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In the memory of 3D Realms

Reading today's news about 3D Realms shutting down was like a strike of lightning into our hearts. We're losing one of the most notable developers in PC gaming history. But 3D Realms won't fade away, thanks to the great games that have given us so much pleasure in the past and will absolutely entertain a new generation of gamers. We asked a few GOG.com team members to share their feelings about the 3D Realms closure and about the company's games.

Reading today's news about 3D Realms shutting down was like a strike of lightning into our hearts. We're losing one of the most notable developers in PC gaming history. But 3D Realms won't fade away, thanks to the great games that have given us so much pleasure in the past and will absolutely entertain a new generation of gamers. We asked a few GOG.com team members to share their feelings about the 3D Realms closure and about the company's games.



Tom "Vandal" Ohle: "It's not often that a news story takes me completely by surprise... but the unfortunate closure of 3D Realms was one of those situations. It seemed like a really bad, late April Fools' joke. With 3DR's demise, we've lost one of PC gaming's most cherished developers.


Sure, it would be easy to toss in some sort of joke about Duke Nukem Forever here, but I'd rather we focus on something positive... the core reason why DNF didn't get released. Ultimately, 3D Realms didn't want to release a game that didn't meet gamers' increasingly rising expectations. The development timeline got out of hand, but it seems that it was 3DR's unwavering desire to make gamers happy that caused its downfall.


I still remember playing Duke Nukem 3D in my early teens -- sure it was a mature game, but I've still turned out alright... It was an awesome experience, maybe the first real FPS I ever played, and was one of the first
games that really got me to think about video games as a potential career.


Developing and producing games like Duke Nukem 3D, Shadow Warrior, Max Payne and Prey, 3D Realms created a legacy of great action titles that will live on long after the company itself. We're glad to be able to play some small
part in keeping that legacy alive, but I sure as hell would love to play DNF
at some point.

I wish everyone at 3D Realms all the best in the future."



Oleg "W0rma" Klapovsky: "I've got only good memories about 3DR. They opened a world of FPS for me. Duke Nukem 3D was the first FPS I was playing via modem with my friends. Great expirience! I was waiting for the DNF for all these years and it is a pity that now it seems like Duke Nukem 3D be the last masterpiece from 3DR I`ll be playing on my PC. "



Lukasz "Cook" Kukawski: "The announcement about closing down 3D Realms is not a present I was hoping for on my birthday. It is a great loss for every PC gamer, not only those who remember the golden years of the company when Duke Nukem was ruling the action genre as the King.



Duke Nukem 3D was the first FPS games I really enjoyed. Great gameplay combined with the humor and those pixeled babes ruled at that time. I remember the LAN parties with Duke 3D on had to end because of my parents yelling it's already 4 in the morning and I have to go to school in 3 hours. Those were the times...



Despite we'll never play Duke Nukem Forever, and I would love to play that, the people who delivered us, gamers, such gems like Duke Nukem 3D and Max Payne really deserve a place among the best developers in PC gaming history. Hail to the King. We will miss you."



Piotr "Firek" Sadzinski: "When I got an e-mail about this on my GOG mailbox I was all like "Wait, what? Where did that come from?". One day I'm happy we're re-releasing a part of 3DRealms' legacy, and a couple months later someone tells me they've gotta close up shop? Not cool...



I confess I haven't played all of their titles, but each one I had played was a true masterpiece in my eyes. The never-before-seen interactivity of Duke Nukem 3D blew my mind and I think that, if it hadn't been for Duke raising the bar so high, current games would be a lot more boring. Then Shadow Warrior arrived on my hard drive and gave me vehicles I could actually operate in an FPS game - things a modern FPS game pretty much MUST HAVE. Not to mention characters which actually had more personality than a box art image.



Even though modern games already have pretty much everything from breaking stuff to driving grav tanks, I'm sure Duke Nukem Forever would make them all seem plain, raising the bar once again, as should be expected from 3D Realms. Despite this sad news I still hope this day will eventually come."



Adam "Skreczi" Kreczmanski: "3d Realms was one of those companies that created today's image of the video games. How they handled Duke Nukem, how they always focused on gameplay in their products. For me the presentation and the whole concept of Duke Nukem character in DN3D will remain a masterpiece. I will always keep memories of that company in my heart. “Hail to the King babe!”



