State of the world in 2047.

Mike Verdu, Executive Producer for Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, recently posted a designer diary on gaming website IGN. As development of the game continues, EA is planning to keep the fans informed of all the latest developments in the Command & Conquer universe. This first diary gives an insight in the state of the world in 2047 and the impact Tiberium has had upon the world.

Since its introduction in the original Command & Conquer, Tiberium has been one of the main focus points of the game saga. Kane, the leader of the Brotherhood of NOD, has previously attempted to utilise the alien substance in order to secure his plans of world domination. On the other hand, the Global Defense Initiative has always opposed Kane's ideals and views Tiberium as a threat to humans and the entire world.

As Verdu explains, the setting of Command & Conquer 3 sees the Earth transformed by Tiberium. The mysterious alien substance has been consuming the Earth since its first discovery, converting anything it touches into more Tiberium. This conversion process gives off energy that can be utilised by the resource-starved civilisations that inhabit the world in 2047.

The spread of Tiberium has been so severe in some parts of the world that they have been labelled as uninhabitable for humans. These "Red Zones" are a barren landscape filled with countless Tiberium fields and scoured by relentless storms. Red Zones account for about 30% of the Earth's surface and show no sign of ceasing in Tiberium expansion.

Making up 50% of the Earth in 2047 are the "Yellow Zones", war-torn areas subject to wild weather, Tiberium infestation and social collapse. Many of these locales have become havens for criminal activities or even outposts for the Brotherhood of NOD.

The remaining populace of the world exist in the "Blue Zones", pockets of civilisation controlled by the GDI. Blue Zones stand as reminders of the peak of human society with high-tech futuristic cities dependent on using Tiberium as an energy resource.

Scheduled for a 2007 release, Command & Conquer 3 will immerse players in a new, futuristic setting where the epic struggle for GDI and NOD will continue.

The full developer diary can be found at IGN.