How serious is the storyline going to be?

[kingjolly]

As we all know, Duke 3d was known for its humour. With funny references from Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Doom, and more, it was hard to take duke 3d seriously.

Do you think that 3drealms should cool down with the humour in DNF and create a serious,immersive and believable story for DNF? Should the game have complex characters that you can share special connections with?

In my opinion, I think DNF can have a little humour, but it shouldnt be so over the top that it makes the whole game feel like a comedy.I would like the player to be drawn into a huge epic plot, in which he feels for the people he's trying to protect.

At the end of the day, Duke Nukem is a savior that is commited on saving Earth from an alien invation. Perhaps a messianic approach should be explored with the character of duke.

Bottomline, DNF should be serious.

Your thoughts?

[evanazzo]

I think it should be serious when it needs to be and funny when ever it can be

[Ramen4ever]

I would prefer a serious game as well, one look at the aliens/monsters and we already know that this game wont be a comedy. Humor should only be used to defuse a tense or hopeless situation. Duke's one liners have always been sufficient in that perspective. To everyone else it's the end of the world, for Duke it's just a walk in the park.

[Kalki]

I'd love for it to be serious.

[vcatkiller]

Serious, yes. Though with Duke's spin on it of course. Nothing like a good ol' one liner to stop the situation from becoming too tense.

[Danule]

i agree, serious, but have dukes brand of dry humor in there.

[Nihilanth]

I actually don't understand. Duke3D was serious, it had references and easter eggs but overally it was serious. I wouldn't mind DNF going down the similiar route.

[peoplessi]

Originally Posted by Kalki

I'd love for it to be serious.

...to a certain extent, if you try to be dead serious with Duke Nukem it will backfire pretty soon, fine balance.

[Hudson]

It's supernaturally super-serious, seriously.

To be honest if it's not like Duke3d I'm going to be pissed, the pseudo-story and nonstop action and humor is all that matters in a Duke Nukem game.

DNF does not have to be a HL2.

[Malgon]

It has to be the right blend of serious vs. humour, otherwise it ends up to be some generic horror type game or to comical and cheesy and I don't think people want DNF to be like either of them. The enemies and locations should be darker in tone, and to contrast that is the Duke being a badass, and busting out a one liner at the right moment to break that tension imo.

That's a lot to wish for I guess.

[alexgk]

Just a little bit more than it was on DN3D. A few plot twists here and there and listo. Of course Duke's actions must have consequences (not in a Mass Effect way).

[rockmanekuzu8]

Well yes It should be serious and funny evenly. However the people will treat him as a REAL SUPER HERO not as a Messiah or something of that nature.

[Psyrgery]

A good balance between humor and serious for DNF should be a mix between Prey and DN3D, IMHO.

I think serious all the way and just Duke too lighten the mood

[trackit]

I think that there is not only 2 options, dead serious or funny comedy. A lot of action films are "serious" but you can laugh pretty much too. I think this is how DNF will be. I dont want it to be some soap opera melodrama I dont see anything wrong with Duke blasting seriously some alien ass and saying some funny onliners and making jokes along the way.

[jagguar20]

Yep, like Die Hard...

[Joe Siegler]

You'll find out when it's released. Story and plot are things we're not likely to talk about as to not ruin anything. Of course George could go and post everything just to prove I don't know what I'm talking about <g>, but I doubt you'll be seeing much from us about this.

[Nihilanth]

Originally Posted by Joe Siegler

Story and plot are things we're not likely to talk about as to not ruin anything. (...) I doubt you'll be seeing much from us about this.

I'm delighted to hear that.

[mysteryperfecta]

I think that Duke3d was moderately serious. The irreverant pop culture references and occasional Duke smartass remark are memorable enough to inflate their affect on the tone of the game, at least as many people remember it.

In that regard, Duke3d wasn't, and DNF cannot really be, serious in the way HL2 is serious. Part of this is the fantastical elements (e.g. pigcops), and it's also due to the fact that people don't take Duke seriously (and feel that Duke doesn't take matters seriously). 3dr would be wise not to mess with people's perceptions. Those irreverant pop culture references and smartass remarks are what distinguish Duke from other FPSs, however little they actually appear in the game.

[Antikorper]

I am quite sure we know alot of the plot already... Guns, aliens, babes and Duke. I am quite sure that is the plot

[Monkey Butler]

Originally Posted by trackit

I think that there is not only 2 options, dead serious or funny comedy. A lot of action films are "serious" but you can laugh pretty much too. I think this is how DNF will be.

Originally Posted by jagguar20

Yep, like Die Hard...

+100000000

[rockmanekuzu8]

Originally Posted by Joe Siegler

You'll find out when it's released. Story and plot are things we're not likely to talk about as to not ruin anything. Of course George could go and post everything just to prove I don't know what I'm talking about <g>, but I doubt you'll be seeing much from us about this.

