GameSpy and EA partnered on the groundbreaking, most influential strategy game of the genre, Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars (C&C3) released in March 2007. One of the most anticipated titles of the year, the game introduces a new competitive component called "RTS as a Sport".

Through the "broadcasting" of game matches and an enabling community portal, C&C3 brings the excitement and competitive nature of professional sports and gaming leagues to the RTS genre, while inspiring inexperienced and non-core gamers to learn from the pros through broadcasts and commentaries. GameSpy, the pioneer in enabling multiplayer gaming experience is delivering the technology, infrastructure and core backend services to C&C3.

The Challenge

• EA planned on the next version of the venerable Command & Conquer franchise, focused on bringing innovation to the RTS genre with "Match Broadcast" and supporting exciting competitive game play among other ambitious priorities.
• Key to the "RTS as a Sport" feature is the availability at launch, the Online C&C Community Hub that presents a full spectrum of player gameplay stats, allows players to manage their clans and match schedule and the innovative Match Broadcast that lets one to browse and select matches to view/download.
• The challenge was to deliver this functionality within 8 months, while working closely with the development team to integrate these services into the game.

The technology and development timeline constraints required a strategic and reliable partner which is passionate about creating compelling online multiplayer technologies and demonstrates a commitment to delivering high-quality services that meets the needs of the game and EA.

The Solution

GameSpy designed and delivered a solution that paved the way for the successful launch of the C&C3:

• Developed the new SkyBox Client and SkyBox Broadcast Server technology that enabled the game client to stream match broadcasts.
• Assisted the EA development team in integrating the world-class GameSpy multi-player technologies in-game: ATLAS Competition System, "Sake" Persistent Storage, Dynamic Content Replacement, "Comrade" Presence and Messaging, and Matchmaking.
• Created a powerful marketing website for the franchise and title ahead of the game launch through the design & development. Visit the Official EA C&anp;C3 site, hosted by GameSpy at http://www.commandandconquer.com
• Extended the marketing website on game release to be an all-encompassing community portal. The portal extends the in-game experience to the web with a Program Guide (part of SkyBox / match broadcast services), comprehensive player stats and integrated auto-reported ladders.

The Results

• Command & Conquer 3 was shipped on schedule with an exciting and innovative online experience.
• Command && Conquer 3 was the best selling PC title by far in its first week of availability, and retained that slot for the next three weeks, according to the NPD.
• The Command && Conquer Community Portal speaks for itself. Creative, interactive and fresh.

Standard Services

Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars uses a number of standard GameSpy technologies to provide a compelling multiplayer feature set for the game. These technologies are available to all licensees "out-of-the-box" as standard solutions. No additional licensing fees or custom engineering is required to implement this functionality.

Standard technologies implemented in C&C3 include:

ATLAS Competition System

C&C3 is the first major title that leverages the power and scalability of our new ATLAS Competition System. ATLAS focuses on security and reliability in reporting of the game data for automatic processing on the backend. C&C3 perform automatic aggregations for hundreds of stats using predefined rules across multiple game types. In addition to tracking individual player and clan statistics, ATLAS automatically posts the match results to the GameSpy Ladders (1v1, 2v2 and Clan ladders).

SkyBox Match Broadcasting System

C&C3 brings innovation to the RTS genre with our groundbreaking SkyBox technology. Skybox allows the game's community to broadcast and view their matches in real time or from an archive of thousands of matches.

Integrated into the game's engine, the SkyBox API provides session management and most efficient and secure transmission of the game data to the Broadcast servers on the backend. The Broadcast servers, operated in a high-available clustered environment host and deliver game data streams for thousands of participants and viewers. The easy-to-use web-based Program Guide provides quick access for players to search for and download match archives that are stored on the backend.

"Sake" Persistent Storage

The "Sake" Persistent Storage SDK allows a developer to store arbitrary data on a secure, online service. C&C3 used Sake to build an extensive player profile, complete with sportsmanship and player reputation ratings. Sake's built-in file storage capabilities were used to associate Skybox broadcast matches with their owners.

Account Linking & Remote Authentication

C&C3 uses the EA Online's account system for player authentication. GameSpy's account linking and remote authentication functionality enable use of both EA and GameSpy systems transparent to end users.

"Comrade" Presence and Messaging

Users are able to build buddy lists in-game to communicate and manage relationships created within the game. Buddy list is available from main online interface. Users are notified of messages while in-game. Tab out to main online interface in order to read and respond to messages.

