Category:Privateer 2: The Darkening: Difference between revisions

Developed in the period following the success of Wing Commander III, Privateer 2: The Darkening was conceived as a cinematic evolution of the Privateer gameplay model. Privateer 2 was developed in the UK by Erin Roberts and his team at EA Manchester with its full-motion video cutscenes filmed on sets built at the legendary Pinewood studios. The game puts you, the player in the shoes of Ser Lev Arris, a mysterious figure in search of his past, and lets you play the game your way. Boasting an all-star cast, the game stars Clive Owen as Ser Arris, supported by Christopher Walken, David Warner, Jürgen Prochnow, Mathilda May, and John Hurt, among others.

Set in 2790, The Darkening takes place in a remote corner of the Wing Commander universe known as the Tri-System. Planet Anhur has been home to humans for some two thousand years, with the locals having independently developed faster-than-light drives from the Confederation. The futuristic setting lets players utilize advanced jump gates, short-range time travel devices and massive cargo haulers. In addition to the traditional build-up phase and story portions of the game, Privateer 2 peppers the experience with random cinematic mini-plot missions. Certain upgrades are only available once these subplots have been completed, and entire character arcs are explored with recorded video cutscenes separate from the main story.

Privateer 2: The Darkening
Platform	MS-DOS Windows 95 (Deluxe Edition)
Engine	BRender
Release Date	December 1996 U.S.: January 1997 Deluxe Edition: November 4, 1997
Format	CD-ROM
Language	English French German
Rating	ESRB: M

Copy

Original U.K. Release

NAME: Ser Lev Arris

AGE: 30

DIAGNOSIS: Anterior Amnesia

RECENT HISTORY:

Ser Arris's condition was probably caused by accelerated

>depassivity from a long artificial sleep, after being

pulled from the wreckage of a recent Cargo ship disaster at

Mendra spaceport. After a satisfactory physical recovery,

the subject was kidnapped in a violent attack on the

hospital resulting in a number of fatalities. The subject

seems to have escaped his kidnappers, and is now in

possession of a spaceship, trading and fighting his way

across the galaxy, seemingly in search of his lost

identity.

REVOLUTIONARY 3D space combat engine supporting a vast number of fully textured ships, space stations and planets in high-detail SVGA, with phong shading, spotlighting and lens flare effects.	ADVENTURE is not confined to the cockpit - once planetside, the player may visit a multitude of locations, and meet a vast array of characters, realised through the talens of Clive Owen, John Hurt, Mathilda May, Jurgen Prochnow and Christopher Walken
The SOPHISTICATED trading environment allows the player to make money dealing in numerous commodities across three solar systems, with prices continually shifting according to planetary market situations.	MULTIPLE main and sub plot story lines require shrewd detective work, utilising the vast databases of the three systems.
An EXTENSIVE variety of ships, weapons and equipment are available to help you meet the demands of over 150 non-linear missions.

Deluxe Edition (U.S.)

Inner flap

THE ULTIMATE SPACE COMBAT TRADING EXPERIENCE

You regain consciousness, and the unfamiliar

faces around you inform you that you've lost

your ship in an accident. You're new to the

cutthroat world of Tri-System privateers, and

now your only order of business is survival.

You've got just enough credits to afford a new

ship, but it's going to need upgrades if you

expect to live long. The sector is full of

people willing to do business, but who can be

trusted? Legal or not, it's time to trade, travel,

and battle your way through a place where

high risk means high yield and those with the

brass reap the rewards.

Back cover

A new FACE...

A new PLACE...

A new STORY...

Strap in tight and jump into

the ultimate space combat

trading experience!

In Privateer 2, there are no rules.

You can fly over 100

different missions in

18 different ships.

Check out whatever you

want ― unique planets,

space stations, bars,

prison pits and more.

But without money, you're nothing.

Ship upgrades,

loadouts, repairs,

wingmen, information

― everything here

costs money. You'll

have to hunt, trade,

and fight to get it.

Only the fastest and most savvy survive.

Incredible new space

combat engine enables

hi-speed battles between

bands of pirates, greedy

police, desperate

privateers and you.

Korean Edition

Box Contents

Here's something a lot of people don't know: different versions of Privateer 2 featured readically different manuals! It's strange but true - the original UK release came with a "Crius Hospital Rehabilitation Guide" and an in-universe "Guide to Space Travel"... while the American version came with a single booklet, "Your Guide to the Universe".

