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Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy

Last updated: January 10, 2026

Overview

Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy is an expansion pack for the critically acclaimed real-time tactics game Ground Control, developed by High Voltage Software in collaboration with Massive Entertainment and published by Sierra Studios in December 20001. The expansion continues the story of Major Sarah Parker following the conclusion of the original game’s campaign on the distant planet Krig-7B2. Set in the year 2419, where warfare has been outlawed on Earth and moved to the stars, Dark Conspiracy builds on Ground Control’s award-winning gameplay and technology while introducing a new playable faction, the Phoenix Mercenaries3.

What made this expansion particularly notable was Sierra’s distribution strategy—the expansion was offered free to owners of the original Ground Control, with only a $4.95 shipping and handling fee required4. New purchasers of Ground Control would receive the expansion included at no additional cost5. This consumer-friendly approach was widely praised by reviewers, with IGN’s Dan Adams declaring that owners who didn’t take advantage of the offer were “seriously in danger of your children falling backwards on the evolutionary ladder”6.

The expansion featured 15 new single-player missions spread across new environments, expanded the roster of units for existing factions, and continued the tactical gameplay that distinguished Ground Control from traditional resource-management focused RTS games7. Unlike conventional real-time strategy games, Ground Control featured no base-building or resource management—victory depended entirely on tactical deployment and maneuvering of pre-selected forces8.

Story Summary

The narrative of Dark Conspiracy picks up immediately where the original Ground Control concluded—with the battle for Krig-7B ended, but the greater conflict only beginning11. Jarred Stone and Sarah Parker, two defecting officers from the opposing factions on Krig-7B, had destroyed the alien relics that both the Crayven Corporation and the Order of the New Dawn were fighting to possess12. Now stranded on the deserted planet, Parker must find a way to escape while uncovering the terrifying truth about the alien technology they were fighting over2.

After defeating the Crayven Corporation and Order of the New Dawn forces on Krig-7B, Major Sarah Parker finds herself in desperate circumstances13. She must enlist a group of mercenaries to help her escape from the planet—these mercenaries form the Phoenix Mercenary Unit, the expansion’s new playable faction14. The Phoenix Mercenaries bring their own unique units and combat capabilities to the conflict, offering players a fresh tactical experience distinct from the corporate military forces of Crayven or the zealous warriors of the Order15.

The story takes a dramatic turn when help arrives in the unlikely form of an Order of the New Dawn battlecruiser that suddenly drops out of hyperspace16. This vessel destroys its Crayven counterpart, creating a temporary alliance of convenience between former enemies17. As Parker and her mercenary allies battle across multiple planets, they gradually discover the true nature and terrifying implications of the alien artifacts that sparked the original conflict2.

The expansion’s narrative was noted for ending abruptly on a cliffhanger, leaving several plot threads unresolved and setting up potential future installments in the Ground Control saga1. The cutscenes throughout the campaign were produced by Blur Studio, known for their high-quality CGI work in video games17.

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy maintains the fully 3D interface of its predecessor, allowing players complete freedom to rotate and zoom the camera around the battlefield18. The game was recognized as “one of the first real 3D RTS games to be released” and was praised for having “the best system for troop movement and control” in the genre at the time6. Units are organized into squads rather than individual soldiers, streamlining command and control during intense tactical engagements8.

The interface emphasizes tactical positioning over economic management—there is no base-building, no resource management, and no ability to “overwhelm the enemy with superior numbers”8. Instead, players must carefully select their forces before each mission and deploy them strategically throughout the engagement. The diagonal-down and top-down perspectives provide clear battlefield awareness while maintaining the detailed 3D graphics that made the original Ground Control visually impressive9.

Structure and Progression

The expansion features 15 all-new single-player scenarios that continue the storyline from the original game7. These missions take place across new environments and terrain types not seen in the base game, including at least one entirely new planetary environment11. Players take control of the Phoenix Mercenaries faction throughout most of the campaign, though the story involves encounters with both the Crayven Corporation and Order of the New Dawn forces14.

