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Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3

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From: Electronic Arts
Category: Video Games

List Price: ~~$49.99~~
Buy New: $16.99
You Save: $33.00 (66%)

New (26) Used (7) from $16.99

Rating: 2.0 out of 5 stars

156 reviews
Sales Rank: 198

Format: Cd-rom
Platforms: Windows Xp, Windows Vista
Genre: real_time_strategy_games
ESRB: Teen
Media: DVD-ROM
Edition: Standard
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Age: 12 - 20 years
Operating System: Windows Vista
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6

MPN: 19039
UPC: 014633190397
EAN: 0014633190397
ASIN: B0016BVY7U

Release Date: October 28, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: New Factory Sealed

Features:

•	Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 for the PC brings back the fan-favorite real-time strategy game
•	The Soviets created a time-travel device which creates interesting plot twists
•	Play as the Allies, the Soviets, or the Empire of the Rising Sun
•	Red Alert 3 has land units, air units, and naval units, all integral parts of the game
•	Cooperative campaign and head-to-head multiplayer modes provide hours of fun gameplay

Similar Items:

•	Fallout 3
•	Gears of War 2
•	Call of Duty: World at War
•	Far Cry 2
•	Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath

Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com Product Description
Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 from EA brings back the fan-favorite real-time strategy game in its latest incarnation with new features, powers, technologies, and a different world. Now, you can play not just by yourself but also cooperatively with a friend as you take on the enemy in this glorious, over-the-top romp.

Co-operative mode lets you and a friend play together in campaign mode. View larger.

Wage battle on sea as well as on land and in air. View larger.

There is over an hour of in-game video. View larger.

Red Alert 3 introduces new units and a brand new faction. View larger.

Intriguing Plot Twists
In previous games, the war between the Allies and Soviets was coming to a close with the Allies nearing victory. In desperation, the Soviets created a time-travel device that they've used to assassinate Albert Einstein before he is able to develop the weapon technology the Allies later use to defeat the Soviets. Upon returning, they notice a new world, and there is a world war taking place between three groups for control of the world.

Play As Three Different Factions for Varied game play
In Red Alert 3, you have the choice to play as the Allies, the Soviets, or the Empire of the Rising Sun. Each faction has its own story-line and distinct units with advantages and disadvantages that you have to master in order to win. The new faction to the series is the Empire of the Rising Sun, derived from Imperial Japan, with an all-new cast of units and characters.

The three factions have many differences, exemplified by their wildly different types of units. The Soviets, for example, have armored attack bears, Allies have the Dolphin ship which can high jump and use a sonic attack, and the Empire of the Rising Sun features such quirky units as a giant transforming mecha and ninjas. As they've done with the series, EA injects humor into the game when possible, keeping a smile on your face as you wage war.

Fight on Land, in the Air, and on Sea
Red Alert 3 has land units, air units, and naval units, all integral parts of the game. Unlike most strategy games that don't bother with naval warfare, Red Alert 3 makes controlling the seas an essential part of the game. Controlling resources in the seas and mounting attacks from all directions are strategies that must be employed to achieve victory.

Cooperative Mode Lets You Team Up with Your Friends
Red Alert 3 has a fully co-operative campaign mode where you and a friend can play together to achieve victory. This means that you have to develop a strategy together, as well as execute it in synch in order to win. If your friends aren't online, you can also choose one of several AI commanders as your teammate.

Play Against Your Friends in Multiplayer
With the different units and play mechanics of each faction, you and your friends will have a great time playing against each other, perfecting different strategies to best suit the units you have and the maps you play on. And thanks to the balanced game play, no one will have an unfair advantage.

For previous fans of Command and Conquer, Red Alert 3 will provide the same light-hearted game play, but with more units, more strategies, and more fun. Newcomers to the game will soon see what all the fuss and laughter is about.

