The Commander's Challenge add-on provides the player with a series of 50 challenges against a set of nine different commanders, one of which is "Nature Boy" Ric Flair of wrestling fame. As players progress through the various challenges, they unlock new units, new technology, and even more challenges, until eventually they finish the final one and fall back on the couch, completely spent.

Basically it's a whole slew of new content, which is always good. I just hope they price it as an amazing value.

"Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 Commander's Challenge launches players into action-packed scenarios while going head-to-head against ruthless commanders who will stop at nothing to crush your army," said Wes Eckhart, Producer of Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 Commander's Challenge at EA Los Angeles. "Commander's Challenge delivers the ultimate RTS gameplay experience console players have been craving. Delivering over thirty hours of RTS entertainment, it is an incredible value at less than $10."

Oh thank goodness! I worried for nothing.

The Commander's Challenge will be released sometime this fall for 800 Microsoft points and $9.99 PlayStation real monies respectively.

Okay, well perhaps it isn't all that ultimate, but it gets the job done, mentioning the Blu-ray disc they've packed with delicious C&C:RA3 goodness while giving a basic overview of the game's plot, which is all we ask for a game trailer to do. Check out the ultimate official press release below to ultimately learn more.

EA BRINGS BEST-SELLING RTS FRANCHISE TO THE PLAYSTATION 3 FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH COMMAND & CONQUER RED ALERT 3: ULTIMATE EDITION

Red Alert 3 Comes to PS3 this March with a Ton of Extras Including Exclusive Multiplayer Maps, Over an Hour Worth of Video and More

Guildford, UK., January 21, 2009 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that the Command & Conquer™ Red Alert™ 3: Ultimate Edition will be bringing the best-selling Command & Conquer franchise to the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system for the very first time this March. The Ultimate Edition includes everything from last year’s award-winning release of Command & Conquer™ Red Alert™ 3, while taking full advantage of the PLAYSTATION 3’s Blu-ray disc capacity, offering an extensive array of exclusive bonus content, making the Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Ultimate Edition the ultimate Red Alert 3 experience and an incredible value for PLAYSTATION 3 gamers.

“Our team has been dedicated to bringing the RTS genre to console gamers and we are excited to have this opportunity to introduce PS3 owners to Command & Conquer,” said David Seeholzer, Development Director at EA Los Angeles. “The PS3 is a very powerful platform, and the extra time we have had in development has helped us create the ultimate console RTS experience, with better graphics, improved performance, a ton of extras and some nice exclusive perks that cannot be found on any other version of Red Alert 3.”

Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 blends the over-the-top humor and fast, fluid and fun gameplay the series is known for with exciting new innovations for the RTS genre, including fully co-operative, story driven-campaigns and an unprecedented emphasis on naval gameplay. PLAYSTATION 3 gamers will navigate the C&C style, action-packed gameplay via the Command Stick 2.0 interface, an intuitive control system that allows gamers of all skill levels to easily and efficiently command their units on the battlefield. Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Ultimate Edition also packs in a tremendous amount of bonus content, including:
• Five exciting new multiplayer maps
• Behind the scenes videos and trailers, including Raising the Iron Curtain Documentary, From Pens to Pixels, the Girls of Red Alert 3, Bloopers & Outtakes, the Red Alert 3 Remix and many more!
• PS3 exclusive Command & Conquer TV programming, including PS3-dedicated BattleCast™ PrimeTime and a special episode of Command School focused on tips, tricks and strategies from the development team
• In-depth profiles on all the Red Alert 3 Units
• The official Red Alert 3 soundtrack

Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 also features the franchise’s trademark live-action movie sequences starring one of the largest and most talented ensemble casts in the history of video games, including (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 a special appearance by David Hasselhoff.

The Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Ultimate Edition will ship in March 2009 for the PLAYSTATION 3 and has been rated ‘T’ for Teen by the ESRB and ‘16+’ by PEGI. For more information about the game, please visit www.commandandconquer.com. Fans of Command & Conquer can continue to get their fix 24 hours a day, seven days a week at Command & Conquer TV, EA’s dedicated online Command & Conquer network that goes beyond the game and brings players all the latest news, tips and strategies.

###

Fortunately, EA has a helpful workaround to help gamers in need. Try to guess what it is.

No, that's actually the solution. Customer support suggests "guessing" the missing character. Start with "A." If that doesn't work, try "B." No? "C" then? Keep going. "D" is next. If it's not a letter, it might be a number. Try those too. The good news is that three dozen failed attempts to activate your game won't lock you out of your copy of the game.

From the official C&C customer support page.

There is currently a work around that may allow you to bypass this issue. Since you have the first 19 characters of the code already, you can basically try "guessing" the last character. To do this, simply enter your existing code, and then for the last character, try the letters A-Z, and then the numbers 0-9. You should eventually get the right combination, and be able to play the game.

