Dune: War of the Spice

Arrakis calls the faithful

gma — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:18:24 +0000

We Need You!

Do you want to be a part of something big?

Do you have an interest in game building?

Do you build Unreal mods in your spare time?

Rockstorm Games is in desperate need of PROGRAMMERS to help us push forward the development of Dune: War of the Spice.

If you have programming experience and are familiar with the manipulation of the Unreal 3 Engine then we need you.

Click this link to apply TODAY, and be part of making something amazing.

Deep Cover Intelligence Reports – Planet Arrakis – 8th Month of Observations

gma — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:04:18 +0000

Mentat Intel Report [10172.2 A.G.]

Report to CHOAM Interplanetary Commerce and Trade Regulation Board

Appologies for the delay since our last dispatch. Operating conditions on Arrakis have disrupted our lines of communication. However, the extra time has not been ill-spent:
Our agents have managed to recover a slightly damaged Harkonnen Gunship which was brought down by electrical activity from the outskirts of a coriollis storm. Though the avionics were destroyed by the overload, the rest of the ornithopter is remarkably intact. Even the delicate wings somehow survived impact with the dunes. This should help us gain insight into this swift and deadly craft.
Encryption Channel 314159 ~ Authorization sent …REPORT ENDS…

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 and programmers to contribute. For information on joining the project please click the Jobs Link to the left.

Deep Cover Intelligence Reports – Planet Arrakis – 5th Month of Observations

gma — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 21:15:29 +0000

Mentat Intel Report [10172.2 A.G.]

Report to CHOAM Interplanetary Commerce and Trade Regulation Board

Our ongoing observation of Harkonnen activities on Arrakis continues. We have several new developments to report.
	We have gained new insight into the Harkonnen training infrastructure on Arrakis. The Harkonnen Barracks looks like a prison from the outside, that’s because it is. Conscripts and prisoners held within these walls are brutalized by their Harkonnen masters and pitted against one another in blood sports. Loyalty is instilled through fear and manipulation. Only the strongest are allowed out of the compound to fight for their House and their lives. The punishment for failure is swift and final.

Our operatives recently uncovered, quite literally, a perfectly preserved Harkonnen Windtrap from an abandoned deep desert base which was buried by Arrakis’ shifting sands. This artifact should help us calculate their power-generation capacity and open up new possibilities for sabotage.
Encryption Channel 314159 ~ Authorization sent …REPORT ENDS…

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.

Deep Cover Intelligence Reports – Planet Arrakis – 4th Month of Observations

gma — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 19:29:21 +0000

Mentat Intel Report [10172.1 A.G.]

Report to CHOAM Interplanetary Commerce and Trade Regulation Board

Our ongoing observation of Harkonnen activities on Arrakis continues. We have several new developments to report.
	Many reports have been circulating about a Harkonnen flying unit which has been terrorizing outlying Fremen and Arrakeen towns on the outskirts of their territories. New images of the Harkonnen Gunship have been obtained that show a heavily armed ornithopter craft more than capable of battlefield harassment. This air unit is lightly armored – unusual for any Harkonnen war machine – but it more than makes up for this deficiency with its profusion of machine flechette guns and light ground/air missiles. Its unique wing construction allows it to hover like a dragonfly and the rocket boosters on its back give it nimble speed.

	One of our deep desert observers noticed this Harkonnen Carryall with a full Harvester attached fleeing from on of Arrakis’ legendary sandstorms, which blow electrically charged sand at speeds approaching 500 km/h, destroying most unprotected machinery and personnel in the open desert. The most severe of these, the Coriolis storm, can blow up to 700 km/h and is said to eat flesh from the bone and then etch the bones to slivers.
But whereever there is spice mining there must be a base of operations nearby. We tracked the craft back to its source and discovered one of the highly secretive Harkonnen Refinery complexes. This facility can have two Harvesters at a time delivered for unloading by Carryalls. The raw Spice is processed and the refined Melange is packaged and crated to be picked up by orbital shuttles on the rooftop landing pad.

	We’ve also, through a stroke of luck, obtained an almost pristine Harkonnen Dragon Tank. Apparently the crew of the tank overindulged in some local Spice beer, allowing some of our agents to steal their vehicle. Sadly the soldiers were dealt with rather harshly by their commanders, what’s left of the bodies are still hanging outside the Carthag garrison post, but we will attempt to smuggle the tank off-planet for analysis on the next Guild Heighliner.
Encryption Channel 314159 ~ Authorization sent …REPORT ENDS…

New Hires We’re also very pleased to announce the addition of several new team members. Evgenij Myasnikov is joining us as a concept artist and modeler. Emma Neesham is joining us as a modeler/animator. Joe Carney is joining us as a modeler/animator.

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.

WORMSIGN!

gma — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 20:02:44 +0000

Mentat Intel Report [10171.4 A.G.]

Report to CHOAM Interplanetary Commerce and Trade Regulation Board

URGENT REPORT: EMPEROR’S EYES ONLY
While there have long been reports of huge creatures in the deep desert capable of consuming an entire sandminer, information on the legendary Giant Sandworm of Dune has been sketchy at best. Even the Imperial Plantetologist tasked with surveying the planet has been a poor source of information about these beasts. Few Spice operations venture into the deep desert for fear of the creatures, since the Southern reaches are said to be home to specimens as large as a Guild frigate. Crews on mining operations are told to flee at the first sign of any of these subterranean behemoths so visual documentation has been difficult to obtain.

Until now.

