3DR "smaller studio now," "will continue to operate as a company"

[Ras]

http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/58681

This has been a weird couple of weeks for us. Just think how it is for 3DR.

The full press release:

3D Realms Release Pertaining to Recent Events Surrounding Duke Nukem Forever

Dallas, TX (May 18, 2009) - In light of recent press articles and statements by Take-Two (to the media and in a lawsuit), we want to set the record straight on some issues.

Despite rumors and statements to the contrary, 3D Realms (3DR) has not closed and is not closing. 3DR retains ownership of the Duke Nukem franchise. Due to lack of funding, however, we are saddened to confirm that we let the Duke Nukem Forever (DNF) development team go on May 6th, while we regroup as a company. While 3DR is a much smaller studio now, we will continue to operate as a company and continue to license and co-create games based upon the Duke Nukem franchise.

As some of you may know, Take-Two filed a lawsuit last week containing various accusations and claims against 3DR and the uncompleted DNF game. Take-Two never paid 3DR advances or any signing bonus or any other funds related to DNF, up until July 2008, at which time they paid $2.5m in connection with another agreement for an unannounced game. This is the sum total Take-Two has paid 3DR in connection with DNF. Take-Two claims that they paid $12m to GT Interactive/Infogrames to acquire the publishing rights for the DNF game. To be clear, 3DR was not a party to that transaction and did not receive any money from it. When the DNF game was originally signed with GT Interactive in 1998, GT paid 3DR a $400,000 signing bonus. Up until July 2008, this was the only publisher money we received for the DNF game. Meanwhile, 3DR put over $20m into the production of DNF.

Take-Two retains publishing rights for the DNF game, although 3DR retains certain rights to sell the game directly to the public. Late last year, 3DR began negotiations with Take-Two to provide funding to complete the DNF game. In the meantime, 3DR was hitting mutually-agreed milestones, despite not having a new agreement finalized. Take-Two was well aware that 3DR needed the funding to continue the DNF game development. Suddenly, after months of negotiations, Take-Two materially changed the parameters of the proposed funding agreement. 3DR informed Take-Two that it could not financially afford the changes Take-Two was suggesting and would be forced to release the team if an agreement was not reached. Take-Two made a last minute proposal to acquire the Duke Nukem franchise and the 3DR development team. Take-Two's proposal was unacceptable to 3DR for many reasons, including no upfront money, no guarantee minimum payment, and no guarantee to complete the DNF game. From 3DR's perspective, we viewed Take-Two as trying to acquire the Duke Nukem franchise in a "fire sale." Those negotiations fell through on May 4th, a deal never materialized, and the DNF team was sadly released a few days later.

Less than a week after the DNF team was released, Take-Two filed its lawsuit in New York, seeking immediate temporary injunctive relief. The court denied Take-Two's request for a temporary restraining order. While we cannot comment on the details of the ongoing lawsuit, we believe Take-Two's lawsuit is without merit and merely a bully tactic to obtain ownership of the Duke Nukem franchise. We will vigorously defend ourselves against this publisher.

[Clord]

This shows how rumors are not facts and can also be false information.

[Ras]

Ahh, Clord. I got this from your post at duke4.net. I should have let you be the one.

[vincentdante]

sweet

[Clord]

Originally Posted by Ras

Ahh, Clord. I got this from your post at duke4.net. I should have let you be the one.

No problem.

[Gf11speed]

Great, now we will be getting a bunch of crappy spin-off Duke games from external developers trying to profit from the Duke Nukem franchise. Nice job 3DRealms. Epic fail.

[naddie]

I'm glad we finally heard something offical from 3DR. It really does put my mind at ease.

However, it does confirm to the Take-Two haters that they were right!

[Ras]

Originally Posted by Gf11speed

Great, now we will be getting a bunch of crappy spin-off Duke games from external developers trying to profit from the Duke Nukem franchise. Nice job 3DRealms. Epic fail.

They'll get back to DNF when the court case is settled, I imagine. If they can hire good people to do good Duke games and just give enough input to make sure the games are worthy of the name, that could be a positive thing. They should have been doing small, quality Duke games (as long as they didn't dilute the franchise, in other words) all along to provide some quick funding.

