"Dune" By Frank Herbert

Atomicus · April 2005

Any developers paying attention because I know that if you read the books you probably have already thought about turning it into a massive multiplayer online.

All the material is there in the books clearly laid out. You have all the planets, vehicles, classes, races, skills, traits, feats, weapons, armor, and be able to exand it all if necessary. The book also has a story already developed and the game can begin with the first bookthan progress slowly through GM events to continue the sotry through all the books.

What do all you dune fans out there think about having a Sci-Fi MMO genre based off the popular series by Frank Herbert? Please give a shout and keep the thread alive. LONG LIVE THE FIGHTERS!

Misleading · April 2005

why ruin a perfectly good book?

Atomicus · April 2005

/ignore Misleading

Misleading · April 2005

why ignore me? arn't i entitled to my opinion?

Atomicus · April 2005

What opinion, you actually have one this time?

Misleading · April 2005

of course i have one, otherwise i wouldn't be posting. All i'm saying is that Dune is a really good series, and i wouldn't want it shamed by making a crappy game. If you create a disscuion, you better be prepared to hear all kinda of opinions, not just ones that support your idea. What would be the point of posting if people just boosted your ego?

Atomicus · April 2005

Go ahead and enlighten us on your MMO experience? Oh wait you never played any!

Vampir · April 2005

i have all 6 of the originals by frank, i have read all 6 of the new ones by brian herbert and kevin j anderson.

and no i dont think one should be made, just like i dont want the movies to be done. because that would butcher it cheapen it into something craptastic, like what has happened to lord of the rings. and what is about to happen to hitchhikers guide to the galaxy.

yes LOTR is ruined all the bad video games, all teh idiots who watch the movies only and call themselves fans.

so please if someone ruins this for me then ill break there skull off.

Misleading · April 2005

you're so full of cheap shots. how do you know what kind of gaming experience i have. it's not like you know me. I agree with that guy.

Misleading · April 2005

is that all you care about is keeping you're topic on top? see you really dont' want any opinions, you're just all into yourself.

Atomicus · April 2005

Misleading is really my other account I use to talk to myself when Im bored or trying to keep a topic on top. Oh, now the ADmin might delete my second account, darn....

Misleading · April 2005

you are a sick person

Anofalye · April 2005

Dune would be a great start.

However, I think the devs should have a broader vision of it. The planets and all the setting should be a part of the MMORPG, and you can developp a lot on it. But only a part(some servers could be only that, other can be only some other stuff, and some could be a weird mixt).

Anyway, just an idea...but let say your sick of the same stuff, it could be nice to start on an alternative world even if the same system, no?

(having differents rules is more important for differents servers, but having differents setting and graphics could also be an option, no? Heck, maybe the server is set on Dune but the customer computer could have a twisted graphic reading, quite easy to implement, no?)

Atomicus · April 2005

Originally posted by Anofalye

Dune would be a great start.

However, I think the devs should have a broader vision of it. The planets and all the setting should be a part of the MMORPG, and you can developp a lot on it. But only a part(some servers could be only that, other can be only some other stuff, and some could be a weird mixt).

Anyway, just an idea...but let say your sick of the same stuff, it could be nice to start on an alternative world even if the same system, no?

I like you because you get me. The server thing would be a good idea. Each planet is a server and a whole world onto itself.

Goldenblack · April 2005

Originally posted by Misleading
why ruin a perfectly good book?

EXACTLY.

It would just end up being a desecration of a pinnacle work of human art.

-Golden

Vampir · April 2005

Originally posted by Anofalye

Dune would be a great start.

However, I think the devs should have a broader vision of it. The planets and all the setting should be a part of the MMORPG, and you can developp a lot on it. But only a part(some servers could be only that, other can be only some other stuff, and some could be a weird mixt).

Anyway, just an idea...but let say your sick of the same stuff, it could be nice to start on an alternative world even if the same system, no?

(having differents rules is more important for differents servers, but having differents setting and graphics could also be an option, no? Heck, maybe the server is set on Dune but the customer computer could have a twisted graphic reading, quite easy to implement, no?)

do you have any clue how many plantes, cultures, and political forces are mentioned int he original 6 alone. all of which have existed since the first book, for christ sakes the honored maters have roots in paul atreides time. and wait wait wait if your read god emperor of dune right it hints at the fact that the machines are what the honored maters are running from. because the quote goes something like this.

"never before will be enslaved by the same mistakes, never again will man fall prey to his own weaknes"

that is a reference to the butlerian jihad, meaning the machines are coming back and were never truly defeeated.

and besides combat would be undiginified in a dune MMORPG mostly because it would more or less have to be RTS style, because most fights are between big big armies, with the exception of pauls duel with feud ratha, and miles teg taking out whole installations on his ownl.

and i dont like MMORTS's and besides teh whole chat would be like this.

