Emperor: Battle for Dune Interview

I don't know about Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, but the Emperor and the Westwood crew are at it again. And as we await Westwood's first foray into the world of 3D strategies, we've decided to ask Chris Longpre, Producer of Emperor a few questions about the project...

Action Trip: Would you care to give us some info about the current developing stage of the game?

Chris Longpre: All of the features have been added to the game and we are currently in the final stages of quality assurance. Right now we're focusing on fixing the bugs and polishing the game before it hits stores this summer.

This is a Ordos, folks.

Secret council.

AT: I think it's an interesting idea for the game to have a completely independent storyline from the movie and the Dune novels. Tell us something about the storyline in general?

CL: On the grand scale, the all-powerful emperor of the universe is dead and the position is up for grabs. The major players (House Harkonnen, House Atreides and House Ordos) realize this and are mobilizing their forces and exploiting every resource to gain the throne. But the battleground and keystone to victory is the planet Dune. The side that wins Dune can control spice production and take the throne. The victorious side will install their leader as the new emperor.

Each house has a unique storyline, which follows the general story arc. The noble Atreides seek an alliance with the native Fremen. The evil Harkonnen are on the verge of a civil war. The insidious Ordos are using newly acquired Flesh Vats to create gholas (clones), and lead a campaign of deception & trickery.

AT: We're very interested how the Sandworms are going to be introduced (their role differs from the ones they had in the movie and books, right). How 'bout some cool visual effects following the worms appearance. Like those lightings in the movie.

CL: Sandworms are a constant danger to any unit on the sands. Worm signs have a cool effect which give you an idea of where a spotted worm is roaming. Some worms travel deep and strike quickly and without warning. Any movement atop the dunes will tempt worms, but heavy equipment and shields are absolute magnets!

AT: Describe some new characters that are important to the game plot?

CL: The three great Houses of Dune 2000 have returned: Harkonnen, Ordos and Atreides, but we are also introducing five sub-houses, with which you can ally during the campaign. These include the native Fremen, the space-faring Guild, the high-tech Ix, the terror-troops of the Imperial Sardaukar, and the bio-tech Bene Tleilaxu. Each house brings with it its own distinctive technologies that you can take advantage of if you forge an alliance.

Mentats, Harkonnen's Yanich Kobal (Vincent Schiavelli), Atreides's Kolinar Koltrass (Nicolas Worth), & Ordos' Roma Atani (Minae Noji) provide critical strategies & advice to victory for their Houses.

Duke Achillus (Michael Dorn) is a charismatic & honourable leader, who hopes to secure the flow of spice for the good of the Empire. Baron Rakan Harkonnen (Michael McShane) is sick and crazed, and hopes to control Dune for imperial power, unless one of his power-hungry, feuding sons (Copec & Gunseng) murders him first! The mysterious Executrix, controlling body of House Ordos, embody avarice and economic efficiency. Speaking through a collective-mind body, The Speaker, they care nothing for humanity or power, only the profit to be obtained, and used as leverage for more technology, which they covet.