We're guessing at least one of the 259 of 1540 people who claim they found this answer helpful are lying.

Gamers alphanumerically challenged can always contact EA via its online "contact us" form or by good old fashioned telephone.

What can I do if my Command and Conquer Red Alert 3 install code is 19 characters instead of 20? [EA via Digg]

But wait, there's more, that phone number at the top? Yeah, it works. Call it and you can hear Hoff and a robot voice engage in slightly nonsequiturish dialogue, or his choice for president of the United States. You may also leave him a message. I asked if he enjoyed Early Times before he shot the vids.

Sorry, there was no embed code. Someone's job depends on the site visits, you know.

Conquer This Life [website, thanks jiles]

Oh and here's his most awesome stunt ever. I like the fact he has a fucking car that talks, but he still has to hit turbo boost manually.

Sure, this pandering Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 trailer starts beautifully, with cheesecake shots of cut-scene actresses Jenny McCarthy, Gemma Atkinson, Gina Carano and Kelly Hu, whose only purpose is to get boys all hot and bothered. But then it becomes lousy with Y chromosomes, wrinkly dudes and "more established" actors. Men. Yuck. At least EA will get a couple more "Premier Edition" sales out of it.

Chris Corey, executive producer for Red Alert 3, says that McCarthy is a "badass" Tanya, that's she's more than capable to tackle the role of the special ops commando. After co-piloting a two-player coop demo of the PC version of the real-time strategy game, Corey tried to allay fan fears that the former Playboy Playmate wasn't ready to fill the tank top. Corey sounded pretty enthused to have her on board.

Hey, if they're happy, I'm happy.

Thanks, Jelmer for the tip!

Cinematic Trailer [EA]

Also announced was the appearance of Kelly Hu, who will join Gina Carano and Gemma Atkinson as the Empire of the Rising Sun's obligatory sexpot. EA's definitely going straight for the groin with this one.

Finally, in the cinematic trailer shown at Leipzig, it appears that Peter Stormare will play a part in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3. Oh snap!

QUICK! Gemma Atkinson 360 theme out now! [CVG]

"We actually announced a PS3 version early on but that was when we were still doing a lot of technical exploration of the architecture. PS3 is a very powerful system but as you guys know it's very exotic and tough to develop for and our engine really at the time wasn't designed for PS3."

And another game falls to the old "tough to develop for" excuse. There's still a glimmer of hope, however, as Ajami does go on to say that they might go back and do something with the PS3 later one. Might? PS3 owners need not your "might". They need Tesla coils, and they need them immediately.

EA explains no PS3 Red Alert 3 [videogamer.com]

Hammer & Sickle
Drop the hammer into this cool cocktail.

The Kirov
The pride of Russian, stirred with crimson juice.

Red October
A refreshing rum cocktail with a hint of cherry.

Lenin's Tomb
A nonalcoholic punch for our moderate comrades.

I stuck to the beer.

The move isn't without its benefits, however, as PC and Xbox 360 development is being bolstered by newly freed resources. You can look forward to seeing C&C Red Alert 3 on those platforms this Autumn. We'll keep you in the loop should further developments unfold for the PS3 version.

Work on Red Alert PS3 officially halted [Eurogamer]

On the one hand, she really is doing amazing things to that tight shorts and tiny jacket ensemble, and the gun adds a certain something. She is rather pretty and well-spoken for someone who beats up other people for a living.

On the other hand, she beats up other people for a living and could probably kill me with an errant thought, or hell, even on accident, like some terrifying all grown-up Elmira from Tiny Toons, hugging and squeezing me until I die.

Phew, nevermind. Invoking Tiny Toons always cancels out any excitement...well, unless we're talking mink.

ELITEXC FIGHTER AND AMERICAN GLADIATOR GINA CARANO TO APPEAR IN COMMAND & CONQUER RED ALERT 3

She has left opponents lying defeated in the cages of EliteXC mixed martial arts competitions and would-be contenders gasping for air throughout Gladiator Arena in American Gladiators. And now America’s “Crush” is ready to lay waste to the battlefields in Command & Conquer Red Alert 3.

Electronic Arts announced today that rising star and undefeated EliteXC MMA fighter Gina Carano will be starring as Natasha, a deadly Soviet commando, in Red Alert 3, one of the most anticipated strategy games of the year coming to the PC and Xbox 360 this holiday season. Carano will not only appear in person and in high-definition as Natasha as part of Red Alert 3’s live-action movies, but will also be featured digitally as a playable unit in the game.

“The last year has been such a whirlwind for me, from everything that’s happening with EliteXC this weekend to American Gladiators and now with EA and Red Alert 3,” said Carano. “Natasha is such a cool, powerful character, her actions definitely speak louder than her words which is something I definitely identify with. I can’t wait to see how everything turns out and I hope all of the gamers out there have a great time wreaking havoc as me.”

