Command & Conquer 3 PC Editor, Xbox 360 Demo

Paving the way for the upcoming Mod SDK that will let you create - and play - entire single-player scenarios (and campaigns, we assume), Electronic Arts have released the Worldbuilder for Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars over the weekend. This is basically a map editor that you can use to create skirmish / multiplayer maps, and it's now available for download on the game's official website. The tiny 7.7 MB package also includes an instruction manual of over 100 pages, and EA urges any new mappers to read the first section of the manual, and get the basics for building a multiplayer map.

Word is the Worldbuilder for Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars is actually the same toolset that the game's designers used to create all of the single-player missions and multiplayer maps, and it references all the artwork and other assets already built into Command & Conquer 3. To get the modding community started, EA promised that over the coming weeks they would review the best fan-made maps and release them right on the official website.

Do note, however, that the current version of Command & Conquer 3 is not yet compatible with user-created single-player campaign content, so for the time being you can only play multiplayer or skirmish maps created with the Worldbuilder toolset. For the full deal, players will have to wait for a separate Mod SDK release, which should be released soon.

And speaking of waiting, those of you looking forward to the game's Xbox 360 version will be glad to know the C&C 3 demo conquered the Xbox Live Marketplace over the weekend. The massive 1 GB download supposedly includes two single-player missions, a tutorial, and Xbox Live multiplayer support. If that still ain't enough, go back to waiting for the full version, scheduled to ship on May 10.

(N.B. Archive text, links removed)