Command and Conquer
1995 · Strategy · PC/DOS
Overview
Command and Conquer refined the real-time strategy template Westwood had established with Dune II. Two factions — the Global Defense Initiative and the Brotherhood of Nod — fought over Tiberium, an alien resource. Live-action FMV cutscenes between missions gave the game a cinematic register that competitors hadn't attempted.
Deep Dive
Command and Conquer was developed by Westwood Studios in approximately one year. The game's FMV cutscenes — filmed in Westwood's Las Vegas offices with studio employees as actors — were narratively effective, with Kane becoming one of the most memorable villains in gaming history. The game introduced online multiplayer through the Westwood Online service, predating Xbox Live by seven years. It sold over 3 million copies and established a franchise that continued for two decades.
Developer Story
Command and Conquer was developed by Westwood Studios in Las Vegas under producer Brett Sperry. The game was designed as a follow-up to Dune II with more polished production and a contemporary setting. The FMV sequences were filmed in Westwood's office building with studio staff as actors.
Did You Know?
- Joseph Kucan, who played Kane, was Westwood's director of motion capture — he was cast because no professional actors were available within the production budget.
- The Tiberium resource — an alien mineral that spreads across the map — was designed to create strategic maps that changed over time.
- Command and Conquer shipped on two CDs simultaneously containing the GDI and Nod campaigns — players could choose which faction's story to experience first.
- The game's matchmaking service, Westwood Online, was available in 1995 — predating similar services from Microsoft and Sony by years.
