Post feature Report RSS Dune games vehicle prototypes

According to the plot of the games, all events take place in the very distant future and on a distant planet. Similarly, with subsequent games from this series. But is alien technology so different from our modern one? Oddly enough, but it also has very real earthly prototypes.

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Dune 2 is considered the universally recognized great-grandfather of all modern real-time strategy games. In addition to the strategy itself, it was in it that many features of this genre that have already become familiar to us, such as collecting resources, building a base, and gradually opening a development tree, were laid down. According to the plot of the game, all events take place in the very distant future and on a distant planet. Similarly, with subsequent games from this series. But is alien technology so different from our modern one? Oddly enough, but it also has very real earthly prototypes.

Dune 2 Combat Tank

Combat Tank from Dune 2 most looks like the British tank Centurion.

D2K Combat Tanks

Combat Tanks from Dune 2000 are reminiscent of old models that were built between the First and Second World Wars. For example, the French ARL-44.

Siege Tank Dune 2

The Siege Tank from Dune 2 looks pretty original, and the prototype doesn't seem too obvious. However, the Soviet school of tank building is easily recognizable by its round turret and low silhouette. The most similar model is Object 770. But the developers of the game are Americans, which means they could not know anything about secret Soviet developments, especially in 1992, when there was no Internet. But they probably knew about the IS-3 or the T-55/62, which inspired them.

D2K Siege Tank

Siege Tank from Dune 2000 is the German mortar Karl-Gerät 041.

Harkonnen Tank

Harkonnen self-propelled gun from "Emperor" is obviously the Jagdpantera. Perhaps with some features of the Soviet SU-100.

Flammenpanzer

Flametank from "Emperor" is ancient British tank Mark IV.

Dune 2 Devastator

Devastator from Dune 2 is a completely fictional tank that has no analogues in the real world. However, the angular outlines of the tank in profile and the overall square silhouette are reminiscent of the German tank Tiger.

D2K Devastator

But Devastator from Dune 2000 is more remind a British tank A39 Turtoise.

D2 Raketen

The rocket launcher from Dune 2 in profile is very reminiscent of the Brazilian Astros-2 puted on tracks.

D2 MCV

Inspiration for the Construction Yard from Dune 2 was most probably a railroad platform with a crane.

D2K MCV

But the weirder set design from Dune 2000 could have been inspired by LeTourneau Overland Train.

Dune 2 Carryall & Skycrane

Caryall from Dune 2 resembles an Skycrane helicopter in its cabin layout, only instead of blades it has wings.

Dune 2 Tricycle

However, not only military equipment served as prototypes for combat vehicles. The tricycle from Dune 2 is a civilian agricultural tricycle.

Dragster

The tricycle from Dune 2000 is most likely a dragster.

D2k Tourelle

Rocket Turret from Dune 2000 is a very real naval rocket turret that is installed on ships.

Louis De Funes

By the way, not only military equipment has its prototypes in real life. Some characters also have their prototypes. So, for example, the Harkonnen mentat Radnor is just the spitting image of Louis de Funès! Unfortunately, I did not recognize the actors from which other mentats were copied. If you have thinks about this, please write in comments.

D1 Mietitrice

Many people know about Dune 2, but very few have heard about Dune 1. Yes, this is not a real-time strategy, but it was just a great game for its time, which has now been undeservedly forgotten. However, in that game, as it should be in the Dune universe, there was a Harvester. He looked completely different from what we are used to seeing him. But even this vehicle had its own prototype - the spaceships concept from canceled film of Jodorowski.

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hellodean
hellodean - - 1,451 comments

an interesting comparison list

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ApornasPlanet
ApornasPlanet - - 4,117 comments

Nicely done!

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Unoreggio Author
Unoreggio - - 91 comments

Thanks!

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dgn
dgn - - 719 comments

Nice informations about the game.
And I'm very surprised by the reference to Louis de Funès.
Cheers.

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Unoreggio Author
Unoreggio - - 91 comments

When I was kid, I really think there Louis de Funès in game :))))

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dgn
dgn - - 719 comments

I never noticed that. But now ...
De Funès was really so funny !
Cheers.

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Alex_06
Alex_06 - - 1,126 comments

Just saw this like 2 full years later and realized that the Dune 2000 MCV:
Cdn.cnc-comm.com

Looks like a bunch of mobile cranes I’ve seen before. I can’t quite find an image of one, but it’s based on a real vehicle.

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