First Tiberium Impact
The meteorite crash that brought the alien mineral to Earth, sparking decades of global conflict.
The First Tiberium Impact is the event that sets the Command & Conquer timeline in motion. In 1995, a meteorite crashes near the river Tiber in Italy, bringing with it an alien substance scientists name Tiberium. This crystalline material can absorb and crystallize precious metals from the surrounding soil, but it also produces extremely toxic gases and radiation that is fatal to humans and animals. The impact marks the beginning of a new era, as the substance spreads across the planet and two global factions—the Global Defense Initiative and the Brotherhood of Nod—go to war over its control.
Quick Facts
- Date
- 1995
- Location
- Earth (near the river Tiber in Italy)
- Substance released
- Tiberium
Lore & Background
The First Tiberium Impact occurs in 1995, when a meteorite crashes near the river Tiber in Italy. The meteorite brings with it an alien substance that scientists call Tiberium, named after its impact site. Tiberium can absorb and crystallize precious metals from the surrounding soil, but it also transforms its surroundings and produces extremely toxic gases and radiation that is fatal to humans and animals. An ancient, cultic society called the Brotherhood of Nod, who claims to have foreseen the potentials of this new substance through their self-proclaimed messianic figure known only as Kane, invests in the development of technology to harvest and refine Tiberium crystals, far ahead of the global scientific community's own research. They use the resources it gathers to accumulate a rapidly growing army of followers worldwide. By the beginning of the game, Tiberium has spread across the planet, with Nod forces gaining control of nearly half of the rapidly growing substance through footholds in some of the poorest nations.
Reader's Guide
The Brotherhood of Nod, a cult led by the enigmatic Kane, claims to have foreseen Tiberium's potential and rapidly develops technology to harvest it, amassing wealth and a global army in poor nations. The Global Defense Initiative, originally a UN peacekeeping force formed after an alternate World War II, repurposes itself into an anti-terrorist organization dedicated to eliminating Nod. As Tiberium spreads across the globe, Nod launches ambitious attacks on wealthy nations, forcing GDI into a worldwide war to contain the substance and destroy the Brotherhood's growing influence.
Origins and Development
Westwood Studios conceived Command & Conquer during the final stages of the development of Dune II, and it expands on ideas explored in that title. Inspired by the events of the era, particularly the Gulf War, the team gave the game a modern warfare setting. The game contains live-action full motion video cutscenes, which star Westwood employees and few professional actors, including Joseph D. Kucan, who plays Kane. The Nintendo 64 port was developed by Looking Glass Studios.
Gameplay Mechanics and Strategy
Command & Conquer involves players operating as one of two playable factions on a map - the Global Defense Initiative (GDI), and the Brotherhood of Nod - developing bases, gathering resources and using them to produce troops, and then defeating their opponents by eliminating their army and either destroying or capturing their base. Base production and unit training is funded by gathering Tiberium, the game's sole resource, through the use of harvesting units, and processing them into credits through a refinery structure. Each faction has its own unique types of units, its own superweapon, and its own combat strategy: GDI relies on superior firepower and armour at the expense of greater production costs and slower movement; while Nod relies on a combination of numerical superiority, superior speed, and unconventional tactics, generally at the expense of less firepower and poor durability. Producing units requires establishing a base through a special unit called a Mobile Construction Vehicle (MCV) - MCVs can only be deployed in open flat land, and structures must be placed within close proximity with each other. In total, the game contains around fifty units and structures.
Narrative Setting and Conflict
Command & Conquer is set in an alternate history, and begins with a meteor crashing near the river Tiber in Italy in 1995. The meteorite brings with it an alien substance that scientists call Tiberium, named after its impact site, which can absorb and crystallize precious metals from the surrounding soil, but also transform its surroundings and produce extremely toxic gases and radiation that is fatal to humans and animals. An ancient, cultic society called the Brotherhood of Nod, who claims to have foreseen the potentials of this new substance through their self-proclaimed messianic figure known only as Kane, invests in the development of technology to harvest and refine Tiberium crystals, far ahead of the global scientific community's own research, and use the resources it gathers to accumulate a rapidly growing army of followers worldwide. By the beginning of the game, Tiberium has spread across the planet, with Nod forces gaining control of nearly half of the rapidly growing substance through footholds in some of the poorest nations. This wealth has enabled Nod forces to conduct increasingly ambitious terrorist attacks in wealthy countries. The Global Defense Initiative, initially formed by the United Nations as a multinational peacekeeping force in the aftermath of an alternate version of World War II, has since been repurposed as a global anti-terrorist organization, and makes its new goal the elimination of Nod across the globe.
Legacy and Commercial Impact
Command & Conquer was a commercial and critical success, selling over three million copies and winning numerous awards. It has been cited as one of the greatest games ever made, and the title that defined and popularized the real-time strategy genre. The game was the first in the Command & Conquer series, which sold 30 million copies by 2009. To mark the 12th anniversary of the franchise, Electronic Arts, the current publisher and owner of the series, released the game for free in 2007. A remastered version of the game was released in 2020 as part of the Command & Conquer Remastered Collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did this incident take place?
The impact occurred on December 6, 1995, effectively ending the modern era of peace. This specific date is recorded in lore as the beginning of humanity's conflict with Tiberium.
Where was the meteorite located upon arrival?
The extraterrestrial rock struck a location within Africa before spreading across the planet. This site became the epicenter for the initial contamination and subsequent resource wars.
How does the story of this impact conclude?
As a historical event, it concludes with the establishment of the Tiberium Age rather than a narrative ending. Its legacy continues through decades of global conflict driven by the need for and danger of the mineral.
More in Campaigns & Conflicts
Elsewhere in Command and Conquer
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