Can Frontier add Arrakis to the game?

SecretGrey

S
Hey everyone! So I've been playing Elite: Dangerous for a while now and I realized that several stars are from our real galaxy. One of these stars is Canopus, and this star system is very special for science fiction. It is the location of Arrakis in Frank Herbert's Dune, and I know Frontier tends to give nods towards famous science fiction (a la Leonard Nimoy Station around Vulcan), I was wondering if Arrakis could be added as the third planet orbiting Canopus. Currently there are two planets in the system, and I think it would be fitting to acknowledge one of the great pieces of science fiction literature. I understand this may be difficult or a lower priority than other fixes, but I was introduced into science fiction by Dune, and I can't be the only one. Please let me know what you guys think about this suggestion. And as always, Fly safe! o7

CMDR Secret Grey
 

The Librarian

The Librarian
I suspect that the name "Arrakis" is still owned by the Frank Herbert estate, based on the fact that there have been a number of follow up novels written after his death (there is one due out next year I believe). This may hinder it's use in the game.

[Edit] It appears that the name "Arrakis" is used by a fair number of companies, so not sure where the legalities of using the name in a video game may lie.

It would be good though, as long as there is a rare from the system, something like, oh I don't know, Melange maybe?
 
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Clarion-Z

Clarion-Z
I think if frontier adds a system from something else in the game, it should be Kerbal! :D
Imagine all that debris around Kerbin.. or the stuff you'd discover on the mün
 

Koen

Koen
The Librarian said:
I suspect that the name "Arrakis" is still owned by the Frank Herbert estate, based on the fact that there have been a number of follow up novels written after his death (there is one due out next year I believe). This may hinder it's use in the game.

[Edit] It appears that the name "Arrakis" is used by a fair number of companies, so not sure where the legalities of using the name in a video game may lie.
Click to expand...

The name "Arrakis" was not invented by Herbert: it is an English spelling of the Arabic name "al-Rāqiṣ" (meaning "the Trotting Camel" or "the Dancer") for the star Mu Draconis (μ Dra), so nobody "owns" that name.


Edit: I checked in the Galaxy Map, the name "Arrakis" is indeed being used for Mu Draconis in Elite: Dangerous - which is as it should be.

Arrakis.jpg
 
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SecretGrey

S
I see... Then maybe Caladan as the new name for Delta Pavonis 3. That is in the game, the name Caladan is not taken, and the in game planet matches what Caladan could look like (Earth-like with large oceans). I know they have stations named after Frank Herbert, but I would love to be able to one day set down on a planet and think "Paul Muad'Dib was here".
 

askavir

askavir
How about the Kilrathi aliens and the Tiger's Claw carrier in Vega?

And LV-426?

Now seriously... no. :)

Arrakis and Dune is an absolutely sublime masterpiece of a scifi story. But each to his own.
 

Leadfoot

Leadfoot
SecretGrey said:
I see... Then maybe Caladan as the new name for Delta Pavonis 3. That is in the game, the name Caladan is not taken, and the in game planet matches what Caladan could look like (Earth-like with large oceans). I know they have stations named after Frank Herbert, but I would love to be able to one day set down on a planet and think "Paul Muad'Dib was here".
Click to expand...

Or on another note, Alpha Ceti 6 once atmosphere landings begin, finding the cargo bays of the Botany Bay long since abandoned by Khan and crew.

Preplanis to find the wreck of the Jupiter II.

Altair IV to find the C57-D parked somewhere (or an image of Robby the Robot walking around someplace).

Oh, and why not: Gallifrey and go meet some timelords? :D I'm sure there's probably at least one police callbox sitting outside a lost city there. Has to be.

The time gate from "City on the Edge of Forever" would be interesting to find as well.
 

Cynaqq

Cynaqq
Dune trivia time!

There is a character in the books, named Tagir Mohandis, one of the 'merchant engineers'.

His name is two Arabic words which mean 'merchant' (tagir) and 'engineer' (mohandis).

Now I regret not naming my CMDR Tagir Mohandis but I'm sure it would be already taken.
 

Sapyx

Sapyx
SecretGrey said:
I see... Then maybe Caladan as the new name for Delta Pavonis 3. That is in the game, the name Caladan is not taken, and the in game planet matches what Caladan could look like (Earth-like with large oceans). I know they have stations named after Frank Herbert, but I would love to be able to one day set down on a planet and think "Paul Muad'Dib was here".
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, in Elite lore, the inhabitable world in the Delta Pavonis system is a desert planet - quite the opposite of watery Caladan. I know the planet in-game doesn't look like a desert from orbit, but the description of Pavonis Ear Grubs indicates this is indeed supposed to be the case.
 

Limoncello Lizard

Limoncello Lizard
I found a list of planets from the Dune series on Wikipedia, posted in another thread:
Limoncello Lizard said:
  • Arrakis (3rd planet of Canopus)
  • Bela Tegeuse (Betelgeuse)
  • Caladan (3rd planet of Delta Pavonis)
  • Chusuk (4th planet of Theta Shalish)
  • Ecaz (4th planet of Alpha Centauri B)
  • Gamont (3rd planet of Niushe)
  • Giedi Prime (planet of Ophiuchi B (36))
  • Grumman (2nd planet of Niushe)
  • Ix (In game, though as a Star system rather than a planet)
  • Poritrin (3rd planet of Epsilon Alangue)
  • Richese (4th planet of Eridani A)
  • Salusa Secundus (3rd planet of Gamma Waiping)
  • Sikun (planet of 70 Ophiuchi A)
  • Tleilax (sole planet of the star Thalim)
  • Wallach IX (9th planet of Laoujin)
Click to expand...
These star systems are all listed in EDDB.
 

Tyrit Shadowstalker

Tyrit Shadowstalker
SecretGrey said:
Hey everyone! So I've been playing Elite: Dangerous for a while now and I realized that several stars are from our real galaxy. One of these stars is Canopus, and this star system is very special for science fiction. It is the location of Arrakis in Frank Herbert's Dune, and I know Frontier tends to give nods towards famous science fiction (a la Leonard Nimoy Station around Vulcan), I was wondering if Arrakis could be added as the third planet orbiting Canopus. Currently there are two planets in the system, and I think it would be fitting to acknowledge one of the great pieces of science fiction literature. I understand this may be difficult or a lower priority than other fixes, but I was introduced into science fiction by Dune, and I can't be the only one. Please let me know what you guys think about this suggestion. And as always, Fly safe! o7

CMDR Secret Grey
Click to expand...

Probably not. A fanfic I was writing occasionally got taken down under DMCA because it was set on Arrakis.. despite it not being obvious and that I didn't mention anything lore specific to Dune in the actual text of the story. Additionally, the Herberts are still making money on it and Dune will probably never be in the public domain any time in our lifetimes.


Edit: However if it does happen and Fd does make the refference, be sure to drop your shields well before landing off any rocks, or away from properly secure based otherwise your ship will get wrecked by the local megafauna.
 
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