Carano can be seen tomorrow night headlining the undercard on CBS during EliteXC’s “Saturday Night Fights”, the first MMA card to air on broadcast network television and every Monday night on NBC slamming would-be contenders as “Crush” on NBC’s popular American Gladiators series. Carano joins a prestigious list of stars that have crossed over to appear in the Command & Conquer franchise’s trademark live-action video movies, including: James Earl Jones (Star Wars), Josh Holloway (Lost), Billy Dee Williams (Star Wars), Michael Biehn (The Terminator, Aliens), Natasha Henstridge (Species), Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica), Jennifer Morrison (House), and Michael Ironside (Top Gun).

Hear more from Carano on her upcoming fight and her first foray into the world of video games in Red Alert 3 in this month’s episode of BattleCast PrimeTime on Command & Conquer TV, debuting today at noon PDT at www.commandandconquer.com, the home of everything C&C. And stay tuned for more announcements surrounding the star-studded cast of Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 this summer.

EA REWRITES HISTORY IN COMMAND & CONQUER: RED ALERT 3 Be Among the First to Return to Red Alert with the Exclusive Beta Invite in Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath

Chertsey, UK - February 14, 2008 - After a seven-year hiatus, Electronic Arts today announces the return of Red Alert, one of the most beloved and best-selling real-time strategy franchises. Command & Conquer™: Red Alert™ 3, for the PC, Xbox 360TM video game and entertainment system and the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, takes players on an epic adventure to a breathtaking alternate future spawned by time travel run amok. Developed by EA Los Angeles, Red Alert 3 breaks new ground in the RTS genre, featuring a fully co-operative campaign while bringing back the series' light-hearted style and classic, action-oriented gameplay.

"The Red Alert games are known for challenging hardcore strategy gamers with depth, variety, and innovative gameplay. But they also belong to that rare breed of games that can draw in more casual players with their over-the-top stories, instantly accessible mechanics, and straight-to-the-fun design," said Mike Verdu, general manager of EALA. "With Red Alert 3, our team is continuing that proud tradition by introducing genre-first features like co-operative campaign play, which rewards veterans and casual players alike. In Red Alert 3, friends and family can always have your back."

"It's been too long." said Chris Corry, executive producer at EALA. "Fans have been waiting for a new Red Alert game for seven years, and we're working hard to ensure its well worth the wait. The team is staying true to the series' roots while adding new elements like a co-operatively played story-driven campaign, an astounding new faction that will shake-up the Red Alert universe as we know it, and units that will help make Red Alert 3 everything our fans have been waiting for. And by bringing naval combat into the heart of the game design, we're transporting that fast, fun and fluid C&C gameplay to the high-seas in ways that you've never seen before."

In Red Alert 3, the desperate leadership of a doomed Soviet Union travels back in time to change history and restore the glory of Mother Russia. The time travel mission goes awry, creating an alternate timeline where technology has followed an entirely different evolution, a new superpower has been thrust on to the world stage, and World War III is raging. The Empire of the Rising Sun has risen in the East, making World War III a three-way struggle between the Soviets, the Allies, and the Empire with armies fielding wacky and wonderful weapons and technologies like Tesla coils, heavily armed War Blimps, teleportation, armored bears, intelligent dolphins, floating island fortresses, and transforming tanks.

Red Alert 3 asks the question "What If?" What if every bizarre research project and technology experiment for the last 70 years had actually borne fruit? What if the Philadelphia Experiment, time travel theory, teleportation, invisibility, Tesla technology, and a hundred other intriguing research projects had all paid off and gone mainstream? What if the Soviet Union survived and thrived; what would it look like 10 years in the future? What if the Japanese Empire had never fallen and instead became the ultimate high-tech military superpower? The end result is an imaginative and playful vision of an alternate future filled with possibility.

Command & Conquer fans eager to experience Red Alert 3 before anyone else can get early access to the beta (available for the PC only - an announcement about the Red Alert 3 beta dates will be made this summer) by picking up a copy of Command & Conquer™ 3: Kane's Wrath later this year.

For fans of Red Alert and Command & Conquer, EA hosts a dedicated online Web cast that goes beyond the game and brings players all the latest series news, tips and strategies. The flagship show, BattleCastTM Primetime, is a unique program that offers a sportscast look and feel for featured fan multiplayer matches, including expert commentary. Command & Conquer, BattleCast Primetime can be seen on the official Command & Conquer website http://www.commandandconquer.com/.

This product is not yet rated by the ESRB, PEGI or USK. For more information about Red Alert 3 or the Command & Conquer series, please visit www.commandandconquer.com.

###