Duke Nukem Forever Release Date Revealed

stupid_is writes with news that Duke Nukem Forever has now gotten a firm US release date: May 3rd. It will release worldwide three days later. The game was resurrected last fall by Gearbox Software and 2K Games after 3D Realms' 12-year attempt at development came to an end in 2009 when the company closed its doors.

Well done, Gearbox

[RogueyWon]

Well done to Gearbox for finishing this off - it would have been a sin if it didn't see the light of day in the end. The previews look good and I'm looking forward to picking it up when it reaches Europe on 6 May (PC version, of course, the Duke doesn't need some stinking console). I'm hoping for a shooter which emphasises funky weapons, crazy situations and bad jokes over "balance" and other hardcore trappings. Back when I was a student, DN3D was always the game for a fun blast while Quakeworld was for whose who took things a bit more seriously.

Anyway, Gearbox, how about you get cracking on Aliens: Colonial Marines now - or will that be done "when it's ready"?

Re:Well done, Gearbox

[dunezone]

The Duke was King back in 1995/1996. Back then I didn't have any form of income being a 12 year old and my folks didn't believe in allowance. I had to rely on some older kids in the neighborhood that would allow me to borrow the install CD's for Duke Nukem, Doom 2, and Quake.

Starting with Doom back in late 94 early 95, I must have spent hours playing it and going over every square inch of the maps. By the time Duke and Quake arrived there was always those discussion among the older kids of which was better. I never understood why Quake was better, no one in the neighborhood was online back then nor could do multiplayer of any form. Between Quake and Duke, the Duke had attitude, character, some depth you felt like you were playing as someone awesome. Quake though was just a man who would grunt every so often, not much different from Doom 2. As for the graphics, sure Quake was 3D in both objects and map but this was early primitive 3D. A decent art team making sprites could outshine 3D graphics back then.

The Duke will always be King.

Re:Well done, Gearbox

[pak9rabid]

Agreed. Not to mention the other niceties of Duke3D, such as blood dripping off the walls, the mirrors where you could actually see your own reflection, and being able to leave footprints when stepping over a blood puddle or out of water. I thought the graphics in Quake were awful compared to Duke3D back in that day, even though it was true 3D (granted, this was before glQuake made it's debut).

The only question worth asking: Will it be Duke?

[Opportunist]

DN3D wasn't just a shooter. It was a shooter with a certain "attitude". It certainly set no hallmark for graphics or physics, but it sure was one for political incorrectness in games. Duke was a sexist, macho, bubblegum chewing (ok, ok, he was constantly out of gum, but he tried) pig. Not really the usual shining hero of shooters at this time.

What defined Duke was the wisecracking and the comments, the quite nonlinear levels and the blatant sexism. Let's be honest here, guys, that was part of the appeal. It was not the usual squeaky-clean world we usually got from shooters.

I hope that in our PC world there's still place for a sexist dinosaur like the Duke. It just wouldn't be Duke without tipping the strippers.

Re:Lessons learned: None

[brkello]

Why are gamers such dicks they can't wait 3 days before they come up with yet another justification to not pay for a game?