We were able to find out more details about the upcoming Command & Conquer:
Generals at this year's EA Summer Camp at their corporate headquarters.
Generals will be a departure from the familiar conflict between GDI and NOD of
the the previous games. Command & Conquer's move to a fully 3D environment
is accompanied by a brand new storyline. Generals' story follows a future
conflict between the US, China, and the GLA, a global terrorist organization.
Since the game takes place in the not too distant future, the units in the game
will be a mix of today's high tech weapons and some future tech new ones.
One of the changes new to the weapons in Generals is air power. While
air units have made an appearance before, there will now be a greater variety of
strike planes, interceptors, bombers, and attack choppers. For the first
time in a Command & Conquer game there will be air to air combat - you'll
actually be able to intercept an incoming bomber strike. In addition, the
aircraft will be piloted vehicles. What does this mean? Well if your
enemy manages to shoot down your squadron of attack choppers, your pilots will
bail out and can be used to continue the attack on the ground.
Perhaps the biggest departure in gameplay from General's predecessors is the
addition of the generals. Each side has three available generals that will
have a great effect on your strategy and gameplay. Selecting a general
gives you access to special weapons associated with that general. Pick an
air force general, and you will have special plane units and the resources to
mount an air offensive. Select a tank corp general, and you will have
special tank units to help you lead your armored columns. The addition of
the generals effectively takes the three sides in the game and turns them into
nine. This should lead to a greater variety of gameplay and room for more
strategies than were possible in previous Command & Conquer games.
We'll keep you posted on more details on the game as they become available. Look for Generals in the Winter of 2002.