[X-Vector]

Originally Posted by naddie

However, it does confirm to the Take-Two haters that they were right!

Not necessarily - this is just 3DR's version of what took place.

[Ras]

I wonder what this means for Joe and Bryan. Since they are basically THE public relations for 3DR, I hope they got some good news last week or today.

[p.habo1982]

So far for the good working relations towards the future.

And they (T2) make sure that DELAY is written in caps,
thnx "again" I guess.

Kick ass.

[Altered Reality]

Originally Posted by Ras

They'll get back to DNF when the court case is settled, I imagine.

And I bet they'll restart from scratch a fourth time.

[Klaus Kinski]

Originally Posted by X-Vector

Not necessarily - this is just 3DR's version of what took place.

Sure, it's their side of the story but to me it sounds very likely and explains very well the lawsuit filed by Take2. The publisher tried some sort of hostile takeover of the DNF franchise (and according to 3DR their whole team as well) and it fell apart because Broussard and Miller rather went down in a fight. Take2 takes the only option that gives them any chance to still acquire the IP and sues. It's basically blackmailing by court orders. If they can't have the Duke IP (and especially DNF), nobody should. That's how they're thinking.
It makes much more sense than 3DR just refusing to take more money from Take2 to finish the game or Take2 being unable to fund the rest of the development time.
They tried to steal their IP and live but 3DR was all out of gum.

[BloodWolf806]

YES! FIGHT Back! Duke is not dead!

[Psyrgery]

Eat shit and die, take2!

[Nihilanth]

Interesting stuff. I wonder what happens with DNF now.

[v5l]

I'm not sure about US laws, but IF 3DR should win in court, this could even free them of the publishing agreement with T2.
As T2 destroyed or damaged the mutual trust, with it's actions, and therefore might be no longer willing/able to publish the game in the best possible way.

Always bet on Duke

[Evil Angel]

Originally Posted by v5l

I'm not sure about US laws, but IF 3DR should win in court, this could even free them of the publishing agreement with T2.
As T2 destroyed or damaged the mutual trust, with it's actions, and therefore might be no longer willing/able to publish the game in the best possible way.

Always bet on Duke

Or if T2 lose will they be liable to pay damages to 3DR for dragging them into court and effectively stopping a potential investor from coming forward to enable them to finish DNF.

[Reynols]

Nice PR: in their first official statement(full of vague statements as the people are used to from them), 3DR make themselves look as the poor victim, who would have thought...

[randir14]

This just means 3DR is now nothing but Miller and Broussard. The best we can hope for is Apogee Software finishing DNF and releasing it with a different name. In the meantime we'll probably see a string of average Duke games like we did years ago (Zero Hour, Manhattan Project, Planet of the Babes, etc.) That's assuming anyone even has interest in making Duke games.

The plot thickens.

[Alexander]

Yes yes, the world is safe once more.
And Take 2 said:
"I would have gotten away with it, if it wasn't for those bold 3DR Dudes!"
Scooby Dooby DUKE!

[Rider]

Oh man, I love the 3DR folks right about now!

So glad to see 3DR are still continuing forward. I hope that, when this whole mess is settled, 3DR can go back to creating DNF in whatever capacity and get back on top where they're supposed to be!

[terrannova]

Duke is most definitely not dead. Always, always, bet on Duke.

[Assault]

Oh, more delays! Great fun is happening with this.

[That Guy]

I'm sure that the employees that did lose their jobs feel much better knowing that 3DR didn't really shut down.

[Derfernet]

Originally Posted by That Guy

I'm sure that the employees that did lose their jobs feel much better knowing that 3DR didn't really shut down.

Oh come on, don't be "that guy"

[Moocowjr]

Originally Posted by Assault

Oh, more delays! Great fun is happening with this.

Yep. Since 3DR are not allowed to modify the code while the lawsuit is ongoing, if this lawsuit takes any considerable amount of time the finish up, by the time DNF gets worked on again it will be dated, and they may even have to start over again...

