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Duke Nukem Not Out In 2003, Manhunt, GTA, More..

Posted by simoniker on from the take-several-pills-and-sit-down dept.

Thanks to several readers for pointing out Take Two's financial results for Q2 2003, as the owner of the Rockstar, Gotham Games, and Gathering labels had a 58 percent increase in profit, largely due to Rockstar's massive Grand Theft Auto franchise and the new Midnight Club 2. The accompanying earnings conference call had a question about Duke Nukem Forever coming out in 2003, which the CEO answered: "for this holiday season.. no.. we're just hopeful that the team in Dallas will finish it." Also trailed was "a significant Xbox game" from Rockstar to release in Q1 2004 (GTA, anyone?), and that one of Gathering's (PC?) titles is using the Halo engine. Finally, there was another mention of Rockstar North's mysterious Manhunt - an even darker, more twisted game from the GTA developers?

42 comments

  1. Is Duke Nuke Em Forever Real? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I see this as a common vaporware joke, but was it actually a game in the works or just an internet rumor ?

    1. Re:Is Duke Nuke Em Forever Real? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Supposedly it's in the works. There are screenshots from 1999 and E3 videos. It seems that George Broussard, the project manager for the whole thing, wastes more time posting on the 3DRealms forums than actually working on DNF.

      I smell a Daikatana.

    2. Re:Is Duke Nuke Em Forever Real? by Violet+Null · · Score: 4, Interesting

      It's actually in the works. Has been, since, uh 1997 (almost six years so far, and counting!) The webpage is here.

      The DNF team started work with the Quake I engine, dumped it for the Quake II engine, dumped it for the Unreal engine...not sure what they're working on now, but it better not be the Unreal engine (the original one; not UT or UT23k), as that'd be hideously ancient by now too.

      Still no release date set. But we're assured that they're still working on it.

    3. Re:Is Duke Nuke Em Forever Real? by IanBevan · · Score: 3, Funny

      I think they dumped all those engines for a V6, and are now headed out of town as quick as possible.

      --
      Never, ever lose a file again. Ever.
    4. Re:Is Duke Nuke Em Forever Real? by J_DarkElf · · Score: 1

      I thought the Unreal Engine was always supposed to be the current engine?

      At least the developers made statements of that matter before. But I think DNF is using its own engine, that would explain why it is taking ages to develop.

    5. Re:Is Duke Nuke Em Forever Real? by Randy+Pitchford · · Score: 5, Informative

      I was working at 3dRealms when Duke Nukem Forever began development. I left the company in May of 1998. Before licensing the Quake 1 engine, Allen Blum and Dirk Jones had begun prototyping some things in a iterated version of BUILD - that stuff was pretty cool at the time. Prior to that, when Apogee was still working with external developers and the shareware model, there was even a Duke Nukem side scroller in development, being produced by Keith Schuller, it was brilliantly named: Duke Nukem 4-ever. In any case, I, like everyone else, is just waiting for official information. The last Duke Nukem 3d mission I designed at 3dRealms was called "Area 51" - it was the secret mission in the fourth Episode (Atomic Edition). Last I heard, Las Vegas and the business with aliens around Area 51 was central to the Duke Nukem Forever story. So, I'm probably a bit more curious than most to see what comes out. But, think about it for a moment... Since inevitable comparisons to Valve will be made - remember that HL2's "Source" is very likely Valve's eventual reconstruction and iteration of technology they once licensed from id Software. Given that 3dRealms certainly has to be doing something and given that they have been working on DNF with an Unreal engine since before Half-Life had shipped, they may be just as distant from their foundation as Valve is. Ok, back to Halo PC...

    6. Re:Is Duke Nuke Em Forever Real? by amuro98 · · Score: 1

      Better yet, does anyone actually care anymore?

      And since when is "Duke nukem forever" not being released considered NEWS?

      Makes me sort of wish Slashdot let the readers grade the stories. This one would get a "-1, redundant" for sure.

    7. Re:Is Duke Nuke Em Forever Real? by ivan256 · · Score: 1

      Given that 3dRealms certainly has to be doing something and given that they have been working on DNF with an Unreal engine since before Half-Life had shipped, they may be just as distant from their foundation as Valve is.

