The PC modding community is a wonderful thing. We have seen a slew of amazing adaptations and expansion-sized alterations come out for a variety of games. There are even specialized websites dedicated to gamers creating for gamers. Every once in a while an absolute gem comes from fan-made modifications, something that grows so big it ceases to become a mod and instead becomes its own stand alone title. Such is the case with Renegade X, a fan game that has been in development for over six years. 

If the game looks and sounds familiar, it's because it is heavily modeled after the 2002 first-and-third-person shooting title Command and Conquer: Renegade. Renegade X started out as a simple modification to Unreal Tournament 3, a mod that fans hoped would bring the multiplayer aspect of C&C: Renegade into a "modern era" of gaming. But the mod was eventually scrapped, and the team at Totem Arts decided to craft a stand alone title instead. This custom creation promises to mix the aspects of an RTS with the fast-paced action of a shooter. 

But how exactly will it work? Developers stated the following concerning gameplay to Kotaku:

"Players will be able to fight for two unique teams - the Global Defense Initiative (GDI), a UN international military force committed to world order and peacekeeping, and the Brotherhood of Nod, a messianic international terrorist network that aims to push humanity into the next stage of human evolution.

Players will be able to manage their own economies, choose from over 30 weapons, 15 vehicles, and call in nuclear strikes, Ion Cannons, and airstrikes, and much more.

Each team will have a base of operations that composes of several key structures. Each structure has its own purpose. For example, the GDI Barracks gives GDI players access to special weapons and characters. If the Barracks is destroyed by Nod forces, GDI will lose the ability to purchase these special weapons."

Totem Arts is describing their creation as a close-up view of C&C's top-down action. The official trailer above will give you a better glimpse at what you can expect in terms of graphics and gameplay. The game will include a "skirmish mode" which acts as an offline mode complete with enemy AI. There is even a short campaign mode that you can download for free if you want to get a first-hand account of how the game will operate.

Renegade X is due to release as a free-to-play PC title on February 26, 2014.