Mission structure follows the tactical deployment model established in the original game—players select their forces before deployment and must complete objectives with no reinforcements or resupply during missions18. According to GameFAQs user data, a complete playthrough takes approximately 35 hours and is considered “Tough” in difficulty13.

Puzzles and Mechanics

The expansion introduces several new unit types across all factions. For the Phoenix Mercenaries, players gain access to snipers, grenadiers, armored marines, the Pyrodyne anti-personnel vehicle, and Phoenix Swarm Aerodynes6. The existing Crayven Corporation and Order of the New Dawn factions also receive new units and weapons to expand tactical options19.

One notable design decision that carried over from the original game was the lack of an in-mission save feature18. This meant that failed missions required complete restarts, and reviewers noted that “often, you’ll find yourself having to memorize where attacks come from in order to prevent losing a mission”6. Players also cannot adjust game speed during missions, adding to the tactical tension18. Some technical issues persisted from the original game, including pathfinding problems with ground vehicles and units occasionally “playing bumper cars” when moving in formation6.

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy received generally favorable reviews from gaming publications, with critics praising its value proposition while noting that it didn’t significantly evolve the formula established by the original game.

GameZone awarded the expansion 8.5/10, with reviewer Michael Lafferty calling it “a great add-on to a fine RTS title” and declaring that “value-wise, you can’t beat an expansion pack like this”20. The review highlighted how Sierra’s decision to essentially give the expansion away free represented exceptional consumer value.

IGN gave the expansion 8/10, with Dan Adams stating that despite expansion packs “permanently falling in the shadow of their predecessor,” Dark Conspiracy delivered everything fans could want6. He particularly praised the original Ground Control’s troop movement system while noting the expansion maintained that quality.

GameSpot scored the game 7.9/10, with Greg Kasavin observing that “Dark Conspiracy fundamentally remains the same great strategy game as its predecessor”18. The review noted that “Ground Control boasted some of the best graphics of any PC game released in 2000” and the expansion maintained that visual quality18.

CNET Gamecenter awarded 80/100, noting that “this game not only has everything that an add-on pack should have—fresh units, a new campaign, and new multiplayer maps and modes—but it has one thing that most don’t: a goose-egg price tag”21.

ActionTrip gave a more modest 73/100, noting “there are indeed few novelties. If somebody showed me the thing after a couple of months, I wouldn’t be able to tell if it were the original game or the add-on”21.

Gaming Age provided the lowest score among aggregated reviews at 67/100, though still within mixed-positive territory21.

GamePower awarded 75/10021.

Génération 4, a French gaming publication, scored the expansion 15/20 (75%)10.

Modern Assessment

Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy maintains a solid reputation among real-time tactics enthusiasts, though it remains overshadowed by its highly regarded predecessor.

Aggregate Scores:

  • Metacritic: 77/100 (7 critic reviews: 5 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative)21
  • MobyGames: 78% (critics)22
  • Gamepressure: 6.2/1023
  • User Score (Metacritic): 6.7 (6 user ratings)21
  • GameFAQs User Rating: “Outstanding”13
  • ESRB Rating: Teen24
  • PEGI Rating: 123

The Ground Control Anthology, bundling the original game with Dark Conspiracy, was released in 2001 and later made available on digital platforms including GOG.com, ensuring the expansion remains accessible to modern players22.

Development

Origins

Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy was first announced in August 2000 by Sierra Studios, positioning it as an expansion to their award-winning 3D real-time strategy game17. The expansion was developed by Chicago-based High Voltage Software in collaboration with the original game’s developer, Massive Entertainment of Sweden11. The development occurred approximately six months after the release of the original Ground Control in June 200018.

Production

The expansion was developed to continue the Ground Control saga with substantial new content—15 single-player missions, new environments and terrain, and the introduction of a third playable faction7. High Voltage Software handled primary development duties on the expansion, building upon the engine and assets created by Massive Entertainment for the original game1.

Development Credits:9

  • Designers: Tom Smith, Jeff Marks, David A. Rodriguez, Leif Lathrop, Martin Walfisz
  • Original Game Design: Martin Walfisz, Henrik Sebring
  • Voice Director: Jeff Pobst
  • Composer: Ola Strandh

The development team totaled 178 people across all contributing studios, accumulating 200 total credits9.

