Calling all Sundog fans
Wayne Holder, founder of FTL Games and co-designer of Sundog: Frozen Legacy, is seriously contemplating bringing Sundog back to modern platforms. But he needs to get a sense of the level of interest for such a game. Drop me a line here and let me know:
- if you are interested in seeing Sundog available again
- what platform(s) you would like to see it on
- if you would like to be added to a mailing list for news of Sundog
In the meantime, I’ll be contacting those who have sent me e-mails in the past with the same questions. Look forward to hearing from you.
UPDATE [09/12/13]: Wayne has actually done work on Sundog, but I don’t know the current status. Feel free to continue to send feedback. ..bruce..
About the Author: bfwebster
Webster is Principal and Founder at at Bruce F. Webster & Associates, as well as an Adjunct Professor for the BYU Computer Science Department. He works with organizations to help them with troubled or failed information technology (IT) projects. He has also worked in several dozen legal cases as a consultant and as a testifying expert, both in the United States and Japan. He can be reached at 303.502.4141 or at bwebster@bfwa.com.
I’ve been a huge fan of Sundog most of my life. I would very much like to be able to play it again. PC is best for me, though the idea of playing a game like this on a mobile device is interesting as well..
Sundog seems like a natural for iOS. Playable on an iPhone, perfect I’d imagine for an iPad. Along with Dungeon Master, seems like the perfect ST game to port to iOS.
Another great ST game that would rock on iOS – Hex from Mark of the Unicorn.
Sundog rocked ! It was an adventure to far away places with more stuff to do than you could admagine and kept you into the game for hours. I would like to see it again for Windows 7 platform along with playstation 3.
I play this game constantly. Its like solitaire, I play it just to pass time. Emulation today is just like the Atari St that I use to play it on. I have made detailed lists of the commodities and trade items (price, grade, location, etc,) to best increase my trading. This game is the best game ever!!! I would like to see it expanded but not changed much, porting would be cool, but fighting would be difficult without a “mouse”. Please continue the series, classic or modern. Please!!!
I loved Sundog. To this day, I think it was one of the best strategy games ever made and I’ve yet to see anything come close to it.
Yes, there are games that allow you to upgrade ships, run missions, trade, etc., but there was something about having the character leave the ship and walk around the city, the requirement of hand installing upgrades and the ability to get “bootleg gear” for your ship that makes it unique.
Of course, I’d love to see upgraded graphics, more ship possibilities, etc. Sundog could be a great MMORPG.
If it comes back, count me in.
I loved Sundog back in the day, and can’t wait for a new version. Hope one day we’ll see a version for iOS.
I’m guessing 56 responses is not enough to start anything up, but is there any more news? Have you decided against doing anything?
I’d still love to see a new version
Bruce,
I just found this site via the Sundog Resurrection website. Sundog has been one of my all time favorite games, and one of the inspirations for my http://lightrising.com – free browser based space game.
Definitely would be worth re-releasing on multiple platforms. Potentially: PC, Xbox, PS3, Web, Mobile (iOS & Android). Personally I’d love to see it on the iPad either via iOS or through the web. And a browser based version accessible from any device could be a killer version.
Got hooked on Sundog on my uncle’s Atari ST. We could never get back to his house often enough. Never found another game that quite held my imagination of Sundog. Something about the trading/supplying the colony, repairing damaged components, etc.
I would love to see it on the PC or iOS platforms. Graphics don’t have to be modernized, a straight port would be sufficient for me.
Would I be interested in seeing Sundog available again? hell yes!
Linux and Windows would seem the most appropriate platforms, or perhaps the Nintendo DS (3DS).
By all means, add me to the mailing list.
I would love to see it. Particulary as a finished Resurecton Legacy – the graphics is good enought to look good and it does not spoil the spirit. And since plenty of things is already done by Jake, it is more likely for the game to be finished than in case of starting from scratch. Windows and Linux would be great for me.
Hell yeah, bring it back!
Something that can be easily ported seems logical.
How about adding hookers and stowaways to the gameplay…
yes please bring back Sundog, I played it on my ST in the early nineties, great game.
YES!! Please bring back this wonderful game.. I started with computers with this game back when i was a young child.. It opened me up to so many new things.. I still think about Sundog to this day.. my friends and I played this game for hours upon hours…… While I would suggest a reboot .. don’t go so far as to erase the original’s story, sense of wonder and just plain fun!!!