Minimum System Requirements
Operating System	Microsoft Windows XP / Vista (32-bit)
CPU	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	512 MB for Windows XP; 1 GB for Vista
Hard Drive Space	6 GB / 12GB for EA Link
DVD Drive	8x Speed
Graphics Hardware	NVIDIA GeForce 6800, ATI Radeon X1800 or higher end DirectX 9.0c compatible graphics card
Sound	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	512Kbps or faster Internet connection
Input	Keyboard, mouse

Customer Reviews: Read 151 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Five Stars you say? Let me tell you why - oh and yes, DRM included... November 10, 2008
R. G. Allen (United Kingdom)
9 out of 12 found this review helpful

Hello there,

So you are unsure whether to buy Red Alert 3? Well, I hope this review will help you make your mind up, one way or the other.

Firstly let me say, giving this game 5 stars is sure to get me shot at by other Amazon reviewers, this is due to the on-going and totally fair DRM discussion. I agree that it is a major problem and must stop. In fact I am a suporter of hurting EA greatly in order to change their minsd, but this review is about the game and I will mention the problems as well - a review has both pros and cons, and this is no exception.

There are sections to this review, so you can pick and choose, if you read it through fully, have a cup of tea ready, it is a long review, other wise just dive in where you please.

1. THE GAME AND TALK ABOUT GAME, COOL FEATUERS, PROS, CONS AND SOME THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT FIND EASILY BY SEARCHING ONLINE FOR INFORMATION.

2. A WORD FOR GIFT BUYERS! SO OFTEN NEGLECTED, THIS IS FOR PEOPLE BUYING FOR LOVERS, FRIENDS OR PARENTS BUYING FOR THEIR KIDS ALIKE. IT'S JUST SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE GAME, ADVICE ABOUT IT, AND MOSTLY JUST PUTTING YOUR FEARS AT REST AND NOTING SOME FEATURES YOU MAY FIND PLEASING IF YOU ARE NOT THE INTENDED RECIPIENT BUT THE GIVER OF THE GAME.

3. INFORMATION ABOUT DRM AND ALL THAT EA STUFF, IT IS WORD, BUT IT IS AT THE END SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO IF YOU DON'T WANT TO.

We'll get started shall we? I hope you have a cup of tea or coffee on hand.

