C&C3 demo up on Live

By Tom Bramwell Published 20 April, 2007

Tiberium Wars here.

As promised the other day by a man on a forum, Command & Conquer 3 is now up on Xbox Live Marketplace in demo form.

It's available to all Xbox Live Gold members for free and weighs in at approximately 1GB.

Unfortunately our Xbox 360 is sitting some 40 miles from here so it's a bit difficult to tell exactly what's provided, but for that sort of file size presumably you can expect at least a few levels and some of those feted live-action cut-scenes.

The full thing - EA's second stab at an Xbox 360 real-time strategy game following last year's Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth 2 - is out on 11th May and if it's anything like the PC version, it should be good, clean, unpretentious trashy fun.

Which is something you'll already know, having read our Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars PC review, isn't it?

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (47) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • shido #1 5 years ago

    Nice! Making this An Hero day even better!

  • Cuke #2 5 years ago

    Well thats my gaming weekend sorted then :)

  • jaluuk #3 5 years ago

    Anyone else not able to download this? I've got enough space but it keeps saying "Cannot download" when it reaches a certain limit.

  • Borealis_UK #4 5 years ago

    Yeah it's broke for me too. Stops at around 24%.

  • jaluuk #5 5 years ago

    Arrr. Fix it fix it fix it Mr Bramwell.

  • Machetazo #6 5 years ago

    Looks like the "ongoing commentary" lot from yesterday had to stop for a kip, then; since I saw this up since the middle of this morning. :)

  • Darth_Flibble #7 5 years ago

    did have 41% d/l then it got stuck, tried again later and reset back to 0, deleted the incomplete file and tried again, its stuck at 10%

  • Machetazo #8 5 years ago

    @Darth et-al: Server getting hammered by popularity/requests?
    I'll prob. try to grab it later tonight.

    The Major speaketh, too; in the wake of his blog update comments featuring stories of hanging dloads and error codes:

    "Send your praise to EA. We just stock the shelves with what they send us :)

    Also: I am unware of any connection issues."

    HOWEVER - Good news. A localised Tenchu Z trailer's up on Marketplace now (same source) if that's your thing.
    Edited by 1 at 20/04/07 @ 17:59

  • dllord #9 5 years ago

    EA and M$ you useless cunts get it sorted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOW!

  • Beano #10 5 years ago

    It baffles me that huge IT companies like MS and Sony have major server problems each time a big release or update is available for download - it should be possible to load-balance their server parks.

    I fear what will happen when Halo 3 beta is launched next month!
    Edited by 2 at 20/04/07 @ 18:05

  • captbirdseye #11 5 years ago

    RTS games on a joypad, lolmegacopters.

    /Runs away

  • CannonAnBall #12 5 years ago

    you can't download this demo for shit. M$ are wankers. £40 a year. nice!

    sort it.

    ....oh hang on.....it's got a little faster.....1% in 15minutes. Thank you m$

  • Borealis_UK #13 5 years ago

    Major Nelson said there was an issue, but if you restart your download it should be much faster:

    http://ww w.majornelson.com/archive/2007/...

  • polymorph #14 5 years ago

    Its still broken!!!
    Dont bother untill you get official word that its now working.

  • Machetazo #15 5 years ago

    Oh. :( I just checked mn.com and not only had Major updated they were aware
    there was a problem, but the techies had since found it, and fixed it.

    Borealis: You have to find the partially downloaded file and delete it, THEN try downloading the demo, once more.(Might make a difference?) But maybe it's better to wait, if polymorph's experience isn't isolated.

  • polymorph #16 5 years ago

    @Machetazo,

    i dont have a experience yet, i was just reading the comments "after" majors reply, its still not working!

    Refresh your page and read the rest of the comments.

  • Darren #17 5 years ago

    Very nice conversion (I own the PC version), the controls work fine, the game looks good (but not as sharp as the PC original) but is spoilt somewhat by some really nasty v-sync tearing. Still it runs better than 360 LOTR: BFME did and for that we should be grateful.

  • richardiox #18 5 years ago

    V sync tearing? On the 360? You sure bout that, this is a next gen console you know.

  • the_dudefather #19 5 years ago

    the controls seem pretty good so far, can you create control groups on the console version?

  • Paleface #20 5 years ago

    Yep, you can create groups - either through the "Tab Menu" or: down arrow assigns to next free slot, up arrow toggles through them.

    Two single player missions, random multiplayer on Live, and lots of stinky full-motion video!

  • ProtoformX #21 5 years ago

    Downloaded this at about 9pm on the 21st and it was fine. Took about an hour to download. Great stuff, I shall be getting this and it my also persuade me to get the Live Vision camera. Yes, you can create unit groups. Select the units you want to be in the group then either press up on the d-pad to set them in the next empty group slot or pull up the tabs with RT, select groups, highlight the group icon you want them to be in and hold A for a couple of seconds.