Magda "Coni" Oracz: "That's impossible! I was waiting for Duke Nukem Forever :("


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Duke Nukem series In the memory of 3D Realms (24 posts) (24 posts)
(24 posts)
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Posted May 10, 2009
5
omg... This might not have happened if they had only put out Duke Nukem Forever. : (
Posted May 10, 2009
6
I will always believe in Duke Nukem Forever. Always.
Posted May 10, 2009
7
It's a real shame what has happened to 3D Realms, however, I don't think it's that big a loss.
Had this happened in the 90s, it would have been catastrophic. Now, though, there are just so many quality companies around, that losing one isn't such a blow to the industry.
I'm of two minds, but hey, if the DNF engine and assets are bought by whomever, we may actually see the king return!
Posted May 10, 2009
8
Waking up on my birthday, reading the news and learning that while I was sleeping 3DR had to shut down was really not a good start to that day :'(
Posted May 10, 2009
9
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Shalgroth: I'm of two minds, but hey, if the DNF engine and assets are bought by whomever, we may actually see the king return!

If put in the right hands, that would be great!
Posted May 10, 2009
10
The saddest thing is no one will ever give them credit for out-Romero-ing John Romero
Posted May 11, 2009
11
This is a real tearjerker...
Posted May 11, 2009
12
While it's sad to hear that they've closed, it makes me wonder if they had just finished Duke Nuke'em Forever or sold it off would have made a difference.
Over 10 years to be working on a game and never finish it is unbelievable. If I had those kind of delays in doing my job I would have been fired after months, not years of blown deadlines.
Who cares if it was the most cutting-edge game as soon as it was released. The gameplay is what matters most IMHO.
Posted May 11, 2009
13
Have you seen the leaked gameplay footage? Bloody hell, it looked almost finished :( And lots of fun. I'm not sure if even DNF would be able to save the company though, bad management lied behind all of this, 3DR hasn't developed a game in a long long time, and the last game they produced was Prey. Regardless, sad :(
Posted May 11, 2009
14
The leaked "gameplay footage" is a fake, being scripted and heavily "shopped". The game was nowhere near completion.
Posted May 11, 2009
15
They wont sell the Duke IP to anyone, they run out of funds to complete the game, and there's all staff losing there jobs which is very tragic.
They made some great games over the years and produced with other people. It's the developers when working on the game posted some media stuff of the game.
Posted May 11, 2009
16
Nooooooooooooooooo :( Crap crap crap crap crap crap.
Anyway, DNF is being made by TakeTwo Interactive instead of 3D Realms.
Posted May 11, 2009
17
I read about this a few days ago and it still doesn't feel real to me.
I sincerely hope that GoG can secure the rights to sell all of the older games at least. I'm not sure I like the idea of commander keen, wacky wheels or terminal velocity being unavailable to newer players.
Posted May 12, 2009
18
The Keen series at the very least is on Steam.
Still, I agree with your post. The new Apogee software needs to get around to distributing some of their vintage gold.
If only there was some website who specialized in preparing and selling older games on newer operating systems.
Posted May 12, 2009
19
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stonebro: If only there was some website who specialized in preparing and selling older games on newer operating systems.

I think I can give away a secret of mine. There seems to be a website that actually does sell older games - it's called GOG.com or something! That's crazy!!! ;)
Posted May 13, 2009
20
http://www.gossipgamers.com/duke-nukem-forever-gameplay-footage-leaked/
Posted May 13, 2009
21
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sajber: http://www.gossipgamers.com/duke-nukem-forever-gameplay-footage-leaked/

Such a shame, looks pretty good. Getting a bit sick of all these po-faced modern shooters, haven't really played a crazy fps since Serious Sam. Not sure about that boss fight though never been a big fan of Quick Time Events i.e push button to win.
Oh well, guess we will never get to see how it would have turned out :)
Posted May 16, 2009
22
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stonebro: If only there was some website who specialized in preparing and selling older games on newer operating systems.
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Cook: I think I can give away a secret of mine. There seems to be a website that actually does sell older games - it's called GOG.com or something! That's crazy!!! ;)

I've heard they sell the games DRM-free -- bunch of kooks they are. ;)
Posted May 25, 2009
23
Not sure if you guys know this already, but 3D Realms is NOT closed. They did have to lay off the DNF staff however, but the 3D Realms company is still open for business and they are hoping to do more with Duke Nukem in the future.
Posted May 26, 2009
24
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hedwards: I read about this a few days ago and it still doesn't feel real to me.
I sincerely hope that GoG can secure the rights to sell all of the older games at least. I'm not sure I like the idea of commander keen, wacky wheels or terminal velocity being unavailable to newer players.

Commander Keen was an ID software game, not 3D realms. and yes, you can get it on Steam... just an FYI
.... Still waiting for Duke Forever ... maybe one day.. years in the making
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Duke Nukem series In the memory of 3D Realms (24 posts) (24 posts)
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