25 replies to this topic

[MrFlibble]

Super Dune II Classic is an updated version of the Dune II modification/add-on, Super Dune 2, which was released back in 1994 by Power C and Shadow Knight. The Classic edition fixes as many glitches and bugs in Super Dune 2 as possible, while keeping the original feel and all features of the modification intact.

Super Dune II Classic is designed for stand-alone installation, but you will still need certain original Dune II files to play.

NOTE: It is not recommended to install Super Dune II Classic into your Dune II directory. Follow the instructions in the readme file on how to create a stand-alone installation of Super Dune II Classic.

NOTE: If you're running Super Dune II Classic from Windows (without DOSBox), it is highly recommended that you also download and install the Windows sound/speech fix.

Super Dune II Classic at ModDB
Download Super Dune II Classic v1.5g
Download Super Dune II Savegames
Super Dune II Classic Screenshot Gallery

The fixes and changes introduced in Super Dune II Classic include:

• All scenario (mission) files have been cleaned of errors and mistakes, first and foremost of the team bug, which means the AI is now harder. Here's a nice example of enemy attack teams:
  
  
• The Mentat animations for the new sides were messed up in SD2, this has, too, been fixed. Now the Fremen are briefed by Cyril, the Mercenaries by Ammon, and the Sardaukar by Radnor.
  
• All missions are now supplied with appropriate briefings.
  
• The errors which caused concrete placement restrictions for the Mercenaries and the Sardaukar ("concrete bug") and prevented the Fremen- and Mercenary-conquered regions from showing up on the conquest map ("vanishing houses bug") have been fixed.
  
• Frigate delivery now works properly for the new sides:
  
  
• The player-owned sandworms in the Fremen campaign are now more friendly towards the player's other units. They are set by default to Area Guard, in which mode they do not devour friendly units. Additionally, the player can now manually set the worms into Area Guard mode if the need arises:
  
  
• Fixed some in-game graphical bugs, including the IX remap error.
  
• All modified files are neatly packed into PAK archives for your convenience.

Special thanks
I'd like to thank the following people who helped me a lot with project development:

• ArrakisResearchCo for his Dune II Tile Editor
• Minniatian for his EMC Editor
• Nyerguds for his Dune II Editor, modified SETUP.EXE and lots of support
• Olaf van der Spek for his XCC Mixer
• Segra for fixing the "concrete bug", "vanishing houses bug", lots of other fixes and invaluable help with Dune II code analysis
• Siberian_GRemlin for Siberian String Table Editor with MENTAT?.ENG file support added at my request
• TCH for his Dune 2 Scenario Editor
• Ultraq for his Red Horizon Utilities with support of Dune 2 SHP, WSA and CPS conversion implemented at my request

Thanks guys!

[MrFlibble]

I've fixed a couple more issues in the new release, the most significant being that the Sandworms have been made more controllable now. You can issue different orders to the Sandworms: Attack, Move, Guard and Area Guard. The latter is most useful so far, since it makes the worm to only target enemy units. It will follow your units that are on sand though, but will not attack them.

Also, Area Guard is now the default command for the Fremen-owned Sandworms in all missions of the Fremen campaign.

Other changes include:

• Unit cap for all sides increased from 25 to 35 in most missions.
• The AI had been given a significant boost in initial credits in all missions.
• Some pre-placed units have been changed (e.g. Fremen Raider Trikes have been replaced with regular Trikes).
• The final missions for each side were completely rewritten: the enemy bases are more nicely planned now, and all AI players have been given construction yards so that they can rebuild their bases (which never happened in Dune II v1.0).

[Nyerguds]

It will follow your units that are on sand though, but will not attack them.

How did you pull that off? 

[MrFlibble]

I didn't It's just what the worm seems to do if you set it into the Area Guard mode (you know, of course, that this mode is default for worms in the earlier missions in Dune II, and they behave far less aggressively). I have used the last Fremen mission for testing, and in Area Guard mode the worm will follow you units that are on sand (harvesters most often), but won't eat 'em. If an enemy unit appears, however, the worm sets off to swallow the intruder and then gets back to following the harvester.

