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I'm sure as you've all heard that the buzz around the gaming world online right now is that 3D Realms has finally closed their doors after 22 years. We hate to point fingers but it looks like this could possibly be because they've been in development of the most infamous Vaporware title "Duke Nukem Forever" for 12 of those years.
We're sure that a lot of you were pumped up about Duke Nukem Forever as much as we were...C'mon, they've been teasing us with footage that looked amazing for 2 years. Hell, for all we care they could have just just took Prey, threw some new textures over top of it, got the old sound effects for nostalgia and RE-RELEASED THE DAMN GAME.
But alas, after all the teasers, the trailers, and tempting...3D Realms has finally given us the old finger. We really wish we could tell you this was a joke or marketing scheme but its not. Even 3D Realms webmaster Joe Siegler has commented on this, saying "It's not a marketing thing. It's true. I have nothing further to say at this time."
More info and some underground speculation concerning the future of Duke Nukem Forever after the break
n top of all of this bad bad news for 3D Realms thier own publisher Take-Two even confirmed to multiple sources that they were not funding any of 3D Realms projects.
Take-Two VP of communications Alan Lewis commented from a prepared statement saying
"We can confirm that our relationship with 3D Realms for Duke Nukem Forever was a publishing arrangement, which did not include ongoing funds for development of the title,"
Let us all take a moment of silence for one of the greatest game devs of the early 90s. Ok, we're done...now lets rip them apart with a paragraph business model of what they SHOULD have done...or MIGHT STILL be doing. We're about to put the Business in Serious Business.
In short the best business model for 3D Realms would have been to just make and release the game, for better or worse and use the income off of the gain for that sucess or failure (you know you'd have bought it anyway dont lie) to put forth the real production of Duke Nukem Forever.
Clearly we have to give it to them. They stuck it out and refused to sell out and become part of the corporate machine. We think, however, in doing so that may they doomed themselves. It's a pity really. But they still stuck it through being as "independent" as you can be from having a few main stream hits.
Now I offer to you the perfect business plan and the only business hole that would allow them to dig themselves out and finish their game, our game, and the game the world needs.
Now there have been rumors from a few insider source that 3D Realms has sold the parts of the game and code that they have finished to an unnamed company. There is a glimmer of hope (LET US BELIEVE) that 3D Realms, had they thought of this before us, would have someone linked to them create a start up company name with the funds that 3D Realms had left all while selling the part of the unfinished game to themselves and then claiming bankruptcy on 3D Realms. This would allow for them to finish the game while still bankrolling a profit and losing all debt that would have been gained over the past 12 years.
Is it a long shot? Oh hell yes. But would it be the sneakiest, craziest, most awesome business tactic ever?
We think so. You decide.
