Games - Technology of the Global Defense Initiative

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	Games - Technology of the Global Defense Initiative

This page lists the various technologies used by the Global Defense Initiative in the Command & Conquer series of science fiction real-time strategy computer games.

EVA

The Electronic Video Agent, or EVA (sometimes confused as Electronic Video Assistant), is a fictional artificial intelligence used by the GDI. Its Brotherhood of Nod counterpart is CABAL. Other examples of EVA-like technology exist throughout the various series as well.

While EVA is often used in the game universe as a generic term for all battlefield command and control systems, it actually refers to a specific device, a combined strategic artificial intelligence, intelligence gathering tool, communication system and console interface, giving field commanders an omniscient view of the operational theatre. This technology allows the player to give commands to individual units on the battefield.

In the Command and Conquer storyline, the EVA technology is developed in the 1950s computer revolution during the (fictional) war between the European powers and the Soviet Union. The voice for the interface, which remained the same whether playing the Allies or the Soviets, is male. Later, at the beginning of the first Tiberian war, the EVA unit is introduced and the voice is that of a female.

In the Command and Conquer series, by the first Tiberian War in 1993 EVA is the routine method of battlefield control and is a limited artificial intelligence. By the second Tiberian War in the 2030s, EVA is fully developed, with highly sophisticated natural language processing abilities and intelligent thought sufficient to make complex strategic and tactical decisions traditionally assigned to experienced commanders. This is made very clear in Firestorm, when Nod forces attempting to reprogram a captured EVA unit are repeatedly warned of the consequences resulting from their theft and tampering with the device.

The original and authentic version of EVA is the exclusive property of the United Nations, and is in use by the executive and military arm of the United Nations Security Council, the Global Defense Initiative. However, additional pirated versions are known to exist. In the first Tiberian War, the Brotherhood of Nod uses such a pirated version of EVA. The Brotherhood again obtains a copy of EVA during the second Tiberian War when Nod's (equivalent) device, the Computer Assisted Biologically Augmented Lifeform, goes rogue. It is also possible, given their level of organization, that The Forgotten posess a copy of EVA to coordinate their defense efforts; but this is unsubstantiated.

EVA is voiced by Jessica Straus in Firestorm and by Kia Huntzinger in Renegade.

Other C&C Series

Though the Red Alert and Command and Conquer series divert at this point, EVA and its equivalent are found in both series of games. It is also possible that an EVA-like equivalent exists in the Command and Conquer: Generals series as well, given that the controls between the three series are similar.

In Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, as well as the expansion pack, Yuri's Revenge, the player in the role of one of the three faction's generals is assisted by an aide. The Allies' aide is named Lieutenant Eva (performed by actress Athena Massey). The Soviet aide is Lieutenant Zofia. Yuri's faction has an unnamed acolyte performing this role.

Eva and her counterparts perform similar duties to the EVA system, acting as a vocal interface for the player. This reliance on a human coordinator suggests that the version of the EVA-like technology in the Red Alert storyline is not yet as advanced as that found in the Tiberian series; this should not be all too surprising, as the Second Soviet War takes place in the 1970's as opposed to the 21st century.

Command & Conquer: Generals, and its expansion, Zero Hour, have no direct link to the other Command and Conquer games. However, players in the role of the three faction's generals have the same minute control over their units as in other Command and Conquer games. While this technology is not EVA per se it is clearly an equivalent to justify the same feel between the different series. However, the USA assistant addresses herself as Eva on the briefing for the first USA mission, although this is most likely a simple reference.

Firestorm Defense Shield

In Command and Conquer Tiberian Sun, the Global Defense Initiative designs a new defensive network named the Firestorm Defense Shield, and uses it as the primary defense in their Hammerfest Base of Operations. It is capable of destroying anything which is unlucky enough to fly or drive over it, and is primarily used as a defense against the Brotherhood of Nod's wide range of missles. When activated, nothing can pass over it. However, it has two weaknesses:

The Firestorm Defense cannot destroy units which can burrow under it, such as the Subterranean APC or the Devil's Tongue Flame Tank.
The Firestorm Defense will shutdown if there is not enough power to maintain the Firestorm Generator and all of the Firestorm Wall Sections.

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