Muadib(prolly msieplled): level 50 prophet LFG

Muadibtheblind: GLF tank
Paulatreides: tank LFG

u get the picture.

so please if anyone on this site i find out is responsible for getting a dune MMORPG made i will personally flay them alive.

Razorback · April 2005

Good Post and very timely for me.

I just watched the extended version DVD twice on the weekend LOL. I love the Dune Universe and it is a ripe setup for an MMO, all the peices are in place for a conflict of 3 or more races as those who know the story would appreciate.

Those of us who remeber back this far would know that :

1. The brilliant Westwood Studios did a graphic adventure many years go based on Dune. The graphics were great but the game sucked.

2. They followed it up with Dune II, the game that launched a genre which was RTS and led to Command and Conquer and a slew of amazing games like Warcraft etc.

An MMO is almost a natural progression. Im wondering though if the rights to electronic content based on Dune isnt still held by Westood though even thought the company is defunct ?

Rikimaru_X · April 2005

I own Dune 2000 for playstation. It's pretty good. I also seen the movie Dune on the Si-Fi channel a couple of years ago. This is one game that CAN be an mmorpg, just like WarCraft.

Anofalye · April 2005

Sorry if I offen you Vampy.

But I LOOOOVE the first book, I enjoy the second, I find the 3rd to be boring and kinda repetitive.

I never read 4th+.

That is why I suggest more then just Dune.

Just my opinion, Dune is a GREAT thing...but I would love to be able to escape it from time to time without necessarily escaping the game....

ianubisi · April 2005

Originally posted by Misleading
why ruin a perfectly good book?

I absolutely agree with this. The series was especially poignant because of the deep psychological and pseudo-philosophical/theological overtones throughout. Those don't translate very well to a game.

I would be entirely behind the idea of a game in such a styled universe...just without the Herbert universe.

Razorback · April 2005

Originally posted by ianubisi

Originally posted by Misleading
why ruin a perfectly good book?

I absolutely agree with this. The series was especially poignant because of the deep psychological and pseudo-philosophical/theological overtones throughout. Those don't translate very well to a game.

I would be entirely behind the idea of a game in such a styled universe...just without the Herbert universe.

Which is certainly what Westwood acheived with Dune II. No deep delving into the Universe, just a really fun game using the basic premise of the conflict.

I think you would need to go a bit deeper to run an MMO off it but I agree largely with what your saying. I wish they would have left Star Wars alone when you look at it like that because the SWG universe adds nothing to the franchise, in fact it makes a mockery of most of it.

If you imagine for a moment though the possible options for a Dune MMO.

Races and Classes

Atraiedes - Loyalty based fighters with special abilities based on Pauls powers and teachings
Harkonan - Fighters based around warrior codes (like orcs) and heavy infantry systems
Fremen - Worm control, desert skills, extra warrior type skills, stealth etc
Benegeserits(sp) - phsycic ability based powers
Mentats - technologists, engineeers and assasains

The list could go on. Theoratically you could have at least 4 playable races and maybe more if you made some advanced ones like being able to become a Sardukaan Trooper or something after advancing through the ranks of say Harkonan or Atraides... Who knows... the point is the Universe is all set for it to be done.

pinkdaisy · April 2005

Oddly, there was an MMO based on Dune in development. It was called "Dune Generations". It was being developed by Cryo, but the company and the game went down the tubes in July 2002.

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/dunegenerations/news_2873552.html

Overall, i don't believe that movie (or book) fanchises translate well into the MMO space. The central theme is one of a main character -- a hero, protagonist -- who winds through an adventure often facing adversity. This could work well as a single-player RPG because the person could take on the roll of the hero. This doesn't make sense in an MMO where there are thousands of players in the same univervse. If you allow everyone to be a hero, then none of them are. Not surprisingly, look at all the problems SWG had with the implementation of Jedis. It has never worked well. Similarly, MxO will have problems with thousands of Neo's flying around, MEO with too many ring bearers, etc.

IP owners and marketers are quick to delcare the potential revenue streams from porting movie/book franchises from those mediums to games. They seem to spend far less time asking themselves if it will be fun. They have alot to learn.

PD

Razorback · April 2005

Originally posted by pinkdaisy

IP owners and marketers are quick to delcare the potential revenue streams from porting movie/book franchises from those mediums to games. They seem to spend far less time asking themselves if it will be fun. They have alot to learn.
PD

AMEN!

Sporn · April 2005

Forget a Dune mmorpg I want to see a Highlander mmorpg. It would be the ultimate pvp game.

Razorback · April 2005

"There can be only 8365285053"

Nice idea though

Fraggle · April 2005

Originally posted by Misleading
why ruin a perfectly good book?

LOL what a very narrow minded opinion. If everyone thought like you nobody would ever make any movies or other media based on any book!

How would it ruin the book? The book is still there, so if you want to read it over and over again then do so. If you don't want to play a game based on the book then don't buy it!

Dune would be a fantastic world to base an mmorpg on, as is Star Wars, LOTR, Matrix, Conan, etc....

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