EA's contribution to the London Games Festival 2008 featured live performances from Natasha Bedingfield, The Automatic and McFly among other musical luminaries, but the main focus was giving gamers the chance to get hands on with new releases.

The plastic dome hosted to the launch party for Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3, attended actress/presenter/lingerie model Gemma Atkinson (aka Lt Eva McKenna), which gave hundreds of gamers the chance to play the game before its launch at midnight on October 31st.

Game assault on Trafalgar Square [BBC News]

“We're looking at doing some really cool things with the PS3 version,”C&C TV presenter David Silverman told VideoGamer, “ Since it is shipping later we're putting in a lot of cool content and really taking advantage of both the 1080p nature and the high-defness of Blu-Ray and also the fact that it can hold just so much more space.”

Silverman would not confirm a release date, but promised that “Bide your time and you'll be very pleased.”

EA: PS3 Red Alert 3 back on [VideoGamer]

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]

Not at all, says EA's Greg Kasavin:

There aren't a lot of games with live action video anymore. And in this game in particular, I think we did a lot more than the previous games to inject it into the gameplay.

It's not just this thing that's off to the side, where you play a mission, you watch a video, and so on, especially since you're playing with these co-commander characters.

Hopefully it will help pull the whole experience together again in a unique way to make this game not just stand out from other RTS games, but from other games in general.

Keep on keeping on, EA, the world needs more hammy live-action cutscenes, not less.

Red Alert 3 - Why The Actors? EA's Kasavin, Ajami Explain [Gamasutra]

The source added: "They’re both pretty short."

Bear suit, eh? If that bear suit has standard, alternate reality Soviet military issue armor, we'd been inclined to believe that Mr. Flair is attached to Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 in some way. Consider it rumor for now, but hope that bear wrestling will play a major role in our lives soon. No, not just the game... our lives.

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.

These are part of a series of videos (one above, two more on the jump that have been posted as replies to other videos on YouTube, in some cases unrelated, so there's your viral aspect. The uploaders, RedWhiteBlueAlert and ThrowingStarz both joined in the past week, so, likely viral. And remember that Battlefield: Bad Company, also an EA title, took a few swings at its competition too.

And here's another one from Suki (Kelly Hu), posted as a response to a Star Trek vid. Actually, she's got others up in which she hates horror (Left 4 Dead) and expansion packs (you name it). She also likes "impressive creatures" which is probably carrying water for Spore.

Red Alert 3 Disses SC2 [sc2Pod]

"We release jewel games for the first time especially for Russian market. Owing to 1C's optimized distribution system our cooperation will become the next step in expanding EA games on regional markets of Russia and CIS", – says Murad Shapiev, Sales Director for Electronic Arts Russia.

Of course jewel cases means that the folks in Russia, along with Ukraine and Kazakhstan (careful, they're sensitive) will probably be missing out pack-ins like bulky manuals, maps, posters, and other goodies, but considering the giant piles of such items cluttering my apartment that might not be such a bad thing.

Electronic Arts and 1C Company signed a distribution agreement

Electronic Arts and 1C Company signed a distribution agreement to spread EA games over Russia and CIS countries

MOSCOW, Russia – September 18, 2008 – Electronic Arts and 1C Company announce an agreement to create new channel for distribution of EA games. According to the contract signed 1C receives the rights to distribute EA titles for PC and consoles in Russia and CIS countries. The collaboration of these two companies is firstly aimed to consolidate and advance the largest markets (after Russia) – Ukraine and Kazakhstan. 1C Company already has offices in the region and has leading market share in these countries.

Another important stage in the cooperation of Electronic Arts and 1C Company is the distribution of EA games for PC in economy jewel packs in Russia. For the first time ever part of new games released by world's leading publisher will be distributed in economy packs (CD jewel case). Electronic Arts plans to release three new jewel packed games for PC - Crysis Warhead, C&C Red Alert 3, NHL 09. These games will be released in autumn 2008.

"Choice of 1C as our strategic partner is not a random decision. Nowadays 1C is a key player on the distribution market of PC games in jewels. Due to its professionalism this company gained high business reputation and we are interested in long-term and mutually profitable relations", – comments Peter Laughton, EA Vice President and General Manager of Central and Eastern Europe.

