The Duke and I

[Antosa]

Originally Posted by Joe Siegler

In addition to their Prey cover story, Computer Games Magazine (in their May 2006 issue) had a small piece on Duke Nukem Forever, which they titled "The Duke and I". Here's some small quotes from George Broussard from this piece:

• 3D Realms' trademark sense of humor is still intact. "Duke is a man's man. He drinks He smokes. He enjoys women. Every other game that comes out is World War II or dead serious. Duke is about being the ultimate alien ass kicker".
• "We've been tech complete for a year. The last year has been making the game, putting the pieces together."

There are no screenshots with the article, but there is some more Duke goodness there for you to check out. Don't want to give away all the good bits here in this story (there's a cool bit where Tom Chick from CGM was asked for his email address).

Oh, and as usual... "When it's done".

For me the face of duke on the cover is in game image.

[Kalki]

Originally Posted by Antosa

For me the face of duke on the cover is in game image.

No, it's from old promotional material done for some other Duke game.

[MegaMustaine]

Originally Posted by Kalki

No, it's from old promotional material done for some other Duke game.

Duke Nukem D Day for PS2. Cancelled by the way.

[Asmodeusz]

I don't exactly understand the point of the Duke bit. The Prey article is preety interesting and a good read, but why drag Duke out of his cave right now? I mean it's obviously not hype. It's not anti-hype as someone suggested (because of the e-mail bit). It doesn't say it's close, nor that it is far from realease. After reading it I felt like nothing changed info/hype/game wise. That was quite frustrating. Maybe because of the limitations 3DR imposed as someone suggested, or maybe because of extremely poor journalism. Either way... frustrating.

[trackit]

about that email thingy... i just thought about it.... DNF shuld be the new operating system i would install it on my work computer and my boss cant say anything, caus i can make my work within DNF

[Ras]

"Will there be a linux port of Crysis?"

"We'll work on that as soon as we port it to DNF-OS."

Or ShadesOS, as it was called in the old Quake engine version.

[Kalki]

Heh- Crysis as a DNF minigame. Lol!

[General Failure]

Originally Posted by Asmodeusz

I don't exactly understand the point of the Duke bit. The Prey article is preety interesting and a good read, but why drag Duke out of his cave right now? I mean it's obviously not hype. It's not anti-hype as someone suggested (because of the e-mail bit). It doesn't say it's close, nor that it is far from realease. After reading it I felt like nothing changed info/hype/game wise. That was quite frustrating. Maybe because of the limitations 3DR imposed as someone suggested, or maybe because of extremely poor journalism. Either way... frustrating.

You have a point. However, the email-information does give us some pretty exciting information about the level of interaction to be expected. Wow!

[hell-angel]

Cool article.

Reading this I am certain that DNF will rock.

[Ras]

I don't exactly understand the point of the Duke bit. The Prey article is preety interesting and a good read, but why drag Duke out of his cave right now?

I think it's because they know Duke will be in the back of everyone's mind as they read the article, so they throw out a little progress report so people can get that out of the way and focus on Prey. In my case, all I really did was read the DNF part and look at the screenshots. From the little Joe quoted, there were too many spoilers in the main article for my taste. This is probably the same magazine that spoiled the twist in Quake 4, though Raven wasn't exactly shy about doing that themselves.

[Little Conqueror]

Don't you people read?!? He said to PM him, not flood the main thread with it, for God's sake.

[Zorgblub]

Hmm I don't know if it's allowed but http://www.nofrag.com/ check the image for the second news.

[Tim. Just Tim.]

Originally Posted by Asmodeusz

I don't exactly understand the point of the Duke bit. The Prey article is preety interesting and a good read, but why drag Duke out of his cave right now? I mean it's obviously not hype. It's not anti-hype as someone suggested (because of the e-mail bit). It doesn't say it's close, nor that it is far from realease. After reading it I felt like nothing changed info/hype/game wise. That was quite frustrating. Maybe because of the limitations 3DR imposed as someone suggested, or maybe because of extremely poor journalism. Either way... frustrating.

