It's more or less an accepted fact that nobody gives a damn about FMV scenes anymore, but that hasn't stopped EA from including dozens of cutscenes using live actors to introduce the missions in Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars.
While the use of live actors isn't particularly surprising -- FMV cutscenes have been a mainstay in every C&C game save for Generals -- what is surprising is how...well...attractive the cast is.
Including Grace Park and Tricia Helfer from Battlestar Galactica, Jennifer Morrison from House MD (I have dibs on her, by the way), Josh Holloway from Lost, Billy Dee Williams from How Can They Be Jamming Us If They Don't Know We're Coming, and Michael Ironside from every Splinter Cell game, the new C&C cast proves something we've all known for a very, very long time: EA has more money than God.
There's no other explanation for why these otherwise-successful actors would stoop to starring in undeniably cheesy video game cutscenes.Except for Billy Dee Williams, anyway -- it's not like he's got anything better to do. If the way he screams at the end of the trailer doesn't make you cringe so hard your face hurts, then you're probably not human.
And yes, I called Michael Ironside doable. Don't even pretend like you wouldn't hit that.
Latest comment by kam_RA |view all 59 comments once a b-actor... always a b-actor. But honestly, i'm glad it's cheesy. It wouldn't be C&C without the cheese....
I am totally ok with that. They are getting REAL actors, something that needs to be done. So many games have shitty ass pathetic excused for voice acting and EA is doing it right with C&C3
FMV is back, baby! Can't wait to see the trailer for the other side, maybe Michael Ironside plays both sides and the other has a metal leg and an eyepatch. I can't get enough Ironside. So when are we going to see Mad Dog McCree 3?
Okay, so I really tried hard to think about having sex with Michal Ironside. I was thinking I'd have him bent over a stainless steel table. The only problem is whenever I imagine it he's taunting the shit out of me.
Creamsnake, his taunting is what makes him hot. Michael Ironside is so manly, he makes penises look feminine by comparison. Even when the sex is consensual, it feels like rape.
I also could not keep a straight face, especially with Billy Dee. I'm going to cry throughout every cutscene. That, and masturbate furiously. To Michael Ironside. And Grace Park. But mostly Michael Ironside.
This is a B-Movie Story with the exact right people to play such a cheesy alieninvadingtiberiumbrotherhood Story!
The main reason I buy that game are those Cutscenes! The game itself is nothing special, just plain cc rts. I love that, but what makes it fun is the storyline presented by some cool oldskool B-Stars!
Jesus... some of these actors are a bit young to be throwing in the towel like that, aren't they? I'm reminded of the scene from Family Guy where Brian is auditioning for a commercial...
Toucan Sam: H-how would you do it?
Brian: Oh I don't know, I was thinking like... good. Like an actor.
As much as it pains me to say it, EA is doing the industry good with this. Movie and TV actors tend to have a way with the general public. So, their indulgence of the video game industry may legitimize the gaming industry for some nay-sayers. Hopefully HD graphics, 'real' actors, and engaging story lines will push this entertainment medium to new heights.
That reminded me of the cutscenes in NFS Carbon... so 90s, so cheesy, so awesome!
Keep up the good work EA. Good to see the million dollar budgets put to good use
it HAS to be cheesy. Haven't you guys seen any of the FMVs from the previous C&C games? OMFG! Those over-the-top cut scenes are a part of what made these games great.
The only reason I hve plenty of love to go around for EA is because they do the FMV clips. I even bought the whole Command and the conquer the first decade just because of the FMV clips.
I think Billy Dee had a few too many Colt 45's before he filmed his scenes, that was painful to watch. Other than Billy, I think the cut-scenes are kinda cool, defiantly cheesy, but cool.
@creamsnake: Puleeze, Ironside is a pitcher, not a catcher, better lube up before you get wit dat. He'll split ya wiiiiide open. (Cripes, did I fall asleep at Destrutoid and wake up at GayGamer?)
"I even bought the whole Command and the conquer the first decade just because of the FMV clips."
Well let's not forget that westwood started the madness, and EA actually took it away in Generals. The fanbase went apeshit because of it too. I recently played Red Alert 2, with the FMV sequences. Not too long before that I played through the Allied campaign without FMV sequences (some pirated version that was stripped down.) The difference was huge, as cheesy as they were it added a sense of depth to the game that was missing before. When I played it without the FMV sequences I wasn't as interested in playing the "next mission." I would play one or two missions and the game would sit for a week or two. The FMV sequences got me involved more, I ended up playing the campaign all the way through in two days. It's not exactly scientific. I guess what I'm saying is I'm glad there around, and I still miss Westwood badly.
