FIXED**

So I picked up Duke Nukem Forever on a low, low sale some time back and decided I finally want to give the game a try, but it doesn't want to launch... at all. All it does is repeatedly bring up the 'preparing to launch' window without ever even starting the game. I don't get any error messages or anything until I make the continuous cycle stop manually, and that one is just a generic Steam support link. I'm running Windows 8.1

I've never encountered such peculiar behavior before. Does anyone know what may be causing this and if there is a fix to it? I already deleted and reinstalled the game twice with the very same result. And, yes, I already searched on Google and the Steam forum with no useful results.

**EDIT: I guess I posted too soon, but the fix is the oddest thing ever. So I tried messing some more with compatibility settings without avail. For shits and giggles I turned off administrator privileges, which was automatically enabled, for the game... and lo and behold now it runs. I mean, WTF?? Usually it's the other way around. Why would having it on cause it not to run? Very peculiar.

Oh well, guess I can kick some alien booty now. Yay.

Indeed, that does sound like an odd problem but good to see you found a solution. Not even Windows 8.1 can stop the Duke! Hail to the king! :)

Where did you find it cheap? Was it with the DLC

It's $5 on the Humble Store right now. Doesn't look like it has the DLC, but that's pretty cheap too, you can probably pick it up on a sale sooner or later.

Steam itself, but that was a while ago. No DLC though since its multiplayer only stuff anyway. I don't buy multi DLC.

The Doctor Who Cloned Me is a single-player campaign, and it's pretty decent, if you enjoyed the main game.

Huh. I thought they were both multiplayer only. Well, maybe the next time it goes on sale. That is if the main game proves to be good enough.

windows 8.1.......

From what I read the DLC (the Doctor Who Cloned me) is a must have since it basically concludes the game :(.