UK Edition

• Privateer 2 UK Manuals

US Edition

• Privateer 2 US Manuals
• Privateer 2 Reference Card and Map (US)

Deluxe Edition (US)

This Box Contains:

• (3) CDs (your game).
• Windows 95 Installation Guide (16 pp.) which is what you are reading now and which includes Installation and Troubleshooting information.
• Pilot's Manual (32 pp.) that introduces the cockpit and describes how to fly, navigate and fight.
• Your Guide to the Universe (48 pp.) that explains loading and saving the game, and how the CNN booth system and your PAD work.
• Reference Card (4 pp.) that lists all keyboard, mouse and joystick commands in the game.
• Registration Card — we'd love to know who you are!

• EA Catalog
• Chirichan Pirate Clan Patch

Korean Edition

System Requirements

Deluxe Edition

Windows 95	The Deluxe Edition of Privateer 2: The Darkening is native to Windows 95 and requires Windows 95 to install and play the game.
Computer	Privateer 2: The Darkening requires at least a Pentium™ 75MHz or 100% compatible processor. A processor that is equal to or faster than a Pentium™ 90MHz processor is recommended. This game was tested fully with Intel-based processors. Other processors may not be compatible.
Memory	A minimum of 16MB of RAM installed in your computer is required to play this game.
Video Card	A 1MB (or greater) SVGA (640x480) video card that is compatible with Microsoft DirectX is required.
Hard Drive	You must have a minimum of 40 MB free on your hard drive to install and play this game.
CD-ROM Drive	A 4x-speed CD-ROM drive is required.
Mouse	A mouse (Microsoft or 100% compatible) that works under Windows 95 is required to play this game.

Controls

Afterburner			Tab
Fire guns			Space
Fire missile			Enter
Fire mine			Backspace
Accelerate			+
Decelerate			-
Full speed			]
Full stop			[
Cycle targets forward		A
Cycle targets backward		Z
Select closest hostile		W
Select closest friendly		S
Select target in crosshairs	Q
Disable targeting		Alt-T
Toggle radar style		Alt-R
Cycle guns			G
Full guns			F
Cycle missiles			M
Cycle mines			B
Damage HUD			D
Comms HUD			C
Forward view			F1
Left view			F2
Rear view			F3
Right view			F4
Chase view			F5
External ship camera		F6
Target external view		F7
Target chase view		F8
Fixed camera			F9
Cinematic camera		F10
Toggle distress receiver	O
Enable tractor beam		T
Disable tractor beam		Y
Warp shields			Alt-W
Transmit BSE virus		Alt-B
Activate PAD (on base only)	P

Cheats

• Open the navigation screen by pressing Alt-N. Press F. Type one of the following and press enter.

  NO TALENT (Invincibility)

  REP ME UP (Repairs armor and shields)

  NAPALM (10 nukes)

  PETY PETY (Full afterburners)

  CHILL OUT (Resets laser heat level to 0)

Manuals and Game Documentation

• Commodities Pricing Table
• Privateer 2 Playguide (US)
• Privateer 2 Reference Card and Map (US)
• Privateer 2 UK Manuals
• Privateer 2 US Manuals

Credits

see Privateer 2 credits

Cinematics

see Privateer 2: The Darkening Cinematics

Music

• Inflight music (MIDI) - by James Hannigan

Press

see Privateer 2 press

Strategy Guides

• 

  Official Strategy Guide

• 

  Korean Strategy Guide

• 

  Unofficial German Guide

• 

  Unofficial German Guide

Behind the Screens

see Privateer 2: The Darkening: Behind the Screens

• The Team
• Cast
• Interviews
• Concept Art
• Storyboards

Commodities

Industrial

Plasteen	Brikcrete	Biopolys	Titan Alloys	Lumber

Medical

Cybernetic Limbs	Medi Kit	Blood	Synthi Skin	Optic Nerves

Food

Grain	Fertilite	Fresh Water	Livestock	Synthi Meat

Hardware

Solar Generators	Enviro Suits	Power Loaders	Atomic Chisel	Comms Unit

Luxury

Bex Beer	Cerulean Gemstones	Fluffy Rodents	Sunflowers	Warp Steroids

Ores

Rhodium	Platinum	Iridium	Cesium	Lythia

Black Market

Nerve Toxins	Human Organs	Firearms	Brain Implants	Pleasure Borgs

Companies

• Blessed Aquawine
• Blessed Brew Bar
• Central Intelligence Service
• Chirichan Pirate Clan
• Crazy Eric's Ordnance Emporiums
• Crius Hospital
• Crius Net
• Crius Off-Planet Control
• Galactic Gourmet Hotel
• Hilda's Commodities Brokers
• Holy Museum of Hom
• Interplanetary Aid
• Jincilla Pirate Clan
• Kappa Laboratories
• Kindred
• Kiowan Pirate Clan
• New Crius Examiner
• Papogod Pirate Clan
• Rampant Robot Bar
• S.N. Transports of Delight
• Shadow Play Bar
• Shernikov Medical Equipment
• Sinners Inn
• Smitchell's D-Drive Doctors
• Spacey's Ultra Malls
• Surgeon's Blunder Bar
• Taffin Reclamation Inc.

