Duke Nukem developer goes bust

[MIR]

Veteran games developer 3D Realms has closed down because of a lack of funds. Founded in 1987, the firm popularised the concept of shareware gaming and produced the seminal Duke Nukem and Wolfenstein 3D first-person shooters.
The company was working on a follow-up title, Duke Nukem Forever, which after being in development for 12 years has become the object of industry derision.
Publisher Take-Two says it will no longer fund development of the game but retains rights to the title.
"We can confirm that our relationship with 3D Realms for Duke Nukem Forever was a publishing arrangement, which did not include ongoing funds for development of the title," said Take-Two's Alan Lewis in a statement.
There has been no official comment from 3D Realms, other than a forum posting from the company's webmaster, Joe Siegler, who said: "It's not a marketing thing. It's true. I have nothing further to say at this time."
Other companies with links to 3D Realms or the Duke Nukem series were quick to distance themselves.
In a posting on Twitter, Apogee Software said it was "officially not affected by the situation at 3DRealms".
"Development of the Duke Nukem Trilogy is continuing as planned and further announcements about upcoming games will be made in the near future," the statement added.
Guardian newspaper games writer Steve Boxer said it was astonishing 3D Realms had not finished the game after more than a decade of development.
"It would have been nice to see another Duke Nukem game, but given they had more than 12 years it's just incompetence of the highest order.
"3D Realms made some great games in the past, but they got overtaken by the 21st Century.
"Sadly, Duke Nukem Forever was the most aptly named title in the history of games. Now, it's just Duke Nukem Never."

SOURCE: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8037688.stm

[Lazy Bastard]

"Sadly, Duke Nukem Forever was the most aptly named title in the history of games." <---Heh.

Yeah, that sucks. I really would've liked to have seen another Duke Nukem title...and I hope that "Publisher Take-Two says it will no longer fund development of the game but retains rights to the title. "...means that they'll eventually have someone else make the game. I also wonder what progress was made, and if any of that progress will be...donated, shall we say...by 3D Realms.

[Dastan]

lol... Look at this update.

[bungholio]

(
Guardian newspaper games writer Steve Boxer said it was astonishing 3D Realms had not finished the game after more than a decade of development.
"It would have been nice to see another Duke Nukem game, but given they had more than 12 years it's just incompetence of the highest order."
)

I'm kind of agreeing there. It's been ridiculous how long this has been taking. I probably don't know a thing about how things operate and what their situation was, but 12 years is more than enough. Most game are usually done within 4 years.


I remember when I bought the old Duke Nukem 3D and on the disk there were sample pictures of some of the upcoming games being created. There were pictures of "Prey" and it looked a lot like Blood 1. At least Prey was finally finished. Slow pokes.


And this is ridiculous:
(
Despite George Broussard's claims that the title had "hit a major milestone" last month, there hadn't been even the barest hint of a demo build. If your answer to the question, "So, you've been working on this game for twelve years ... got anything playable to show?" is "No, not really..." then it'd be understandably difficult to convince people to keep funding a project.
)
12 years, and not even a demo build? Wow. What were the people that were hired doing with all of that time?

[Shad0wHacker]

http://duke.a-13.net/

This was a fun read.

[Dastan]

http://duke.a-13.net/

This was a fun read.

OMG, I haven't laught so hard in quite some time!

[Lazy Bastard]

Heh, that was pretty funny.

[LiquidManZero]

I guess this means a fan-made Duke Nukem Forever is coming.