It seems that anytime Prey is mentioned anywhere, there is always a little side bubble accompanying it saying "Oh yea, and dont worry, DNF does exist and is still being worked on". The side bubble never talks about how duke looks, never gives real info on how far away it is, and really doesnt say much about anything except to reassure us that they are still working on it. To be honest I dont even know why they bother mentioning DNF at all. I thought 3dr's policy was to keep quiet until the big DNF-unveiling. This obviously wasnt it, so why an article that mentions DNF but doesnt give any real info?

[ReadOnly]

Yeah. And most of the people will say "WTF? DNF? Ha-ha". I'd rather wait for a full coverage of DNF than some tips from Prey's without information. (though, e-mail thing is quite interesting)

[NoLifeKing]

Actually it is quite refreshing to see a genuine official article instead of the usual semi-bogus hype stuff that happened to crop up here and there in various magazines without proper permission or official info by 3drealms.

Or maybe George & Co were just sick of that and decided to throw them magazines a bone, so they don't get any more funny ideas about posting random DNF stuff to attract readers, now that 3drealms is showered with more attention because of Prey.

Anyways, its good to see some light outside of the beloved Duke forums. ^_^

[Asmodeusz]

Originally Posted by General Failure

You have a point. However, the email-information does give us some pretty exciting information about the level of interaction to be expected. Wow!

GF - the e-mail thing, was a forum idea if I remember correctly, anyway I heard about it somewhere before. Although, yes, It is preety good news by itself - unfortunately not in the article context.

Originally Posted by Ras

I think it's because they know Duke will be in the back of everyone's mind as they read the article, so they throw out a little progress report so people can get that out of the way and focus on Prey. In my case, all I really did was read the DNF part and look at the screenshots.

Yeah I see. But that's still preety pointless. And I don't think they would do it on purpouse, simply because it drags the attention away from Prey (rhyme unintentional - sorry). About spoilers, that is one thing I hate. I am so greatful I didn't read nothing about Q4. And the twist surprised me! That was pleasant. It would more or less ruin the game knowing that.

Tim. Just Tim., that's exactly what I mean (damn I am a rapper now), if there's no real info - well it's just a pagefiller and it is not helping anyone. Not the fans nor 3DR.

[H.Smits]

"We've been tech complete for a year. The last year has been making the game, putting the pieces together."

isn't that something to be worried about ?

I mean, if you are tech complete for a year, and the game is still not done; so by the time it ships
it's more then a year tech complete. By that time, aren't graphics/tech out-dated ?

I'm not a graphicswhore or anything. But esp with shooters I like it when it looks realistic and stuff.
So I'm kinda worried, although it will probably be a good/cheap thing when it comes down to buying
new hardware to run the game

On a side note; I still think doom3 looks pretty sweet, and that game is almost 2 years old (the tech part).
So maybe there's nothing to worry about...

[Halcyon]

Interactivity with Computers in DNF? Yay, I always liked that in Sin and the E-Mail stuff sounds... just great.

[X-Vector]

The fans and 3DR are everyone?

[KaiserSoze]

Originally Posted by Asmodeusz

GF - the e-mail thing, was a forum idea if I remember correctly, anyway I heard about it somewhere before.

It was. We just don't know if 3dr had it in mind before it was suggested. A few people mentioned it in the interactivity threads. Thulsadoom came pretty close here:

"4 - Computers should be usable. Make them as incredibly basic as need be, but it'd be fun to go to a computer, and use the internet! (Even if there's only 4 'virtual' sites Duke can visit, or something daft!) It'd be good if Duke could maybe use email on a site, (Or as someone else stated, a webcam) to communicate with an NPC who can help, or perhaps access a central database for a map of the area or such."

[The Cacodemon]

Originally Posted by KaiserSoze

It was. We just don't know if 3dr had it in mind before it was suggested.

do you seriously think that 3dr could not come up with something as simple as that on their own??? i mean really...

[KaiserSoze]

Originally Posted by The Cacademon

do you seriously think that 3dr could not come up with something as simple as that on their own??? i mean really...

"We just don't know if 3dr had it in mind before it was suggested."

[SyntaxN]

The picture with the Duke logo above the article looks like it could be a ingame texture imho

[DavoX]

Originally Posted by SyntaxN

The picture with the Duke logo above the article looks like it could be a ingame texture imho

No, it looks horrible and unrealistic.