[Haravikk]

What does this actually mean for DNF? They had the development team they did for a reason, are they going to be able to continue developing? It'd be great if some funding did appear and they could hire most of the team back, but I fear it's too late, and any new staff they bring in (on lower wages?) would be unfamiliar with all of it, it's going to be a huge delay at best I think

[Assault]

Originally Posted by Moocowjr

Yep. Since 3DR are not allowed to modify the code while the lawsuit is ongoing, if this lawsuit takes any considerable amount of time the finish up, by the time DNF gets worked on again it will be dated, and they may even have to start over again...

...Which means nothing has changed.

DNF being released, now that would be a shocker.

[v5l]

As You can see in the motions:
http://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webc...ate=06/04/2009
The restraining Order has not been granted (yet, if ever).

[MegaMustaine]

I'm not so sure the project has to stall. With the court denying T2's request for an injunction against the project, doesn't that mean they could still have someone work on the game?

[Duke's New Chainsaw]

Good.

[Mr. Pink]

Originally Posted by Gf11speed

Great, now we will be getting a bunch of crappy spin-off Duke games from external developers trying to profit from the Duke Nukem franchise. Nice job 3DRealms. Epic fail.

Complete bull. Wow.




Anyhow - GO 3DR!!!!!!

When DNF comes out, I suggest we buy it from 3D Realms directly (read the op) rather than from any channels that benefit Take 2 in any way whatsoever.

My heart goes out to all the 3DR staff that had to be let go. Hopefully, the great majority of you will be back.

(Evil Angel, I sure hope so...to the tune of perhaps 5 mil )

[naddie]

Originally Posted by MegaMustaine

I'm not so sure the project has to stall. With the court denying T2's request for an injunction against the project, doesn't that mean they could still have someone work on the game?

I think you're correct on that one. 3DR should be able to continue work on DNF, but since they don't have a team, there's not going to be much progress, if at all until they can gather funding and hire a new team. The new team will need some time to get trained or get used to their new positions, and how things are done at 3DR before the project moves forward again.

[breadtruck]

I think its semi-safe to say that DNF will never be a finished game.

I pretty much have accepted that as this whole debacle unfolded. Im not interested in silly psp or ds games, I wanted the big enchilada, DNF. Ultimately, I do not see it happening.

[MegaMustaine]

Originally Posted by naddie

I think you're correct on that one. 3DR should be able to continue work on DNF, but since they don't have a team, there's not going to be much progress, if at all until they can gather funding and hire a new team. The new team will need some time to get trained or get used to their new positions, and how things are done at 3DR before the project moves forward again.

They don't have an internal team to finish it, but they sure as hell could hand it out to someone else to finish, and George could definitely act in an advisement role.

[Caine]

a once awesome pc hero dies now in hands of his own creators, could he come back so strong once he was?
i doubt it.................

[jam287]

Duke is done if he stays in 3DR's hands. They have no money and no staff, there is nothing they can do but sell. The only things they can sell is the right to use Duke in other games which would mean there might be more Duke games (but hey I'm all for that) or they can sell DNF which I do not see them doing. I see them holding on to it forever and never letting it get finished and released.

Who really got boned though was 3DR's employees. Take Two was going to let them keep their jobs and finally ******* finish the game (which probably wouldn't happen at 3DR) so you know that DNF would have been in the best hands possible (but probably a little rushed...if you call 12 years rushed). But 3DR being the jealous idiots they are want Duke for themselves and don't want lots of money and would instead rather fire their employees when the economy is shitty and go broke and close down when they have no money and no other games or anything to fall back on. Whatever is left of 3DR now is going to end up in George's garage trying to make a shitty Duke game.

[Danule]

Originally Posted by naddie

I think you're correct on that one. 3DR should be able to continue work on DNF, but since they don't have a team, there's not going to be much progress, if at all until they can gather funding and hire a new team. The new team will need some time to get trained or get used to their new positions, and how things are done at 3DR before the project moves forward again.

haha by the time that happens the tech will be too old and they would have to re start again...