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--- A Phoenix from the Ashes of Obscurity ---
A day came when a turbulent wind swept across the plains, sending clouds of earth high into the heavens. Obscuring the land from sight, enshrouding it in shadow, this veil of dust swept ever forward, devouring all beneath its choking curtain. Days passed, then months, and still the cloak of nothingness remained, its miasmic form defeating all who would attempt to perceive its depths. Councils gathered, tribes mustered, and kingdoms assembled—all to defeat this pall of obscurity, the enemy of all knowledge. Warriors sought to combat it, yet had no weapons to assail it. Scholars sought to understand it, yet could observe nothing. Sages sought to convert it, yet the obscuring cloak remained adamant.
It was then understood that in order to defeat the obscurity, it would have to be destroyed from within--its depths penetrated before its fell curtain was lifted from the land. To this end, a chosen few were elected to venture forth into the darkness. One by one, a handful of scribes, quills in hand, set out to conquer the blackness, to observe and record its inner reaches. One by one, the scribes disappeared, succumbing to the depths of the veil, and no news was heard.
Then, one day, a sound was perceived coming from the furthest depths of the foul storm. It grew louder, its tones echoing forth across the land. At first, it was incomprehensible—a whispering of the wind, it seemed. Yet it became clearer, and louder, and louder, and louder. It became a voice, and it proclaimed in resounding quality: “I have been to the black depths of obscurity, and from them I bring forth the light of knowledge!”
At this, the wicked cloud parted, its form collapsing in a cascading whirlwind of earth and evil. A shining light poured out of the very center of the maelstrom, its ardent brilliance sweeping across the land. Gradually, the luminous burst dimmed, and resolved itself into a lone figure. A scribe, quill worn and writings in hand, strode triumphantly forward, and was greeted with the jubilations of all the people. From that day forth, whenever obscurity threatened the land, all would know whom to call upon. In their hour of need, they would call for the scribe. When the time came, they would call on:
General Aurum
And that’s how I came to hold Tiberian Dawn’s PR position. An unbiased, wholly truthful account. Really, it’s all true. It was all over the news. You do keep up with the news, right? I mean the other news.
Ridiculous wastes of text aside, I do now hold the position (and salary, right Duuude?) of Tiberian Dawn’s public relations guy, and thus it is my duty to update you all on the current state of the mod. It would probably be prudent to answer what is undoubtedly your first question: “What the hell took so long?!” I realize it’s been nearly a year since the last blog, and months since the last mod update. There’s an interesting explanation for all that, one which could take several paragraphs to explain. Or I could try to be as succinct as possible, if you really want to ruin my fun.
A while back, TD’s former primary blog writer, Tocsin, disappeared. Little is known about his vanishing act, but all that was found at his residence was a pair of trousers and several thousand empty bottles of various liquors. Given the evidence, investigators concluded that Tocsin had, in fact, drank himself into another dimension, which is as good a way to go as any, I guess. Evo, another of TD’s former PR staff, suffered a similar, though less fanciful, fate, succumbing to the horrors of that most heinous part of real life: responsibility. Null, the guy who stepped up to fill the void before me, also found himself smothered and devoured by “Ar Ell,” as its cultist worshippers call the beast. That left me, the lone scribe, the sole survivor, to carry on the legacy. If fate is merciful, we may yet see the others again sometime soon, but only time will tell.
So, with that out of the way, I suppose it would be best to move on to what you all came here for:
--- NEWS ---
Yeah, that’s right, good ol’ recent information. Or in this case, information which has been available for some time now, but has been sitting in the corner, collecting dust and sobbing quietly. Show it some love and pay attention, will ya?
For those of you who missed it, Test- Testu- Testudin… the Testy Guy (now I know why Tocsin drank so much) [It's Testudinidae, if he will ever get it right -ed] crafted a magnificent demonstration of GDI’s most powerful weapon, just for you. If you’ve missed his brilliant work, I highly suggest you look it over, otherwise I’d suggest investing in some very, very dark sunglasses.
And if you were as confused as I was after viewing this, I’d like to point out two things. One, the artwork present in that little animated short was made by TD’s concept artist, Toniko. Whether he made it as part of a school project or acid trip is anyone’s guess. Two, the “future of Tiberian Dawn” mentioned in the post actually holds something undoubtedly welcome for certain users. I’m here to announce that we're looking into converting TD's EVA software over to the Mac, meaning there's a chance all you Apple-tappers out there will be able to play the mod.
