Mentat Intel Report [10171.1 A.G.]
Report to CHOAM Interplanetary Commerce and Trade Regulation Board
Stated objective: To determine the method by which Harkonnen Spice mining yields have increased markedly within the last standard cycle and to verify any infractions of strictures governing computerized industrial mechanization imposed by the Bultlerian Jihad. The Harkonnen have been unwilling to disclose the reasons for their heightened productivity, citing rights of competition established under CHOAM operating guidelines.
Results: The following is a partial reconstruction of damaged holo-plans stolen from Harkonnen Spice mining operations on the planet Arrakis, also known as Dune. Speculation as to the purpose of the equipment is broad.
Mentat Assessment: Device appears to be some sort of heavy-lifting aircraft intended to transport Spice Harvesters to and from Spice fields with greater efficiency and speed. Could also have military transport applications. Likely this craft is responsible for increased Harkonnen Spice yields and a decrease in heavy equipment loss due to Sandworm activity in the deeps desert.
Encryption Channel 314159 ~ Authorization sent …REPORT ENDS…
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Mentat Intel Report [10171.2 A.G.]
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REPORTS CONFIRMED!
The Harkonnens have developed a flying Transport unit capable of lifting armor, infantry and even entire Spice Havester mobile factories into the deep desert. Their use of powerful rocket thrusters gives them formidable range, speed and lifting force.
Versatile and durable, these Carryalls are the backbone of Harkonnen economy and mobility on Arrakis. Their multiple potential uses cannot be overlooked. |
Encryption Channel 314159 ~ Authorization sent …REPORT ENDS…
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Mentat Intel Report [10171.3 A.G.]
Other new Harkonnen military units have been spotted in use on Arrakis. Assessment has been reconstructed from survivor reports.
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| The Harkonnen have deployed a potent anti-infantry weapon to the battlefield. The Ripper is very fast vehicle, its single massive bladed wheel doing as much damage to enemy soldiers as the twin rapid-fire chain guns it carries.
Though somewhat fragile in construction it is perfectly adapted to the wide open stretches of the desert sands and should be avoided by ground troops if caught un-protected in the open. |
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The Harkonnen Skystriker is a dangerous Multiple-Launching Rocket System (MLRS) which can fire rapid volleys of missiles at air and ground targets. The size of its payload and it’s range make it especially deadly in large numbers.
It is not designed for close-combat, however, and can be overwhelmed if other units get too close to it. |
Encryption Channel 314159 ~ Authorization sent …REPORT ENDS…
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| We hope you’ve enjoyed this sneak peek into the development of Dune: War of the Spice. You can follow us on Twitter, subscripe our RSS-feed and join our forums. We aim to post regular monthly updates as we have new work to show.
Dune: War of the Spice is a new fully original Real Time Strategy game loosely based on the Dune novels of Frank Herbert and following in the footsteps of such games as Emperor: Battle for Dune and Dune II: Building of a Dynasty. The game follows the exploits and conflict between the three Great Houses of the Atreides, Harkonnen and Ordos in their fierce battle for power and control of the Imperium, as well as a number of Subhouses that try to use the conflict to their own advantage.
We’ve been concentrating on the Harkonnen faction for the time being and hope to add new art for the others as our output increases, we’re always on the look-out for talented 2D and 3D artists to contribute. For information on joining the project please click the Jobs Link to the left. |
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The Storm Has Arrived
February 18th, 2010, by gma
You may have noticed our new URL. In moving to a new server we decided it was time to get a name for our project team. So we’re now officially announcing the formation of Rockstorm Games!
New name, same great project. Dune: War of the Spice is a new fully original Real Time Strategy game loosely based on the Dune novels of Frank Herbert and following in the footsteps of such games as Emperor: Battle for Dune and Dune II: Building of a Dynasty. The game follows the exploits and conflict between the three Great Houses of the Atreides, Harkonnen and Ordos in their fierce battle for power and control of the Imperium, as well as a number of Subhouses that try to use the conflict to their own advantage.
We’ve been concentrating on the Harkonnen faction for the time being and hope to add new art for the others as our output increases, we’re always on the look-out for talented 2D and 3D artists to contribute. For information on joining the project please click the Jobs Link to the left.
Units and Structures
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The even the common Harkonnen Trooper is a formidable opponent. Their armor may make them slow-moving but the heavy maula pistol they carry can easily cut through hordes of enemy infantry.
Most of the foot soldiers fielded by the Harkonnen are are either slaves or conscripts, the brutal treatment which their masters can inflict on them for failure is what motivates them to risk their lives on the battlefield. In the absence of their Squad Leader, they cannot be relied upon not to flee from the conflict in order to escape their servitude. |
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| The Harkonnen Dragon Tank is a heavily armored, slow unit that strikes fear into the heart of everyone who encounters it in battle. It can spray burning napalm over an almost 360 degree radius while traveling in any direction, meaning there is nowhere to hide if it gets close enough to strike.