  • MaxiSleep #22 5 years ago

    Darren

    "but is spoilt somewhat by some really nasty v-sync tearing"

    Will not be bothering with this so. Vsync tearing on a large plasma looks terrible. Completely undermines the reality of the game.

    It baffles me the microsoft do not enforce vsync (or at least give an option for the user to do so like pretty much every graphics driver on windows) . It is by far the worst feature of the 360. It would be interesting to know if the ps3 has the same issues on this.

  • Beano #23 5 years ago

    Yes, CC3 has pretty bad tearing/v-sync issure... hope the retail version will be better :|

  • thefilthandthefury #24 5 years ago

    It's surely to do with your setup as I don't get any tearing or any issues whatsoever playing this game.

    Sure, I'm on an SDTV so everything on screen is small and looks like shit, but the point remains.
    Edited by 1 at 21/04/07 @ 13:37

  • KaiB #25 5 years ago

    downloaded this demo an hour ago, I'm not a rts player at all and personally I didnt like any of the c&c games up until this demo....its actually pretty damn good, couldnt wipe the grin off my face while playing it. And I didnt see any artifacts or vsync issues and I'm running it on a hdtv with vga.

    any one play the monster madness demo? What a pile of @#$ ...ok not that bad, the all time worst xbox live demo is still project dark zero.

  • decibel #26 5 years ago

    No v-sync or tearing issues here at all.

    Looks splendid in HD :)

    However, this demo convinced me to get the pc version. :/

  • bioreit #27 5 years ago

    I'm a massive RTS fan - not so much in recent years, due to not owning a pc of my own :-(

    But I started off with Dune II and C & C (as well as the Battle Isle series) and I have to say, I'm pretty impressed with the control scheme for this on 360.

    I've now played both this and the PC demo and, aside from a couple of unit selection issues (on PC, drag selecting is still far superior), everything else works rather neatly. In fact, I reckon building units and structures is far quicker with the pad than a mouse/keyboard.

    Edit 1: Forgot about the V-Sync! I've tested C & C 3 on both my 19" TFT and my HD projector (both over VGA) and I haven't experienced a single V-Sync tear.

    I'm gonna give it a whirl on Live at some point this weekend, but this might actually have to be a purchase for me.

    Now if only they could re-do Red Alert 2 for the 360 - still my favourite 'arcade' RTS of all-time...
    Edited by 1 at 21/04/07 @ 17:22

  • Scimarad #28 5 years ago

    If V-Synch thing is a problem with display setup then how come my 360 tears like hell but my PS3 doesn't on the same TV?

  • Walshicus #29 5 years ago

    Just finished the single player portion of the demo. I must say toward the end I was getting quite good with the controls for it. Not as precise as the PC sure, but the game compensates for that and you're hardly ever left thinking "I'd be having more fun with a mouse right now". And that's all that's needed really.

  • Beano #30 5 years ago

    "It's surely to do with your setup as I don't get any tearing or any issues whatsoever playing this game. "

    No... only some 360 games does this and some more than others. I also saw CC3 running on my friends's 360 and different HDTV, exact same issues.

    Guess some people simply doesn't notice this - good for them :)

    None of my 5 PS3 games has v-sync/tearing issues.

  • dllord #31 5 years ago

    Beano= PS3 is teh r0x3r tehn???

  • thefilthandthefury #32 5 years ago

    And, Beano, none of my 13 360 games have it. What's your point? Some people get it, some don't.

    I have of course now been looking for it since you said this and it's still absolutely 110% perfectly fine.
    Edited by 1 at 22/04/07 @ 10:54

  • bioreit #33 5 years ago

    @ Beano

    But I notice it on my friend's 360 and his Samsung HDTV.

    Don't try and pin this on a "I'm better at spotting graphical flaws than you" thing. I'm just saying that I, on my setup, don't notice any v-sync issues.

  • Walshicus #34 5 years ago

    There is a way to get rid of some of the V-Sync stuff on 360's VGA output, but I can't remember what it was. I do know that Dead Rising used to tear like crazy, but after one of the updates it became silky smooth.

  • Beano #35 5 years ago

    @thefilthandthefury: "And, Beano, none of my 13 360 games have it. What's your point? Some people get it, some don't."

    If it was my HDTV or console, I should have this in most (if all) 360 + PS3 games. I only have it in some 360 games and no PS3 games (yet). I'm running 360/PS3 thru component in 720p. At my friend's house (a different HDTV+360) the same games has problems while others doesn't. That was my point.


    @bioreit : "Don't try and pin this on a "I'm better at spotting graphical flaws than you" thing. I'm just saying that I, on my setup, don't notice any v-sync issues."

    Well some people simply spot v-sync and frame-rate issues more than others. I have tried to sit right next to people who could not spot any framerate issues in a game while others could easily se this - This has nothing to do with being "better", it just the way it is.
    I have seen games with worse v-sync issues though, like the Saints Row demo and some sections in GRAW.
    If I do some panning in CC3 I get tearing/v-sync problems, nothing that makes the game unplayable, but still annoying and I hope it's fixed in the retail version of the game.