In short order, we’ll have a new podcast for all of you to enjoy. I’m told it’ll be something like a team death match: Lord_Kane and One Winged Angel versus Soviet Deso and Waraddict. They’ll be discussing the differences between the Initiative and Brotherhood by comparing each faction’s background story and assets. In other words, they’ll be talking about GDI’s deep (if abusive) relationship with Nod, and how each utilizes their vast arsenal on the battlefield. As I understand it, a portion of the podcast will be done entirely in pantomime, so you’ll have to listen in for that.
As you figure out the inherent peculiarity of that last statement (and why a few names are in red), I suppose this is as good a time as any to mention, that is to say—honor, Waraddict and Soviet Deso and their promotions to the rank of Admin. I’ve toured the mod staff’s forums for a while now, and I can attest to the amount of work these guys have put into the project. Waraddict has worked tirelessly to mold and shape the SAGE engine in order to match the original C&C as closely as possible. The way he bends the code to his will reminds me a bit of Neo from The Matrix, to be honest. Soviet Deso spent many a diligent hour conquering the problems inherent in C&C 3’s house colors, while still finding time to produce textural masterpieces which never cease to boggle my mind—and we’re talking about more than a couple dozen different textures here. Give them a hand, even if they can’t hear it, because they most certainly deserve it. Bravo, gentlemen!
Of course, with these two stepping up for their new duties, we've restructured the admin positions. Deso will be doing what he does best: handling the mod's assets like an omnipotent being juggling planets, Waraddict will be continuing as The One in Charge of Coding, with Duuude taking up the reins (read: whips) of the Production Manager position, and Kushan--newly returned and covered in the dirt and grime of countless expeditions to strange and exotic lands--will be managing the database. To use a dystopian analogy, these four are now The Inner Council of the Oversight Committee on Making Sure Everything is Run Properly--Or Else. May their rule be long and just, their decisions final, and their deeds awesome.
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And while on the subject of our current talent, there are a few changes in the roster to announce. We’ve added a few new members to the team, and have had to say goodbye to others. Overall, our company of heroes still numbers at more than 30 strong, all of them diligently working toward the mod’s completion.
Casualty Report:
- Blue_Screen—position overwhelmed by college forces
- WNxCABAL—beset by Real Life, subsequently lost contact
- Killa—resources spread thin on multiple fronts, currently attempting to bring multiple projects into line
- CNCS Chris—had decided to have a fight with the cnc online community in general~ don't ask.
- Nikkita—claimed an astounding victory over Real Life by seizing a job with a well-paying voice acting company, and will be retiring from the mod to pursue her career there.
Recruitment Report:
- General Aurum—specializations: heavy-texting and syllable allocation, in addition to list-topping.
- Chibi—specialization: voice acting; will be replacing Nikkita as the voice of EVA.
- Tagdaze (of BlueHell Productions)—specialization: voice-acting, a sample of which may be found here.
- Centron—specializations: voice-acting and sound-effects producing.
- Collins—specialization: conceptual design; a sample piece may be found below
For all you gutter-brains out there: he’s reaching for a concealed pistol, ya freaks! For everyone else: the team decided not to adopt this look for the Brotherhood’s Commando, instead going for a more “90’s military” style instead of a Tiberian Sun-inspired appearance.
Oh yeah, and while we’re on the subject of recruitment…
WE WANT YOU! BUT NOT IN THAT WAY! IF YOU’VE GOT ANY OF THIS:
- Mac coding experience, (SDK knowledge a plus)
- Mapping experience
- 2-D and 3-D animating experience
- 2-D and 3-D art experience
- Prodigy-like talents in any areas related to modding
JOIN TIBERIAN DAWN!
