"Command & Conquer", released on September 26, 1995, is the first game in the series and is considered as the title which originally defined and popularized the real-time strategy genre. "Command & Conquer" introduced the warring factions of the Global Defense Initiative (GDI) and the Brotherhood of Nod. "Command & Conquer" was well received and was widely praised by critics: ""Command & Conquer" is one of the finest, most brilliantly-designed computer games I have ever seen" said GameSpot reviewer Chris Hudak. "Command & Conquer" has attained 94% as an aggregate score from Metacritic with the less well received "Covert Operations" expansion pack obtaining an aggregate score of 72% after its 1996 release. The year in which C&C takes place is never specified.