Michael
I absolutely loved that game, which I owned on an Atari, I thionk (I had many machines).
I looked several times since for ways to repkay this game on modern machines, without success.
I would definitely look forward to a remake of it, on PCs.
I think this is a fantastic idea. Sundog was one of the best games I played growing up, and I have always been surprised that its dynamics and complexities have not been successfully copied into other games. i would buy it in a second.
As far as platform goes, I would suggest mobile platforms, if only because of lower development costs and lower expectations in terms of graphics. This would make it easier to develop on a more limited budget and scale. In any event, the complexity and appeal of this game is not in the graphics but in the gameplay. Mobile platforms may be better suited if only because expectations with respect to graphics are lower and people are more forgiving for less than cutting edge production values.
On top of that, the lower retail pricepoint of mobile games would, I think, help drive volume and mass appeal and, I think, would be the best opportunity for you to effectively monetize the game. The mobile space remains wide open, and small game developers seem quite able to develop and market “hits” that would be impossible on traditional computer and game platforms that seem to be so dominated by major production studios.
Just my 2 cents.
I played this game for months on my old Apple ][e.
I recently was telling someone about an awesome game I used to play on the Apple, which led me here. I would love to see this game again. Please bring it back!
Loved this forever ago on my Atari ST. Was never able to fully recapture the experience with other games, this one hit all the right notes. I would definitely purchase a re-release expanded universe/updated graphics or not. My preferred platform would be PC over a mobile (yuck!) version.
Sorry I am late to the party here, but I would DEFINITELY be interested. The original Sundog on my old Atari ST is still my favorite game of all time. (In fact, I still play it on ST emulators.) Today’s games are all right, but most of them seem to depend too much on realistic physics and good graphics, so that you can just go around shooting people. There are innovative and flexible games, like Sundog was, but not nearly as many. If you can put a new Sundog and show these guys how it’s REALLY done, I’d be all for that.
Sundog was one of the best games that I played in the 80’s. Please bring this game back!!!
Dude, I would LOVE to have the original Sundog as an iOS game, and would LOVE to see a modern sequel/remake!
Hellz yeah!!!!!
Wow. That would be great.
I have very fond memories of playing SunDog on my Atari 520ST growing up in the mid 80’s. There hasn’t been a game like it since and I would absolutely LOVE to see a new title. PLEASE make it happen!
A remake/port of the game to the PC or even IOS Systems would be greatly apreciated here. Sadly,I was not one of those who could play this gem in their youth. I first found it on my search for old gaming masterpieces and tried this one out with an Atari Emulator just recently. I instantly fell in love with this one. From the management of your ship to the vast planets and locations, I was in awe and felt right at home.
Best of luck for you!
Ah, Sundog… I wasted weeks with this one…
And monthes with Dungeon Master 🙂
I’ld love to see a new version of Sundog!
Sundog for Windows, please, please, please! I’d happily pay for the privilege of playing my all-time favorite game once again!
Greetings! I played the original Sundog on an Atari ST in the ‘80s and enjoyed it immensely. One of my first exposures to gaming.
In a new release, I’d be looking for awesome graphics as well as the details of trade and barter. I have played WOW and the best part for me was the Auction House, buying and selling, and naturally going out for more goods. This seems very reminiscent to the old Sundog paradigm.
Good single-player as well as multi player would be important. I’ve long been wishing for a game that wasn’t so much ‘’run-n-gun” but more supported the buy-sell-auction house idea. I’m not opposed to a bit of ‘action’ but in most games of today that is ALL there is.
I’m on Windows 7 now (an old Mac user that slipped to the Dark Side!) so that would be my platform of choice.
Please add me to any mailing lists regarding the progress of the project. All my best wishes – and may Sundog FLY AGAIN! 🙂
=Alan R.
Sundog was one of my all time favourite games, alongside of Space Rogue (PC). Space trading with a storyline is the best. I’d love so much for it to be ressurrected on PC. It wouldn’t need amazing graphics, just simple icons and great gameplay. Getting mugged by little circles brought so much joy…
A truly great game that I have never played!
Honestly, modern RPG’S like Mass Effect owe it to games like this.
Without sufficient funding, publisher contacts, I can’t imagine how it would become a major release again.
Possibly, you could use Game Maker and gain attention there. That’s where real game enthusiasts hang about.
You might want to try this on kickstarter: Wasteland is going to have a crowdfunded sequel; why not Sundog?