      The big secret is that Duke Nukem Forever is going to be cel shaded.

    8. Re:Is Duke Nuke Em Forever Real? by EMH_Mark3 · · Score: 1

      Image Gallery & Downloads

      The screenshots and videos that were here have been removed as they no longer represent the game's current look and feel. We will put more up at a later date.

      Hmm...

      --
      Burn the land and boil the sea, you can't take the sky from me
    9. Re:Is Duke Nuke Em Forever Real? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thanks for an informative post-- nice change of pace from the usual "it's never coming" notes. It's my guess that the game will come out, eventually, but it will suffer for all the reasons you've mentioned above.

      I am interested to know how Broussard and company might be facing this situation. I mean, if I spent years developing a game, only to have at least two killer game engines released in the meantime, what would I do? Would I simply release the game I had on hand before it's completely outmoded? Or would I throw in another lump of cash to enhance the engine I have, or convert to one of the new engines?

      But the issue's sort of moot for me. I liked DN3D, but I've lost interest in the franchise. _Half-Life_ and _Deus Ex_ were far better games, and when DNF does come out, I'll probably skip it.

  2. About fell out of my chair by CaptainStormfield · · Score: 5, Funny

    When I skimmed the headline and missed the "not."

    Wake me when Duke is coming now. Now that will be news!

    --
    "The dinosaurs died because they didn't have a space program." - Niven
    1. Re:About fell out of my chair by Danse · · Score: 2, Funny

      Nothing to see here. This is just the annual announcement that Duke will not be released this year. It's a tradition, dating back to 1998, which will be with us for years to come. I feel like we should start having annual Duke parties where we dress up and stuff. Maybe with a theme based on the most recent rumors about the game. Could be fun :)

      --
      It's not enough to bash in heads, you've got to bash in minds. - Captain Hammer
    2. Re:About fell out of my chair by sekra · · Score: 2, Funny

      Perhaps they are trying to port it to HURD and will release Duke Nukem Forever together with the HURD release.

  3. Duke Nuken was ready, but SCO claims they own it.. by Desmoden · · Score: 2, Funny


    according to SCO there are 1-2 lines of code that appear in Duke that they claim rights to. So until this is settled the game is on hold.

  4. They are just afraid. by termos · · Score: 1

    Why do I feel this has something to do with competition? I can see at least two winning titles which is Doom3 and HalfLife2 at the horizon, so my guess is that they don't have enough eye candy and/or technology to acually get people to buy it.

    --
    Note to self: get smarter troll to guard door.
    1. Re:They are just afraid. by cgenman · · Score: 4, Interesting

      That's the problem with relying on other people's engines in long development cycles... When you have been in development since 1997, you either have to dump your engine repeatedly, or ship before you get stale with an under-polished game. Either way your engine will be behind the engine of your competition, whose last iteration will be competing with your next release... a tough act to follow for a AAA title.

      Doom 3 has an excellent engine (judging by the leaked alphas), and HalfLife 2 will probably just rock too. For years to come games will be based upon these engines. Whatever the Duke kiddies have up their sleves, it had better be slick or else they are going to have a hard time competing with them.

      Of course, after 6 years of active development and the somewhat unenthusiastic comments of those working on the project, I would be willing to wager this is one project stuck in the bad type of development hell, and whose eventual release will not be met with much acclaim.

      Next big thing, please.

      --
      The ______ Agenda
    2. Re:They are just afraid. by PhoenixOne · · Score: 1

      Maybe they aren't releasing DNF because other people are releasing AAA FPS for free ( http://games.slashdot.org/games/03/05/29/121243.sh tml?tid=127&tid=186&tid=206 ).

      --
      Spell cheek you've failed me four the last thyme!
  5. Re:Duke Nuken was ready, but SCO claims they own i by smoondog · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... And they are:

    "int main() {"

    and

    "}"

    -Sean

  6. Why it is taking so long by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In response to the SCO complaint, the chief developer argued that it wasn't a big deal because those 2 lines were only "around 3% of the total source code" for the Duke Nukem project.

