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.

He smiled...

Ah, Q&As, the bane of journalists. While I usually detest this fire-and-forget form of "journalism" occasionally it does manage to impart some interesting tidbits, too bad the reader has to do all of the work and hunt for them.

Gamespot recently had a chance to speak with Joe Kucan, the man rehired to voice and play Nod leader, Kane. Here's some of the better bits of the interview:

GS: Why do you think EA brought you back to appear in the new game? What do you think you bring to the role of Kane that a look-alike or sound-alike might not be able to capture?

JK: The real reason they brought me back was because I'm cheap and easily persuaded to help move heavy pieces of scenery in between shots. In all seriousness, Mike Verdu, the game's executive producer, has made his enthusiasm for the original C&C series and the methodology behind his vision for the game very obvious from the start. He had an early love of the game even before he started working at EA, and when he flew out to my house to pitch the project, I could tell right away that he was a big C&C fan because he had my face tattooed on his chest. I thought that was sweet.

I honestly think that I might be the only one in the world who understands the humor in Kane—the wry sense of absurdity behind a lot of the megalomaniacal snarkiness. It's a fine line to tread between that sort of humor and the over-the-top, hyperdramatic, almost-Shakespearean villainy. It's a really tough distinction that I've worked very hard to create, right from the beginning of the C&C franchise.

If you want to read about his beauty secrets and how he likes to play a 1969 Pontiac GTO in Need for Speed 3, then hit the link. Brian Crecente

Q&A: C&C3's Kane speaks! [Gamespot]

If this was about any game but Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars I probably wouldn't have bothered posting, but anything that has the words Command and Conquer in it gets me all hot and bothered.

EA LA announced today that Joe Kucan, the actor who has played the character Kane in all of the Command and Conquer games, will once more be playing Kane.

Fortunately, EA threw in a little bit of interesting background on the game's plot as well to keep my interest. I slapped the full press release on the jump. Brian Crecente

EA Los Angeles (EALA) is thrilled to reveal today that Joe Kucan, the original actor who portrayed the character Kane in Command & Conquer (C&C) games over the last decade, is reprising his role as the megalomaniacal leader of the Brotherhood of Nod (Nod) in Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars (C&C 3). Kucan will appear in an array of high-definition, live action video sequences that seamlessly tie the game's epic story together. These full-motion video sequences will also feature an unparalleled, diverse cast and will help bring the story behind the Tiberium Universe to life.

"Kane lives indeed!" said Joe Kucan, the actor who originated the popular villain over a decade ago. "I am looking forward to capturing the imagination of a whole new generation of C&C fans and the series' avid supporters. EALA has done some amazing work, and I am truly honored to be back in the Brotherhood."

About C&C 3
March, 2047. A massive nuclear fireball explodes high in the night sky, marking the dramatic beginning to the Third Tiberium War and long-awaited return of the most groundbreaking Real-time Strategy franchise (RTS) of all time.

The critically-acclaimed C&C series returns with C&C 3. Setting the standard for the future of RTS gaming once more, C&C 3 takes you back to where it all began—the Tiberium Universe.

In 2047, Tiberium has blanketed the Earth, which is now divided into zones based on the level of Tiberium infestation. Pristine Blue Zones represent 20% of the planet's surface and are the last refuge of the civilized world. Partially habitable Yellow Zones make up 50% of the planet's surface; most of the world's population lives in these war-torn and ecologically ravaged areas. The remaining 30% of the planet is uninhabitable, a Tiberium wasteland swept by violent Ion Storms. Red Zones are like the surface of an Alien planet.

The infamous Kane has returned to lead the Brotherhood of Nod in a massive global assault on the Global Defense Initiative and the few remaining Blue Zones left on the planet. Only you can stop him. The fate of humanity - and the planet - is in your hands.

Featuring state-of-the-art, next-generation graphics, an epic story with live action, full-motion video sequences, and the classic fast-paced C&C style of play, C&C 3 sets the standard for the single player RTS experience. When you decide to test your skills online, a suite of truly innovative features, such as the ability to transform online battles into a spectator sport, unfold.