2K Games has announced that buying the Borderlands "Game of the Year Edition" will net you access to what it's calling the "Duke Nukem Forever Early Access Club." In other words, the set -- which bundles together the fully Gearbox-developed "role-playing shooter" and all its DLC -- comes with a code to download the DNF demo (and other, undefined "goodies"). Now, here's where we'd normally tell you when said demo will be available to said club members ... problem is, 2K isn't saying when that will be. (Apart from "prior to the retail launch of the game" in calendar 2011.)
There's also no word on how much later the demo will be made available for the masses but, hey, you've already waited forever for the game -- what's a few more weeks/months? The GOTY edition of Borderlands hits October 12 for PS3, 360 and PC.
#clips
Gearbox Software's Randy Pitchford is taking Duke Nukem Forever on a world tour, with the randy action hero's first international stop being the recent Firstlook gaming convention in Amsterdam, where Dutch gamers got a sneak peek at Duke Nukem urinating. More »
#rumor
Duke Nukem Forever's official website recently linked over to preorder pages on Amazon and Gamestop, and both say the game is due for release on Feb. 1, 2011. More »
#dukenukem
The return of Duke Nukem Forever has inspired a flash of Duke Nukem fever in at least one enterprising game maker, who is planning on recreating 1996's Duke Nukem 3D in the Unreal Engine. More »
#dukenukem
Gaming's most testosterone-fueled alpha male, Duke Nukem, is back and ready to kick space alien ass in Duke Nukem Forever, the game we never ever thought they'd finish. More »
So you weren't at PAX last weekend, and didn't play Duke Nukem Forever? Well, then you probably agree with Gearbox's Randy Pitchford when he says that a playable demo for the mythical title is probably "an important thing to do." That's not a confirmation but, now that the cat's out of the bag, the company will start investigating ways to effectively market the game. Putting a demo in the hands of a skeptical audience is a good start, if PAX is any indication.
If you missed it, you might still think of Duke Nukem Forever as vaporware, and remain convinced that Gearbox told PAX attendees that "it would be really funny" if they all pretended the game was playable. Wouldn't it be nice to lay your extremely paranoid fears to rest?
#pennyarcadeexpo2010
Following the confirmation on Friday that Gearbox is reviving Duke Nukem Forever, the studio now says it owns Duke. Gearbox obtained the rights to "Duke Nukem and all future projects" from former franchise owner 3D Realms. More »
Just two days after revealing its stewardship of the Duke Nukem Forever title at PAX, Gearbox Software just revealed that it has actually purchased the Duke Nukem brand. Gearbox president Randy Pitchford told an audience at PAX this afternoon that they're not just making sure Duke Nukem Forever makes it to store shelves, but they've actually purchased the entire Duke Nukem IP. "We actually bought the brand," Pitchford told fans. "We bought Duke Nukem."
A press release timed to go out with the announcement has some more information. Here's the big picture quote: "Gearbox Software announced today that it has acquired the full intellectual property rights of the 'Duke Nukem' brand including Duke Nukem Forever and all future projects in a cooperative deal made with 3D Realms." Even more interesting: "The first product to be available under the Duke Nukem brand will be the long awaited Duke Nukem Forever." Naturally, if they're buying the brand you can imagine DNF won't be the last game to feature the Duke.
Pitchford made a point to say that Alan Blum, the creator of the Duke Nukem franchise, is now with Gearbox. "He's on the 10th floor with his team," he said. He also wanted to explain that this franchise couldn't simply have been purchased by anyone. "I didn't buy it from [3D Realms]," Pitchford said. "They sold it to me." In the press release, 3D Realms' Scott Miller said, "Gearbox was handpicked as the new home for Duke Nukem because of their continued passion, commitment and long-time heritage with the brand and 3D Realms."
