20 replies to this topic

[Istvan]

Hello,
I randomly happened upon these forums a little while ago, and though I haven't owned or played to great length a number of games of the CnC Universe, I always had great respect for Westwood, since Dune 2000 and Command and Conquer were my first RTS games I ever played, then Red Alert was my fourth. Despite having I barely played Tiberian Sun and have never played nor having an intention to play EA's Tiberian Wars, I was fascinated by the posts where some of the ex-Westwood staff members revealed would have been aspects of the CnC plot line. So, I am curious, would it be possible if someone from the Petroglyph staff could inform me/us about any concepts that might have been worked on for an expansion to Emperor: Battle for Dune, or a newer Dune game? Also, why was an expansion for Emperor never created? As I seem to recall, the game's ending cinematic ended off telling the player that the future is uncertain; almost as though it was setting up for something else to follow (or at least allowing something else to follow).

[gufu]

Eh... I never came upon any information about an expansion. Mind showing a source that there was one in the emaking.

[Istvan]

I believe there's been a little misunderstanding. I asked why an expansion was never produced; however, I never stated that there had actually been an expansion in the works. After all, another question I asked was what Westwood might have had in mind for the future of the Dune series.

[gufu]

The story for that game was finished. A new story would need to begin in a new game. Beside, otherwise the story would be rather... short. And retaking of the Arakkis for the second time, would be nothing but a mere annoyance. Remember, the winning house destroy ALL OTHER House Major in the Emperium. They can't screw with guild more, because the guild STILL has the monopoly. You can follow tleilaxu, but even their treachery provides too much of use to this time.

[Istvan]

While I agree for the most part with what you said, the ending cinematic for the game did leave the plot open for there to be a possible continuation. That is why I am interested in finding out if anything ever was planned.

[tham007]

We don't even know whether or not EALA or this Petroglyph Studios will even revive the Dune series. I don't see or hear any confirmation word from either one of them. Perhaps to say the least that the Dune series are most likely dead.

[Istvan]

Yes, of course. That is why I wrote in the title's description "what was to come" as opposed to "what is to come."

I never claimed that they either Petro or EA are working on a new Dune installment, or ever even were. I am simply asking what might have been if anyone at Westwood possibly once had plans for a continuation.

[Khelben]

The Dune games were great games.
I love the way Westwood integrated pieces of Frank Herbert's books with a few additions from their own imagination *cough*Ordos*cough* into an RTS, it was almost like the perfect setting for a game like this.
Also Frank's music made the Dune environment really stand out.

That being said, I also share your curiosity for what was planned for the Dune game universe after Emperor.

[Istvan]

They certainly were, and I do agree that the Dune universe (or at least a Westwood spun conflict on Arrakis) makes for an excellent RTS game.

[Sean_Seanston]

May as well make this my first post back after many months

YES, they WERE planning an expansion to E:BFD. That much I know, since I found info about it on some site ages ago. They had a few details about it, can't quite remember, I'll go google it...

Here we go: It was to be called Emperor: Alliances and it seems the Tleilaxu were going to betray the Guild and try to gain power or some such... a whole TL;DR description is here:
http://dune2k.com/Du...icles/Alliances

[Khelben]

Sean_Seanston, on Jul 9 2009, 09:47 PM, said:

Here we go: It was to be called Emperor: Alliances and it seems the Tleilaxu were going to betray the Guild and try to gain power or some such... a whole TL;DR description is here:
http://dune2k.com/Du...icles/Alliances

That was an interesting storyline.

From the novels it's quite easy to dislike the Tleilaxu, with their strange ways and religion. Also the origin of their axlotl tanks makes them look is quite barbaric... and yet the known universe depended so much of them.

"The vile, detestable, dirty Tleilaxu! The stupid Tleilaxu! The predictable Tleilaxu! The impetuous Tleilaxu!"

[SCC-PG]

Istvan, on May 8 2009, 04:46 PM, said:

Hello,
I randomly happened upon these forums a little while ago, and though I haven't owned or played to great length a number of games of the CnC Universe, I always had great respect for Westwood, since Dune 2000 and Command and Conquer were my first RTS games I ever played, then Red Alert was my fourth. Despite having I barely played Tiberian Sun and have never played nor having an intention to play EA's Tiberian Wars, I was fascinated by the posts where some of the ex-Westwood staff members revealed would have been aspects of the CnC plot line. So, I am curious, would it be possible if someone from the Petroglyph staff could inform me/us about any concepts that might have been worked on for an expansion to Emperor: Battle for Dune, or a newer Dune game? Also, why was an expansion for Emperor never created? As I seem to recall, the game's ending cinematic ended off telling the player that the future is uncertain; almost as though it was setting up for something else to follow (or at least allowing something else to follow).

Sorry, we're unable for various reasons to comment on planned additional fiction or possible expansions by us or others.  It seems likely that the cinematic you refer to intended for future stories to be told, but then again, such may occur with no specific developments in mind.

[Berek-PG]

Looks like another Dune movie coming out in 2010!: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1160419/

[Khelben]

Berek-PG, on Aug 11 2009, 07:27 PM, said:

Looks like another Dune movie coming out in 2010!: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1160419/

Still not much info about it.
This is the kind of news that makes me happy and afraid at the same time, Herbert's writing is so intelligent and Dune's plot so rich that it must be a daunting task to do movie about it.
I won't even comment on David Linch movie as an adaptation of the novel.

[Sean_Seanston]

This new movie has been worrying me for some time since EA has a habit of movie cash-ins so you can see where that could lead...

Anyway, it'll probably be even worse than Lynch's version which, while complete fail as an adaptation of the novel, was at least ****ing nuts enough to be interesting.

[Istvan]

Thank you for the responses.


I actually read a bit into that TLDR expansion storyline, and honestly it seemed quite poor. It could almost be mistaken for some fan-fic due to the undeveloped, jot-note like ideas. I suppose that's a good reason for not making an expansion.

[hunter plekavich]

I've been wondering about the emperor sequel for a long time. I remember when it first hit the shelves in the stores! I had played the hell out of dune 2000.
Emperor became my new rts aside from age of empires age of kings.
I've followed the dune series from frank herberts books to brian herberts books...there's a lot of story to be made into a future rts game.
Especially after emperor god of dune...face dances, fish speakers, the machines, the no ships, new arrakis ect. It wouldn't take a game developer
any real thought on how to continue the game. The only main concern I'm guessing is marketing since there's not a real market for rts atm or having
Consumers just fall into the game without prior background knowledge of dune....but it could be done.
It would be nice to see a new dune rts game be unvieled but as long as the ressurected westwood is back I'm know you'll make up for my loss petroglyph lol.
Maybe I can give you some ideas on some games to design lol.

[BOTA:99]

I too liked Dune and and it would be kinda neat to see a continuance of that.

Edited by BOTA:99, 27 April 2012 - 05:10 PM.

[Sean_Seanston]

Well, since the thread has been necromancied from 2009... it's interesting to note that Dune film releasing in "2010" is now "scheduled" (i.e. probably just a placeholder date for a film that will never be made) for 2014