-THE GAME-
Pro's (in short):
* Astonishing graphics, simply incredible for a relatively low-end spec ask.
* Clever yet simple changes in gameplay have elevated it above any other RTS currently on the market.
* Love them or loath them ... EA has done to an extent the impossible in two ways with this game. A) They have solved one of the age old problems that afflict all popular 'series' games - namely the problem being "how do we keep the game that made people fall in love with it, but change it so it is not just a 'upgraded' version?". They did this well. This feels like Red Alert in everywhere, yet it is profoundly different. We are talking about gameply here of course. B) They have somehow managed to alienate potentially the best game of the decade with a schoolboy error like the introduction of DRM.
* Great actors, some famous names include Tim Curry, George Takei and Gina Carano. Usual loveable OTT camp acting is maintained and it is all so fantastically 'tongue-in-cheek'.
* The game is vivid and keeps its 'cartoony' look and didn't bow down to temptation to make it too realistic, yet it remains beautiful including the best water effects you'll see in an RTS anywhere.
* Simply immense fun, unlike many on this review, I have bought and played this game a lot. It is fun and the co-operative commander makes for epic battles - though on occassions you can feel very safe, when you shouldn't (however i've not played hard mode yet).
* The whole thing is beautifully put together, it does not feel rushed. It feels professional and there seem virtually no bugs - I haven't encountered any. It feels very polished. From the fantastic almost 'retro' main screen, to the seemless video-communications during battles and fast load times it never once feels jumpy or like anything didn't have simply hours poured over its design. It feels like every inch of this game was given the royal treatment and it really really shows.
* Massive campaign - this will add good longevity to the game. Also playing with a friend on co-op will be a totaaly different experience from playing with the AI commander so you'll have no issues doing the campaign twice at the very least.
* The introduction of a third opponent has usually been a disaster in 'two-sided' RTS's yet it feels 'just right' in this game it really does. The storyline and plot to integrate them is also well thought out and enjoyable - and very VERY 'Red Alert'.
* The game is unapologetic in its 'rough and raunchy' attitude and execution which is bold and daring for a modern game (with all the 'concerned mothers' nonesense straggling good adult games) EA has been gutsy in this release. It is also very 'un-politically correct'. From the cultural stereo-types to the fantastic 'eye-candy', 'one type for everyone' women brimming with sexuality which are a pleasing addition to say the least. If you are sensitive about anything like this - simply don't play it, you'll probably just wind yourself up. But it is meant to be fun and very tongue-in-cheek, if you want a comparison - think 'James Bond' films. I state again, this is all a positive, its a light-hearted relief from games that are smothered by political correctness - and before anyone thinks it, i'm actually a feminist and highly left-wing liberal - I find this enjoyable. It is important to mention this because a games atmosphere can make or break it, and this will keep you entertained and laughing out loud constantly, making you smile as you hear bizarre quips whilst crushing units with overwhelming firepower, go through the well thought out and amusing tutorial, and as you watch the simply brilliant smoothly integrated movie cutscenes, which are nicely numerous, they did not skimp on this.
* Anything else? I'm sure there is more but you'll find it out yourself I think - however one last point on the pros side. The gameplay has been altered that as such, as of today, as of you if you choose to buy this game and istall it -... 'Tank Rushing' is dead! This should be incredible news to fans of RTS. You CANNOT rush enemies in this game, you'll get cut to ribbons. You have to guide your troops look after them well, and make diverse armies. Follow the tutorial, seriously, don't just think you know it - if you go online against someone having not done the tutorial you'll die. You'll also need to use the keyboard a lot - so I hope like me, you can touch type. If not learn fast. Knowing your way around the keyboard (whilst being able to view the screen) is really essential to be any good at this game. It may seem daunting but its really not, its worth doing. This is because the F key is your 'one-stop-shop' to your units vital 'second abilities'. Unit squads assigned by numbers are also vital. Setting differing unit stances during intense battles is also key and you need the keys for this too. In fact roughly half the keyboard will be used by your 'not-my-mouse' hand. Interesting things such as where abouts on a unit a shot hits is also brilliant for the gameplay and again unexepected and again knowing the key commands will be ...key (please don't mark my review as unhelpful just for that awful pun!). For example you can hit a key which tells your unit to 'reverse' course to a location in order to keep its frontal armour facing the enemy units. If you just retreat you'll probably get shot up badly as your back armour on most units is very weak, however frontal armour is strong, plus the unit can continue to fire on the enemy this way. Extras like this are simply oustanding and lead to immensely intense gameplay. Also ore fields are gone and 'ore depots' are in. You pretty much get 'one-per-starting-position'. This means your income is limited and steady, meaning no five minute battles - thank goodness for that! This previously along with tank rush ruined all RTS's - and Red Alert has circumvented this brilliantly. If you want more money, you'll have to expand, and fast. Even then, the way the game is balanced, its hard to just 'rush people'. So prepare for some intense, long fights where strategy will be really key.

Phew! That was a long 'last point'. So so much for the pros, no how about the cons? Don't worry this is not a long read in comparison.

