Press releases
EA rewrites history with C&C: Red Alert 3
Be the first to experience Red Alert with an exclusive invitation to the game’s beta test, available in Command & Conquer™ 3: Kane’s Wrath and the limited edition of Command & Conquer 3™. Redwood City, California, 14 February 2008 – After a seven-year hiatus, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced the return of Red Alert, one of the greatest critical and commercial successes in the history of real-time strategy games (RTS). Command & Conquer™: Red Alert™ 3, due for release on PC, Xbox 360™ and PLAYSTATION®3, plunges players into the heart of an epic adventure set in an alternate future marked by incredible time travel. Developed by EA Los Angeles, Red Alert 3 breathes new life into modern RTS games, with an innovative co-operative campaign and gameplay that remains true to the franchise’s roots and style.
‘The Red Alert games are well known to the most experienced players for their depth, variety and innovative gameplay. But they also belong to a very rare class of games capable of appealing to more casual players with their fantastic storylines, highly accessible gameplay mechanics and unrivalled design,” says Mike Verdu, Managing Director at EALA. “ With Red Alert 3, our development team is continuing this tradition by introducing innovative features, such as a co-op campaign designed for both veterans and newcomers alike. In Red Alert 3, everyone can lend a hand – whether it’s your friends or your family! ”
“It’s been a long wait,” says Chris Corry, executive producer at EALA. “Fans have been hoping for a new Red Alert for seven years and, believe me, we don’t want to let them down. Our team is staying true to the series’ roots whilst adding new elements, such as a co-op campaign with an immersive storyline, an impressive new faction that will revolutionise the franchise’s universe, and units that will make Red Alert 3 everything players have always dreamed of. What’s more, by placing naval units at the heart of the game’s design, we’re taking C&C’s fast-paced, fun and fluid gameplay out onto the high seas.”
In Red Alert 3, the desperate regime of a doomed Soviet Union travels through time to change history and restore Mother Russia’s fallen glory. But this time-travel mission hits a few snags, creating an alternate space-time where technology has taken radically different paths, where a new global superpower has emerged, and where the Third World War is raging. The Empire of the Rising Sun has established itself in the East, turning the Third World War into a three-way conflict between the Soviets, the Allies and the Empire, with armies possessing an arsenal of weapons as extravagant as they are effective, such as Tesla Coils, heavily armed airships, Blink Packs, armed bears, dolphins, floating fortresses and transformable tanks.
Red Alert 3 poses THE fundamental question: ‘What if?’ What if the wildest projects and technological experiments of the last 70 years had borne fruit? What if the Philadelphia Experiment, quantum theories, teleportation, invisibility, Tesla technology and a hundred other incredible projects had all been put into practice? What if the Soviet Union hadn’t been dismantled – what would it look like ten years on? What if the Japanese Empire hadn’t fallen but, on the contrary, had become the greatest military superpower of High Technology? The end result is a creative and whimsical vision of an alternative future that brings all these questions together.
For all Command & Conquer fans keen to experience Red Alert 3 before anyone else, you’ll be able to gain exclusive access to the game’s beta test¹ by purchasing a copy of Command & Conquer™ 3: Kane’s Wrath or a limited edition of Command & Conquer 3™.
EA has also launched, for all Red Alert and Command & Conquer fans, an exclusive online programme that goes beyond the game to provide viewers with the latest news, tips and strategies on the franchise. The BattleCast™ Primetime show is a unique programme, styled like a sports broadcast, covering the franchise’s multiplayer matches with expert commentary. The BattleCast Primetime programme for Command & Conquer is available on the franchise’s official website: http://www.commandandconquer.com/ (website in English).
For more information on Red Alert 3 or the Command & Conquer franchise, visit www.commandandconquer.com (website in English).
1 Beta testing phase available on PC only. The dates for the Red Alert 3 beta test will be announced next summer.
About Command & Conquer The revolutionary Command & Conquer franchise was one of the first to initiate players into the modern RTS genre, a genre that has spawned a dozen PC titles and ranks among the top five best-selling PC franchises of all time, according to the NPD Group. The best-selling RTS on PC in 2007, Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars™ recently won the title of ‘Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year’, awarded by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences. Command & Conquer Red Alert 2 and Command & Conquer Generals were also the best-selling RTS titles on PC in 2000 and 2003 respectively. Cumulative worldwide sales of the franchise exceed 25 million units. The franchise boasts one of the largest and most active fan communities in the world. For more information on the Command & Conquer series, visit www.CommandAndConquer.EA.com (website in English).
- Source: NPD Group
EA announces a star-studded cast for AR3 Some of the world’s finest actors and actresses have come together to form one of the largest casts in the history of video games.