  7. Manhunt stealthiness (was Re:flash) by simoniker · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Unfortunately, the big selling point of Manhunt right now is that it's 'mysterious'. Gotta love stealth advertising? Or not. I saw one foreign website comparing the game to the movie 'The Fugitive', but I have no idea if that's right or not.

    So there's still no screenshots and details, though the game has been on release lists since 2001. Rockstar launched GTA3 with a fair bit of stealth, though (probably because they wanted to get into stores before complaints about the content started!), which makes me hopeful.. we'll see.

    1. Re:Manhunt stealthiness (was Re:flash) by TrippTDF · · Score: 2, Funny

      I live in New York City, and from time to time I see giant Rockstar logos on sides of buildings and other places. Just the big R.

      It seems like they are really tring to get the Rockstar logo on the same level as the McDonalds logo. An interesting way to go- letting people see the logo without the name, and then let them see the name somewhere else.

      I could go for a burger right now, followed by a massive killing spree.

    2. Re:Manhunt stealthiness (was Re:flash) by CheeseMonkey · · Score: 1

      The real site is in the pop-up ad for a fetish video store.

      No, really. There's not much more there, but at least it's a little bit of info... Anyway, turn off your pop-up blockers and take a peek

      --
      Nothing to see here.
  8. I heard that 3DR will be renaming DNF... by MAJ+Rantage · · Score: 1

    ...to Dukekatana. ;)

    1. Re:I heard that 3DR will be renaming DNF... by fatboyslack · · Score: 1

      Or Duke Nukem Never?

      Seriously though, at least they haven't come out and said that they'll make us their biotch (JR Style).
      I sometimes wonder how good/crap could DNF actually be? I mean they must have spent hundreds of thousands (millions?) for a game that has lost all consumer interest except that which is a morbid case of ("I wonder how bad it could be?"), it has no momentum... Is there any chance this game will be popular? Or better, any good?

      --
      Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself. -- Leo Tolstoy
    2. Re:I heard that 3DR will be renaming DNF... by vraxoin · · Score: 2, Funny

      Funny, in the racing world "DNF" means "Did Not Finish". Hmmm....

    3. Re:I heard that 3DR will be renaming DNF... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I was just going to say the same, I had a flashback of Stunts and Sid Vicious crashing at the elevated curve after climbing that hill in... Cherry?
      Maybe I played that game a bit too much...

  9. Sell Rockstar to EA (Please!) by QuantumG · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    If EA owned Rockstar the PC release of GTA3 would have been a massively multiplayer game like no other. But no, Take2 owns Rockstar, so we're stuck with zero multiplayer. Shame.

    --
    How we know is more important than what we know.
    1. Re:Sell Rockstar to EA (Please!) by AlexMax2742 · · Score: 1
      Are you implying that it's Take Two's fault that multiplayer isn't in GTA yet? Or that they aren't interested in multiplayer at all?

      Well, they are probably working on it, and if the AWESOME multiplayer in Midnight Club 2 is any indication, they are doing a great job of it too. Why is MC2 a good indicator? Say that I'm comparing apples and oranges if you like, but am I the only one who sees any similarity between MC2 and GTA3 in terms of the way the cars work? Sure, MC2's a tad more complicated in terms of car control, but when I started playing MC2 I had the oddest feeling of deja'vu...and not from MC1...

      (Not that it's a bad thing. MC2 is one friggin awesome game in its own right.)

      --
      I'm the guy with the unpopular opinion
    2. Re:Sell Rockstar to EA (Please!) by Coke+in+a+Can · · Score: 2, Interesting

      GTA3 and VC don't have MP for a reason. Rockstar's net code just plain sucks. Ever played a GTA1/2 MP game with a ping over 100? The lag is pretty bad. They also have to deal with spawning cars, which is OK for only one person, but it gets complicated to make sure multiple people are all seeing the same cars in the same place. Because if Bob gets into a car that only exists on Bob's game, and is inexistent on Joe's game, that's not a good thing.