-Cons:
Firstly, my copy of the game and many many others shipped with only 19 serial key numbers, not 20. Now if your not very 'tech-savvy' you may not see the amusing and yet glaringly awful error here. The serial key should be 20 numbers and is ESSENTIAL for install. It is a rookie error of epic proportions. How could someone miss this on a game that is otherwise so perfectly fine tuned and detailed? Anyway, if this happens to you, just guess your last number or go on EA's website and request your last digit. I guessed mine in like 10 minutes, its only one number, so you have the alphabet and 0-9 to go through, not hard. But still, how embarrassing for EA.
* Okay, now that is out of the way. DRM will come later, so this first 'game-point' is about the AI and the pathfinding. The pathfinding is not great, but most games have this issue and it'll probably be fixed in a minor patch - its not a big deal, its just minor inconvenience. To anyone not familiar with the term, it just means that occassionally units get stuck or don't quite end up where you told them to go. This almost only ever happens in heated combat or confusing situations and where there AI confusion. It only happened to me once in six missions it should be noted - but I need to mention it. The AI is also not astounding, and seems rather unaggressive on campaign, however it will defend itself to the teeth. This is a minor shame because I think everyone is awaiting that 'quantum-leap' in RTS AI intelligence but it hasn't come yet i'm afraid. I've not played Skirmish yet (a first for me, i'm not ususally a campaign person) so I can't say if its good in that mode. However there are plenty of styles of fighting to choose from and levels of difficulty. Playing in skirmish will be harder than campaign by far I think - and just wait until you go onilne - human to human play will be the mega-feature of this game, if you don't like that it is okay, i'm not a fan either overly but this game will still be for you. So no quantum-leap in AI intelligence (like we've seen in shooters) and the pathfinding can be sketchy.
* Perhaps not the 'mega-change' from the past games some people might have hoped for. I'm impossible usually to please - I have given good reviews but I often keep only to writing reviews of games that deserve them and are actually any good - negative review bashing isn't my cup of tea - it just bores me. Its hard to be balanced with an awful game. So I myself expected this game to somehow have ... well like most people who want something 'incredible' to happen in a game, I'm not sure what I wanted. This is an RTS - plain and simple, you can't go wanting it to be what it is not. So it'll play like Red Alert 2 for example - ish very ish. But my point here is that don't expect what you can't quantify or explain, and this game will be great for you.
* There is STILL no fully 3d camera like you find in games like THQ and Relics mega 'Dawn of War' series. This is sadly missing. Dawn of War didn't have anywhere as near beautiful scenery (In fact it always looked plastic compared to the incredible animated units) and so for EA not to take advantage of this attribute is rubbish really. I'm sure someone will create a patch for this, I can't see it being difficult to rotate the camera - but sometimes honestly you'll wnat to be able to zoom out further or in closer or simple rotate it more. My point is it rotates 360 degrees, but when you zoom it it doesn't 'just zoom' it goes in at a peculiar angle and it just annoys me and many other I know. It should just zoom in and then you can flip it straight up so you can see things totall perpendicular to the ground. But this is not here, and this is a long winded gripe over seomthing fairly trivial, but it is a pet peeve.
* And that is honestly it. It could have more units I suppose and buildings etc. However i'm sure an expansion will fix this. One word on the new and very welcome 'support powers'. These are in the negative simply because its convenient and they are both good and bad. The support powers are gained not through necessarily 'achieving' things or purchasing them, they are obtained through the new 'threat metre' (very cool by the way) which detects how much trouble you are in, what the threat to you is, etc etc, how many units of your and theris have died, enemy movements near your base etc, it is just very clever. When you are in trouble this metre raises, and losing of troops adds up too until you gain points you can use to buy support powers. This is a similar but much much much better function than the one we saw in C&C Generals. Much better. It can seriously turn the tide of battle - perhaps too much..? You basically become a God and a Commander. These support powers are just horrible to go against. You use satellite weaponry, orbital attacks, storms or any number of other imaginative features to wreck havoc on your opponent. There are also powers that will upgrade things like money in take, and weaponry power etc. These powers can also be used in conjuction with each other. For example you can use a power which acts very much like a suction storm, it magneticaly grabs all units in a selected error and sucks them into orbit! This can be super-heavy mech units or simple troops (not buildings though). This 'tornado' styled weapon can then be complimented by using an 'orbital strike' style weapon which throws objects from space down to earth. On its own this throws down space trash and meteors, but if used soon after the tornado suction weapon all the units sucked up will plummet back down to wrecking enormous damage. There are simply too many combinations and subtletees of weapons like these (and standard) to be listed here - after all this is a 'cons' section not a 'info' section. However the negative of this is that the powers could be more diverse. So the suction weapon as I see it pretty much sucks up anything (it can be moved in use too) and yet the upgrade seems similar - perhaps it is just slightly longer lasting - but it can feel a little annoying. However there are 15 unique powers for each race and so you won't run out. The fact that also such a tier system exists taking ages to reach the top weapons shows just how long these battles can rage.

