Duke Nuked… Forever
3D Realms, the firm behind Duke Nukem and Wolfenstein, has closed down after running out of cash. It likely marks the end for the unreleased game Duke Nukem Forever, a title which proved better suited as a description of its development schedule.
The company had been working on the game since 1997 and it had become a Chinese Democracy style running joke – though at this point it looks as if Communism actually will fall in Beijing before the game hits the shelves. Take-Two, which would have published the game, says it retains the rights to the title but will no longer fund its development.
3D Realms was originally known as Apogee Software, but the 3D Realms name became so popular as a brand that it became the firm’s main identity. A separate company which licensed the name Apogee Software last year remains in business and is unaffected by the closure.
Both Wolfenstein and Duke Nukem began as two-dimensional platform shoot-em-up series. Apogee published 3D editions of the games in 1992 and 1996 respectively. Wolfenstein was arguably the breakthrough game in the first-person shooter genre and its influences can still be seen today in games such as the Halo and Call of Duty series.
Wolfenstein was also notable for being released in both shareware and full editions. The shareware version was – as was the point of such editions – distributed without charge and with permission to copy it and pass it on to friends. It included the first 10 mission from the game, making up around a sixth of the total, with the rest only available in the full retail edition.
While the free demo model is now fairly common (witness the downloadable demos on modern consoles), at the time it was an innovative way for small firms such as Apogee to build interest in their games and compete with major games manufacturers which had substantially higher marketing budgets.
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17 Responses to “Duke Nuked… Forever”
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May 8th, 2009
No major loss
Doom > Duke nukem
May 8th, 2009
another studio closes. Let’s see if it can somehow be blamed on the ps3.
May 8th, 2009
God Nukem was in development longer than that pile of poo that was Too Human. When you start to measure a games development time in decades, you know something is wrong.
May 8th, 2009
Was Duke Nukem Garbage.
Barnabe Jones:
You right when a fucking game takes more then 10 years to make just cancel you can make more money making 5 new games.
May 8th, 2009
poor Duke…
May 8th, 2009
http://talkinrealatyou.blogspot.com/2009/05/end-is-beginning.html
May 8th, 2009
my “comment is awaiting moderation.” can someone help?
May 8th, 2009
http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Duke-Nukem-Forever-Screenshots-Concept-Art-Released-17396.html
May 8th, 2009
RIP Duke
Duke will always have a special place in my gaming world.
May 9th, 2009
zoar, did you include a link in your comment?
(GameFly Rental: RE5)
May 9th, 2009
Duke’s time passed a long time ago.
Rest in peace.
May 9th, 2009
What do ya mean I just finished the revamped HD Duke nukem 3d version (PC mod) CLASSIC.
May 9th, 2009
To CarlB: Yes I did. It was a linked to Duke Nukem Forever’s Concept Arts, but I guess you already knew about it by now.
May 9th, 2009
http://www.teamblurgames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=623
May 9th, 2009
teamblurgames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=623
May 9th, 2009
General Public License please.
May 11th, 2009
Those images look sweet.
I would have paid for that game.
I loved Doom, Duke, Heretic and Quake
What a shame.