[trackit]

Originally Posted by KaiserSoze

It was. We just don't know if 3dr had it in mind before it was suggested.

get a brain

[The Cacodemon]

Originally Posted by KaiserSoze

"We just don't know if 3dr had it in mind before it was suggested."

you've got to be kidding.. of course they did.. as i said before, do you really think they can't think of something as simple as that?

and even so, what does it matter???

[KaiserSoze]

Originally Posted by The Cacodemon

you've got to be kidding.. of course they did.. as i said before, do you really think they can't think of something as simple as that?

and even so, what does it matter???

I you.

[The Cacodemon]

Originally Posted by KaiserSoze

I you.

that means i am right. thank you.

[KaiserSoze]

Originally Posted by The Cacodemon

that means i am right. thank you.

No problem. You feel better?

[Micki!]

Phew, i almost thought this would result in another fight about the right/wrong opinions, and therefor resulting in a lock...

[TomChick]

Hi guys,

Firstly, could you please not distribute scans of the article? Computer Games Magazine is a small indepedent publication that relies on sales. Passing around scans hurts the magazine the same way pirating a game hurts an independent developer.

Secondly, I'd like to sincerely apologize to George if he feels I misrepresented anything. I was honored to get to meet the him and Scott Miller, and I was particularly honored be able to see what they were showing of DNF. I meant no disrespect with any comments about George looking at the index cards; instead, I intended it to be a sort of endearing detail. My bad if it didn't come across that way.

Third, the point of the email thing at the end was that it was how a lot of us feel about DNF in a microcosm: we're impatient and demanding and quick to dismiss it, but in the end, it's most likely going to come through. BTW, it's worth noting that there's no guarantee the email thing will be in the final game. I was just an example of one of the many experimental things I was shown and I was using it to make a point.

Finally, I'd be happy to answer questions, but a lot of what I saw -- and I saw quite a bit -- was shown to me in confidence. The whole point of the sidebar was to be an aside that Duke is indeed in progress. I was mainly there to do the cover story on Prey, but George was kind enough to take about an hour to show me how DNF is coming along.

-Tom

[KaiserSoze]

Originally Posted by TomChick

Hi guys,



Secondly, I'd like to sincerely apologize to George if he feels I misrepresented anything. I was honored to get to meet the him and Scott Miller, and I was particularly honored be able to see what they were showing of DNF. I meant no disrespect with any comments about George looking at the index cards; instead, I intended it to be a sort of endearing detail. My bad if it didn't come across that way.

Third, the point of the email thing at the end was that it was how a lot of us feel about DNF in a microcosm: we're impatient and demanding and quick to dismiss it, but in the end, it's most likely going to come through. BTW, it's worth noting that there's no guarantee the email thing will be in the final game. I was just an example of one of the many experimental things I was shown and I was using it to make a point.

Finally, I'd be happy to answer questions, but a lot of what I saw -- and I saw quite a bit -- was shown to me in confidence. The whole point of the sidebar was to be an aside that Duke is indeed in progress. I was mainly there to do the cover story on Prey, but George was kind enough to take about an hour to show me how DNF is coming along.

-Tom

I don't think you have to apologize for anything Tom. BTW, glad to see you here.

I think you summed it up best by stating most of us can be impatient, demanding and quick to judge. That's what I meant when I said your article felt "disconnected".

I see you have no private messaging so I'll just go ahead and ask: Where you told by 3dr/George not to mention specifics about how the game looks/the graphics engine. If not, how does it look in general?

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by H.Smits

"We've been tech complete for a year. The last year has been making the game, putting the pieces together."

isn't that something to be worried about ?

I mean, if you are tech complete for a year, and the game is still not done; so by the time it ships
it's more then a year tech complete. By that time, aren't graphics/tech out-dated ?

It's completely normal for an engine to be completed at least a year before the game ships. Otherwise the artists don't have solid tech base to build on, and the programmers can't focus on final optimisations.

This is how it was for the Doom 3 engine, and in fact broadly speaking Doom 3's tech level was the same across its 3 - 4 year development cycle. In the case of Half-Life 2, Valve loked the engine 2 years before the game finally shipped. Really what you see as "cutting edge" technology is years old.