#pennyarcadeexpo2010
The revival of Duke Nukem Forever in Seattle at the Penny Arcade Expo may be the most stunning comeback story in video game history. In an interview with Kotaku, Randy Pitchford, the man instrumental in Duke's return, explained how Duke came back from the dead. More »
#3drealms
It wasn't supposed to be real. It was supposed to be imaginary. Vapor. Yet, Duke Nukem Forever, a game in development for over 13 years, is very real. More »
Come get some background on Randy Pitchford's back-in-fashion Duke Nukem shirt, seen above:
"I moved to Texas and became a professional game maker to join Alan Blum, he created Duke Nukem 3D," the Gearbox co-founder told us at PAX. "He and Todd Replogle in Southern California, freaking invented this whole damned thing. And I moved out to Texas to join him and George Broussard and Scott Miller, and all the guys on the team, so that I could be part of Duke Nukem 3D. Because I wanted to add to that. I thought it was awesome; it was really fun and I wanted to be part of that team.
"This t-shirt I'm wearing, George gave me this t-shirt in 1996," Pitchford continued, now speaking as part of the team that now hopes to complete Duke Nukem Forever. "And we've been waiting for this game ever since. Guys like Alan didn't want to let the Duke dream die. They've worked their butts off all this time making great stuff."
It's finally, really, actually ... maybe going to happen at this point. The rumors are true: Gearbox Software and 2K Games have taken on the Herculean task of completing and releasing 3D Realms' unfinished Duke Nukem Forever. The project was officially unveiled today at PAX during a livestreamed presentation at the 2K Games booth and announced for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. "It's coming out in 2011," Gearbox president Randy Pitchford said during the presentation. (Of course, we're skeptical about any release date associated with this particular title.)
Gearbox began finishing Duke Nukem Forever in late 2009, according to The Wall Street Journal. "Clearly the game hadn't been finished at 3D Realms but a lot of content had been created," Pitchford told WSJ.
"We're in the polishing phase now. This is a game where we can not make a promise we can not fulfill," Pitchford added. "We need to get past the shock and awe and then we can go to all the retailers and first parties and work out a launch plan."
Duke Nukem Forever is a sequel to Duke Nukem 3D and will feature both a single-player campaign and multiplayer. "Aliens come and say they're going to be our friends and Duke knows this isn't going to work out," Pitchford revealed of the plot. "Duke once again is in the pivotal spot and its up to him to save the world."
[Image credit: Kurt Miller]Duke Nukem Forever coming '2011' on Xbox 360, PS3 & PC, courtesy of Gearbox
Duke Nukem Forever... is actually happening? DOES NOT COMPUTE *asplodes*
After what is arguably the longest, most troubled development in the history of video games, Duke Nukem Forever is finally, really, truly here. It's not being shown secretly, behind-closed-doors at some industry event. Instead, it's at PAX, an event that is, more than any other in this industry, consumer facing and that tangibility is a big part of Gearbox's reveal.
Wait, who? Gearbox Software, the Texas-based dev who's helping to bring 3D Realms' pre-Google (think about it!) labor of love to consoles, is behind this revival along with publisher 2K Games. "This is a game you can't make promises about," Gearbox prez Randy Pitchford told an audience of incredulous gamers this morning. "Haven't we not been teased enough? We don't want to tease. We just thought we'd bring it to PAX." And Gearbox didn't just bring a trailer - although it did bring one of those - but more importantly, there's about 15 minutes of playable game. Let that sink in for awhile.
While we weren't able to grab video of the trailer - you'll have to settle for my account - Pitchford did say that people could take pics. Actually, he said, "You've got cameras. You've got cellphones with cameras on them. Take all the pictures you want [...] We'll even take the pictures for you." You know, when Duke Nukem Forever was first announced, I didn't have a cellphone yet ... and the idea of a cellphone with a camera on it? Madness.
2K Games hosted a video livestream of its booth shortly after the re-announcement (or is it un-cancellation?) of Duke Nukem Forever, showing off a few fans getting their first shot at the alien-murdering sim. You can check out a couple of over-the-shoulder gameplay clips from this stream posted just after the jump.
And, yes, it is worth noting that this particular demo begins with Duke Nukem relieving himself, an action you apparently execute by pressing Right Trigger. You're going to feel tempted to press Left Trigger, but for the sweet love of God, you have to resist that urge.
