The Command and Conquer series has built a lot of hardcore fans over the years due to the unique heads-up-display and strategic gameplay it has to offer. It's a delicate formula, and even with the older release of Generals, many players were discontent when the formula was disturbed.

So, if you're a fan of the current Command and Conquer style of gameplay, brace yourself for further discontent.

In an interview with Gamasutra, EA's Jon Van Caneghem announced he would like to take the series in a completely new, social-gaming, direction:

"Look what online has done for RPGs over the last 10 years. All the other categories are following suit... we're looking forward to building something to be a leader in that space. It allows you to do everything you would have expected from a boxed game, but it adds a lot more to it... being connected and connected with players, and persistence, the social elements of playing against each other with other friends."

While the above may not sound so bad, it's this part that made me twitch:

"What you're seeing with all the social gamers on Facebook... they are actually already playing strategy games whether they know it or not. Taking a franchise like Command and Conquer and expanding it to a wider audience is part of the strategy."

The blogosphere reaction to Van Caneghem's words has been severely mixed, with a lot of Command and Conquer fans disliking the notion of a highly social, Facebook-MMO-esque, version of the game. Most are also discontent with the idea that Van Caneghem is dipping his hand into the style of gameplay that forged Command and Conquer into the franchise it is today.

What's your reaction to Van Caneghem's words? What do you think will actually happen?

Source: Gamasutra