Rumor: Gearbox Reviving Duke Nukem Forever

[Valdsator]

There was a thread about it on The Escapist, and most of the people reacted with, "WUUUUUT," or, "WOOOO!"

Some did say Duke needs to die, though, but not many. :P

[WarThrash]

I guess it doesn't matter. When all is said and done Duke Forever will sell depending on whether or not it's actually fun to play. What saddens me is that the demand for great Sci-Fi shooters have certainly slumped over the years. No one's interested as much in the games like Wolfenstein or Quake anymore, and it all seems modern war games are all the rage these days. Just look at Singularity. I don't think I ever saw one tv or internet ad for it whatsoever. Oh but Modern Warfare's new map pack was getting plenty of rep.

[Onebullit]

Originally Posted by JobivanHiob

A:CM vs DNF flameware anyone?!

I think 6 months hype befor release is absolutely the max. We're talking DNF here...I'm sure Take 2 is shooting for a shorter and more intense marketing cycle. Lets say 3-5 months.

Free copy for Mr. SuperOptimist is on the way.
Actually i don't think DNF will come out this year. But strongly think it can
beween mid june and begin july 2011.

[Kristian Joensen]

Originally Posted by Onebullit

Free copy for Mr. SuperOptimist is on the way.
Actually i don't think DNF will come out this year. But strongly think it can
beween mid june and begin july 2011.

That is a fairly specific guess!!!

[Theseus314]

I suspect this is true.

The 1997 trailer of DNF was a catalyst for me getting into level design, and later on doing that professionally. It would be wrong for the game not to get finished.

[Damien_Azreal]

Originally Posted by WarThrash

I've been reading comments on Gamespot about the news. The reaction is certainly...mixed. I can't tell if people are mostly happy that there may be more Duke news soon or if they most people are just plain fed up with it all. Every other comment is "Let Duke die already" or "The King lives!".

Originally Posted by Water12356

Pretty much.

Yeah.
There's a lot of negativity around the title at this point. Sad... but it was bound to happen actually.

[nebiatsu]

@ Kristian Joensen:

Yeah, no doubt.

If I had to guess what HIS guess was, I would say July 4th.

[JobivanHiob]

Originally Posted by Onebullit

Free copy for Mr. SuperOptimist is on the way.
Actually i don't think DNF will come out this year. But strongly think it can
beween mid june and begin july 2011.

you still need my address. I will give you when the time is right.

[Onebullit]

Originally Posted by JobivanHiob

you still need my address. I will give you when the time is right.

aaaahhh.... The Right T!me.
I think you will never need to give me your adress.
There is not enough time to finish and release the game properly i think. If they want to release it before 2011 they have a small 5 months left. Thats not enough imo. Like i said before ...... Mid June Begin July 2011 would be a perfect time.

[Jackhole]

Originally Posted by KaiserSoze

True.

I believe.

[Blubberblubs]

All I say is: Always bet on Duke!

[marioman360]

Damnit, what's the source of this rumor? If it was Jobi again, i think ill rip my hair out of my skull!

But yeah; Always Bet on Duke!

[JobivanHiob]

No i wasn't. Although i got quite famous in here i don't think a gaming website like kotaku would take me as a real source!
I think it was either one of heads of 3DR, a gearbox employee or someone from Take 2.
Although I would think if it was a gearbox employee he had the go from Randy, Scott or George.

Update:
Interesting is that Kotaku mentions: "sources" so it could be a coordinated info leak from high aboth: Gearbox, 3DR and Take 2.

[3rdmillhouse]

Originally Posted by The Dukenator

http://kotaku.com/5609770/rumor-bord...-nukem-forever


I call this bullshit, what do you think?

There you have it.

[Kristian Joensen]

Originally Posted by JobivanHiob

No i wasn't. Although i got quite famous in here i don't think a gaming website like kotaku would take me as a real source!
I think it was either one of heads of 3DR, a gearbox employee or someone from Take 2.
Although I would think if it was a gearbox employee he had the go from Randy, Scott or George.

Update:
Interesting is that Kotaku mentions: "sources" so it could be a coordinated info leak from high aboth: Gearbox, 3DR and Take 2.

Uhh, probably not. It is usual for news organisations like that to check up with multiple sources. If GBX, 3DR and T2 wanted us all to know about this right now they could, I don't know just announce it? Wow, what a briliant idea I should win a nobel prize for that

[marioman360]

Originally Posted by JobivanHiob

Update:
Interesting is that Kotaku mentions: "sources" so it could be a coordinated info leak from high aboth: Gearbox, 3DR and Take 2.

If they were getting the information from those companies, even if they wished to remain anonymous, there is no way in hell that they'd classify this news story as a rumor.

[JobivanHiob]

Maybe it's part of the great marketing plan. DNF is known for rumours, so why not start it with one?

