See, Van Caneghem is a big supporter of things like "games as service", and online delivery. Which makes him a good fit for EA, since that's exactly what EA are moving towards, with games like Battlefield Heroes and their acquisition of online gaming company Playfish.

So what does this mean for the future of Command & Conquer? Well, we knew he was going to "transform" the series, but didn't think it'd be this drastic. Chew over these quotes from an interview with Van Caneghem over on Gamasutra. The first regarding strategy games taking a leaf out of Battlefield Heroes' book.

"Look what online has done for RPGs over the last 10 years. All the other categories are following suit... we're looking forward to building something to be a leader in that space."

On where he sees C&C fitting in with this shift, he says ""It allows you to do everything you would have expected from a boxed game, but it adds a lot more to it... being connected and connected with players, and persistence, the social elements of playing against each other with other friends."

And, perhaps most distressingly, this:

"What you're seeing with all the social gamers on Facebook... they are actually already playing strategy games whether they know it or not. Taking a franchise like Command and Conquer and expanding it to a wider audience is part of the strategy."

Tiberiumville, coming to Facebook, 2010.

Interview: Van Caneghem Talks EALA's Vision, Command & Conquer [Gamasutra]

Does the world really need another game where giant robots fight other giant robots? Stupid question. Of course it does.

Click the above pic to embiggen.

Command & Conquer 4 Q&A - Exclusive First Details [GameSpot]

The year is 2062, and the world is about to end. In six years, the Tiberium that has been the focus of such contention over the course of the Command & Conquer series will render the Earth uninhabitable. The Global Defense Initiative and the Brotherhood of Nod find themselves with a similar goal - saving mankind from extinction. Then comes perhaps the most chilling sentence in the official press release for fans of the series. "The unthinkable becomes reality and Nod's enigmatic leader Kane takes off for GDI headquarters."

The game, scheduled for release in 2010, features a campaign mode for both sides of the...conflict? New to the series in Command & Conquer 4 is a 5-on-5 objective-based multiplayer mode, requiring players to strategize and cooperate on a level never before seen in the franchise.

Command & Conquer is a powerful franchise with an amazing 15-year legacy. We are thrilled to bring the dramatic Tiberium saga to a conclusion in Command & Conquer 4. This game is designed to give fans all the answers they've been looking for," said Mike Glosecki, Lead Producer of Command & Conquer 4 at EA Los Angeles. "With its objective-based multiplayer mode, persistent player progression and all-in-one mobile base, players will experience Command & Conquer like never before."

I predict GDI and Nod, working together...mass hysteria.

13 years may not be a particularly landmark-ey time period (technically, the series could be celebrating its Bar Mitzvah, I suppose) but EA have decided to throw a virtual party and give away presents.

If you go to www.redalert3.com on Sunday, you can download your very own copy of the original Red Alert, absolutely free.

Obviously, this is part of a promo for Red Alert 3 and if you pre-order RE3 from the site you can get a free copy of Red Alert 2, plus some extra RE3 goodies including desktop wallpapers (featuring Atkinson, McCarthy, Hu, et al) an series retrospective and an exclusive multiplayer map.

The free-for-all starts at 12:00 AM Pacific Time

He smiled...

I really take no sides in the PC VS. console dispute, so here are the four latest screens for each version. Michael Fahey

"Plus, for the winner, the Spotlight cam gives you an unchallenged ten seconds of fame to let your enemy know exactly how you feel about your victory."

If you do plan on playing C&C 3: TB via the 360, keep your favorite recording medium handy. If there's one thing the internet needs it's more videos of people acting like idiots. Michael Fahey

C&C3 360 to support camera [Eurogamer -