Leipzig, Germany – 20 August 2008 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced, at a press conference at the Games Convention in Leipzig (Germany), the names of the celebrities who will feature in the cast of the upcoming and highly anticipated real-time strategy video game: Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3. A truly diverse cast will appear in the cutscenes of this Command & Conquer™ franchise. It will feature award-winning actors, action film stars, science fiction legends, starlets from around the world and even mixed martial arts fighters.
The cast of Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 comprises (in alphabetical order) Gemma Atkinson (from the British series Hollyoaks), Tim Curry (The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Hunt for Red October), Andrew Divoff (LOST), Kelly Hu (X2, The Scorpion King), Ivana Milicevic (Casino Royale), Jonathan Pryce (Pirates of the Caribbean), Autumn Reeser (Newport Beach), J.K. Simmons (Spider-Man, Juno), Peter Stormare (Prison Break, Armageddon), George Takei (Star Trek, Heroes), and two of the most illustrious mixed martial arts champions: Randy ‘The Natural’ Couture (former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion) and Gina ‘Conviction’ ’ Carano (undefeated Elite XC champion, American Gladiators).
Chris Corry, executive producer at EA Los Angeles, said: ‘This is by far the most exciting cast we’ve had in 13 years of Command & Conquer. The quality of the individual and ensemble performances has significantly raised the bar for the franchise. We’re really excited to be delivering a production of such high calibre, which will be every bit as good as any film or TV series.”
“I didn’t know what to expect when I joined the team working on this video game,” explains Jenny McCarthy on the set of Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3, playing Tanya, an Allied commando and the most popular heroine in the Command & Conquer universe. “I realised that Red Alert 3 wasn’t just a video game: it really is an interactive film. Players drive the story forward from the comfort of their own homes and see the plot unfold as they play. It’s a great reward, and that’s really brilliant!”
“I think video games present a new challenge for actors. Using real actors instead of animations or computer-generated imagery makes it easier to connect with the player,” adds J.K. Simmons, who plays the anti-communist US President Howard T. Ackerman. “Appearing in such an innovative game, which features scenes filmed with ‘real-life’ actors, and acting alongside Jonathan Pryce, Tim Curry and Peter Stormare is a wonderful opportunity for an actor like me to have a great time.”
Fans keen to see more of the celebrities in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 can now order the ‘Premier Edition’ of Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3; a limited edition of the game that includes a bonus DVD featuring an hour of exclusive content, interviews with the celebrities and behind-the-scenes footage from the filming of the game’s cutscenes. The ‘Premier Edition’ also offers a wealth of Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 extras, including exclusive multiplayer maps, strategic tips from the development team, the official soundtrack and an exclusive beta key for an upcoming instalment in the Command & Conquer series.
Those who pre-order the ‘Premier Edition’ or the standard version of Red Alert 3 now will receive a bonus pack* including:
• Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 – one of the most popular real-time strategy games of all time!
• From Fighter to Assassin – a feature on EliteXC superstar Gina Carano
• A sneak preview of the ‘Premier Edition’ – exclusive first-look footage of Raising of the Iron Curtain, From Pens to Pixels, Command School and BattleCast Primetime
• A retrospective on the ‘Red Alert’ series – a look back at Command & Conquer: Red Alert, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 and Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 – Yuri's Revenge
• An exclusive multiplayer/skirmish map for Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3, available upon release
• Exclusive Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 wallpapers
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 is due for release on PC and Xbox 360 this autumn. Eager players can, however, get a head start by purchasing Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath, which includes automatic access to the current beta** version of Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3. Further information is available at: http://www.ea.com/redalert/beta.jsp (website in English).
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 has not yet received an ESRB or PEGI rating. For more information on the game, visit www.redalert3.com (website in English). Tune in to Command & Conquer TV at: www.commandandconquer.com (website in English) over the coming weeks to celebrate, live from the German Games Convention 2008, the first anniversary of the online channel’s flagship programme, ‘BattleCast PrimeTime’.
*Some retailers may be offering other exclusive pre-order deals.
** Access to the Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 beta is only available with the purchase of the PC version of Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath. Therefore, the Red Alert 3 beta is only available on PC.
About Command & Conquer
Command & Conquer was one of the first franchises to introduce players to a new genre of real-time strategy games. It has spawned more than a dozen titles and, according to the NPD Group, ranks amongst the top five best-selling franchises of all time. Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars™ was the best-selling real-time strategy PC game in 2007. It recently won the ‘Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year’ award from the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences. Furthermore, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 and Command & Conquer™ Generals were the best-selling* real-time strategy games on PC in 2000 and 2003 respectively. In total, more than 25 million copies of the franchise have been sold worldwide. Command & Conquer boasts one of the largest and most active fan communities on the planet. For further information, visit: www.CommandAndConquer.EA.com (website in English).
