Our Long National Nightmare Is Over? Duke Nukem Has A Release Date?

from the i'll-believe-it-when-i'm-playing-it dept

Fri, Jan 7th 2011 4:07am — Mike Masnick

The video game Duke Nukem Forever has been a perpetual joke in video game circles. A decade ago it was already being mocked as Vaporware. At some point, Wired had to "retire" it from its annual vaporware list, giving it a "lifetime achievement award." But that was back in 2003, and after strong demand, it was added back to the list later. Finally, in 2009, we thought it had gone into permanent vaporware mode, after the developer, 3D Realms, shut down. There was a fascinating post mortem of the effort, which talked about the rather perfectionist views of 3D Realms boss, George Broussard, who kept having the team effectively start over to avoid being "behind" the state of the art.

However, Take Two got into a bit of a legal fight with what was left of 3D Realms, and finally cleared the way for Take Two to release a game called Duke Nukem Forever, though I imagine many won't feel it's the "real" Duke Nukem Forever (because that game is a myth). Either way, Peter Suderman noticed that Duke Nukem Forever actually appears to have a release date on Amazon of May 31st of this year. I'm not sure I really believe it, but considering it's not the old team involved any more, perhaps it can actually happen. Either way, in my head, Duke Nukem Forever will always be vaporware.

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Filed Under: duke nukem forever, vaporware

34 Comments

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abc gum, 7 Jan 2011 @ 4:19am

Whadda ya waitin for - Christmas ?
[knuckle crack]
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The eejit (profile), 7 Jan 2011 @ 4:32am

Re:
IT is high time to put the boot in a posterior and chew guar-based gum. Alas, the store was out of gum.
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Dan Herbert, 7 Jan 2011 @ 4:33am

Did anyone actually read what Amazon's page says? Positioned very clearly below the "release date" it says:

"Official pricing and release date have not been announced by the publisher. These are estimates only and subject to change."

Until I see the box in my hands, it will still be vaporware to me.
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Jan 2011 @ 4:54am

Nothing like hot vapor to warm this cold winter LoL
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Jan 2011 @ 5:02am

Now if people want to actually do some playing for free no less here is one.

Deak Cyborg is a episodic game(meaning it will be launched in parts), that is donation based and using open source game engine(Blender Game Engine). The graphics look ok, but I didn't play it so if any of you get your hands on it please tell me about it.
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Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 7 Jan 2011 @ 5:06am

Game Stop
Game Stop told me Tuesday that the release date was March 17th (or something like that). They said that May was the old release date (though it is Game Stop).

I don't doubt that Take Two will release it. After twelve ****** years, it better be.
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Parkar, 7 Jan 2011 @ 5:16am

some errors in the article
First of all the legal battle ended with both parties withdrawing their suits. The game and ip was sold to gearbox who is now developing the game with T2 still as the publisher.

Second, the core team is the same guys that worked on the game at 3D Realms. In fact they kept working on it through out the legal battle even though they didn't know if the game would ever be released. So its also the same game and not just dnf in name.
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Derek (profile), 7 Jan 2011 @ 5:24am

Not the real Duke Nukem?
"...though I imagine many won't feel it's the "real" Duke Nukem Forever (because that game is a myth)."

Not really, you should read the extensive Wired article that talks about how this release actually came to pass, this is the same game they were working on, and the old developers were in general consensus that the game would be largely what they had envisioned. Granted that Take Two will put a few of their own tricks in the bag.

Also from reading the Wired article, its pretty apparent that George Broussard is an idiot who does not know how to run a company. They recreated the game like 4 times, imagine being at Duke 4 by now!
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Jan 2011 @ 5:32am

I doubt DNF will be as great as it's predecessor (Duke Nukem 3D). It'll just be a watered down, "consolized" version of the original. I think it could be fun, but it won't be Duke Nukem.

It will either be too short, too easy or too buggy (or all of the above). And on top of that, it probably won't have a COOP mode (the main attraction of D3D for me).

To be an Epic game (in my opinion), DNF would have to be on par with F.E.A.R., Clive Barker's Undying, Half-Life and DooM (yes, the original one/DooM 2, not that crap they call DooM where you throw around magic cubes to kill bosses, and where the shotgun feels like it is made of paper).

