Take-Two Sues 3D Realms for Failing to Deliver Duke Nukem Forever
by Nick Breckon, May 15, 2009 2:01am PDTUpdate: Documents for the case have appeared online, revealing that, among other things, Take-Two is demanding a copy of the Duke Nukem Forever source code.
Original: Take-Two Interactive, publisher of Duke Nukem Forever, has filed suit against the remains of Apogee Ltd./3D Realms for failing to deliver the long-awaited title.
digg_url = 'http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/58642';
digg_title = 'Take-Two Sues 3D Realms for Failing to Deliver DNF';
Take-Two claims that an agreement to finish the shooter was breached when 3D Realms shut down development last week. At the time of the studio's closing, Duke Nukem Forever had been in development for over 12 years.
"Apogee continually delayed the completion date for the Duke Nukem Forever," says Take-Two in the complaint, according to Bloomberg. "Apogee repeatedly assured Take-Two and the video-gaming community that it was diligently working toward competing development of the PC Version of the Duke Nukem Forever."
Take-Two paid $12 million to former DNF publisher Infogrames for the exclusive publishing rights to the game in 2000. According to the publisher, a second unspecified agreement was struck between Take-Two and 3D Realms in 2007.
Following the closure last week, Take-Two spokesman Alan Lewis confirmed that the publisher was not providing 3D Realms with "ongoing funds for development of the title."
The two companies were on less than cheery terms during development of the game. After Take-Two publicly expressed hope that 3D Realms would finish the game in 2003, 3D Realms president George Broussard famously reminded Shacknews users that the game was self-funded, saying: "Take Two needs to STFU imo."
The details of the 2007 agreement have not yet been revealed, and may be key to determining how the lawsuit will proceed.
Apogee Software, Ltd is the official title of 3D Realms. The company abandoned the Apogee name in 1996 in favor of the 3D-oriented title. Apogee Software, LLC, an external publisher established in 2008, remains in operation.
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Comments
I still cannot believe this happened with such a great franchise name as Duke. Hell, they could have made millions and millions of $$$ in that amount of time with even decent management and run-of-the-mill gameplay. 3 well made Duke games should have been produced and released in that amount of time.
Anyone in this thread bashing Take 2 doesn't understand what the hell happened.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 78 replies.
Dallas, TX, December 05, 2000
In addition to Duke Nukem Forever, Take Two has acquired the complete catalog of already-released Duke Nukem products for multiple platforms including PC, Playstation, Nintendo 64, and Nintendo Game Boy/Game Boy Color as well as certain rights to future products.
Gathering of Developers parent company is.....wait for it....TAKE TWO. G.O.D aquired the PC publishing rights to DNF. Infogrames wanted to gear more toward family titles - 3DRaelms sought out Take Two. Miller says -"It was an obvious choice"
Read it on 3D Realms own Site.
http://www.3drealms.com/news/2000/12/duke_nukem_find.html
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