Duke Nukem Developer Closes Down

3D Realms, a popular and seasoned games developer has shut down due to a lack of funds. The company, founded in 1987, took the concept of shareware gaming and made it popular and then went on to create and publish the popular games Wolfenstein 3D and Duke Nukem. 3D Realms was working on a follow up title to Duke Nukem, entitled Duke Nukem Forever which has been in development for over 12 years and has since become the cause of ridicule in the gaming industry.

Take-Two, publisher of the game, has decided to no longer fund the game’s development but still holds rights to the game’s title. Take-Two’s Alan Lewis reported in a statement “We can confirm that our relationship with 3D Realms for Duke Nukem Forever was a publishing arrangement, which did not include ongoing funds for the development of the title.”

3D Realms has yet to release an official comment about the situation aside from a post by webmaster of 3D Realms Joe Siegler which was found on a forum. Siegler stated “It’s not a marketing thing. It’s true. I have nothing further to say at this time.” Other companies who had close links to 3D Realms took the same path as Take-Two and put some distance between themselves and 3D Realms very quickly.

Apogee Software said in one of their Twitter posts that they were “officially not affected by the situation at 3D Realms.” They also said that “development of the game is continuing as planned and further announcements about upcoming games will be made in the near future.”

Steve Boxer, a writer for Guardian Newspaper Games said “It is astonishing 3D Realms has not finished the game after more than a decade of development. It would have been nice to see another Duke Nukem game, but given they had more than 12 years it’s just incompetence of the highest order. 3D Realms made some great games in the past, but they got overtaken by the 21st century. Sadly, Duke Nukem Forever was most aptly named title in the history of games. Now, it’s just Duke Nukem Never.”

Many people have been talking and anticipating the release of Duke Nukem Forever and it is sad to see that their wish may never come true. But really, taking so long to make a game is a little absurd, especially in the fast paced society we live in today. Yet some people still hold out hope for the game, and it is those dedicated people that just might see this gme through to the end.

written by: Zack Duncan