So that is it! I hope you enjoyed reading this and found it helpful. Below is a comment on the DRM, EA and the whole fiasco - it is worth reading and is important in relation to this game. Don't just dismiss what others have said about this game and hitting EA where it hurts in the bank and giving them poor sales for games like Spore and Red Alert 3 which should have given them record revenues is not short of a worthy cause, if it changes the way things are done then all power to the protesters. I myeslf do protest, but I bought this game and have not looked back. I would suggest you do the same, I honsetly would.

I gave it five stars by the way because the game is in itself fantastic - it truly is in many respects faultess. I will not mark it down on the external issues but by mentioning it, and allowing you to read it, I am doing my bit to bring much needed attention to it. Plus the amusing host of 1 stars given to this game I think have already done the damage and made the crippling point on the DRM issue - this game currently has an abysmal 2 stars - enough said I think for a game that should really be five.

ADVICE ON DECISION IF BUYER: BUY THE GAME, READ UP ON THE ISSUES

ADVICE FOR GIFT BUYER: BUY IT, IT'S A GOOD PURCHASE FOR EVERYONE CONCERNED - A TOP GIFT I THINK. (But read below for the full story.)

======================
A NOTE TO GIFT BUYERS! READ BELOW FIRST IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE PERCEIVED RISKS OF GETTING THE GAME:
If you are a parent - I know it must seem sometimes like people only write these reviews for gamers etc, (i'm not a parent and don't intend to be by the way) - but I acknowledge some people will be buying this game for someone, whether you be a friend, lover or relative. You may be more worried about this 'spyware' etc than anything else. I think you should put your mind at rest, it won't scan your PC, steal your identity, monitor and report your pornography collection(!), check what you are doing, or start talking to you from the PC asking for your money or else. It will not harm your friends, lover or childs identity nor will it cause any problems to you. This is really a personal choice. I would recomment buying this for someone as a gift anyday if you think they like this kind of thing and they will be ecstatic, they really will, I am a young man just out of University and a friend nearly bought this for me (an advanced copy) but didn't when they found out my fiance had already got it me - I had myself already bought it too! And so had to return one copy but the point is I couldn't have been more pleased, and i'm hard to buy gifts for. This honestly makes an excellent present for girls and guys alike, younger and older (best for over 23+ really for the backstory and so on) and is a safe bet if they are gamers, they should love it. So I hope this 'mini-review-comment' was useful to you, the often neglected 'gift' or 'parent' buyer. Oh and if you are one of the afore mentioend 'concerned mothers' i'm not sorry for my comment, we clearly have differing ideologies, but just in case you'll be glad to know, it really isn't that violent, it has not got the squelching squish or pained scream sounds of previous titles and it isn't actually strangely that addictive. Because it is so intense your child is likely to actually ask for a break! Honestly - I had a problem as a teenager with being very obsessed with games and it almost (wisened up and stopped playing them all that much in time) caused me problems with my education. And it is true that addictivity of computer games is under-acknowledged really - my parents felt your pain, So take it from me, this game is not addictive. And I think addictive games are out really and will begin to fade away just because the playing style will be less repetitive and more complex meaning that people will want breaks and take the games in plunges rather than constant lengths. The game can also be saved at ANY moment and 'objectives' in the game are short and clearly concise allowing you to save and quit at any point, so there will be no excuses for 'not right now, i just have to....x, y and az'. So I hope that puts your mind at rest, also for those buying for lovers, this applies to you too, you will see your girl/guy - they won't retreat for six months and return sallow and twitchy. I hope once again this helps and puts your mind at rest.

====================================
THE DRM/LIMITED INSTALL/SPYWARE ISSUE:
EA DISCUSSION AND COMMENTS.