Yeah of course. I was more thinking of the Need for speed games when I was talking about the FMV things. As far as I know EA is the only one doing the FMV thing today or maybe I should rephrase it to the only major games-whatever doing it as opposed to back in the westwood days when every single games company was doing it. Doesn't make Kane less awesome though.
I can understand why many people was getting bummed when EA took over westwood and with generals nonetheless. Luckily I wasn't a fan of C&C at the time so why should I care? For all I know EA could've been the savior bringing sexy back while Louis Castle himself was occupied in the middle of a mustard party back in 2003.
But yeah definatly. I was playing the first game, I kind of hated it a bit towards the end but the FMV clips kept me going. Didn't bother with the Covert operations because of the lack of Kane. Speaking of that I need to play those secret dino missions at some point.
i still enjoy cutscenes whether it be game engine, live action, or prerendered... but ya was playing cc3 last night and in the game the GDI girl came up, i was like "Hey girls, whats up?"
haha i played red alert.thats tonya. lmfao!!! thats what i was thinking about when i read the title. but i didn't expect them to be like famous actors..thats funny..where is josh hollwell.i didn't see him at all.
Though the demo made the game seem very promising, it also had the cheesy overacting (to use Niero's term) and all the hotties that accompany it.
All in all, I'll take hotties over bad overacting any day. Just turn off the volume and enjoy the show. When the action starts, turn up the volume for maximum carnage!
Oh man, anyone remember Captain Power??? I hope to god this really means FMVs are coming back. I miss the cheese. So much. Almost as much as I miss the over-abundancy of Laser Tag places.
>> EA has enough money to hire ridiculously hot actors for crap cutscenes
Not quite.
Yes, EA has a shitload of money.
No, hot actors for crap cutscenese do not cost a lot of money.
EA is in LA and hot "actors" are a dime a dozen. Literally. You can go into Costco and buy them in bulk.
They're like phone books. When you come home from work at the end of the day, they're sitting in your driveway wrapped in plastic. You just stack them by the door and recycle them every Thursday.
The best part was watching Billy Dee Williams trip on the name of his character while reading the cue card.
I also like how Williams was channeling Shatner and Tony Curtis in his spastic over-acting (nice swinging lightbulb, by the way).
Also, how is it that Michael Ironside (Michael Ironside is obviously not this guy's real name, right? What is it? Josiah Lipstein?) has been doing these low rent gigs for what... four decades and he STILL hasn't amassed enough wealth or influence to move up to something a little higher profile.
Well, he was the captain of SeaQuest for a season....eh, probably not high profile enough. He probably enjoys the work, hell, I'd curse at a giant insect and get eaten by it for minimum wage. BTW did Kari Wuhr walk right off the set of Sliders for that game because she wore the same thing in like half the episode she was in, I think.
I suppose that would give new meaning to the line "How could they be ramming us if they don't know that we're coming?"
I sorta like this idea though. Now I get to tell all my friends that I had a face-to-face conversation with Billy Dee, a hot chick, and Michael "Ironsides" Ironside.
RSS 
MORE IN OUR 
More from this author: 
oh my god you know what the only thing I could thing about?
In Disneyland when you get on a ride and it has a storyline that requires video
and or a mad tv skit... cheesy and pointless
How about Billy Dean Williams from Star Wars V and VI?
sex
Wow. Just wow. What more can be said?
Michael Ironside makes me wet.
I am totally ok with that. They are getting REAL actors, something that needs to be done. So many games have shitty ass pathetic excused for voice acting and EA is doing it right with C&C3
And yet, it still sounded like B movie material. I can only hope that was intentional.
I think the b movie feel was intentional, its a clearly fictional game.
surprisingly I have a strong desire to get this game now
wave after wave nostalgia is hitting me...
FMV is back, baby! Can't wait to see the trailer for the other side, maybe Michael Ironside plays both sides and the other has a metal leg and an eyepatch. I can't get enough Ironside. So when are we going to see Mad Dog McCree 3?