[TomChick]

Kaiser, it's not so much that I was told what I can and can't write, but that the demo was given in confidence. There was a lot of stuff I would have loved to talk about, and it was really gratifying to see the same creative energy that drove Duke 3D is still very much in effect. But none of it was final and 3DR understandably doesn't want to commit to specific features, screenshots, and so forth. Instead, they agreed that we could run a sidebar (i.e. a short article accompanying the Prey cover story) pointing out the the game is indeed in development.

As for the engine, I don't think anyone at 3DR would mind me saying that they're doing some impressive stuff.

-Tom

[Micki!]

Hi Tom, and welcome to our forums... Enjoy your stay...

Anyways, I agree with Kaiser that you shouldn't apologize for anything...
I really liked the preview of Prey... Althoguh, it revealed quite a bit, which i hope won't affect me much when i see the game... (spoilers can be so hard at times )

Anyways, about the questions... Did you see any weapons, and perhaps even in action..? If so, which did you see..?!
That counts for kicking too...

[trackit]

Originally Posted by KaiserSoze

I don't think you have to apologize for anything Tom. BTW, glad to see you here.

I think you summed it up best by stating most of us can be impatient, demanding and quick to judge. That's what I meant when I said your article felt "disconnected".

I see you have no private messaging so I'll just go ahead and ask: Where you told by 3dr/George not to mention specifics about how the game looks/the graphics engine. If not, how does it look in general?

i dont think he will risk his life it would be nice though if he did

[X-Vector]

I still don't understand what the point of the DNF exposure is; 3DR have always maintained that the game is development in progress (meaning that, yes, it's being worked on) and neither this mini-article nor that in last year's PCG Prey preview contains any new info worthy of note that I can see.

I understand that for the magazine the mention of DNF is an attention grabber, but I can't fathom what 3DR's motivation is in this respect; they continue to compromise the media blackout invoked years ago with exposure that is clearly unfit to repair their tarnished reputation in the public eye.

The only thing I personally get out of your report (in which I see nothing that you would have to apologise for, BTW) is another confirmation that the excessive optimism of some fans here is at the very least a bit premature.

[Dennis]

Originally Posted by X-Vector

I still don't understand what the point of the DNF exposure is; 3DR have always maintained that the game is development in progress (meaning that, yes, it's being worked on) and neither this mini-article nor that in last year's PCG Prey preview contains any new info worthy of note that I can see.

I understand that for the magazine the mention of DNF is an attention grabber, but I can't fathom what 3DR's motivation is in this respect; they continue to compromise the media blackout invoked years ago with exposure that is clearly unfit to repair their tarnished reputation in the public eye.

The only thing I personally get out of your report (in which I see nothing that you would have to apologise for, BTW) is another confirmation that the excessive optimism of some fans here is at the very least a bit premature.

Yes, but I think the build of DNF that was shown could be more than a year old. Perhaps he has not seen DNF at all, it could be all experimental stuff, just idea's they tried out. They are capable of misleading everyone, also the press.

[TomChick]

Anyways, about the questions... Did you see any weapons, and perhaps even in action..? If so, which did you see..?!

Oops, I might have been unclear Micki. What I was trying to say was that I'd be happy to answer any questions, but the stuff I saw was showed to me in confidence, so I can't really talk about specifics.

But to respond in a more general way, yes, much of the stuff you're talking about is up and running. Sorry to be a tease, but I think you guys will be pretty excited when 3DR is ready to talk more specifically about those things.

-Tom

[TomChick]

I understand that for the magazine the mention of DNF is an attention grabber, but I can't fathom what 3DR's motivation is in this respect

X-Vector, I can't speak for 3DR, but I suspect it has to do with the fact that whenever a 3DR game is discussed, Duke Nuken Forever is sort of like an elephant in the room.

I was going to spend the afternoon at their studios seeing Prey, and I'm sure they know everyone is wondering about DNF. So rather than ignore the elephant in the room, they decided to let me have an informal look. Yet they're not ready to talk specifics yet, so what's the compromise? The sidebar in the magazine is how it turned out.

-Tom