Animation Production

  • Blur Studio – Produced all CGI cutscenes for the expansion17
  • Sierra Studios – Publishing and production oversight1

Technical Achievements

Ground Control was recognized at release as having “some of the best graphics of any PC game released in 2000”18. The fully 3D engine allowed complete camera freedom, enabling players to view the battlefield from any angle and zoom level18. The expansion maintained these visual standards while introducing new terrain types and environmental effects7.

The game utilized DirectX 7 technology with textured polygon graphics10. The real-time tactics approach—eschewing base-building and resource gathering in favor of pure tactical combat—represented an innovative direction in the strategy game genre8.

Technical Specifications

Minimum Requirements:24

  • CPU: 233 MHz
  • RAM: 32 MB
  • Video RAM: 4 MB
  • CD-ROM: 4X
  • Hard Disk Space: 350 MB (expansion requires 450 MB total with original game)20
  • Operating System: Windows 95
  • DirectX: 7.0a

Recommended Requirements:23

  • CPU: Pentium II 333 MHz
  • RAM: 64 MB
  • Graphics: DirectX 7 compatible graphics card

GOG.com Release Requirements:3

  • Processor: 1.8 GHz
  • RAM: 512 MB (1 GB recommended)
  • Graphics: DirectX 9.0c compatible
  • Storage: 4 GB
  • File Size: 834 MB

Technical Issues

Several technical issues carried over from the original Ground Control. Pathfinding problems with ground vehicles remained, and units would occasionally collide with each other when moving in formation, described by IGN as “playing bumper cars”6. The lack of an in-mission save feature was a deliberate design choice but proved frustrating for many players, requiring mission memorization to progress6.

Online multiplayer servers were operated through WON.net, which was shut down on November 1, 2008, ending internet multiplayer functionality9. LAN multiplayer remained functional after this date22.

Version History

VersionDatePlatformNotes
1.0December 2000WindowsInitial release1
1.2March 2002WindowsWalkthrough and unit description updates12
1.3August 2002WindowsCorrections and updates in all sections12
Anthology2001WindowsBundled with original Ground Control22
GOG ReleaseJuly 8, 2015WindowsDigital distribution via GOG.com25

Easter Eggs and Trivia

  • The original Ground Control contained a reference to David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” through a character named Major Tom9.
  • The expansion was offered completely free to existing Ground Control owners who paid only $4.95 shipping and handling4.
  • New purchasers of Ground Control received Dark Conspiracy included at no additional charge5.
  • The Phoenix Mercenaries faction name references the mythological bird that rises from ashes, fitting the story of survivors rebuilding from the war’s devastation14.
  • The story is set in the 25th century (2419), where mega-corporations have replaced nation-states as the primary powers3.

Voice Cast

CharacterVoice Actor
Major Sarah ParkerJennifer Hale
Deacon Jarrod StoneDee Bradley Baker
Marc HerraScott Weil
Enrica HayesTasia Valenza
Wallace DavidsonMichael Bell
Coral ManningMari Weiss
Sergeant ColeNathan Carlson
Rachel MortonPaty Lombard
Cardinal Kila BaylorJennifer Darling
Cardinal Galen YiTom Kane

Voice direction by Jeff Pobst26. Additional voice work credited to Gary Stevens9.

Legacy

Sales and Commercial Impact

While specific sales figures for Dark Conspiracy were not publicly disclosed, the expansion’s unique distribution strategy—offered free or nearly free to consumers—represented an innovative approach to expansion pack marketing4. Sierra’s decision to bundle the expansion with new copies of the original game and offer it to existing owners for minimal cost was praised by critics as exceptional consumer value20.

Collections

The expansion was bundled with the original Ground Control in the Ground Control: Anthology, released in 200122. This anthology was later distributed digitally through various platforms:

  • GOG.com: Released July 8, 2015 as “Ground Control Anthology”25
  • The original Ground Control was released as freeware on June 25, 2004, further expanding accessibility9
  • Rebellion Developments later became distributor of the Ground Control franchise27

Fan Projects

The Ground Control community has produced various fan resources including resolution changers to enable modern widescreen support28. The game maintained an active modding community through its multiplayer features until the WON.net shutdown in 20089.