Equipment

Module

• Afterburner Enhancer Mk I
• Afterburner Enhancer Mk II
• Afterburner Enhancer Mk III
• BSE
• BSE Mk II
• Coolant Unit Mk I
• Coolant Unit Mk II
• Coolant Unit Mk III
• Coolant Unit Mk IV
• Nuke'em
• Shield Generator Enhancer Mk I
• Shield Generator Enhancer Mk II
• Shield Generator Enhancer Mk III
• Warp Shield

Mine

• Decoys Mk I
• Decoys Mk II
• Hi-Ex Mine
• Proximity Mine
• Viral Mine

News

see Category:News Bulletins

People

• Alberto Fossa
• Angus Santana
• Bernice Barlow
• David Hassan
• Dimitri Avignoni
• Hugo Carmichael
• Jan Mitorr
• Janna Frevel
• Larn Regis
• Louissa Phillips
• Maria Filippa Gabriel
• Melissa Kathryn Banks
• Nelson James Ramirez
• Pemtur Douglas
• Ralph McCloud
• Reginald Arthur Bray
• Rhineheart
• Ronald Henry Bray
• Senator Veklyn Ames
• Sheila Nabokov
• Tamessa Shuna Ames
• Veldon Kashumai
• William Maddox
• Xavier Shondi
• Yvan Loomis
• Zakariah Skintight

Planets

• Anhur
• Athos
• Bex
• Corinthias
• Crius
• Desolia
• Destinas
• Hades (planet)
• Hephaestus
• Hermes
• Janus IV
• Karatikus
• Leviatha
• Massanas
• Ostinia
• Petra
• Serca
• Terrel

Ships

Player Ships

Light

Straith	Aurora	Velacia	Drakkar	Duress

Medium

Shaman	Jendevi	Skecis	Skecis Mk II	Kalrechi	Heretic

Heavy

Karnenan	Icarus	Freij	Freij Mk II	Danrik	Faldari	Faldari Mk II

Cargo Ships

Gea Transit	Gea Transit Mk II	Ogan	Ilia	Ilia Mk II	Monolith

Military Ships

ML1b	ML2b	ML3b	ML4X

Military Destroyer	Military Prototype	Military Carrier	Military Dreadnought	Military Transport

Pirate Ships

Jincilla Clan

Skull	Veldor	Tacon	Shuttle	Cruiser

Kiowan Clan

Vector	Leighat	Krell	Shuttle	Cruiser

Chirichan Clan

Demon	Heron	Testmos	Shuttle	Cruiser

Papagod Clan

Tembler	Ecantona	Ashearer	Shuttle	Cruiser

Kindred

Vendetta	Blade

Neutral Ship

Transport

Fixtures

Super Station	Commodity Station	Equipment Station	Laboratories	Repair Station

Kappa Labs	Navigation Buoy	Chirichan Pirate Station	Jump Gate	Kiowan Pirate Station

Miscellaneous

Laser Tower	Spacesuit	Satellite	Escape Pod

Storage Depot	Unknown Ship

Weapons

Guns

Stream Laser	Stream Laser Mk. II	Volt Laser	Flux Beam	Flux Beam MkII	Mass Ion Cannon	Kraven Mk. IV

Missiles

Snipe Missile	Brute Mk I Missile	Brute Mk II Missile	Python Missile	Disrupter Missile	Banshee Missile	Proximity Missile	Stingray Torpedo	Hellraiser Torpedo

Turrets

Wingmen

• Alopecia Cook
• Brad Califaryan
• Bruiser McDoozer
• Cinquante Delores
• Clevis 'Guts' Nugget
• Delphinius
• Eryl Barsteadly
• Hengist Magnusson
• Ignatius Furorum
• Iuste Suttilis
• Jak Perdies
• Jaren Xi
• Lazenby Simpson
• Leon J. Spudley
• Lerissa du Voille
• Liston Sativa
• Monk Skungous
• Norus Heggardly
• Orpheus
• Paetas Sturge
• Phungid Mykofyle
• Pinet el-Susse
• Tallboy Rickardson
• Vicksen Aureola
• Welppe Iuvenil
• Wendy Wellington