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Whither Duke Nukem Forever? While Duke co-creator and producer George Broussard assures fans that the rumored death of 3D Realms is greatly exaggerated, many are beginning to believe the hilariously long string of epic fails known as Duke Nukem Forever may finally end with a whimper, instead of the bang (explosive or sexual) Duke himself would no doubt have preferred. In memory of Duke and his decade-plus quest for a sequel, Topless Robot presents this chronology of the highlights and lowlights of DNF's development. We come to bury Duke Nukem Forever, not to praise it -- because there's nothing to praise.
1) April 28, 1997
Following the runaway success of Duke Nukem 3D, 3D Realms announces a sequel with the foreboding title Duke Nukem Forever, to be built on iD Software's Quake II engine. The press release also notes that 3D Realms' partner GT Interactive "obtains merchandising rights for all derivative works, including films, home video and books for Duke Nukem Forever, as well as rights on a future title, tentatively called Duke Nukem 5." A few short years after this little licensing coup, GT's stock sank like a stone and was bought out by Infogrames (now Atari Inc.).
The same day, 3D Realms issues another press releases explaining why they weren't building DNG on their own proprietary Prey engine: there won't be enough market penetration of new 3D video cards that can handle the Prey engine until late 1998, and Duke Nukem Forever was scheduled to be out months before that. And so the hilarity begins!
2) August 1997
The first screenshots of Duke Nukem Forever appear in PC Gamer.
3) May 1998
The first Duke Nukem Forever trailer, still using the Quake II engine, premieres at E3.
4) June 1998
Weeks after the E3 demo, 3D Realms announces they're switching to the Unreal engine for DNF. Broussard refers to it as a "1999 game" and assures fans, "the game should not be significantly delayed." The videogame gods, feeling taunted, prepare a horrible vengeance.
5) November 1, 1999
With no sign of a release date, 3D Realms releases a few screenshots of the new, Unreal-ized Duke Nukem Forever.
6) December 4, 2000
A publisher called Gathering of Developers announces the acquiring of publishing rights to DNF.
7) May 2001
At E3, three years after their first DNF demo, 3D Realms shows off the new Duke.
8) August 2001
Gathering of Developers closes and Take-Two Interactive swoops in to nab the DNF publishing rights. Score!
9) 2002
Time passes. No major news on DNF.
10) May 20, 2003
Take-Two Interactive's president says DNF would not be out by the end of '03. George Broussard responds, "Take-Two needs to STFU imo."
11) January 20, 2004
Wired awards Duke Nukem Forever with the "Vaporeware Lifetime Achievement Award."
12) September 9, 2004
GameSpot reports that the DNF team has switched to the Doom 3 engine. After a flurry of reports and speculation throughout the day, Broussard denies the rumor.
Tags: Duke Nukem, Mean-spiritedness
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