  • Beano #36 5 years ago

    "There is a way to get rid of some of the V-Sync stuff on 360's VGA output, but I can't remember what it was. I do know that Dead Rising used to tear like crazy, but after one of the updates it became silky smooth. "

    Sound interesting - I have a Xbox 360 VGA cable laying around (I'm using component right now due to the BC emulator lack of compatibility with the VGA cable).

    If you rememer how v-sync could be fixed, I would be VERY intereseted in knowing how :)

    EDIT: Just tried CC3 tru VGA 1360x768 and no big difference compared to component 720p.
    Edited by 1 at 22/04/07 @ 16:30

  • tiddles #37 5 years ago

    If you rememer how v-sync could be fixed, I would be VERY intereseted in knowing how :)

    What SD refresh rate (ie. 50/60Hz) is your console set to? I seem to remember reading somewhere that this sometimes affected VGA output, even though it really shouldn't... Try connecting via composite and setting the output to 60Hz, then going back to VGA...

  • Beano #38 5 years ago

    I will try this - thanks :)

  • JackB #39 5 years ago

    What's up with this vsync tearing? I live in the USA and have never seen a game with tearing. You can check my gamercard, as I've probably played at least 50 different games. I had to search on Google to find a video to see what it even looked like and sure enough, I've never seen it once. Now, that I know what it is, it would be annoying, but why don't we hear about it in the US?

    I also have never seen a single post on it on the us sites I frequent a lot. I have 2,900 posts on EvilAvatar.com. Is this just a European problem, because it is rampant throughout the posts I've read on Eurogamer for the last year.

    Does it have something to do with PAL? I have an HDTV hooked up via Component.
    Edited by 1 at 23/04/07 @ 07:47

  • Beano #40 5 years ago

    @JackB: Video-clips are maybe not the best was to prove tearing, but try to see the HD video review of Sains Row on GameTrailers.com. You should se a lot of tearing here, especially in the cut-scenes which looks a lot like what I observed in the demo. IGN also mentions tearing in their review of Saints Row.
    SR is maybe the worst example i have seen so I just looked that one up . I haven't bothered looking up every review for 360 game to check for notes on tearing, but I belive it's mentioned on a regular basis... also by american sites :)

  • The12thMonkey #41 5 years ago

    How long does it usually take for a demo to become available to Silver users? I have no intention of paying for Gold because I only use my 360 online to connect to FFXI for mass events like Beseiged and Dynamis (yes, sounds totally alien to most of you, but it means pleanty to me :p). But I'd quite like a little go on the demo, and I was wondering how long MS usually take to open it out to us freebie scroungers?

  • miiiguel #42 5 years ago

    I think the V-Sync issue are in a great part related to your setup (mainly TV), I have no issues of this, but I know it's true because I've seen in a friend of mine who has a Sony TV.
    And comparing it with PS3 isn't fair..., it's like comparing a car that runs everyday with a car that's allways parked. The later would have no speed issues, would it ?
    Edited by 2 at 23/04/07 @ 10:35

  • Beano #43 5 years ago

    @miiiguel: I was only mentioning PS3 to underline that it isn't a issue with my HDTV, but instead sloppy programming in some games. PS3 has far fewer games and I'm sure that we will eventually see tearing in some PS3 games aswell...
    I only own 5 PS3 retail games plus 5-6 downloadable ones so I can't guarantee that all PS3 games are free of tearing ;)

    And no, my PS3 isn't parked btw... ;)
    Edited by 2 at 23/04/07 @ 10:55

  • MrBiggles #44 5 years ago

    I used to play Red alert on my PS1, used to get horrible slowdown when you built up a decent sized army, really killed the game.

    But saying all that I enjoyed it with it's crappy controls and graphics, I'm easily pleased I guess. Graduated to the PC games after that and became pretty dam good at Tiberium wars. Was in a clan for a while, had a lot of fun beating the Germans who play this game more than anyone else imo.

    Really looking forward to this on 360, my PC is to old for it so I will see all you console RTS noobs online in a few weeks.
    Edited by 1 at 23/04/07 @ 12:27

  • miiiguel #45 5 years ago

    MrBiggles : hit me plenty, I suck at RTS's.

    GT: miiiguel.

  • Beano #46 5 years ago

    @tiddles: I tried your suggestion and set my 360 to PAL-60, but didn't do much (if anything). Thanks for the suggestion though :)
    Edited by 1 at 23/04/07 @ 20:07

  • captainrentboy #47 5 years ago

    Playing this on my Toshiba 37" HDTV last night I could most definitely see huuuge tearing throughout the entire training level, it happened whenever I moved the camera too erratically from side to side, it was almost Saints Row bad, a big ole tear travelling from the bottom to the top of the screen.
    And my TV had great reviews so don't go blaming that :)
    Ohh and if ever there's game released that's renowned for having tearing I tend to see it, so it's not the TV as it never happens with any other 360 game that's actually been well developed.
    Edited by 1 at 24/04/07 @ 10:22