EA 'Conquers' PrimeTime with BattleCast Show

August 13, 2007 | By: Micheal Mullen

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With the debut of the Command & Conquer BattleCast TV show, we chatted with Product Manager David Silverman about the idea for the show. The C&C game team has also tempted players with promises of pre-Leipzig related information and a future forum to show their skills.

[UPDATE: First episode reveals new C&C expansion. Read about it here.]

A few hours before EA debuted the first episode for Command & Conquer BattleCast PrimeTime, GameDaily BIZ had a chance to talk to David Silverman, Product Manager for Command & Conquer 3 about how the show came about, what to expect next and he even hinted at a pre-Leipzig Games Convention announcement.

GameDaily BIZ: How did the idea for the show come about?

David Silverman: This dedicated online programming channel was created for Command & Conquer fans. The idea for BattleCast PrimeTime came as an extension of our "RTS as a Sport" functionality that we built into Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars. When developing Command & Conquer 3, we wanted to make it so that watching matches were just as fun as playing them. We saw how ESPN displays competition in an exciting way and wanted to create tools that could do the same for RTS gaming -- player commentary, telestrator technology, etc. Once this functionality was placed into the game, it seemed only natural to take the 'sports' analogy to the next step and create a venue where we can call out the Command & Conquer athletes.

BIZ: With so many brands under the EA umbrella, can gamers expect more game brands to receive shows or is this an experiment that EA LA is doing independently to gauge the level of interest?

DS: The Command & Conquer Internet channel or more specifically, BattleCast PrimeTime, was created with solely Command & Conquer in mind. As we were fleshing out this idea, it certainly seemed to be a model that could fit into other EA franchises. If the Internet channel is the success that we all hope it will become and something that the fans truly appreciate, I could see this format working well for other EA series.

BIZ: The first show launches on August 14th, any reason for that date?

DS: The very first Command & Conquer game debuted on August 31st, nearly 12 years ago. The original Command & Conquer really set the standard for RTS gaming and brought it to the mainstream. We thought it would be a nice homage to the original Command & Conquer game by releasing in August while at the same time debuting before Leipzig for a key reason, which will become apparent if you watch the very first episode on August 14th!

BIZ: Any scope of how long the first season of C&C Battlecast might run?

DS: We're currently mapping out the production schedule for BattleCast PrimeTime and are working on the details surrounding the length of the seasons. As we work on this, I can tell you that no matter what, as long as the fans continue to BattleCast world-class matches, engineer interesting and innovative new mods, and host their own events among other things, we'll have plenty of content to showcase.

BIZ: C&C has always embraced video playback with segments inside the games. Is the show an extension of that idea?

DS: While the Command & Conquer franchise has been known for its live-action full motion video sequences, the inspiration for the Command & Conquer Internet channel really came from taking a page out of the sports book. RTS matches are becoming more and more of a spectator sport, especially if you look at [how the game is shown in] Asia. The only problem is that up until Command & Conquer 3, none of the games being played today were designed for broadcasting and watching on a mainstream scale. BattleCast PrimeTime, our flagship show, is the next evolution of what we started with Command & Conquer 3 and will take this sports analogy to the next level and hopefully allow us to get one step closer to turning RTS into a mainstream spectator sport.

BIZ: In the trailer, we see Joe Kucan in a segment and he closes the trailer. Will he be part of the show's regular cast?

DS: Since BattleCast PrimeTime is an initiative being driven by EA, we have the advantage of leveraging the cast involved in the various games. While Joe Kucan might not necessarily become a regular member of the cast, fans can certainly expect to see some exclusive celebrity interviews or cameos from the cast of Command & Conquer games past, present, and even future!

BIZ: What types of content can we expect to see on the show?

DS: BattleCast PrimeTime is the home for celebrity interviews, official Command & Conquer news, and the greatest fan matches ever seen on the web. In addition to that, you can expect to see us shining a great big spotlight on our fans and some of the great work that they are doing to further propel the Command & Conquer franchise.

BIZ: Community mouthpiece and C&C's man of the people, Aaron "Apoc" Kaufman was shown on the trailer. Any info on what his role will be on the show?

DS: Without giving away all the future plans for BattleCast PrimeTime, I will tell you that there will be one reoccurring segment called, Apoc's Community Corner where our official community manager, Aaron "Apoc" Kaufman, will showcase all of the great things going on in the Command & Conquer community.

BIZ: With Apoc on the show, will there be a chance for master players to compete on the show?

DS: The main focus of BattleCast PrimeTime is to showcase key matches from the best players of Command & Conquer. Each episode will feature a specific, original match-up between two top tiered commanders complete with a spotlight segment on each commander giving some of their history (think mini documentary) and play-by-play commentary from our Command & Conquer 3 designers. In addition to the key featured match, we'll have a specific segment where we'll give highlight recaps from some of the best matches that are occurring. BattleCast PrimeTime is the ultimate forum to display your Command & Conquer skills. While it's great to be #1 on the ladder, you really haven't made it until your match gets featured on BattleCast PrimeTime.

BIZ: Where is the show being produced?

DS: The show is produced and filmed on location at EA Los Angeles, home to the Command & Conquer series. We've taken advantage of the fact that we live in Los Angeles and hired a world-class set construction company and designer to create the physical look of BattleCast PrimeTime and are also utilizing talent from the entertainment industry on the production and directing side of things to give the show a professional look. We're pretty excited about how the show is turning out and hope that the fans get excited each time we put out a new episode of BattleCast PrimeTime.

BIZ: I noticed David Silverman (product manager for Burnout Revenge and C&C 3) as the voiceover in the trailer and he looked like he was a host for the show... is that the case?

DS: Yes. The new channel and its original programming are all about a network created by Command & Conquer fans and for Command & Conquer fans. As such, it's important to have a certain level of authenticity so we decided that the people who would star and be involved as the cast for our flagship show, BattleCast PrimeTime, would be actual people who work on the games. Whether it's the community manager giving you the community updates, game designers giving you the play-by-play, or producers and product managers being the overall anchors, everyone who plays a key role on BattleCast PrimeTime was and is deeply involved in the launch of Command & Conquer 3 and future Command & Conquer titles.

BIZ: Popular shows like G4's "Attack of the Show" often go out to video camera enabled users to submit live questions or show off things going on outside the studio... any talk about doing that?

DS: BattleCast PrimeTime is all about highlighting the community and as such you can imagine that we'll be doing new and unique activities to ensure that they are just as much involved as the primary cast.

BIZ: Can we expect to see the show or any of the content repurposed for TV networks?

DS: It's certainly an aspiration goal of ours to see Command & Conquer Internet channel in different forums or even something you could watch on your television. While we're interested in pursuing this, there is something intrinsically unique about creating a show that has an online distribution model.

BIZ: Good luck on the show, we'll be watching.

DS: Thanks! We've been working on BattleCast PrimeTime for a long time now and it's really exciting to see that it's almost time to debut it! We're all really looking forward to seeing all of the fan reactions to the show when it debuts on August 14th at 12:01am PT at http://www.commandandconquer.com/.