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3D Realms Sees Major Employee Departures, Fate of DNF in Question?
by Chris Remo, Aug 30, 2006 9:30pm PDTThe many delays and long development history of 3D Realms' anticipated Duke Nukem Forever, first announced in April 1997, are well known to gamers, but it appears that at present the game may be undergoing even more troubles. Shacknews has learned from numerous reputable sources close to the game's development that, since approximately the end of 2005, 3D Realms has had something of an employee exodus. Apparently, up to ten major team members have left the company, with multiple departures having occurred as recently as within the past few days. Developers confirmed to have left 3D Realms since last December include Scott Alden, Will Bate, Brian Cozzens, Kyle Davis, Andy Hanson, Keith Schuler, and Charlie Wiederhold. Some of the former employees headed up crucial game systems such as physics, animation, and rendering. Notably, Schuler is a sixteen year veteran of Apogee and 3D Realms. Our sources indicate that while the game's team has reached a size of about 24-28 developers, recently it has been closer to 18, meaning these current departures may actually comprise a majority of the team. Several sources have indicated that further information regarding these matters is expected next week. 3D Realms' George Broussard, who heads up the Duke Nukem Forever project, is known to hold a perfectionist attitude towards the game, which is in large part responsible for its many delays. The game has been revamped with new engines multiple times, further prolonging development time as game assets and levels have had to be rebuilt. Some sources speculate that, unless major changes are made to the development process, the game may never see the light of day. A Prey-like rebirth under a new developer supervised by 3D Realms may be a potential consideration, but descriptions from those close to Broussard suggest that he would be unlikely to approve such a direction. 3D Realms officials have been contacted for formal comment by Shacknews, but did not respond by press time. Update: Shacknews has learned that four of the employees named above--Brian Cozzens, Kyle Davis, Keith Schuler, and Charlie Wiederhold--are now working for Brothers in Arms series developer Gearbox Software. Wiederhold's employment at Gearbox was already public knowledge. These four employees were key members of the Duke Nukem Forever team and led various aspects of development.
Comments
I can speculate that in 2009 giant peanut spitting snakes from the place once called planet Pluto will attack the earth to reclaim their planetary status, but as mere speculation it shouldn't be confused with fact.
Really, what's next? "JANITOR QUITS QUIMBY HIGH, SCHOOL MUST BE SHUT DOWN!!!"
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I'm extremely pessimistic when it comes to stuff like this, but even I see its no big deal. If it is, I'll eat this keyboard, how about that?
Next...
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Most the original audience moved on and outgrew its humor. Have you guys tried DN3D lately? The gameplay aged HORRIBLY, unlike Doom 1-2 who still are very, very decent and fast paced.
Duke is a relic of the '90, standing next to Mortal Kombat and other products of its time..
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however the people calling the shots over there are already rich and are under no real pressure to get the game out. it seems like they are tenative to do so because failure would ruin their cult-status. but this kind of creates a vicious circle because the less talented people you bring in, the less likely the bosses will be happy with the end product, and the more competitive industry eclipses you and makes your product look bad, the longer you delay and delay...
its almost 10 years, is the average person/game still aware of this franchise?
yeah i posted this before, now its more on topic :(
On another note, I think this news item is terrible coming from Shacknews. George has been great to the shack and this article just basically tries to bash him. Show a little respect.
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Thing is, i am going to make a Group pic of the whole DNF team... I'd want to make sure i get everyones face and name right... So i hope that you still have something around, a pic of all of those who helped developing DNF...
I'm just asking beforehand here, in case it might be too late to get a pic of them all at hand...
I made a group pic of HumanHead studios too, they liked my comic-like group pic... :)
SHUT UP DAGGAH
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I think they should just scrap DNF, create a new game call it Duke Nukem Returns or something, and just make a game! It doesn't have to be the best game ever made. If it has the action and comedy of D3D that will be enough.
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http://www.shacknews.com/ja.zz?id=10833280
I really hope it ends up coming out. Who knows what it looks like now and if it will be in the same graphical league as stuff coming out soon. What did you think sleepy? I'm more concerned about gameplay anyway. Hopefully DNF is not dead :(
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Reread the last bit "as recently as the past few days"
This is big news and in no way could Chris Remo (and sTeve and Maaaaarteeeen) have ignored this. I see nothing underhanded about it and with multiple sources as they say they have, why wouldn't they post it? It's a big news scoop.
What I see from some of the fanboys (and fanboy isn't intended as any kind of insult in this sense), is a claim that because the sources are asking to remain anonymous, the story is bullshit. Chris Remo is a journalist who makes a living reporting on gamenews. He claims multiple sources and obviously they are in such a position that he feels they know what they're taling about. Anonymous sources are used all the time in reporting news. If this all turned out to be utter nonsense, Remo's rep would be in the garbage and a lot of people would never give him credence again.
I'd love to see the game finish and awe us all, it can still happen. But a large number of major people leaving the dev team IS big news and needs to be reported. This story doesn't mean 3dr is dead and in fact is very alive I'm sure.
I hope the people at 3dr aren't taking this as some kind of betrayal/insult by the shacknews team. I'd hate to see George quit posting here.
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http://www.digg.com/gaming_news/3D_Realms_Sees_Major_Employee_Departures_Fate_of_DNF_in_Question
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>:-(
Well shit. I've been a proponent of DNF here in the past (when I've actually posted) and now I have to admit I'm a bit dishearted. I mean, I don't know the backstory to all this, but with Remo reporting that major ex-employees have left and don't have good things to say about development how can you not be?
I still hope DNF is released, but my assuredness is wavering. If it is it will still 0wn. Dognose, I feel for you bro, because I'm feeling the same thing. :( George, I hope this doesn't mean bad things for DNF. Def. looking forward to any insight you could or will give on this.
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Heh :P
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Also, was not Daikatana announced, developed, and released since DNF was announced?
Did Not Finish
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Additionally, based on the majority of comments listed here, I would think they would now think we don't deserve DNF based on people always react :(
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Looking at this game, assuming a constant 20 person team over a decade of development time, that's 200 man-years of development. The true number is almost certainly higher than that.
The mind boggles.
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Actually wouldn't that be funny if that recent IGN screwup was a subliminal hint?
http://www.romsteady.net/blog/2006/08/games-when-memes-go-too-far.html
Who knows, I personally hate to sound optomistic about the game, being a major skeptic but the time of wacky marketing methods is definately nowadays and I've only heard more positive things in the past 18 months, indicating it was coming out sooner rather than later.
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