If you are wondering what DRM is and the Limited Install debates... where have you been?! But seriously, Google it, or read what others have said on here about it. It in short is a form of 'anti-piracy' protection that basically hits legitimate consumers hard whilst letting pirates of the hook. However a lot of hysteria is also present with this issue, and games like Spore were not anywhere near as bad as the 'scare-reviews' given about it. It should also be noted that on the limited installations issue (Spore gave you 3 installs) EA is perfectly capable of changing this at any time with a patch, and they did so for Spore from 3 to 5. This is not a great improvement but nevertheless it shows that with a simple patch they could even remove it totally if enough objection was raised - thought how much as to be raised and how many millions of dollars EA has to lose before doing this is questionable.

As for discussing the EA execs, don't worry I won't too much. I do not like the CEO at all to say the least and many of the execs are equally as guilty of their almost delusion obsession with piracy and their unquenchable greed. However, it is a discussion for another place and if EA keep this up, the result will be simple: they will lose their status in the gaming world, and this feeling of invincibility they clearly have disappear quickly. Do not under-estimate the damage the community can do and the result of one bad game - it also works conversely. Giant companies and publishers such as THQ, Sierra, Relic, 2K Games and Blizzard Entertainment will simply take over and become more powerful - it appears EA have forgotten that there is competition. Once they lose sales to these companies they will change. So I do not believe the future is as bleak as many make out - and i'm a sceptic.

The DRM (Digital Rights Management) limited install thing is a pest and a pain and should really be illegal. It is amazing they can do this it really is. It would be like purchasing a book and being told you could only read it twice - before it bursts into flames. The whole thing is an outrage but i'm not going to get wound up by it myself, plenty of people are doing this for me. I have bought both Spore and Red Alert 3 and have had more fun with games than I have had in years. Put it this way, in nearly 6 years i've only bought the Dawn of War series, the Civilizition IV series and the two afore mentioned games. And I would consider myself a hardcore-gamer (or used to be) - the point is games have been so bad in recent years they haven't been worth purchasing. However both Spore and Red Alert 3 have put my faith back in games. Okay both of them appear to have some content missing (don't get me started on Spore) from the origianl look, no doubt with Spore done so they can 'spoon feed' us the content that should have been there - this is wrong, deceitful and just ridiculous, but its being done. The Sims gave them the idea for this, YET it may also end this trend. Sims 2 was not doing well in the expansions in the end and piracy increased as a result because people for the first time saw piracy as legitimate who had previously objected to it: after all it is not worth paying $20 for a new outfit and some small featuers - unless you have the money or are say a parent and can afford it; my fiance bought Sims exp-packs for her 12 year old sister and it was warmly welcomed and I don't think a waste - but it is still extortion really. However IF Sims 3 tries this on too, I think consumers will not take it any longer, and you'll see its downfall and EA's painful bump back to reality. The fact that after just the second series of games based on this (Sims 2) people were fed up and angry about it says an awful lot and Spore has caused an outcry so great it has torn a gaping hole in EA's wallet. Things will change. Or the CEO will eventually be ousted, either way, the gamers win. It is an irony that the very thing EA set up to combat piracy has probably increased it tenfold.

The limited install is rubbish. However it has not been a problem to me with Spore nor Red Alert. Also a point of interset, the install is only registered if you log onto the internet - it tries to force you to do this when you install, however my Spore install on my laptop messed up badly at the end by accident, the game got installed but the installation was not taken off my 'installs remaining' count. Interesting. However I noticed nothing go wrong with Red Alert and noticed no obvious 'installation registered' action and so it may be different for RA3. Again it is bad, but i'm not sure it is a deal breaker.

As for 'spyware', i'm sorry but on this one I actually draw the line slightly. Companies may be being more subversive but the way people are talking about it you'd think it was some sort of 'world take-over' attempt. It isn't. It is plain and simple, its about advertising and generating valuable info on people for sales purposes. This is awful in itself and companies selling your personal details should be illegal but they circumvent this by asking your permission (buried deep, deep, deep in legal nonesense - which is itself treading a thin legal line) and you'll never find it - you of course can't use the game without out it. So really the bigger demand should be to be able to use the game without having to sign such an insidious contract. Perhaps a compromise of offering incentives and extras for users who'd eccept to have spyware etc on their computer. The game could be cheaper and say be a 'premium' or 'EA Loyalist' (a little joke for you) pack with lots of goodies. That way you can choose. After all you can sign up to many things and download much for free and that is bceause it has advertising etc, you pay for premium quality, 'don't shove that in my face and don't spy on me' privileges when we pay good money for something professonal, or at least we used to.