#clips
Yes, Gearbox Software really is turning the perpetual vaporware Duke Nukem Forever into a real live video game bound for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. More »
It's finally, really, actually ... maybe going to happen at this point. The rumors are true: Gearbox Software and 2K Games have taken on the Herculean task of completing and releasing 3D Realms' unfinished Duke Nukem Forever. The project was officially unveiled today at PAX during a livestreamed presentation at the 2K Games booth.
Gearbox began finishing Duke Nukem Forever in late 2009, according to The Wall Street Journal, which cites both 2010 and "next year" as expected release dates for the game. "Clearly the game hadn't been finished at 3D Realms but a lot of content had been created," Gearbox president Randy Pitchford told WSJ.
"We're in the polishing phase now. This is a game where we can not make a promise we can not fulfill," Pitchford added. "We need to get past the shock and awe and then we can go to all the retailers and first parties and work out a launch plan."
Duke Nukem Forever is a sequel to Duke Nukem 3D and will feature both a single-player campaign and multiplayer. "Aliens come and say they're going to be our friends and Duke knows this isn't going to work out," Pitchford revealed of the plot. "Duke once again is in the pivotal spot and its up to him to save the world."
#taketwointeractive
2K Games has made it official. Duke Nukem Forever is alive and, well, in the hands of developer Gearbox Software, confirming our earlier reports that the Borderlands studio was helping to complete the game's absurdly long development cycle. More »
It's finally, really, actually ... maybe going to happen at this point. The rumors are true: Gearbox Software and 2K Games have taken on the Herculean task of completing and releasing 3D Realms' unfinished Duke Nukem Forever. The project was officially unveiled today at PAX during a livestreamed presentation at the 2K Games booth.
Gearbox began finishing Duke Nukem Forever in late 2009, according to The Wall Street Journal.
#screengrab
As this year's PAX convention is just about to start, photos from the Penny Arcade Expo show floor confirm that Duke Nukem Forever—now with more Gearbox Software—will have a strong presence at the show. More »
"OMG, Duke Nukem is at PAX!" At least, according to an effusive
tweet from Joystiq alum Dustin Burg. In addition, a source at the convention told Joystiq that images of Duke Nukem are visible at the 2K booth, which has yet to open to the public. The Gearbox logo can be seen, but the title of whatever Duke Nukem game is being promoted is currently covered.
However, we might have a clue, thanks to reports coming in from CVG's "US dev sources," who tell the site that the game is actually Duke Nukem Forever, and will be given a "grand demo" at the show. Rumors have been flying recently about Gearbox signing on to complete the game. Also flying: pigs, in an image tweeted by 3D Realms' George Broussard (who joked with 1UP in a January 2006 interview that he expected DNF to be released "when pigs fly")
. 2K did say it planned "something big" at its booth, and this would certainly qualify.
Update: Gearbox creative director Mikey Neumann tweeted a picture of CEO Randy Pitchford wearing a Duke t-shirt. Seems portentous!
Update 2: A partial image from 2KGames' Twitter account also shows the Duke "radioactive" logo.
Update 3: Well, here's the most concrete evidence you could ever ask for. Kotaku posted an image, seen above, of Duke Nukem Forever photo stands.
"OMG, Duke Nukem is at PAX!" At least, according to an effusive
tweet from Joystiq alum Dustin Burg. In addition, a source at the convention told Joystiq that images of Duke Nukem are visible at the 2K booth, which has yet to open to the public. The Gearbox logo can be seen, but the title of whatever Duke Nukem game is being promoted is currently covered.
However, we might have a clue, thanks to reports coming in from CVG's "US dev sources," who tell the site that the game is actually Duke Nukem Forever, and will be given a "grand demo" at the show. Rumors have been flying recently about Gearbox signing on to complete the game. Also flying: pigs, in an image tweeted by 3D Realms' George Broussard. 2K did say it planned "something big" at its booth, and this would certainly qualify.
#rumor
Last month, Kotaku was told that 3D Realms' ridiculously long-in-the-making shooter Duke Nukem Forever would finally see the light of day, thanks to a saving throw from Borderlands studio Gearbox Software. Duke's reveal was rumored to happen at this weekend's PAX convention. More »
