Command & Conquer 3 developer EA Los Angeles has admitted that it has had a "chronic issue [with product support] for more than four years," and is forming a dedicated support team to try and address the issue.

"I am not as proud of our record in supporting our games after launch. In fact, I'm downright unhappy with that aspect of our business," EALA general manager Mike Verdu wrote on the official C&C site. The admission stemmed from a long-delayed patch for the PC edition of the C&C3 expansion pack Kane's Wrath.

Verdu noted that EALA tends to release a "limited number of patches for our products and in many cases those patches take longer than they should," attributing the issues to "tension between developing new products and supporting our older products."

However, he was clear the the problems "are not a matter of being greedy." In fact, Verdu claimed the time and "seven figure sums" invested in support... Read more

Being an evil mastermind is a rather demanding job, and one that doesn't really allow the time for proper exploration of career alternatives. Given that, it's easy to understand why Command & Conquer's Kane is continually plotting, scheming, masterminding and worse: he really has no choice. EA understands this, and obliged the man another run at worldwide domination in Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath, now out on Xbox 360.

And what better way to celebrate such a man than by giving some loot away featuring his likeness? Recently we asked you to show off your Command & Conquer knowledge, to prove if you're truly a Kaniac. In return, we have chosen five true believers for prizey goodness. But first, let's address the question of just how evil Kane is.

• Crastabule: Kane is such a villainous genius, he would defeat hair loss by developing V05 Tiberium Growth Gel (TM). (May cause uncontrolled hair growth)
• 3mnkids: Kane is such a villainous genius, he would defeat the big wig oil company men but making them drink their product.
• arbiter01: Kane is such a villainous genius, he would defeat James Kirk by killing his son. KAAAAANE!!!!
• camper223: Kane is such a villainous genius, he would sell... Read more

Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath marks the third real-time strategy game EA Los Angeles has brought to Xbox 360. One of the major claims this time around is that the studio has, at long last, resolved the controls it says were "lauded by critics."

But is this the control scheme for real-time strategy efforts on consoles? Lead producer Jim Vessella thinks so. Well, as far as next week's one-two punch of Kane's Wrath and Supreme Commander on Xbox 360 is concerned.

"We think that this is certainly going to be the best control scheme for RTS games coming out next week," he told Shacknews. "[With] the Radial Interface, we really think that we've hit the chord for the console audience."

"That's not to say that we're going to stop there, we are going to continue developing this control scheme," he continued. "We're actually already iterating on it for [Command & Conquer] Red Alert 3's development, and we have some new, really cool features."

But why did it take three games to reach that point in the first place? Furthermore, why do PC gamers need C&C3 to run the expansion while Xbox 360 gamers... Read more

Next week's Xbox 360 release of EA LA's Command & Conquer 3 expansion Kane's Wrath will help the developer "test the waters" regarding standalone game expansions.

While the PC edition of Kane's Wrath, which premiered earlier this year, required ownership of Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars, the cover of the Xbox 360 version boasts that it "DOES NOT require Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars to play."

"We're going to test the waters here with the Xbox 360 version as a standalone version," lead producer Jim Vessella told Shacknews. "If the fans and the audience like that formula, then perhaps we'll investigate the standalone on PC in the future."

As for why this test was not performed with the PC release, Vessella ... Read more

Publisher Electronic Arts has passed in two new screenshots of the Xbox 360 version of EA Los Angeles' Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath (PC, 360), due in stores on June 23.

The console release of Kane's Wrath, unlike its PC counterpart, is a standalone expansion which does not require ownership of Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars.

Expect an interview with Kane's Wrath lead producer Jim Vessella tomorrow.

EA Los Angeles' Xbox 360 port of Command & Conquer: Kane's Wrath is complete and will be in stores June 23, publisher Electronic Arts announced today. Registered users can use the HD Stream

Unlike the PC edition, which arrived earlier this year, the Xbox 360 version of Kane's Wrath is a standalone expansion that does not require ownership of Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars.

Priced at $39.99, the real-time strategy title details the the rise of NOD following the second Tiberium War and contains a new single-player campaign along with new units. The Xbox 360 release contains an exclusive challenge mode along with a new radial interface, dubbed CommandStick.

Six new Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath screenshots have been released, providing another look at the upcoming strategy game expansion pack in development for PC and Xbox 360. All I can say is there is much love for lasers in them.

In case you just can't wait until spring to see Kane again, here's a brief new cinematic trailer from the Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath (PC, X360) expansion pack.

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Registered users can also use the HD stream.

Here are eleven new snaps from the Command & Conquer 3 expansion pack Kane's Wrath, due out on PC and Xbox 360 this March.

Electronic Arts has released a few new screenshots and unit renders for its upcoming expansion pack to Command and Conquer 3. Check them out below. Command and Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath is set for a spring 2008 release on PC and Xbox 360.

The live-action cutscenes of the upcoming Command & Conquer 3 expansion pack Kane's Wrath will showcase the acting talents of Natasha Henstridge (pictured left), described on IMDB as "The Chick from Species," and Carl Lumbly, who played Marcus Dixon in Alias, voiced J'onn J'onzz in the Justice League cartoon series, and appeared in one episode of Battlestar Galactica.

The two will be joined on-screen by returning C&C veteran Joe Kucan, who plays Kane, the leader of the Brotherhood of Nod. EA says the trio are the "epicenter" of the expansion's 20-year story, which begins with the rebuilding of the Brotherhood following the Second Tiberium War. Pictures of the three characters accompanied the announcement.

There is no word yet if the other famed actors from Command & Conquer 3--such as Tricia Helfer, Billy Dee Williams, Grace Park, Josh Holloway, and Michael Ironside--will be reprising their roles in the prequel.

Currently under development at EA Los Angeles, the studio responsible for Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars (PC, X360), Kane's Wrath is slated to arrive on PC and Xbox 360 in spring 2008. The expansion will pack six new sub-factions along with new units, structures, and powers, with the console version said to be sporting "a revolutionary new radial interface."

A trailer for the Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars expansion pack Kane's Wrath is now available, offering cinematic and gameplay footage. Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath is due out next year for PC and Xbox 360.

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GameSpot is the first out the gate with a Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath Q&A. Executive producer Mike Verdu is asked about the new features and content found in the expansion pack.

Last night on the first Command & Conquer BattleCast, Electronic Arts announced the first expansion pack for Command & Conquer 3, subtitled Kane's Wrath.

The core addition to the game comes in the form of a new "global domination meta-game," described as "Risk on steroids" by producer Jim Vassella. The player will move their armies around a global map, and upon collision with the enemy, the game will shift to a standard C&C match. Upon exiting the match, the remnants of your army will persist in the game world, as in a game like Creative Assembly's Rome: Total War.

In addition to the campaign map, a new radial interface will be brought over to both the Xbox 360 and PC versions of the game. The interface allows the player to manage a base from any point on the map, assigning queues on the fly.

As far as standard additions go, each faction will now feature... Read more