  • Game Manual: Included with physical CD-ROM release22
  • Strategy Guides: Various FAQ/walkthroughs created by community members, including comprehensive unit guides12

Critical Perspective

Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy represents an interesting case study in expansion pack development and distribution during the early 2000s. While the expansion itself offered solid content—15 new missions, a new faction, expanded unit rosters—it was the pricing strategy that made it memorable4. By offering the expansion essentially free, Sierra maximized player engagement with the franchise while generating goodwill that would benefit future Ground Control releases.

The expansion’s tactical gameplay remained innovative for its time, emphasizing careful planning and positioning over the resource-gathering and base-building that dominated the RTS genre8. This design philosophy would influence later real-time tactics games, including the sequel Ground Control II: Operation Exodus released in 200428. However, the cliffhanger ending left story threads unresolved, and the narrative gap between Dark Conspiracy’s 2419 setting and Ground Control II’s 2741 setting represents a significant timeline jump28.

The game’s legacy is preserved through digital distribution on platforms like GOG.com, ensuring that both the original Ground Control and Dark Conspiracy remain accessible to modern players interested in experiencing one of the pioneering 3D real-time tactics games3.

Downloads

Purchase / Digital Stores

Download / Preservation

Resources

Series Continuity

Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy serves as a direct narrative sequel to the original Ground Control, picking up immediately after the conclusion of Major Sarah Parker’s campaign. The expansion introduces the Phoenix Mercenaries faction, which would not appear in subsequent games. The story ends on a cliffhanger, leaving several plot threads unresolved.

The franchise would continue with Ground Control II: Operation Exodus in 2004, though that game jumps forward to the year 2741 and features a new protagonist, Captain Jacob Angelus of the Northern Star Alliance (NSA), fighting against the Terran Empire and an alien race called the Virons28. The significant timeline gap means Dark Conspiracy’s narrative connections to the sequel are primarily thematic rather than directly continuous.

References

Footnotes

  1. Wikipedia – Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy – release dates, developers, publishers, overview ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  2. Metacritic – Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy – game summary, ratings ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  3. GOG.com – Ground Control Anthology – game description, technical requirements, PEGI rating ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  4. GameSpot – Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy For Free – distribution strategy, pricing ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  5. GameSpot News Article – expansion bundling announcement ↩ ↩2

  6. IGN – Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy Review – review scores, gameplay analysis, technical issues ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  7. GameSpot – Dark Conspiracy Announced – expansion features, mission count ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  8. MobyGames – Ground Control – gameplay mechanics description ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  9. MobyGames – Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy Credits – development credits, composer, trivia ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9

  10. UVList – Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy – technical specs, international reviews ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  11. Old-Games.com – Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy – development details, story context ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  12. GameFAQs – Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy FAQs – faction information, version history ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  13. GameFAQs – Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy – user ratings, game length ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  14. Neoseeker – Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy – Phoenix Mercenaries faction details ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  15. Gamepressure – Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy – faction information ↩

  16. Gamicus Fandom – Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy – plot synopsis ↩

  17. Ground Control Fandom Wiki – Blur Studio cutscenes, plot details ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  18. GameSpot Review (Archived) – Greg Kasavin review, gameplay mechanics ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9

  19. GameSpot – Dark Conspiracy Features – new units, multiplayer features ↩

  20. GameZone Review (Archived) – Michael Lafferty review, technical requirements ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  21. Metacritic – Critic Reviews – aggregated review scores ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  22. MobyGames – Ground Control: Anthology – anthology details, multiplayer info ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  23. Gamepressure – Ground Control – system requirements ↩ ↩2

  24. Gamicus – Technical Specifications – minimum requirements ↩ ↩2

  25. Steam Search Results – GOG release date ↩ ↩2

  26. Behind The Voice Actors – Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy – voice cast, voice director ↩

  27. Wikidata – Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy – distribution information ↩

  28. ModDB – Ground Control II – sequel information, modding community ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

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