Okay, so I really tried hard to think about having sex with Michal Ironside. I was thinking I'd have him bent over a stainless steel table. The only problem is whenever I imagine it he's taunting the shit out of me.
Michael Ironside! Michael Ironside! Michael Ironside!
...
Sorry, was that out loud?
I can't believe how cheesy that was. So cheesy!!!! That's like Sega CD-rom cheesy, I don't know how else to describe it.
Creamsnake, his taunting is what makes him hot. Michael Ironside is so manly, he makes penises look feminine by comparison. Even when the sex is consensual, it feels like rape.
Awesome, awesome rape.
That is an outrageously doable cast.
I also could not keep a straight face, especially with Billy Dee. I'm going to cry throughout every cutscene. That, and masturbate furiously. To Michael Ironside. And Grace Park. But mostly Michael Ironside.
This is a B-Movie Story with the exact right people to play such a cheesy alieninvadingtiberiumbrotherhood Story!
The main reason I buy that game are those Cutscenes! The game itself is nothing special, just plain cc rts. I love that, but what makes it fun is the storyline presented by some cool oldskool B-Stars!
Jesus... some of these actors are a bit young to be throwing in the towel like that, aren't they? I'm reminded of the scene from Family Guy where Brian is auditioning for a commercial...
Toucan Sam: H-how would you do it?
Brian: Oh I don't know, I was thinking like... good. Like an actor.
As much as it pains me to say it, EA is doing the industry good with this. Movie and TV actors tend to have a way with the general public. So, their indulgence of the video game industry may legitimize the gaming industry for some nay-sayers. Hopefully HD graphics, 'real' actors, and engaging story lines will push this entertainment medium to new heights.
That reminded me of the cutscenes in NFS Carbon... so 90s, so cheesy, so awesome!
Keep up the good work EA. Good to see the million dollar budgets put to good use
Holy overacting, Blackman!
Billy Dee Williams!!!
it HAS to be cheesy. Haven't you guys seen any of the FMVs from the previous C&C games? OMFG! Those over-the-top cut scenes are a part of what made these games great.
The only reason I hve plenty of love to go around for EA is because they do the FMV clips. I even bought the whole Command and the conquer the first decade just because of the FMV clips.
Rev: Just so you know, I would stab you in the face and kill everyone in your city for Jennifer Morrison, dibs or not. You have been warned.
I think Billy Dee had a few too many Colt 45's before he filmed his scenes, that was painful to watch. Other than Billy, I think the cut-scenes are kinda cool, defiantly cheesy, but cool.
@creamsnake: Puleeze, Ironside is a pitcher, not a catcher, better lube up before you get wit dat. He'll split ya wiiiiide open. (Cripes, did I fall asleep at Destrutoid and wake up at GayGamer?)
Niero:
Like Sewer Shark cheesy?
@Ndizi
"I even bought the whole Command and the conquer the first decade just because of the FMV clips."
Well let's not forget that westwood started the madness, and EA actually took it away in Generals. The fanbase went apeshit because of it too. I recently played Red Alert 2, with the FMV sequences. Not too long before that I played through the Allied campaign without FMV sequences (some pirated version that was stripped down.) The difference was huge, as cheesy as they were it added a sense of depth to the game that was missing before. When I played it without the FMV sequences I wasn't as interested in playing the "next mission." I would play one or two missions and the game would sit for a week or two. The FMV sequences got me involved more, I ended up playing the campaign all the way through in two days. It's not exactly scientific. I guess what I'm saying is I'm glad there around, and I still miss Westwood badly.
Yeah of course. I was more thinking of the Need for speed games when I was talking about the FMV things. As far as I know EA is the only one doing the FMV thing today or maybe I should rephrase it to the only major games-whatever doing it as opposed to back in the westwood days when every single games company was doing it. Doesn't make Kane less awesome though.
I can understand why many people was getting bummed when EA took over westwood and with generals nonetheless. Luckily I wasn't a fan of C&C at the time so why should I care? For all I know EA could've been the savior bringing sexy back while Louis Castle himself was occupied in the middle of a mustard party back in 2003.
But yeah definatly. I was playing the first game, I kind of hated it a bit towards the end but the FMV clips kept me going. Didn't bother with the Covert operations because of the lack of Kane. Speaking of that I need to play those secret dino missions at some point.
i still enjoy cutscenes whether it be game engine, live action, or prerendered... but ya was playing cc3 last night and in the game the GDI girl came up, i was like "Hey girls, whats up?"