---------- Post added at 01:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:00 AM ----------

Originally Posted by marioman360

If they were getting the information from those companies, even if they wished to remain anonymous, there is no way in hell that they'd classify this news story as a rumor.

what if they were asked to call it a rumor? Maybe Kotaku got some cookies for doing so, or even a DNF preview in the future.

[Water12356]

Originally Posted by JobivanHiob

Maybe it's part of the great marketing plan. DNF is known for rumours, so why not start it with one?

Jobi... I wouldn't go there if I was you.

[Kristian Joensen]

Originally Posted by marioman360

If they were getting the information from those companies, even if they wished to remain anonymous, there is no way in hell that they'd classify this news story as a rumor.

Often when stories have headlines "Rumor:" they then go on to mention something like "sources at the company are telling us that 30 people were laid off last night" or whatever. So yeah, anything that is not a press release
or official confirmed by the high ups will be labeled as a rumor.

Edit:

Someone who apparently works in the industry posted this as a comment to the Shacknews article about this:

http://www.shacknews.com/laryn.x?id=23699624#itemanchor_23699624

[conantheking]

<i>Gearbox Software president Randy Pitchford declined to comment to Kotaku on the matter, indicating that he may be able to better clarify the situation further at this year's Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle.</i>

This is what adds substance, why not just deny the rumour and say no? It's not like you can't say that if it really is a rumour. There's something going on, it might not be they are continuing DNF, but Gearbox have something to do with Duke Nukem that they just can't say right now.

[Angelo86]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7W78lKWAUY

[Conan of Cooma]

Originally Posted by JobivanHiob

Although i got quite famous in here...

The Language Barrier strikes again.

Although you are well known on these forums, it's not in a loving "you're awesome and we love your work" kind of way.

There is a massive difference between FAMOUS and INFAMOUS, and no, not in the Ned Nederlander kind of way.

[KO Gilligan]

Either Kotaku got their information from Jobi....

or

DNF at PAX, SHOCK AND AWESOME!!!


and it's great fun seeing somebody get all mad and worked up over this because of some stinky Alien game.
/EMO ITSJUSTARUMORDAMMMMMIT





---------- Post added at 10:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:25 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Angelo86

Jobi-Wan Kenobi for president!





---



holy s#it!!!!!!111!!!!

and think about it: A release between February... and May?
Unlikely.

I'd love to see this get announced as "it's finished" with a Christmas 2010 release

Now that would be some serious shock and awe.

[conantheking]

Originally Posted by marioman360

Damnit, what's the source of this rumor? If it was Jobi again, i think ill rip my hair out of my skull!

But yeah; Always Bet on Duke!

Wait, what? What happened? >_>

[KO Gilligan]

Originally Posted by conantheking

Wait, what? What happened? >_>

I know it sounds impossible, but we were just hoping Jobi's shennanigans are not somehow the indirect source of Kotaku's rumor.

It really would be so damn funny, that I wouldn't be upset.

[Damien_Azreal]

It wouldn't be the first time a game site has reported DNF news just because some random rumor started here got out.

[Delicieuxz]

Ugh, I really don't think Gearbox have the spark to make a quality Duke game. Anyways, the response from Randy Pitchford makes it pretty clear that they're involved somehow, and that something is indeed being done.

[BloodWolf806]

This is the most legit sounding Duke rumor in years.

Everything makes sense.

Also, remember when there were rumors swirling around that Gearbox was developing a Halo game? Randy Pitchford flat out denied it. Now there's a rumor that DNF is being completed at Gearbox, and Pitchford's response is "No comment".

[MusicallyInspired]

You guys are all assuming that Gearbox really has much work to do on DNF if they indeed have it. I doubt they'll be doing anything more than finalising some things and beta testing. Plus, there are a handful of ex-3DR employees from the DNF team working at Gearbox now. So what work they do put into it one could assume with a reasonable amount of certainty that it would probably be mostly worked on by them.

This is all conjecture, of course. But it is reasonable...

[KO Gilligan]

Originally Posted by MusicallyInspired

You guys are all assuming that Gearbox really has much work to do on DNF if they indeed have it. I doubt they'll be doing anything more than finalising some things and beta testing. Plus, there are a handful of ex-3DR employees from the DNF team working at Gearbox now. So what work they do put into it one could assume with a reasonable amount of certainty that it would probably be mostly worked on by them.

This is all conjecture, of course. But it is reasonable...

You are absolutely correct. The crowd here always assumes that the game is still only partially through development, when we were already told "cutting is shipping", indications that the console porting was underway... and several other things which indicated it was very near completion. Those guys at Gearbox who came from 3DR are financially tied to it, along with other developers written into the profitshare....