Won't we get information on the story and plot when you release the next trailer hopefully this year? We are getting ready for more killer DNF Media, and STAYING TUNED...

[jagguar20]

Originally Posted by Monkey Butler

+100000000

I really liked how Die Hard mixed the seriousness and humor, the whole plot is terrifying (who the heck wants to get taken as a hostage by some phsycos!) but Bruce Willis' talk makes the thing also funny, like the part when he kills the 1st guy and sends him down the lift with a note "I have a machinegun now " or his one liners.

Duke Nukem Forever should be like that IMO.

[rockmanekuzu8]

Originally Posted by jagguar20

I really liked how Die Hard mixed the seriousness and humor, the whole plot is terrifying (who the heck wants to get taken as a hostage by some phsycos!) but Bruce Willis' talk makes the thing also funny, like the part when he kills the 1st guy and sends him down the lift with a note "I have a machinegun now " or his one liners.

Duke Nukem Forever should be like that IMO.

It will and better.

[Skiffer]

Originally Posted by jagguar20

like the part when he kills the 1st guy and sends him down the lift with a note "I have a machinegun now "

Actually, he dressed him up in Santa gear, and the note said "HO HO HO. Now I have a machine gun". Funny and threatening at the same time. Terrorists were like "Shit, we got a maniac on the loose."

[vcatkiller]

I remember that. The "Ho ho ho" thing set it off nicely.

[JobivanHiob]

oh yeah a Die Harded humor in DNF would be killer!

No storyline at all IMHO is the best . "Kill the aliens" is more than enough. I can't get serious any story about aliens(I'm talking about the games - books and movies are different thing).

[Malgon]

Originally Posted by Joe Siegler

You'll find out when it's released. Story and plot are things we're not likely to talk about as to not ruin anything. Of course George could go and post everything just to prove I don't know what I'm talking about <g>, but I doubt you'll be seeing much from us about this.

It's reassuring in some way that you (3DRealms) aren't going to bomb us with every little detail before DNF's release. Too many times games are spoiled whether by my own fault, or just the fact that information for them is plastered all over the place. I'd like to be genuinely surprised by at least some things in DNF.

[vcatkiller]

Yeah, I remember the "surprise plot twist" in Quake 4 being plastered everywhere way before the game was released. Would've been more interesting if they held their cards to their chest and let the player find out by themselves. It's much more interesting that way.

[Danule]

Originally Posted by DukePatso

No storyline at all IMHO is the best . "Kill the aliens" is more than enough. I can't get serious any story about aliens(I'm talking about the games - books and movies are different thing).

if you dont want to a story line than go play galaga, this is 2008 dude.

[Reaper]

Yes, I do think a storyline with characters that Duke can interact with is paramount. The comedy should be sparse, but still there. It should be a little more humorous than "park my bricks," though. Hopefully it's cranked up to "shit my lungs out" level in some parts.

[Malgon]

Originally Posted by vcatkiller

Yeah, I remember the "surprise plot twist" in Quake 4 being plastered everywhere way before the game was released. Would've been more interesting if they held their cards to their chest and let the player find out by themselves. It's much more interesting that way.

I thought that was a poor decision on their behalf too. Developers need for gamers to be aware of their products, but giving them significant portions that will ultimately kill that sense of wonderment is just going overboard with it all imo.

Originally Posted by Danule

if you dont want to a story line than go play galaga, this is 2008 dude.

So what's a story line for you? Half-Life? The whole plot of Half-Life series can be written on not more than 1-2 pages. The same as Rocky

[vcatkiller]

But at least it is a story line. I agree some games can get a little story heavy, but a game with no story at all isn't a terribly good idea. You might as well suggest making the whole game a single giant room filled with enemies.

[djc23]

It doesn't need a convoluted story line but something solid in a well realised world, populated with characters that make an impression. Basically a HL2 approach to story telling but with more of a 'Die-Hard' sensiblilty when it comes to the world and characters. Any humor in the game should come from Duke's attitude and view of things. Keep the goofy pop-culture references confined to the secret areas.

[Malgon]

^Nicely put.

[Tim. Just Tim.]

I think the story and environment and everything should be absolutely 100% serious. Ok maybe 99% serious. With the beautiful engine and no doubt terrific story and all the work theyve put into it, I think it would ruin it to try and make it a goofy game. The only thing thats humourus should be Duke himself. He makes lighthearted cracks about extremely serious situations, which makes the cracks seem that much finnier. Its like trying not to laugh in church.. the extreme un-funnyness of the situation makes everything seem that much funnier.

[JobivanHiob]

so we can all agree that we want a die hard kind of humor for DNF!

[Maruno]

That's good, because we already have a Duke model that looks like Bruce Willis. :P

Duke Nukem Forever : Die Screaming With Sharp Things In Your Head