Wow Billy D is really shooting for an Oscar in that one....anyone tell him its just a video game
No..I wouldn't hit Ironside!
@Kannon: Is that a hot chick or Michael Jackson?
<i>"Billy Dee Williams from How Can They Be Jamming Us If They Don't Know We're Coming"</I>
.... I chuckled
haha i played red alert.thats tonya. lmfao!!! thats what i was thinking about when i read the title. but i didn't expect them to be like famous actors..thats funny..where is josh hollwell.i didn't see him at all.
They must have spent hundreds, literally hundreds to get billy dee williams on the project.
The huge budget for FMV actors must be the reason they had to borrow those costumes from the "sci-fi original movies" wardrobe department.
I have had dibs on Jennifer Morrison since I saw her in Grind
ahahah Kannon ~ awesome photostich!
Though the demo made the game seem very promising, it also had the cheesy overacting (to use Niero's term) and all the hotties that accompany it.
All in all, I'll take hotties over bad overacting any day. Just turn off the volume and enjoy the show. When the action starts, turn up the volume for maximum carnage!
Don't you worry! Han'll have that shield generator down. Or this will be the shortest offensive ever.
yeah C&C red alert 2 had some of the best cutscenes ever filmed
so uh, is the game any good?
Aequitas:
TRY IT.
Summa:
Kari Wuhrer and two nameless EVA chicks < The entire cast of Battlestar Galactica
Er, Kannon. You all look the same to me.
Cheesalicious.
I half expected it to turn into a porn flick.
You've seen those porn movies, the ones with a plot.
Oh man, anyone remember Captain Power??? I hope to god this really means FMVs are coming back. I miss the cheese. So much. Almost as much as I miss the over-abundancy of Laser Tag places.
I love you all. This has been a fun line of comments.
You can each have Jennifer Morrison first, but I want my chance. Maybe then she can actually enjoy some satisfaction.
They still can't top James Earl Jones from the earlier C&C games. How I love me some James Earl Jones.
They still can't top James Earl Jones from the earlier C&C games. How I love me some James Earl Jones.
How'd they manage to make Grace Park look crappy?
Oh, and dibs on Billy Dee...
That's some of the lamest shit I've ever seen in any videogame ever. Good goin' EA; ya buncha d-bags.
>> EA has enough money to hire ridiculously hot actors for crap cutscenes
Not quite.
Yes, EA has a shitload of money.
No, hot actors for crap cutscenese do not cost a lot of money.
EA is in LA and hot "actors" are a dime a dozen. Literally. You can go into Costco and buy them in bulk.
They're like phone books. When you come home from work at the end of the day, they're sitting in your driveway wrapped in plastic. You just stack them by the door and recycle them every Thursday.
The best part was watching Billy Dee Williams trip on the name of his character while reading the cue card.
I also like how Williams was channeling Shatner and Tony Curtis in his spastic over-acting (nice swinging lightbulb, by the way).
Also, how is it that Michael Ironside (Michael Ironside is obviously not this guy's real name, right? What is it? Josiah Lipstein?) has been doing these low rent gigs for what... four decades and he STILL hasn't amassed enough wealth or influence to move up to something a little higher profile.
Well, he was the captain of SeaQuest for a season....eh, probably not high profile enough. He probably enjoys the work, hell, I'd curse at a giant insect and get eaten by it for minimum wage. BTW did Kari Wuhr walk right off the set of Sliders for that game because she wore the same thing in like half the episode she was in, I think.
@ Detry
"I half expected it to turn into a porn flick."
I suppose that would give new meaning to the line "How could they be ramming us if they don't know that we're coming?"
I sorta like this idea though. Now I get to tell all my friends that I had a face-to-face conversation with Billy Dee, a hot chick, and Michael "Ironsides" Ironside.
Wicked.
uhh did anybody else notice that that's lando calrissian from star wars?
For those interested, I found an old trailer with some of the people from Nod.
Right here.
I wonder if Josh will give you nicknames through out the Nod campaign. Any FMV for the aliens?
@ bratmonkey
In related news, the world is indeed round.
once a b-actor... always a b-actor. But honestly, i'm glad it's cheesy. It wouldn't be C&C without the cheese.