      A very appropriate quote, from Donny in Gone in 60 Seconds (the black dude with the hat):
      "Pull over. Pull it the hell over! Let's see, you can't negotiate traffic, you can't signal properly, you can't parallel park. Hell, you can't drive, honey. I can't swim, I know I can't. So you know what I do? I stay my black ass out the pool!"
      Rockstar just plain sucks at MP code. So they don't do it. I'm not saying they gave up, I'm pretty sure they're trying, but do you really want buggy, laggy, messed-up, glitchy multiplayer games? I'd rather have a really good single player game.

    3. Re:Sell Rockstar to EA (Please!) by bensgroi · · Score: 1

      Not quite

      --
      You'll like being a dude!
  10. Duke Nukem Not Out In 2003 by QEDog · · Score: 1

    Who thought it would? really?

    --
    "There is no teacher but the enemy."-Mazer Rackham
  11. If Duke was published by... by QEDog · · Score: 3, Funny
    Nintendo - it will be cancelled a week before its release date, with a full-page NYTimes ad explaining why it is good to wait.

    Blizzard - no one would complain, everyone would say they are just going to release it when they are ready

    Hideo Kojima - it would come out, but you would play as one of the strippers

    Apple - it would look really really cool, and somewhat feminine at the same time

    Eidos - Duke would have big boobs

    --
    "There is no teacher but the enemy."-Mazer Rackham
  12. $975 MILLION by bobbozzo · · Score: 1

    Take Two estimates fiscal-year sales to be $975Million!

    Oh...My...God!

    --
    Nothing to see here; Move along.
  13. Is it just me... by cabra771 · · Score: 1

    or does that Manhunt website really suck. Sure, teasers are great and all, but they don't do any good when a website just gives you a full page-can't click anywhere-boring flash show that could have been in pure HTML for what it was worth. And yippie for the second page as well. Some people have to learn that a 10 second teaser on tv or a magazine ad with just a line of text works better than doing this sort of thing on the internet.

    Internet = interact
    TV and print = passive

    or maybe I'm just stupid and didn't see the link to the real site

    --

    -my other sig is your mom
    1. Re:Is it just me... by CheeseMonkey · · Score: 1

      (Sorry for the redundant post) Check the pop-up ad. It's actually pretty clever- but I would hope everyone's come to expect this sort of thing from Rockstar by now- look harder next time!

      --
      Nothing to see here.
  14. So did Maxis by QuantumG · · Score: 1

    But EA got their crew in there and made that game multiplayer. Why? Because subscriptions make you a shitload of money. Single player games are the biggest waste of development time possible. Unless you get a super hit (which GTA3 is, I'll admit) you're going broke. Even with a superhit, you can turn it into a rediculous amount of money (see UO), and even with a sucky game you can do that (see Everquest).

    --
    How we know is more important than what we know.
    1. Re:So did Maxis by indead · · Score: 1

      So you are saying that they should make all games multiplayer, even if it's going to be crappy, just to save money on development costs? Great strategy.

  15. nooo!!!!! by boomerny · · Score: 1

    EA owning Rockstar would be bad for us Xbox'ers.... EA doesn't like Xbox Live for whatever reason so any online components would be left out of the Xbox versions of their games. As for the articles' comment about a big game for Xbox early next year, if it's Vice City I hope they upgrade it to take advantage of the hardware in the green machine, I wasn't impressed with the PS2 graphics.

  16. Hmmm.... by SynapseLapse · · Score: 1

    I would like to point at that Eternal Darkness spent five years in development and was AWESOME.
    So... it might be pretty cool.
    Maybe...?

    I do think it would be pretty interesting if they released several Versions of the software like they did with Lameduke.
    LameDukeNukemForever97
    LameDukeNukemForever98
    LameDukeNukemForever99
    LameDukeNukemForever00
    LameDukeNukemForever01
    LameDukeNukemForever02
    LameDukeNukemForever03
    LameDukeNukemForever04
    LameDukeNukemForever05
    Just so you could see the progression through the years.

  17. Really too bad. Oh well. www.Uber-Gear.com by UberGear · · Score: 1

    They got you covered for that new pc man, they got all the newest hardware, great warranty, and low prices... not to mention they will run all the nextgen games, like maybe even Duke4.. If it ever comes out that is. Sigh. Check em out, www.uber-gear.com Cheers