They can be almost as dangerous to their owners, however. If one of these tanks is damaged or destroyed, the resultant explosion can splatter burning fuel over a wide area. |
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Essential to all operations on Arrakis is the Spice Harvester. These behemoths scrape, sift and separate the precious Spice Melange from the surface of the dunes, transporting it back to refineries where it is made ready for shipment off-world to fuel the ambitions of the noble Houses.
These massive machines are unarmed and are under constant threat from the giant Sandworms of Dune. A fleet of small spotter craft maintain a vigilant watch for wormsign and a Carryall must always be nearby to rescue the Harvester and move it to a safe location. |
New Hires
We’re also very pleased to announce the addition to two new people to the team.
Gary Fenn is joining us as a modeler and we’ve been very impressed with what he’s been doing so far. Maybe you’ll get to see some of it in the next update!
Kevin Jones is joining us as a concept artist. We look forward to seeing his creativity in action soon. |
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| We hope you’ve enjoyed this sneak peek into the development of Dune: War of the Spice. You can follow us on Twitter, subscripe our RSS-feed and join our forums. We aim to post regular monthly updates as we have new work to show. |
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Welcome to our newly redesigned site! We want to begin the relaunch of our game development with a spread of the new concept art we’ve been developing.
Dune: War of the Spice is a new fully original Real Time Strategy game loosely based on the Dune novels of Frank Herbert and following in the footsteps of such games as Emperor: Battle for Dune and Dune II: Building of a Dynasty. The game follows the exploits and conflict between the three Great Houses of the Atreides, Harkonnen and Ordos in their fierce battle for power and control of the Imperium, as well as a number of Subhouses that try to use the conflict to their own advantage.
We’ve been concentrating on the Harkonnen faction for the time being and hope to add new art for the others as our output increases, we’re always on the look-out for talented 2D and 3D artists to contribute. For information on joining the project please click the Jobs Link to the left.
Units and Structures
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In our re-envisioning of the Harkonnen we decided to take a step back from the approaches taken in previous Dune adaptations and go for a more steam-punk approach with some feudal and industrial influences. For instance in this mid-range tank design we’ve named the Aggressor, we wanted something that was less like a traditional tank and more like a battleship for the land.
The non-rotating turret makes this tank almost like a mobile pillbox emplacement. Not very agile, but its triple barrels pack an enormous punch. |
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| The heavy use of brass and industrial motifs is typical of the Harkonnen design style. This can also be seen in the design for the Harkonnen Squad Leader. Each detachment of infantry will have a Squad Leader. You can purchase upgrades which enable the Squad Leader to carry a banner that grants certain in-game benefits to the player.
The Harkonnen Squad Leader has heavier power armor than the standard infantry and carries a strong chain-fed rifle. They are brutal task-masters who keep the Harkonnen army of slaves and conscripts in line. The death of the Leader can have a devastating effect on the morale of a squad and weaken their effectiveness on the battlefield. |
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Of course, the key to any battle is good communications and intelligence. In order to have that, a Comm Station is an essential part of any base.
This structure allows for access to a radar map of the battlefield and also allows the player to connect to galactic communications networks including the Guild Bank for emergency loans |
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| But no base is going to work without power and the only effective way to generate power or capture the moisture needed to survive in the harsh climate of Arrakis is using a Windtrap.
This essential building can rotate in any direction to catch the prevailing winds. The water strained from the air by the Windtrap is necessary for maintaining your armies. More Windtraps will have to be built in order to increase your troop strength. |
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Planets
In order to get a sense of who the factions in this game are and where they come from we’ve also been developing visualizations of the planets they come from. |
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Let us begin with Geidi Prime, homeword of House Harkonnen. Centuries of industrial pollution have reduced this densely-populated planet to a toxic slag heap. The oceans are pitch black with oil and the air is choked with smoke, dust and ash from the furnaces which work around the clock to produce the weapons that the Harkonnen need to dominate their enemies. |
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| In contrast, the watery homeworld of house Atreides, Caladan, is rich in natural resources but maintains a largely agrarian and rural way of life outside of the main cities. An idyllic place to live in every way. |
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Little is known about the icy ball of rock known as Draconis IV, home to House Ordos. It is sparsely populated and outsiders are not welcome. |
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| But the crown jewel of the Empire is the planet Arrakis, also known as Dune. A barely habitable ball of dust patrolled by hungry predatory behemoth Sandworms, Arrakis would be a negligible backwater if it did not contain the most valuable substance in the known universe: the Spice. This is the prize that the Great Houses all fight to control, since who-ever controls the flow of Spice controls the future of the Empire. |
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| We hope you’ve enjoyed this first sneak peek into the development of Dune: War of the Spice. You can follow us on Twitter, subscripe our RSS-feed and join our forums. We aim to post regular monthly updates as we have new work to show. |
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