Electronic Arts (EA) Los Angeles is currently developing "Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3", the next iteration of its popular 'Command & Conquer Red Alert' game series.

EA said the mainstay of the new game is its fully cooperative, story-driven campaign rendered in a 'light-hearted' style. By contrast, EA's 'Command & Conquer Tiberium' series has an essentially serious, stark tone.

Add to "Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3" some really weird time travelling, and you have a game that alters the course of history -- at least the way we know it.

A dwindling Soviet Union takes refuge in an Eastern European avatar of the Time Machine to try and prevent Russia's imminent defeat in the prevailing Cold War.

But in vain; instead, the Soviets end up helping Japan to set up an empire of its own -- sans that mammoth eventuality, World War II. With the shadow of a near World War III looming large on the horizon -- what with Stalin having invaded Western Europe. The warring factions being: the Allies, the Soviet Bloc, and the Empire of the Rising Sun.

The gamer could be part of any of these factions. The humor in the game essentially arises out of the irony of timelines that create a history that is beyond bizarre.

Hand in glove with the oddity of it all are a couple of 'wacky' weapons with which the war is fought: tesla coils, war blimps, teleportation, armored bears, intelligent dolphins, floating island fortresses, and transforming tanks, to name a few. And there's a whole lot of naval combat weaved in since a large part of the war unfolds against the backdrop of the vast Pacific Ocean.

While the official "Red Alert 3" Web site has been launched by EA, the company hasn't yet announced a release date for "Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3".

However, those who buy the limited edition of the other Command & Conquer (Tiberium) Series, or its Kane's Wrath Expansion Pack, will receive an invite to the game's beta test scheduled for later this year.

Meanwhile, EA said "Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3" would be available for the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3.