Duke Nukem Forever to get parody-minded DLC
I went into Duke Nukem Forever with the same sort of mindset that I brought to the Star Wars prequels - there was just no way in hell this thing was ever going to live up to the expectations born from a venerable legend fermented over a decade-plus of fond memories from an entire generation. Even with that philosophical perspective, I found the game underwhelming, although I wasn't quite as crestfallen and hateful as most. I found some entertainment. But I can't help but feel that my biggest disappointment with it was that it was a golden opportunity squandered. The folks who were the most stoked about the game were those who have been gamers for at least the last 15 years, people who know the industry well enough to have already been aware of the unlikely myth-made-reality path this game took to see the light of day. There was your audience, Gearbox, you had the chance to really speak to it through a legend of videogames' history.
Now I look at the DLC plans that Gearbox has, and I'm struck by the notion that this was the general attitude they should have brought to the design of the main game, with the gameplay throwback that was Duke Nukem Forever instead being the content relegated to DLC. The four new maps especially are a sendup of the shooter tropes we all know and love. The glorious urban war zones of Call of Duty, the hellish lava and teleporters of older games like Doom and Quake, the cinematic style and peculiar quirks of Team Fortress 2, and...well, a sandbox. Guess I'm not sure what they're going for with that one, but for the first time since before the game came out, I'm pretty stoked to see where they go with this. If done right, Duke Nukem Forever's tongue-in-cheek, larger-than-life style could strike the perfect tone for parody - using hyperbole and absurdity to make fun of something in a way that speaks to genuine affection for the subject matter. I'm even willing to get my hopes up about it.
No release date has been announced yet, but 2K has announced deathmatches featuring the content will be held at their California headquarters on August 4th.
Duke Nukem Forever Sucks
I wasn't going to turn this into a whole big thing, but wow. What a difference a day makes. Huge scandal involving blacklisting threats from 2K Games/Gearbox's PR company, the Redner Group, all coming from the torrent of negative reviews about Duke Nukem Forever. And why? We've waited 15 years, and to say the end result is underwhelming is being nice. Duke Nukem Forever
Physical Evidence of Duke Nukem Forever
Just got it in the mail this morning. Is anyone else still a little amazed? Duke Nukem Forever
Update; I still can't confirm whether the game is real or not, because the installer is inexplicably tied to Steam. And Steam isn't allowing installations until the game is actually released on Tuesday.
Duke Nukem Forever Offends Fox News
Duke is making headlines again now that The Media has gotten wind of its content, and over at Fox News (via Destructoid), this plays out about how you might expect. "A new videogame that requires you to abduct women and give them a 'reassuring slap' if they freak out has gamers and women's rights-groups crying foul. Brace yourself for the awfully sexist world of Duke Nukem Forever," reads the first two sentences of the article.
Jim Sterling over at D'toid sneers at Fox for being predictable - which they are - but just because it's predictable doesn't automatically mean the writers don't have a point. Can carrying off babes and given them a STFU slap be read as anything other than offensive and objectifying toward women? Still, I rather thought that was the purpose of Duke Nukem. He's larger-than-life, ultraviolent, hypersexual, over-the-top, and ridiculous. He's a hilarious exaggeration and send-up of action heroes we know and love, ones who we don't usually consider offensive.
I find myself skeptical of Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford's assertion that "Our goal isn't to shock people, but I think there's some stuff that'll be just a bit uncomfortable." If your goal isn't to shock people, then you're just coincidentally doing a really outstanding job of reading from the playbook on how to be shocking with a hyper-masculine character. Just be shocking already, Randy. Own it. Shock, while not the most noble goal, is not without value. Gearbox has also not indicated whether this moral outrage has anything to do with why the game has - fittingly - been delayed again until June 14.
A new videogame that requires you to abduct women and give them a "reassuring slap" if they freak out has gamers and women's rights-groups crying foul.
Brace yourself for the awfully sexist world of Duke Nukem Forever.
Duke Nukem Next-Gen Gets Gearbox’s Blessing
In what could almost be considered to be a slavish devotion to good PR, Gearbox studios strikes at gamer goodwill once more. We've all heard of brilliant remakes having to close up shop after being hit with a cease and desist letter, and with the recent reveal that Duke Nukem: Forever not only exists, but it's even coming out next year many feared the same fate for this HD remake. Now, they've given an official blessing for the fan project.
Gearbox Planning To Respect Duke Nukem Forever Preorders
At this point, it just seems like Gearbox is mocking 3D Realms mercilessly. First, they took Duke Nukem Forever
Gearbox seems to be successfully turning Duke Nukem Forever into something other than the gaming world's longest running gag. After a decade of hopelessness, it looks like the game will actually be made. Of course, that just makes 3D Realms look like an even bigger joke. The Gearbox boys are all but dancing in George Broussard's face just by making the freaking game.
Duke Nukem Forever Demo included in Borderlands GOTY Edition
Now that the beans have been spilled on Duke Nukem Forever, development seems to be rolling along. Seems to be. Last Saturday, some gameplay video was shown to a crowd in Germany and today, 2K Games and Gearbox Software announced that the upcoming Borderlands Game of the Year Edition
A caveat: while the Borderlands Game of the Year Edition is scheduled to release on October 11th, the Duke Nukem demo won't be available right away. 2K and Gearbox actually haven't yet set a date for it to go live. Maybe the Ghost of Duke Nukem Delays has returned one last time to haunt the franchise.
Still Unbelievable: Free Overnight Shipping On Duke Nukem Forever
Saw this on Gamestop's web site. I know the game is actually being made and that there's a very good chance we'll see the game come out next year, but I still can't shake the feeling that this is just an elaborate joke. It's like the gaming industry itself wants to draw out its longest running gag just a few more years.
The Round Up of Duke Nukem Forever News at PAX 2010
Duke is back to kick ass and chew bubblegum—in fact, it has been confirmed that the game is in production right now, and will actually come out in 2011. 1UP and EpicBattleAxe report that Gearbox Software is currently developing the game. and that a playable demo it is currently playable. This could perhaps hint tha fans of Borderlands and mods of the Half-Life series of games could be in store for some real treats. Here's a round up of the news so far.
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