According to the NPD Group
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the global leader in the interactive entertainment software market. Founded in 1982, the company develops, publishes and distributes interactive software worldwide for consoles, PCs, mobile phones and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brands: EA SPORTS™, EA™, EA SPORTS Freestyle™ and POGO™. In the 2008 financial year, EA recorded a turnover of $3.67 billion, and 27 of its titles sold over one million copies. EA’s homepage and its online gaming site can be found at www.ea.com. Further information on EA products, as well as all press releases, can be found online at: www.presse.ea.com.
EA launches its hit strategy franchise on PS3
Red Alert 3 is coming to PS3 in March, with plenty of extras on offer: exclusive multiplayer maps, over an hour of video footage and much more!
Los Angeles, California, 21 January 2009 – Electronic Arts Inc. (ERTS on NASDAQ) has announced the arrival of the hit Command & Conquer franchise on PLAYSTATION®3, with Command & Conquer™ Red Alert 3: Ultimate Edition, available in March. The Ultimate Edition includes the full version of last year’s award-winning Command & Conquer™ Red Alert 3 and takes advantage of the PLAYSTATION®3’s Blu-ray disc capability to offer a host of exclusive extras. Command & Conquer™ Red Alert 3: Ultimate Edition offers the ultimate Red Alert 3 experience that all PLAYSTATION®3 players have been waiting for.
“Our team was tasked with bringing the RTS genre to console players, and we’re delighted to be able to bring Command & Conquer to PS3 owners,” said David Seeholzer, Director of Development at EA Los Angeles. “The PS3 is a very powerful platform, and the extra time we’ve had during development has allowed us to create an unforgettable console RTS experience, with even more stunning graphics, enhanced performance, numerous bonus features and exclusive benefits that you won’t find in any other version of Red Alert 3.”
Command & Conquer™ Red Alert 3 combines biting humour with the fast-paced, fluid and fun gameplay that the series is known for. You’ll also discover numerous innovations in the RTS genre, such as thrilling campaigns that are fully playable in co-op mode, as well as enhanced naval gameplay. PLAYSTATION®3 players will enjoy the signature C&C style and action-packed gameplay thanks to the Command Stick 2.0 interface, an intuitive control system that allows players of all skill levels to command their units easily and effectively on the battlefield. Command & Conquer™ Red Alert 3: Ultimate Edition also includes a host of bonus features, amongst which are:
• five new multiplayer maps;
• behind-the-scenes videos and trailers, including the ‘Behind the Iron Curtain’ and ‘From Sketch to Pixel’ features, The Women of Red Alert 3, Blooper Reels and bonus scenes, the Red Alert 3 Remix and much more!
• PS3-exclusive Command & Conquer TV programmes, including BattleCast™ PrimeTime and a special episode of Command School, where the development team will share strategic tips with you;
• detailed profiles of all Red Alert 3 units;
• the official Red Alert 3 soundtrack.
Command & Conquer™ Red Alert 3 also features the action-packed cutscenes for which the franchise is renowned and boasts the most dazzling cast ever seen in a video game, featuring (in alphabetical order) Gemma Atkinson, Gina Carano, Randy Couture, Tim Curry, Kelly Hu, Jenny McCarthy, Jonathan Pryce, Autumn Reeser, J.K. Simmons, Peter Stormare, George Takei, and even David Hasselhoff in a special appearance.
Command & Conquer™ Red Alert 3: Ultimate Edition will be available on PLAYSTATION®3 in March 2009 and is rated ‘16+’ under the PEGI system. To find out more about the game, visit www.commandandconquer.com (website in English). Command & Conquer fans will never be left wanting thanks to Command & Conquer TV, EA’s online network dedicated to Command & Conquer, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which takes players beyond the game and offers them the latest news and strategic tips.
Source: NPD Group
About Command & Conquer
The groundbreaking Command & Conquer franchise was one of the first to initiate players into the modern RTS genre, a genre that has spawned a dozen PC titles and ranks among the top five best-selling PC franchises of all time, according to the NPD Group. The best-selling RTS on PC in 2007, Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars™ recently won the title of ‘Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year’, awarded by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences. Command & Conquer Red Alert 2 and Command & Conquer Generals were also the best-selling RTS titles on PC in 2000 and 2003 respectively. Cumulative sales of the franchise worldwide exceed 25 million units. The franchise boasts one of the largest and most active fan communities in the world. For more information on the Command & Conquer series, visit www.CommandAndConquer.com (website in English).
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world leader in the interactive entertainment software market. Founded in 1982, the company develops, publishes and distributes interactive software worldwide for consoles, PCs, mobile phones and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brands: EA SPORTS™, EATM, EA SPORTS FreestyleTM and POGOTM. In the 2008 financial year, EA recorded a turnover of $3.67 billion, and 27 of its titles sold over one million copies. EA’s homepage and online gaming site can be found at www.ea.com. Further information on EA products, as well as all press releases, can be found online at: www.presse.ea.com.
EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS Freestyle, POGO, Command & Conquer, Red Alert, BattleCast and Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars are trade marks or registered trade marks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.