I doubt DNF can come any close to those.
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Jan 2011 @ 5:36am

Sequel?
They should title it:
Duke Nukem Forever II

That way it can keep the title of King Of Vaporware
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Jimr (profile), 7 Jan 2011 @ 5:36am

Duke Nukem on my iPod
After re-playing the Duke Nukem on my iPod would be ready to pay some real money when the real new game comes out.
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LumpyDog (profile), 7 Jan 2011 @ 5:44am

Given the track record of Gearbox, the developer handed the task of picking up the pieces of DNF, I have high hopes. If anyone can clean up that mess, it's them.
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Ramona Cartwright, 7 Jan 2011 @ 6:21am

It's True
My very, very good friend, George P. Burdell, is actually the project manager. You really can expect to see Duke real soon now!
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Jan 2011 @ 6:28am

Finally to the rescue!!! Yea 3D dev really sucks now. The video card manufacturer have such great graphic cards are out of the reach of most gamers. As a father and provider I am sick of buying new video cards every time they come out with new games and as a result I bet sales are wayyyyy downnnn.
Too bad because 3D had a promising future and may still once the battle is over on the basics for the video cards.
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Gabriel Tane (profile), 7 Jan 2011 @ 6:38am

Re: Not the real Duke Nukem?
Sorry, but didn't Wired also give us such informative articles as "The Internet is Dead" and "Piracy is Over"? I'm with others around here that I'll believe it when I have it in my hands (or on a store shelf since I got over DN long ago).
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Jan 2011 @ 6:59am

Re: Re: Not the real Duke Nukem?
It is true that Wired is always pronouncing things dead when in fact they're well alive, but here they're pronouncing as alive something that is by all accounts (un)dead.

But all is well, since we have a new perpetual vaporware game to take DNF's place: Half Life 2 Episode 3.
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DubLBareL, 7 Jan 2011 @ 8:11am

Think a little bigger...
National nightmare? In which country do you reside that claims Duke for his own? A bit presumptuous don't you think?

Duke Nukem enjoys international fame. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find a more recognized video game personality with exceptions to perhaps Mario, Donkey Kong and Pac-man.

Duke Nukem is an absolutely American character, however he is loved by people around the globe, and not for the generally perceived low brow appeal of partial nudity and a liberal use of profanity. Beneath his testosterone drenched, hard boiled exterior lies a hero that is every bit if not more patriotic than Captain America, every ounce as chivalrous and compassionate as Sir Gawain, and as adventurous as Odysseus. Duke Nukem is an amalgam of every hero that ever existed. In his world and his reality though, which is but a slightly twisted reflection of our own, Those characters barely existed. Duke is the only symbol of all that is heroic and masculine in his 3D realm. He alone sits atop that throne, and he alone accepts the glory. Hail to the King baby!
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Nick Coghlan (profile), 7 Jan 2011 @ 8:17am

Made up release dates so they can start taking pre-orders
Amazon, Gamestop and the like have a long history of making up release dates so they can start taking pre-orders. They've done it for every WoW expansion, long before Blizzard have nailed down the actual release dates.
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Transbot9, 7 Jan 2011 @ 8:28am

Old news
It was announced @ PAX back in Sept, resulting in this (NSFW) comic.
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BigKeithO (profile), 7 Jan 2011 @ 8:44am

Re:
This is such an old school BS argument against PC gaming. I don't know why everyone insists its true, it isn't the year 2000 anymore!

The current gen consoles have been out for 5 years (Xbox) or 4 years (PS3, Wii doesn't count for graphics). Video cards are typically released on a 6 month cycle, the only problem with this picture is that console gaming is hugely profitable. Since it is so profitable developers develop their games with the console in mine, they are developing for hardware that is 4 and 5 years old now! A modern PC simply destroys anything a console can do, if you have a decently modern video card (4 years old or less) you can run any current game at at least console resolutions (720p, 1280�720).