A sad trend is simply this, you pay more these days, you get less THAT YOU ACTUALLY WANT. That is a fact and again needs to change. Perhaps this economic global downturn may give companies like EA something to think about if they don't want to suffer, they are after all selling a 'luxury' item and they are often crippled in global recessions - this will be no different.

If you read this I hope it helped clarify things - I would still buy the game. Awful as it is to say this, but there are plenty of people fighting out there on your behalf and you should thank them tacitly for this, but to some extent their 'sacrifice' on not buying games like this mean you can. It isn't the best outlook, but if you want this game, buy it, if you feel passionately the other way, by all means reader, rebel. And good luck!

====================
NOTE TO GIFT BUYERS! (mentioned above too): If you are a parent - I know it must seem sometimes like people only write these reviews for gamers etc, but I acknowledge some people will be buying this game for someone, whether you be a friend, lover or relative. You may be more worried about this 'spyware' etc than anything else. I think you should put your mind at rest, it won't scan your PC, steal your identity, monitor and report your pornography collection(!), check what you are doing, or start talking to you from the PC asking for your money or else. It will not harm your friends, lover or childs identity nor will it cause any problems to you. This is really a personal choice. I would recomment buying this for someone as a gift anyday if you think they like this kind of thing and they will be ecstatic, they really will, I am a young man just out of University and a friend nearly bought this for me (an advanced copy) but didn't when they found out my fiance had already got it me - I had myself already bought it too! And so had to return one copy but the point is I couldn't have been more pleased, and i'm hard to buy gifts for. This honestly makes an excellent present for girls and guys alike, younger and older (best for over 23+ really for the backstory and so on) and is a safe bet if they are gamers, they should love it. So I hope this 'mini-review-comment' was useful to you, the often neglected 'gift' or 'parent' buyer.

5 out of 5 stars

Enough about DRM already! This game is actually fun! November 6, 2008
Steven Byrd
Ignoring the endless DRM reviews, Red Alert 3 is amazingly fun and enjoyable. The launch bugs have been ironed out, the storyline is intriguing and most importantly, it's balanced. The secondary abilities make for impressive strategic brawls against both AI and players.

5 out of 5 stars

Best game of the year! SecuRom didn't kill my drives! October 31, 2008
ACE4x
1 out of 3 found this review helpful

How can I put this? I bought it the day it came out and I was very astounded with all the game attributes. All these people complaining about SecuRom post these pathetic attempts to boycott DRM games when little do they know that it's just not going to happen. WHY? because I've played multiplayer online and there's so many people on that i have to be bumped in the next casual rooms when I log in because they're all filled.No one is going to listen to a person complain about a game THEY'VE NEVER EVEN PLAYED!! How can you post a legitimate review on a game you've never played? Oh, right. YOU CAN'T.
I have been playing this game for 2 days straight and I absolutely love it. My drives aren't frying, my game doesn't tell me to call EA to activate it again. There are no glitches. In fact the game itself runs smooth as silk. What's kinda funny is that all the 1 star reviews are just pathetic DRM rants while 4 or 5 star reviews are from people who have actually bought it and played it....and loved it. Go figure. If you are reading the reviews of this product to see if the GAME ITSELF is good instead of a lesson on DRM, the least I can do is tell you...yes, this game is well worth it. It's way better than C&C 3: Tib Wars and since I really only play commmand and conquer games on my PC; it's the best game of the year in my eyes.