At present, we are looking for somone with Mac coding experience to assess Mac compatability and help in the design of an installation launcher for the mod. We also have a tremendous demand for cartographical personnel, or "mappers" as they are known. We've got a serious shortage of hands on this front, and have plenty of multiplayer maps to be made. We also need one or two people to aid in the detailed animating of 3-D models, both for in-game purposes and for FMVs. As for 2-D and 3-D art, the role would include the design of quality logos for the mod, as well as the creation of promotional materials. [As for you prodigies out there, if you have some skill you think we can't live without, but its not listed, speak up! -ed]
Fire an email to Duuude at Duuude007@msn.com or join the forums here at CNC Source and show off your talent. We are in need of anyone who is willing and able, so please, contact us if you think you can help out in any way. Be it mapping, coding, modeling, drink-mixing, whatever--we need all the help we can get here, people. Remember: we welcome any and all submissions; do not be afraid to show off your skills. Contrary to what Tocsin's prior blogs may have suggested, we have no desire to feast on human flesh or minds.
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--- UPDATES ---
Now, for the meat and pickles of this blogwich: material straight from the mod. Guaranteed to make you go “BLAAAGHHH…” with true Simpsonian voracity.
First up, a reminder to check out the updates that have happened since the last blog, for the Tiberium Silo, Apache, MCV, and Weapons Factory. This is old news, and if you really like us, you’ll have seen it all already, but if you haven’t, you have to do 20 pushups as you view the updates. We’ll be watching, too, so don’t think you can escape your punishment, soldier!
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And as for the latest technology, we’ve got a tri-pronged attack incoming just for you!
--- Fuel Barrels ---
Exploding onto the battlefield with excessive force, spreading a fiery cascade of carnage and mayhem wherever they go, Barrels can lay waste to entire armies if given time to muster!
And of course, it was none other than Soviet_Deso who crafted these delightfully devilish drums of doom, proving that he is, in fact, a pyromaniac. Be sure not to observe them too closely, though: excessive viewing has been known to cause spontaneous combustion.
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--- Orca VTOL Assault Aircraft ---
Riding forward at near supersonic speeds, unleashing a barrage of horrendously lethal missiles, the Orca flies high on the wings of destruction!
You can view Dexter,PD1 and Lazy6Pyro’s work up close and personal by clicking the link above. Hell, you might not even have to do that—just stare at the image long enough; it’ll probably fly out at you.
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--- Concrete Wall ---
Crashing into the earth with planet-shaking force, driving a wedge between… You know what, screw the format, they’re frickin’ walls!
They were, however, made with care by Killa and—you guessed it—Soviet_Deso, so you can be certain of their solidarity. Go and assail them with your sense of sight—they’ll hold.
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--- Music Update ---
The ancient Greeks believed that an event should be experienced with all the senses, hence why wine-tasting involves sniffing, swirling, eye-balling, and the clinking of glasses in addition to drinking. We try for a similar approach here at Tiberian Dawn, and so we’ve got several new tunes fresh from the song-forge of NeptuneUK (we’re still working on taste and smell).
[All of these songs can also be found at NeptuneUK's very own Update topic which includes all of his past released work, which can be found HERE. -ed]
O.I.L. by: NeptuneUK
Poseidon's Trident by: NeptuneUK
Surface-to-Air Missile by: NeptuneUK
Destroy It by: NeptuneUK
The Edge by: NeptuneUK
Shadow Of Triton by: NeptuneUK
Chaos Theory[Unfinished WIP] by: NeptuneUK
It’s probably worth mentioning that the official CNC Podcast put out by EA is advertised by an image eerily similar to Deso and Duuude’s iNod picture seen above. Just remember that we were first, CNC fans!
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--- CONCEPT ART ---
And in accordance with the prophecy, or in other words, by following the TD blog format, it’s time for concept art. One of my favorite things to do with any video game is to dig up the concept art which went into its making. In viewing the concepts, one not only gets a sense of the immense creativity the designers possess, but a glimpse of the very beginning of the game's development, and the raw potential present there. The same holds true for any mod, and of course, Tiberian Dawn's concept artists deliver outstandingly. Included in this blog's gallery are pieces by Toniko, Dimitri, DamageINC, and Collins, and you can look forward to seeing most every piece brought to life in some way as the mod progresses. Click on any of the thumbnails to view the whole image.
On the left, you'll find a piece by Toniko, highlighting various forms of Nod infantry. Speaking for myself, I really like his use of colors, especially in the lighting. It conjures a image of a "raid at dawn" by Nod troops, spreading chaos into the heart of an urban area.
At the right is an image every C&C fan should be familiar with or shot: the Construction Yard. Dimitri has once again proven his ability to render structures in awesome detail, so much so that Ric jumped at the prospect of modelling it like a frog on amphetamines.
