Electronic Arts, gaming behemoth and developer of the Command and Conquer series of games have announced Command and Conquer Generals 2, online and free to play.

Based on the full blown real time 3D engine Frostbite 2, EA promise a AAA quality (full priced commercial) gaming experience for the brand new Generals 2. No tile based HTML5 graphics here, nor is it a turn based snooze fest, instead C&C Generals 2 will be a free shot of adrenalin that’s only a website and mouse click away.

The best selling real time strategy of all time continues, EA is trying to ride the wave of change and master digital distribution.

“For nearly two decades, this franchise has existed as something you buy; now we are creating a destination where our fans will be able to access the entire Command and Conquer universe, starting with Generals and continuing with Red Alert, Tiberium, and beyond, EA VP and GM Jon Van Caneghem said. “With Frostbite 2, we are able to keep an emphasis on the AAA quality our consumers expect while staying true to the RTS gameplay they know and love – all available online for free.”

With all of the unit construction, base management and building siege action of C&C General’s games of the past EA are starting with a classic real time strategy as the foundation and building up from there. New content will continue to be released after the games introduction in early 2013 and the game will evolve, developing over time. This process will naturally be driven by player feedback and by what makes money.

Fast paced action blended with immense real-time strategy game play have always been a specialty of C&C Generals. Generals 2 continues its family heritage and also brings multiple factions, massive maps, competition for resources amongst players, highly detailed graphics, fully destructible environments, dynamic physics engine, and spectacular 3D visual effects to compliment the action, the destruction.

Generals 2 is the second game in the C&C family to receive the free to play treatment, Tiberium Wars was first. EA has promised other classic C&C franchises will eventually also be brought over to the new free to play platform.

Accessed through the improved Origin gaming library and gaming platform EA is building the arcade of the future and stocking with many irresistible free to play games.

Conclusion
Send in wave after wave of tanks, set siege to buildings full of cornered opposition then cull in the air strike. Incredible graphics and fast action game play look to have arrived in the free to play world. Signups for the beta are being accepted now with the game to be released early 2013 for all to access.

Can EA conquer the online gaming world? Here at highpants we think free to play is a good way to take command of the situation.

Reference: EA Command & Conquer Generals 2