5 out of 5 stars

"Someone's always gotta clean up the mess!" - Tanya November 18, 2008
K. T. Dao
4 out of 9 found this review helpful

I'd like to start with this; you boycott a game because you say it's spyware and that EA might grow some brains and eliminate it, but that still doesn't affect the actual PRODUCT. I see more than 30 reviews based on the SecuROM alone. It's almost like seeing more than 91% of new-gen computers be ripped for running Vista; it's ridiculous. Buy the game, THEN say how it plays with a side bit about the SecuROM, but don't just base a review on a whole game based on one add-on. It hasn't messed up my PC at all, and the install feature actually tracks ONLY your installs. I've actually checked the InstallShield kernel entry, and the SecuROM code is read-only; inert when within the install limit, and even outside of it. The only time SecuROM even activates is ON the CD itself. It tracks your installs using a program that implements the coding with every new computer install and scans the InstallShield entry for the number of installs on computers. Each new install changes something in the entry, until you hit five, when the RA3 disc has an automatic kill-program that prevents use of the install program until you get a new code.

Regarding the game itself, it is, for sure, the most over-the-top game that could be imagined for Red Alert. Allied forces are now on the defensive from the Soviets, who have taken every European country except the U.K (sound familar?). Professor Einstein has been erased from existance with a Soviet counterpart (wait. If Einstein was erased, how could Hitler be erased...? Agh.); the only good(?) thing that came of the whole fiasco is that nuclear weapons were not developed, and thus the Soviets are open to convential warfare (or not so convential).

As the Soviets press on to crush the U.K and the Americas, Japan strikes the Union's asian territories with samurais wielding beam rifles and katanas, ninjas, hyper-violent Japanese women warriors clad in super-high tech rocket suits and missile pods, and robots that transform from submarines into fast ground-pounding aircraft. Hmm?

A lot of the gameplay is based around your units' special abilities. Tanya now gets a time belt that warps her ten feet back in time and fully heals, while the Soviets get Natasha, a hardened sniper who can shoot THROUGH whole infantry divisions and call down MiG strikes onto buildings. With the new gameplay, there is a significant lack of specialized infantry that blow up things with ease, excluding Hero units (such as the Chrono Legionnaire, Ivans, etc.); however, you get some really strong units left over. I particularly like the Allied Peacekeepers, who wield riot shotguns and bullet-proof shields that get actually bear Natasha's fire (well, one shot, but I managed to eliminate her with five of the nine Peacekeepers I sent after her; they just walked right up and blew her away).

Much of the gameplay I cannot describe in one review, but note this: it will be similar to a Tiberium Wars/Generals hybrid, with the special ability icon in the right corner used the most. Five stars.

5 out of 5 stars

DRM for Online Only November 4, 2008
Matthew Maples (Oxford, MS USA)
1 out of 4 found this review helpful

From the EA Forums:

"So what's the deal with copy protection in Red Alert 3?
Posted:Sep 8, 2008 11:39 PM

Hi guys --

I've been hearing your concerns about the DRM situation and wanted to get back to you with some information about our plans. In the case of Red Alert 3 (and all PC titles coming out of EA), we will use SecuROM - the same copy protection that the EALA RTS group has used on our last three titles. This time around, however, the copy protection will be configured to be more lenient than we've supported in the past.

I know this can be somewhat of a polarizing topic, and I thought it would be best to open the lines of communication with some facts:

- We will authenticate your game online when you install and launch it the first time.

- We will never re-authenticate an installation online after the first launch. In other words, no reaching out to a central server post-install to see if you're "allowed" to play.

- You will be able to install and play on up to five computers.

- This system means you don't have to play with the disc in your computer. Personally, I think this is a huge improvement over our previous copy protection requirements, which have always required a disk to play.

- Life happens. I know it's unlikely, but for those unlucky few who install the game and have their machines nuked (virus, OS reinstall, major hardware upgrade, etc.) five times, EA Customer Service will be on hand to supply any additional authorizations that are warranted. This will be done on a case-by-case basis by contacting customer support.

-You can, of course, play offline without impediment or penalty.

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.

Either way, we' re very proud of the hard work our team has put into this game and we hope you will all enjoy it when it launches.

Message was edited by: EASmudge (C&C)"

I am totally against DRM in any way, but at least this time they made it tolerable. If they HAD to put one in I would rather them use TAGES (like in The Witcher) but after the Spore fiasco, it is nice to see they are trying to learn their lesson.