The in-game API provides instant compatibility with Comrade, an external messaging client. The desktop Comrade application allows users to one-click follow to game servers, message users in-game, view stats, etc.

Matchmaking

Matchmaking accomplished via GameSpy "Peer" SDK giving C&C3 a robust, lobby-based matchmaking experience. Allows users to quickly retrieve, sort and filter list of game servers. Automatch functionality is used to automatically launch users of suitable skills into a game with the click of a mouse.

Custom Services

While GameSpy's standard technologies provide a comprehensive feature set, the size and scope of what EA wanted to accomplish with C&C3 required custom development and infrastructure to meet their requirements.

Requirements Gathering and Analysis

GameSpy was involved in an intensive design and planning sessions on-site with EA Dev Team to fully understand the vision and key success factors for the game, with specific focus on "RTS as a Sport" feature. GameSpy follows a structured methodology to storyboard the requirements and their dependencies on the game, risk identification and a mitigation plan and create an implementation plan with a prioritized phased approach.

Technical Design and Implementation

• Integration of GameSpy ATLAS and Sake into the game for stats submission, implementation of backend processing and web services for stats retrieval.
• Design and implementation of 1v1, 2v2 and Clan Ladders through GameSpy Arena and web services for in-game, C&C Online.
• Creative design and implementation of the C&C Online presence - integrating into the GameSpy backend services for player and match history, Clan Management services, Program Guide.
• Integration with EA Accounting System to authenticate players and create C&C specific game accounts through the Portal
• Integration with EA Community Forums so that access to the Forums through C&C online is seamless and giving players access to their avatars and stats while on the Forums.
• Overall Program Management oversight to manage and control integration efforts between EA constituents (Marketing, EA Online, Development Team, QA and Management)

Performance and Integration Testing

• Comprehensive use-case driven test planning for automated functional and performance testing of the C&C Online website.
• Round-trip integration testing of all multiplayer functionality and stress testing to support the usage patterns required for Match Broadcast

Marketing Services

EA and GameSpy worked closely on the following marketing initiatives surrounding the planning and release of C&C3.

Command & Conquer 3 Online Portal

GameSpy's Community Services makes a compelling case for itself - Consumers tend to form long-standing bonds with specific games, heightened by these products' sense of familiarity and engaging developers alongside. GameSpy provides tools and systems to support a competitive and fun community environment fosters and extends that bonding to the game developer and publisher.

GameSpy designed, built and hosts the C&C Online Portal. GameSpy worked closely with EA's marketing leads to integrate the creative look & feel of the C&C Universe onto the community portal. We follow a structured creative design process encompassing iterative development, wire-framing, branding impacts, site map design, feasibility study and technology selection.

The goals for the Pre-release of the Marketing site in February 2007 were to provide a single, consistent source of information for fans of the game to learn more about title and provide to tools & systems (Forums, Blogs, Podcasts, Pre-registration etc.) for the community to gather around the "C&C3 Home".

Coinciding with the game's launch, the updated C&C Online delivered on key functionality to support the Match Broadcast feature for players and non-players, among others.

Key C&C portal features:

• Core Game Information: Detailed game information for all visitors including features, FAQs, wallpapers, videos and screenshots.
• BattleCast - The online match scheduling and the "C&C Program Guide" lets players and non-players to browse and select ongoing/future/archived matches that are interesting to watch and participate in.
• Community Information: Regular game related updates for the community through Blogs, Podcasts, Game Intel, Mods, Custom Maps and Patch information.
• Ladders: C&C supports 1v1, 2v2 and Clan ladders. The dynamic view into competitive match history and the ladders furthers the spirit of competition for players and helps non-players to learn from the pros.
• Clans: Part of building the community is enabling players to create their own clans with players they bond with and setup competitive matches.

Visit the C&C Online Portal at http://www.commandandconquer.com

GameSpy Comrade

GameSpy delivered a C&C3-branded version of its next-generation gameplay software, GameSpy Comrade, for distribution with the game. Comrade provides a unique communication channel between EA and its community of players, allowing broadcast of critical announcements and game related promotions to the entire community.

Comrade users are able to leverage a unique account linking system that enabled them to access to their Comrade buddy lists in C&C3, exchange messages between the Comrade desktop client and the in-game buddy list as well as view their C&C3 stats in their Comrade user profile.