Next up are two concepts by DamageINC. On the left we have "Littoral Operations." Again, a very atmospheric piece, showcasing the grim, cold reality of a landing by sea. And of course, there's the inevitable comparison to be drawn between it and D-Day, but that could be said of any amphibious landing.
And on the right is a color concept of a Commando, clad in the traditional tan shades of GDI. The coloration seems spot-on to me--exactly the sort of hues one would expect a modern soldier to be clad in, down to the dark grey of his armored vest. [Does anybody else think that he's the spittin' image of Bruce Willis? -ed]
And as this veritable deluge of concepts demonstrates, Collins wasted no time getting involved in the mod. Aside from his productivity, perhaps nothing is more impressive than his attention to detail. Seriously, one would think he stepped through a portal to the C&C universe one day and spent his time sketching everything in sight. He's even included a few easter eggs for you eagle-eyes out there.
Two of his images warrant additional mention, as they deal with the Commandos, the most awesome units of the original C&C. What's more, there’s an interesting relationship between these two characters, one which will be explored in detail in the enhanced mode of TD.
Yes, that is indeed our good buddy Nick “Havoc” Parker. But this isn’t the same cheese-coated commando you know from Renegade. Oh no, Havoc is a lot darker, a lot more desperate in TD’s Enhanced Mode. His brother, Matt, was slain by Nod’s own Elián Cortés, and Nick is out for revenge. You can bet he’ll use all of his reckless guts, C-4, and sniper rounds to achieve this goal.
And if this image is anything to judge by, ol’ Nick will have his work cut out for him. Trained in the shadowed depths of the Black Hand’s secret death academies, Nod’s Commando Cortés is armed with a specially-modified sniper rifle, which can be effectively fired from the hip with the aid of a special HUD projected onto his goggles. He’s mobile, he’s efficient, and he’s more than eager to add another Parker’s EVA unit to his arm.
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--- TD INSPIRED ART ---
The creative essence is something hard to grasp. At times, it can be elusive (such as while writing a blog), and at others it strikes without warning—a veritable sniper shot from a grassless plain—blasting its way to the forefront of our consciousness, threatening to spew forth like a geyser of creative thoughts and brains. Okay, maybe it’s not so dramatically gory, but when the creative bolt does strike, it begs to be expressed or it may fade forever. Case in point: these next two pieces of artwork, inspired by the mod, presented for you to enjoy.
This piece was hand-drawn by Tes- Testidna- (copy; paste:) Testudinidae [well i'll be damned, he got it right. -ed], as a concept. That’s all I’ll say about it, but if you know what role he fills in the mod, it should be something to look forward to.
And there’s this fine wallpaper, created by Lazy6Pyro. I like the duality inherent in this pic: the GDI and Nod logos placed side-by-side underneath the ever-present influence of Tiberium. It’s an interesting metaphor. And if you don’t see what I’m getting at, well then I’ll just take up my monocle, tip my top hat to you, and chortle in a superior-than-thou way. Ho Ho Ho.
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--- END NOTES ---
And so we come to it at last, dear readers—the end of the blog. I understand this is the moment when many of you are going to cut and run for greener pastures, but if you would, I’d like to ask that you remain for a little while longer. I realize I’ve sat and ranted for something like two thousand words already, so maybe that’s a bit too much to ask.
For those of you who have chosen to stay, I’d like to thank you. Thank you for indulging in this, my first of what is sure to be many blogs here at Tiberian Dawn. I know my writing style is neither as humorous nor as wacky as Tocsin’s, but I’m sorry to say that making me that insane is going to be a long process, since getting me drunk enough to be funny would probably kill me.
In any case, I’m sure we have plenty to look forward to in the mod’s future, and I’ll do my absolute best to make sure you all are kept up to date with what is going on in the mod. And to wrap this up before it gets too sappy, I’d like to remind you all to register at the CNC Source Forums to demonstrate your appreciation, criticism, and ideas.
Always remember: it is the community which keeps this mod alive (aside from copious amounts of Cheetos and booze).
-General Aurum
Public Relations
Tiberian Dawn
[p.s. if you dig us, Digg us! -ed]
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Aye, we're quite happy with Aurum's willingness and skill as a writer.