I agree Kickstarter is the way to go. HOWEVER, is FTL anything to do with this game? Is Bruce involved somewhere along the line? It seems very similar and the developers even called themselves FTL!!
Seems odd to em.
Quick question was the sourceforge game ever finished? Is there an installer anywhere?
Thanks
Hi Bruce
Those guys just got 120.000$
stealing your game. Please do something:
http://www.ftlgame.com/
I got a beta copy of Sundog from my dad who was working for apple at the time and must have known the FTL guys through the grapevine (360 Pacific?). I think I wore out the keyboard playing the game. I loved it!
Not too long ago I found an old notebook filled with commodity prices and systems matrices. Unfortunatly, I loaded my game to a guy at apple and he never returned it (and I am still mad about it!).
Please let me know if you are going to do a remake, I would love to play this type of game again. I’m a PC user now who is slowly moving over to tablets and mobile…
I hate reading people leaving PC games to go to tablets and mobiles. It will take back gaming years. No more new hi tech graphic cards as ATI and Nvidia will be concentrating on tablets which are as big as a decent PC video card. Tablets are the biggest threat to PC gaming, consoles are nothing in comparison. New developers will be making social or other mainstream casual gamers games. God help us all.
So make it for the PC, make it so it can be modded (do that on tablets?) Use the power of a PC yet keep it old school looking, similar to what Mr Fargo is doing with Wasteland 2.
With Legends of Grimlock out soon I’ve been checking up on Dungeon Master which in turn reminded me of this little project.
I just wanted to say that I have money for you if you do this and Kickstarter is a very popular way to do this kind of project.
Please sign me up to the newsletter and I’d love to hear that you’ve been able to go ahead with this!
Hello, I loved Sundog. I unfortunately didn’t get a change to play the original version. I played the Atari ST version. It was fantastic. I’ve been hoping and waiting for a long time to see a Sequel or just a remake. I hope you guys decide to do it.
You should try http://www.kickstarter.com/
Thanks
David
In its day, Sundog was something else. Even today, there isn’t a game that fills that gaming void of the truly enjoyable space trader game. I would certainly spend money on a re-make of this title!
Please remake it. I would buy it. I enjoyed it on the Atari ST and played it a few years ago on an emulator.
I would buy a new version of Sundog in a 1/2 a heartbeat! I played the original game on my Apple II in Jr. High School. The game was VERY innovative for it’s time. Almost a precursor to some of the MMORPG’s I have played in the past couple decades.
Plz keep me posted on Developements/Release Date (if she “Flies”)
Thank you very much,
Schwen
I loved playing this game when i was a kid! definitely one of those games that developed my computer career. I suggest going the java/html5 route, that way you can port the thing all over the place. May be start with the frozen legacy remake with updated graphics, then if the game is popular enough you can continue with subsequent episodes in more time/money intensive formats.
any way, many thanks for making the game to begin with!
😀
I remember years ago, my friend had Sundog on his Atari ST. We loved this game! I haven’t seen anything like it since. The idea that you could walk around your ship, make repairs, battle in space, and explore planets / cities, is what truly makes this a great game. I’d love to see the new Sundog be a mix between Elite II and Ultima VII.
I would pay thirty bucks for an iOS Sundog. I would never stop playing. I might even make in-app purchases. Nuff said?
SUNDOG! SUNDOG! SUNDOG! SUNDOG! SUNDOG! SUNDOG!
Another fan here (Colombia, South America).
Played Sundog on my old Atari 1040ST and later using emulator (Winston). I will be waiting for a port to Windows or (better ?) to Android.
I would prefer a port, maintaining the original spirit (soul) of the game, only adapting the control interface (to touch screen instead of mouse).
Espero ansiosamente noticias!!! (waiting anxiously news)
Sundog is still my favorite game of all time, so yes!! Even though this was written more than a year ago I wanted to say I would definitely buy the updated version of this game! For what it’s worth I bought the game Mass Effect solely because I read a review that compared it to Sundog.
I haven’t played the orginal, but I was looking forward to the remake. I would buy it.
I would purchase sundog today if it were available on the pc Im still playing it on an st emulator as we speak. I dont know how many floppys of sundog i bought over the years i guess i should have taken better care of my disks.
I wish you well I always enjoyed your work with ftl I hope this project takes off
I would like to see Sundog come out again.
Sundog was my favorite game from the 90’s have you thought of going through Kickstarter?
Really looking forward to this, on a mac hopefully
I can’t wait for this game to make a comeback!