still happen I think. Would like to see Generals II more than that shit.

[Lord Atlantis]

It is obviously GLA themed, but I don't think it is something that is the "main" theme. Sounds like ambient music to be honest.

And considering what EA did with RA3 music wise, I am expecting something higher quality for the main GLA theme, as well as the other faction themes.

[Dutchygamer]

I are waiting for the announcement EA

[Kichō]

More leaks. (C&C4 it leads to)

[Wizard]

These are clearly deliberate

[Kichō]

Wizard, on 15 Apr 2009, 17:00, said:

These are clearly deliberate

The C&C4 leaks?

[Nem]

Quote

original YouTube source

That link can be taken down at any time its best that it is uploaded.

As for the CNC4 appearances its probably just a code name for the next game. It would not be wise for EA to bring out CNC4 so soon with such little room for improvement.

Edited by Nem, 15 April 2009 - 16:06.

[TheDR]

The announcement will most likely come at E3 and it will be for something like a Q4 2009 release date. So not too long to wait.

[CommanderJB]

Nem, on 16 Apr 2009, 2:05, said:

Quote

original YouTube source

That link can be taken down at any time its best that it is uploaded.

Of course, and thank you for doing so, much appreciated; it's just that the MP3 doesn't have the text I was referring to for obvious reasons.

Edited by CommanderJB, 15 April 2009 - 16:14.

[DerKrieger]

The Dr, on 15 Apr 2009, 16:11, said:

The announcement will most likely come at E3 and it will be for something like a Q4 2009 release date. So not too long to wait.

Though that's not without precedent (RA2 anyone?) it's very unlikely for a game to be announced only months before its release.

[Soul]

It better be another Generals.

[Shirou]

I don't want it before 2011 tbh, give the other games some time to sink in and make a multplayer expansion for RA3, please!

[Stinger]

Why do you want a multiplayer expansion pack that will divide the online community?