Command & Conquer: Red Alert (iOS)

Command & Conquer: Red Alert
Logo of Command & Conquer: Red Alert
Developer(s)	Electronic Arts
Publisher(s)	Electronic Arts
Series	Command & Conquer (main) Red Alert (sub-series)
Version	1.6.8
Platform(s)	iOS
Release date(s)	NA October 16, 2009[1]
Genre(s)	Real-time strategy
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer
Rating(s)	Apple: 9+
Media/distribution	Digital download

Command & Conquer: Red Alert is a 2009 2.5D real-time strategy video game developed and published by Electronic Arts for iOS. It was released in October 2009 in the App Store.

The game contains 2 playable factions, Soviets and Allies which both previously appeared in Command & Conquer: Red Alert and Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 with a third playable faction, the Empire of the Rising Sun from Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3, available as an in-app purchase.^[2]

Plot

The game is set in a parallel universe in which World War II as we know it never happened—in the original Red Alert, Albert Einstein travelled back in time and removed Hitler in the 1920s - resulting in the Soviet Union being the main aggressors (See: Command & Conquer: Red Alert series Plot. After an Allied victory in Red Alert 2, the Soviet leaders travelled back in time and removed Albert Einstein in 1927, preventing the Allies from creating atomic weapons while the Soviet Union rose to power, battling the Allies in the 1950s. The game takes place shortly after Red Alert 2: Yuri Revenge and before the Soviet's defeat at the beginning of Red Alert 3. Thus the second time-travel that took place during Red Alert 3 has not taken place yet, hence the presence of technologies such as Prism Tanks and Towers which were removed in Red Alert 3.^[1]

The events in the game lead to the soviets acquiring time travel technology.

Gameplay

Red Soviet forces attacking and bombing a blue Soviet Base

Red Alert retains the core RTS mechanics of the Command & Conquer series. Opposing factions harvest resources from ore fields using refineries and then use those resources to construct military bases and forces on-site. The gathering mechanic is streamlined so there are no collector units, only refineries that provide a steady cash flow. Structures form a shallow but wide tech tree with a variety of units and buildings. Units and buildings are selected and moved by tapping on them and on various areas on the battlefield. The camera moves around the battle field by dragging and scrolling on the touchscreen and zooms in and out by pinching the screen.

Players have the choice to choose between two faction the Soviet Union and the Allies, each faction has its own unique set of units and buildings. Units in the game come from various past and present Red Alert games such as the War Bears and Apollo Fighters from Red Alert 3 as well as Prism Tanks and Apocalypse Tanks from Red Alert 2, the game also comes with its own range of new units which were not present in other Red Alert games. Most buildings retain their designs from Red Alert 2 with the exceptions of certain buildings such as the Allied Tech Lab which uses its Red Alert 3 design while others have completely new designs.

The game will have a total of 12 different maps which will be playable in the skirmish mode of the game.^[3]

Development

The game was first announced for iOS at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009 with a playable demo showcasing the game at the Electronic Arts booth. Further details were revealed in September 2009 as well as a flurry of new screenshots showcasing the game.^[3] EA has also announced that they would release an additional multiplayer update for the game at launch so as to enable the multiplayer function in the game to allow players to play with each other over Wi-fi and Bluetooth. EA also announced that it would be releasing an expansion pack for the game in 2010, it would include a new faction, the Empire of the Rising Sun, as well as new units for both the Soviets and the Allies.^[2]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Command & Conquer Red Alert for iPhone and iPod touch
2. ^ ^{a b} Fact Sheet for Command & Conquer: Red Alert on the iPhone
3. ^ ^{a b} Official Site

External links

• Official Site
• Red Alert for the iPhone @ EA Mobile