The Worm was seen to burrow with amazing rapidity for an animal of its massive size through the twisting of its body through the sand in a helical motion, much like the action of a high-powered drill. When on the surface, however, it progressed similarly to a snake using rhythmic pulsations of the segments along the length of its body. This would seem to indicate that the worm can move much more quickly underground than it can on the surface. The Worm has no visible sense organs and is believed to navigate and hunt using surface vibrations detected through sensory pits on its forward section.

These creatures are massive, and are reportedly immune to the destructive effects of the powerful sandstorms on Arrakis, which reduce all other creatures and materials to dust and ash. Little is known about their life cycle, feeding habits or vulnerabilities so they should be treated as hostile wherever encountered and avoided with extreme care.

	The creature pictured was spotted by the crew of a temporarily downed Carryall, part of a Spice Harvester’s spotter crew and which also happened to have one of our operatives embedded. He was able to obtain holo-recordings and constructed these diagrams using direct observation and anecdotal evidence gleaned from his interactions with the native crew members. Some of this information may be suspect, however. Pictured, for instance, is a troop of the native Fremen tribesmen actually riding the back of these monsters. This has never been directly observed by off-worlders and is probably a local tall tale.

Encryption Channel 314159 ~ Authorization sent …REPORT ENDS…

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.

Great News!

gma — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 23:22:54 +0000

VOTE NOW!

	We just made the Top 100 in the 2010 Indie Game of the Year award competition, now people can vote for the Top 10. Please go vote for us, we’re in the Upcoming section in the Real Time Strategy category. You can vote once from any computer or web-enabled device you have, so log on and have at it! Click on the image to the left to go and Vote!


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.

Deep Cover Intelligence Reports – Planet Arrakis – 3rd Month of Observations

gma — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 21:28:15 +0000

Mentat Intel Report [10171.3 A.G.]

Report to CHOAM Interplanetary Commerce and Trade Regulation Board

Stated Objective: Numerous severely charred and mutilated corpses have been reported on the battlefields of the desert world of Arrakis. Their cause must be traced to its source to see if there has been any violation of the Conventions.
	MISSION SUCCESS! The first visual documentation has been made of the cause of widespread fire damage and burned bodies. The Harkonnen Inferno Trooper is a heavily armored infantry unit which carries a tank of highly volatile liquid which, when mixed with air becomes both extremely combustible and highly viscous. This devastating combination means that this burning, sticky mixture can significantly damage units and structures over time, but its effect on infantry is even more dangerous. Any soldier splashed by this agonizing weapon has an almost 0% probability of survival since the substance can burn straight to the bone before it can be removed or cook the victim within their own armor. The trooper is protected from the extreme heat of the weapons use by protective shields of reflective material.
Mentat Analysis: While the effects of this weapon are both horrific and deadly, it contains no electronics, atomics, chemical or biological agents in its effects and thus does not contravene the Great Convention of the Landsraad on the articles of war. Therefore the appeals of the complainant Houses wishing it to be outlawed must be dismissed.

We have also obtained improved solido holograms of the Harkonnen Aggressor Tank. This formidable war machine it even more intimidating face-to-face. These scans should prove invaluable in our analysis of its offensive capabilities and weaknesses. CHOAM economists believe that this information may be sold to interested Harkonnen enemies for a substantial profit, however this should be done carefully since Harkonnen agents within the organization may tip off the Baron, who holds a powerful CHOAM directorship.
Encryption Channel 314159 ~ Authorization sent …REPORT ENDS…
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.

Deep Cover Intelligence Reports – Planet Arrakis

gma — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 19:30:42 +0000

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…

Mentat Intel Report [10171.2 A.G.]

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…

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.


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.

	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…

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.

The Storm Has Arrived

gma — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:53:24 +0000

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

	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.

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.

	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.

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.

Welcome back to Arrakis, Commander!

ccgx — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 12:26:53 +0000

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.

Units and Structures

	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.

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.

	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

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.
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.
	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.

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.

	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.

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.

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.

Dune: War of the Spice

Arrakis calls the faithful

We Need You!

Do you want to be a part of something big? Do you have an interest in game building? Do you build Unreal mods in your spare time?

Deep Cover Intelligence Reports – Planet Arrakis – 8th Month of Observations

Mentat Intel Report [10172.2 A.G.]

Encryption Channel 314159 ~ Authorization sent …REPORT ENDS…

Deep Cover Intelligence Reports – Planet Arrakis – 5th Month of Observations

Mentat Intel Report [10172.2 A.G.]

Encryption Channel 314159 ~ Authorization sent …REPORT ENDS…

Deep Cover Intelligence Reports – Planet Arrakis – 4th Month of Observations

Mentat Intel Report [10172.1 A.G.]

Encryption Channel 314159 ~ Authorization sent …REPORT ENDS…

New Hires

WORMSIGN!

Mentat Intel Report [10171.4 A.G.]

Encryption Channel 314159 ~ Authorization sent …REPORT ENDS…

Great News!

VOTE NOW!

Deep Cover Intelligence Reports – Planet Arrakis – 3rd Month of Observations

Mentat Intel Report [10171.3 A.G.]

Encryption Channel 314159 ~ Authorization sent …REPORT ENDS…

Deep Cover Intelligence Reports – Planet Arrakis

Mentat Intel Report [10171.1 A.G.]

Encryption Channel 314159 ~ Authorization sent …REPORT ENDS…

Mentat Intel Report [10171.2 A.G.]

Encryption Channel 314159 ~ Authorization sent …REPORT ENDS…

Mentat Intel Report [10171.3 A.G.]

Encryption Channel 314159 ~ Authorization sent …REPORT ENDS…

The Storm Has Arrived

Units and Structures

New Hires

Welcome back to Arrakis, Commander!

Units and Structures

Planets

Do you want to be a part of something big?

Do you have an interest in game building?

Do you build Unreal mods in your spare time?