[MrFlibble]

Thanks to segra the concrete bug and the vanishing house bug have been fixed, and I have updated Super Dune II: Classic Edition accordingly. Kudos to segra for that! ;D

[jordos]

Looks like you forgot to update the download link though
Great to hear those two bugs finaly have been fixed!

edit: btw, does this package include the emc patch?

[MrFlibble]

Looks like you forgot to update the download link though

Whoops! Thanks for pointing that out, jordos! Fixed that

edit: btw, does this package include the emc patch?

Nope, I decided not to include it. Maybe I'll add it as an optional patch though.

[Nyerguds]

Small question... how did you get the Fremen briefed by Cyril without messing up the side introdunctions mentat? Because, that IS the Fremen mentat, no?

[MrFlibble]

No, the side introductions Mentat is the Mercenary Mentat (replaced by Ammon in SD2Classic).

[Nyerguds]

oh right... but that means it IS replaced? The bene gesserit is gone?

[MrFlibble]

I didn't know she meant so much to you I had to replace her because she uses a different palette (BENE.PAL) that would screw colors up when in the Mentat database.

[Nyerguds]

ah, true

and well, she's the only character in the game with typical spice eyes ;D

[MrFlibble]

Rejoice, Nyerguds! Thanks to sergra's valuable info the lovely Bene Gesserit lady is back ;D (albeit she is converted into IBM.PAL - I've used the version I made for Dune 2 eXtended; so the problem was keeping Ammon as the Mercenary Mentat, not the different palette).

The mod package has been updated. I've also fixed a small flaw in the main menu of the game, which would display an "empty" menu item if there are no saved games to load and no recorded high scores (i.e. when you start the game for the first time).

[MrFlibble]

I have created a small package called Dune II Retro, basically its a version of Super Dune II: Classic Edition for v1.0, which also fixes a couple of issues in regular Dune II v1.0 as well. It's made for nostalgic purposes only Download it here:
http://nyerguds.arsa...n/Dune2Retro.7z
(Thanks to Nyerguds for hosting the file!)

Installation: unpack the contents into your Dune II (v1.0) directory (answer Yes when it asks if some files should be overwritten), and enjoy Dune II Retro can be installed over the original release of Super Dune 2 (1994). If you have this release, run CLEANUP.BAT after the installation to remove some redundant files from your Dune II directory.
NOTE: It's not compatible with Dune II v1.07! More info in the supplied Readme file.

[MrFlibble]

I've decided that the tweaks and changes I made in the were a bit too much, so now SD2 missions are as close to the original as possible - with all errors fixed, of course

I've also uploaded a set of savegames for SD2 campaigns (a link has been added to the first post). The savegames are compatible with both Super Dune II: Classic Edition and Dune II Retro. Enjoy!

[MrFlibble]

Added some more screenshots to the first post. They show a Mercenary player being overrun by a combined Ordos, Sardaukar and Fremen attack force consisting of Troopers, Quads and 'Thopters.

[MrFlibble]

I've just noticed that Super Dune II: Classic Edition has been uploaded on Abandonia: http://www.abandonia.com/games/36/

EDIT: Here's a related Abandonia news article: http://www.abandonia.com/en/node/25707

[MrFlibble]

I've started a screenshot gallery for Super Dune II: Classic Edition at the Command & Conquer Communications Center. The first post has been updated with the link to the gallery. Check it out - there are some new screenshots

[MrFlibble]

Super Dune II Classic has been updated to v1.5. The update includes the latest fixes, such as the IX remap bug fix, digitized sound effects fix, glowing selection boxes for the new sides and fixed heralds in the production/starport screen. I've also figured out how to skip the Atreides ending (which plays for all "new" sides) but keep the game credits playing after the final mission. With this done, the credits text is now for both Super Dune 2 and the original Dune II. The Fremen are now much more resistant to deviation than in the previous releases, to balance issues with the first Fremen mission. To compensate for the fact that the Mercenaries and the Sardaukar no longer have restricted concrete slab placement, the "decay" damage received by these sides has been increased somewhat.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The modification is now designed for a stand-alone installation, and installing it into the Dune II directory is not recommended. Please refer to the supplied readme file for installation instructions.

[Nyerguds]

Oh nice! About time you put those in SDII