If you are buying new video cards every time a new game comes out could you send some of the old ones my way? Yours must be way newer than mine!
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PeteProdge (profile), 7 Jan 2011 @ 9:15am

Let's hope...
...it's better than Guns N Roses's Chinese Democracy.
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Gabriel Tane (profile), 7 Jan 2011 @ 9:47am

Re: Think a little bigger...
Think a little more sarcastic. I seriously doubt that Mike thinks DN is an American icon or much less that he's the one to make that claim.
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duderino, 7 Jan 2011 @ 10:33am

Borderlands
look at product features:

Choose from an arsenal of hundreds of thousands of weapons, each with their unique manufacturers, specifications and advantages; a revolutionary new content generation system provides for near infinite tools of destruction
[[[this part --->]]]Borderlands is built from the ground-up to be an exciting and intuitive co-operative multiplayer experience that rewards you for executing advanced strategies and tactical maneuvers
Earn experience and gain proficiency in a number of specialties as you do battle with enemies
Get behind the wheel of and engage in intense vehicle-to-vehicle combat, complete with extensive damage modeling and spectacular explosions
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Karl (profile), 7 Jan 2011 @ 11:26am

Re: Not the real Duke Nukem?
Maximum PC also did a story about this.

Apparently, it's being put out by Gearbox. They were able to step in and settle the suit between 3D Realms and Take Two.

The game is the same one the 3D Realms crew has been working on for a while now (sometimes in secret). Gearbox has modified it, but only the "finishing touches."
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Jan 2011 @ 1:07pm

Clearing up a few things:

Randy Pitchford, one of Gearbox's founders, worked for 3D Realms on and on the expansion packs of Duke Nukem 3D. He and George Broussard of 3D Realms remained friends. After Duke Nukem Forever was killed by a legal fight between Take 2 and 3D Realms a group of unpaid former 3D Realms developers who were housed at Gearbox's offices continued to work on Duke Nukem Forever. Gearbox negotiated to take over the entire Duke Nukem franchise including the code for DNF. Gearbox gave money to 3D Realms and Take2 backed off it's lawyers because Gearbox promised to have the game out in 2011. Gearbox and Take2 have a good relationship because of their work together on Borderlands and a currently unannounced project.
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Jan 2011 @ 1:19pm

Re: Re: Re: Not the real Duke Nukem?
Starcraft Ghost anyone?

I have a friend who still has it on pre-order at a gamestop.
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Alias (profile), 7 Jan 2011 @ 1:30pm

Re:
"...probably won't have a COOP..."

Why would a game have a chicken coop?

OH! You mean CO-OP. Gotcha.
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Jan 2011 @ 1:35pm

Duke Nukem forever will be under development forever.
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Gabriel Tane (profile), 7 Jan 2011 @ 1:40pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Not the real Duke Nukem?
Yeah, that one pissed me off :( The pre-release vids a few years ago looked sweet.
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Raptor85, 7 Jan 2011 @ 3:57pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Not the real Duke Nukem?
which ones, the 1998 ones or the 2001 ones?
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iquacker, 8 Jan 2011 @ 4:53pm

Factoid-
Until just the other week, Amazon had Feb1 as the release date. And so it goes...
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Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2011 @ 2:03pm

I WANT TO BELIEVE (cue X-Files music)

But I've seen it, and it exists! See all things DUKE at
http://www.duke4.net/

Can't wait? Go to the "Duke3D Reloaded" (AKA Duke - Next Gen) website for an appetizer!
http://www.dukenukemreloaded.com/
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Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2011 @ 6:09pm

Re: Think a little bigger...
your dam right its american. in Dukem 3D, you see american made products and even tv shows like bevis and butthead. for example in the secret multiplayer level duke burger( come get some lol) ,in the drive through speaker you can hear bevis saying "your gonna have to leave because the place is like closed''. and you notice coke cola bottles laying on the ground in some levels.
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btrussell (profile), 21 Jan 2011 @ 8:02am

"That was surprisingly quick. Gearbox Software has announced a release date for Duke Nukem Forever. The game will come out on May 3, 2011, exactly eight months after the company revealed that it had taken over development from 3D Realms. Duke Forever will come out simultaneously on the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3; an international release will follow three days later."
http://techreport.com/discussions.x/20276
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