Question regarding an older DUNE PC game

Factual Questions
1

I have a question regarding an older PC game I played based on the Frank Herbert Novel, Dune. Now, I have been very remensicent of this game because A) When I first played it I found it utterly amazing, B) I never played it much in depth so I never beat or got sick of the game, and C) I can’t get the game out of my head.

Now, I can give you a little information about what I know it is and is not. It’s not the westwood Dune that lead to the Command and Conquer type of game, I have that one and know it’s not. It’s not any of the newer Dune Games, and in fact is not any newer than 1997 at the earliest.

Okay, and now for the fuzzy part and forgive my spelling. What I remember from the game is that it is mostly first person (with some parts 3rd) and starts off in the Atreides mansion/home base/palace/etc, and includes a scene with Lady Jessica. I also know that you can fly, (I forgot what the name of the flying vehicle was) and you can spot sietches and travel to them. When there you can have the fremen mine spice or fight for you. Also, theres a map which allows you to travel and on the Northern hemisphere is completely red signifying Harkonnen controlled territory. If you flew into their territory you would be shot down, and after a while if you did not return to your home base (I don’t know a better term for it) you would crash and unless spotted die in the dessert.

I DID do some search on my own, and I think (may) have found it here: http://www.computerhope.com/games/games/dune.htm. However, theres no screen shots available and no other information. I also say may because in all the other searches I’ve done I have found other dune type games, but not the one I was looking for. I also went into a store and had something like this:

Pathros: Hey I’m looking for and older PC game based off of the Novel DUNE… (enter me going into a little discription of the game)

Salesperson: SURE! We have that game right here… (hands Pathros a much newer Emperor: Battle for Dune)

Pathros: No…this game is much older…it -

Salesperson: Oh! (shows Pathros another Dune type game…sorry I can’t remember what it was called because at this point I was wondering if the salesperson spoke English…)

Pathros: No…it’s much older…there was one about the time of this one similar to the Command and Conquer Engine, but it -.

Salesperson: (Shows Pathros Command and Conquer: Red Alert 2)

(Pathros leaves store in utter disgust)

If anyone here can help out, I would greatly appreciate it.

2

Yikes…sorry for the really bad OP. The link (so you don’t have to delete the last “.” is:

Thanks.

3

I should have payed more attention to detail… I’m sorry if this belongs more in CS than in GQ.

4

I have no idea what the ruling is on abandonware websites, so I won’t give you a direct link. But the website “Home of the Underdogs” has a writeup on this game.

I remember borrowing this game from a friend way back and playing it on my 486… I had no idea there were actually newer games based on Dune! (I’m not exactly a hardcore computer gamer here)

5

Hmm I’ll try an alltheweb search for Home of the Underdogs, but if you could, please email me the direct site? (Moderator: I greatly apologize if asking that is against SDMB rules…this game as just been picking at my head for a long time

6

Instead of that, why not try a Google search for “Home of the Underdogs”? It’s the first link in the search results…

The legal quandry here is that this website, like other “abandonware” websites, has direct links to downloads of games, typically without the express permission of the copyright holder. Some people think that since the games are no longer offered for sale (and in many cases the original manufacturer is out of business) that this makes it all right, but I think strictly speaking these sites are illegal. Your question, on the other hand, is perfectly valid, although perhaps better suited to a different forum.

7

Would you know of a forum? I did find the site, AND a site of the people who originally made the game. However the link to download it is down, and for some reason no information is available on purchasing the game. I don’t want anything illegal, and am sure the game would only be about 5 dollars. If anyone would know of a site that would have it (whether to a local store or whatnot) I would appreciate it…again, I don’t want anything illegal or otherwise not appropiate for the SDMB.

8

Actually, I think I have found the information I needed, and I wouldn’t be able to purchase it because it’s no longer being sold. Thanks for your help.

9

I’d download it if I were you from Underdogs. Actually, I purchased it, but that’s only because I saw it in a local shop.

If that’s no good for you, try eBay. There’s at least one willing to ship anywhere for $5-$8 atm eBay link.