People who think George could somehow just let them go, and axe their bonuses, are on crack. That's how ignorant people are here. Those developers will see it through, and others on the original team will also benefit.

There is a lot riding on this. A lot from 3DR, a lot from T2, and a lot from individual interests who have been assured profit share.

If you think this game is not coming soon, or even better yet, (ahem) prolifically posted BS posts that said this game would not come out at all.... you just need stop bashing 3DRealms long enough to pull your deeply inserted head out of your posterior.

[Youngerthanold]

Or am I the only one that didnt see this until now?

" Gearbox reps had not responded to requests for comment, but Take-Two offered the following statement: "While it is the company's policy not to comment on rumors or speculation, we can confirm that Take-Two maintains the publishing rights for Duke Nukem Forever." "

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6273150.html

[cof_3pc]

Ah, so many factors involved, and so little information. Speculation sucks.

[KO Gilligan]

Originally Posted by Damien_Azreal

It wouldn't be the first time a game site has reported DNF news just because some random rumor started here got out.

That's why I immediately noted that this was Kotaku.... they are not just one of those other game sites, like shack news.

[Youngerthanold]

Originally Posted by cof_3pc

Ah, so many factors involved, and so little information. Speculation sucks.

Very true man.

On another hand, this seems legit! I don't think I've been this excited about Duke Nukem since the 2001 trailer, or the 2007

[gamerfreak]

Originally Posted by Montykoro!

Need a very simple Yes or No from GB....


Answer From GB

Damn good song.

[KO Gilligan]

Originally Posted by Youngerthanold

Or am I the only one that didnt see this until now?

" Gearbox reps had not responded to requests for comment, but Take-Two offered the following statement: "While it is the company's policy not to comment on rumors or speculation, we can confirm that Take-Two maintains the publishing rights for Duke Nukem Forever." "

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6273150.html

edit ----------------------------THREAD MERGED ---------------------------

Just read it in the Kotaku thread, maybe you missed it.

But I had speculated a while ago that Take2 might still have the rights, and therefore the control on information (the reason why George and Scott can say nothing about the title specifically).

[TJR]

Originally Posted by KO Gilligan

Those guys at Gearbox who came from 3DR are financially tied to it, along with other developers written into the profitshare....

The guys who transferred to Gearbox quit in 2006.

By convention, employees forfeit any rights to royalties once they leave a company. Profit sharing is their incentive to see a project through to completion (think about why the original team stuck it out for so long even in light of a never ending dev cycle), as well as to remain on staff after. Even people like Randy Pitchford and Levelord gave up their shares when they quit.

It's possible that if an original team member were reassigned to DNF, they'd be promised a piece of the pie. However, that would be based on a new arrangement with Gearbox and not the original one with 3DR.

As for the developers who were let go last year, who knows? Their contracts with 3DR ended, so there's probably no obligation to include them, although it would be a nice (if unlikely) gesture.

[KO Gilligan]

Originally Posted by TJR

As for the developers who were let go last year, who knows? Their contracts with 3DR ended, so there's probably no obligation to include them, although it would be a nice (if unlikely) gesture.

Who knows?

Do you think you can lay off a development team and then deny them the contract profit share on the product they worked on?

This is exactly what I was talking about

As far as the ones who resigned - what do you know about the original agreement and resignation??? Convention ??? Wrong. Bet those who continue have interest - Bet those who resign and do not continue (yet not who I was talking about) have not lost all interest.


and these two are there too ... do you know that there are no more?

Richard Huenink(Late 2006 or so until layoffs in May 2009) former DNF Lead Designer, John Anderson(3DR Level Designer 1997-2009)

and it doesn't make my point about vested interest any less valid - there is a lot of individuals who were promised profitshare - guarantee they have tangible interest.

Whatever man...I just think you want to argue about it.

and as far as "nice gestures" go. Ummm , hate to tell you this but "nice gestures" are not just "unlikely" - it's more like they NEVER HAPPEN.

DNF is on the way - perhaps 2010, perhaps 2011... It will come out soon - otherwise you would not have seen all these things play out this way.

Sorry if you are disgruntled about a game you were expecting sooner - I know better than to sit here and call George names, or to ignorantly claim that he is the laughing stock of the game making community, and I know better than to accuse 3DRealms of defrauding their employees of earnings... 3DRealms is the way they are for a reason. **** it - go buy your games from EA if you don't like it.

[terrannova]

Gearbox did Half-Life: Opposing Force, Halo: Combat Evolved PC, and Borderlands: PC. Duke is in good hands.

[pjVgt]

Cool down guys - we had this rumor that gearbox works on dnf for about a year right now. I have nothing against it, but because no one can confirm it then the rumor is obviously untrue.

What is much more valuable information is that DNF will be still published by T2. We also know DNF is still the property of 3DR. What we are sure? DNF stuck in limbo for eternity.