"We release jewel games for the first time especially for Russian market. Owing to 1C's optimized distribution system our cooperation will become the next step in expanding EA games on regional markets of Russia and CIS", – says Murad Shapiev, Sales Director for Electronic Arts Russia.

"The agreement signed is an unprecedented event for Russian market. World's leading publisher will unite its strength with the largest Russian software company. We greet Electronic Arts' initiative to distribute games in economy packs", - notes Nikolay Baryshnikov, International Sales Director for 1C Company. "1С became one of the first companies to introduce that scheme in Russian industry. I am sure that the experience gained along with our distribution network which is the biggest in Russia and CIS countries will contribute to effective collaboration and further growth of Russian game market."

In Crysis Warhead the player has to fit in the Nanosuit of Sergeant "Psycho" Sykes, one of the most memorable characters of Crysis. Occurrences in the story of Psycho, who has always been more aggressive and impudent than his comrade Nomad, take place at the same time with the original game in another part of the island. They turn out to be even more dynamic and intense. Fortunately, Psycho's Nanosuit can perform a lot as it is equipped with modifiable weapons and many new techniques, helping the players to find out the right way from any complicated situation. Besides of that remarkable campaign the player can also participate in multiplayer mode.

C&C Red Alert 3 presents a thrilling journey to the future of the alternative universe that appeared as the result of unsuccessful travel in time. Developed by EA Los Angeles Red Alert 3 sets new standards in real-time strategy genre, introducing campaign for co-operate mode. The campaign keeps renowned non-complicated style and classic rich gameplay.

NHL 09 introduces the opportunity to step on ice rink on your own! New "Be a Pro" mode allows to customize the character looking anyhow you wish. And in "Hall of Fame" you can not even simply create a character to play, but also to join him in the way to glory through AHL and NHL. Improved "Skill Stick" and control system, taken from NHL94 allows the player to command with his characters clearly and easily.

Red Alert 3: Exclusive Tanya Trailer [Gametrailers]

[via Big Download]

Like the other games, though, spare a thought for the dev team. It's not their decision to implement SecuROM, it's EAs, and the following plea from the team makes clear just how polarising a topic this has become:

Red Alert 3 is shaping up to be a world-class RTS game that will give you many hours of enjoyment. I think it would be a shame if people decided to not play a great game simply because it came with DRM, but I understand that this is a very personal decision for many of you and I respect that. As you might imagine, I’m a lot less respectful of those people who take the position that they will illegally download a game simply because it has DRM.

For a full run-down of Red Alert 3's specific blend of SecuROM, hit the link below.

So what's the deal with copy protection in Red Alert 3? [EA]

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

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.

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!

System Requirements:
* OS – Windows XP / Vista (32-Bit)
* Processor – XP: 2.0 GHz (Intel Pentium 4; AMD Athlon 2000+; Multiple Cores) / Vista: 2.2 GHz (Intel Pentium 4/AMD Athlon 2200+/Multiple Cores)
* Memory – XP/Vista: 1 GB
* Hard Drive – Media: 6.0 GB / EA Link: 12.0 GB
* DVD Drive - 8 SPEED
* Video Card – NVIDIA GeForce 6800, ATI Radeon X1800 or higher end DirectX 9.0c compatible gfx card
* Sound Card - DirectX 9.0c compatible (Creative Sound Blaster Audigy cards require a Intel P4 2.6 GHz or similar under Vista, Yamaha Xwave-512 not supported)
* Online Multiplayer – 512 Kbps or faster; 2-8 Players
* Input - Keyboard, Mouse
* Optional – VoIP Headset

Red Alert 3 System Requirements [Strategy Informer, via Evil Avatar]

Her name's Yuriko Omega. There's a clip of her floating around and exploding tanks with her mind on the game's official site.

You may think there's better things you can do with 15 minutes. Tidy your room, for example. Marinate tomorrow night's steak dinner. Take a slightly-too-long dump while you finish a chapter in that book you're reading. All good things, but come on, if you can spare the time for those, you can spare the time for a 15-minute walkthrough of Red Alert 3 gameplay. Construction, combat, the works.

[via Rock, Paper, Shotgun]

We really do think the live-action cinematics are a staple of the Red Alert series. We're going pretty full bore with the cinematics this time. We're going to have more than an hour of cinematics; it's almost a minimovie that we're shooting for this.