Category:Privateer 2: The Darkening
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 | |
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| Platform | DOS Windows 95 (Deluxe Edition |
| Engine | BRender |
| Release Date | December 1996 (Europe) January 1997 (U.S.) November 4, 1997 (Deluxe Edition) |
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.
combat engine supporting a
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to the cockpit - once
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environment allows the
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story lines require shrewd
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ships, weapons and
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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
US Edition
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
Credits
Privateer 2: The Darkening development team! Take a close look at the details, too--there's an area on the wall for each Tri-System planet! Special thanks to the always-graciou
- Back Row: Mark Goldsworthy, Phil Meller, Paul Hughes, Tony Stockton, Nick Goldsworthy, Jason Reeve, Adam Medhurst, John Miles, Erin Roberts
- Front Row: Paul Chapman, Nick Elms, Mike Cottam, Chris Battson, Dan Blackstone
You've seen their picture take a look at their cartoon equivalents
John Miles
Cast
These Privateer 2 cast photos were originally posted to the now defunct Privateer 2: The Darkening official website. Now, after nine long years, they're finally back in one place!
Captain of the Canera (David McCallum)
Assassin No. 3 (Amanda Pays)
Cinematics
Privateer 2 Videos! All 24 movies is also available here in a Single zip file (730 MB)
Misc
We recently discovered 1.2 gigabytes of individually rendered frames of Privateer 2 landing artwork. It's gorgeous stuff--an insane amount of detail went into the landing sequences... but we couldn't display thousands of images at once. Instead, we've used the images to reconstruct the videos using modern graphic capabilities! If you'd still like to examine the images themselves, you can grab them here (1.2gb).
Trailer
Storyline
- 01 - doctorloomis.avi
- 02 - haltaffin.avi
- 03 - angussantana1.avi
- 04 - shernikovmedical.avi
- 05 - janmitorr.avi
- 06 - kappalabs.avi
- 07 - davidhassan.avi
- 08 - hugocarmichael1.avi
- 09 - hugocarmichael2.avi
- 10 - dmitriavignoni.avi
- 11 - rhinehart.avi
- 12 - kronos.avi
Side Missions
- Angussantana2.avi
- Bernicebarlow.avi
- Billmaddox.avi
- Edit 78.m4v
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- Edit 94.m4v
- Edit 95.m4v
- Edit 96.m4v
- Edit 97.m4v
- Edit 98.m4v
- Grahamgould.avi
- Lordmikevonx.avi
- Louissaphillips.avi
- Melissabanks.avi
- Nelsonramirez.avi
- Ralphmccloud.avi
- Tamessaames.avi
- Unclekashumai.avi
- Xaviershondi.avi
Music
- Inflight music (MIDI) - by James Hannigan
Development
From the Origin Museum -- a picture of an official Privateer 2 crew jacket! Check it out:
Concept Art
- The never-used box cover for 'Privateer: The Darkening'! The file, dated May 13, 1996, proves once and for all that Electronic Arts once seriously planned to release it without the '2'.
Interviews
- Interview with Brian Blessed
- Interview with Christopher Walken
- Interview with David McCallum
- Interview with Erin Roberts
- Interview with John Hurt
- Interview with Mathilda May
- Interview with Stasha French
Storyboards
- Download the PDF of all the P2 Storyboards HERE
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
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 (Unlimited nukes)
- PETY PETY (Full afterburners)
- CHILL OUT (Lasers produce less heat)
Press
- Origin Press Release - Nov 1, 1995 - P2 to Shoot at Pinewood
- Origin Press Release - May 16, 1996 - Privateer 2 The Darkening Debuts at E3
- Origin Press Release - Fall 1996 - P2 November Release
- WCHS Interview - 1996 - Erin Roberts
- Official Origin IRC Chat - Jan 14th. 1997 - Paul Hughes
- Letter to the CIC - August 11, 2006 - Erin Roberts
- CIC Interview - August 11, 2006 - Paul Hughes
- The Darkening - 1995 - The Times - Article about Privateer 2 from The Times
- Privateer 2: The Darkening PC Gamer US Review
- Back in 1996, PC Zone magazine produced a special 20-page Privateer 2 preview booklet. It interviewed all aspects of the team, including programmers, the guys behind the full motion video... even the sound engineer! It was a beautiful magazine which featured many early screenshots. Read it HERE or Download the PDF HERE
Strategy Guides
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.
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| 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. |
Commodities
Industrial
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Medical
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Food
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Hardware
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Luxury
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Ores
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Black Market
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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
News
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
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Medium
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Heavy
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Cargo Ships
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Military Ships
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Pirate Ships
Jincilla Clan
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Kiowan Clan
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Chirichan Clan
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Papagod Clan
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Kindred
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Neutral Ship
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Fixtures
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Miscellaneous
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Weapons
Guns
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Missiles
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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
Subcategories
This category has the following 9 subcategories, out of 9 total.
P
Pages in category "Privateer 2: The Darkening"
The following 15 pages are in this category, out of 15 total.
