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The Best of Big Download; June 22-28, 2008
Wow. We have had tons of news, downloads and new content for Big Download this week . . .and that's just for Diablo III. Let's take a look at the highlights for the past week.Exclusive Features Games for Windows Press Conference: We attend Microsoft's press event where they give their views on the future of PC gaming. Guide to TF2 Pyro Achievements: Want a details look at all of the new achievements you can get while playing the Pyro in Team Fortress 2. Then check out the first five parts of our series: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, and Part 5. Shattered Suns Interview: We have an extensive interview with Chas. Cooper of Clear Crown Studios about their upcoming space based RTS game. Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford: We chat with the head of the extremely busy game developer on Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway and their other projects. Alone In the Dark Interview: We chat with Atari US producer Todd Slepian about their just released survival horror game. Hands-On: Deer Hunter Tournament: We get hands-on with the newest entry in the hunting sim series from Atari. In-Depth: Armaggedon Empires: We take a detailed ook at this acclaimed indie strategy game. In-Depth: The Political Machine: We offer a look at the just released political strategy game from Stardock Big Ideas: Why do we play video games?: Our editorial takes a look at why we need playtime with games anyway. BigCast 001: Our debut podcast has three of our team members chatting about, what else, PC gaming Freeware Friday: Our weekly look at free games has a look at Freeciv, a free tribute to the great Civilization games. Spore Creature Creator contest: You still have time to participate in our contest; make the best creatures and win some cool prizes
Squint at a new Duke Nukem Forever screenshot
Oh that crazy Duke has popped up yet again, kicking ass and chewing bubblegum as only he can. At least, that's what we think he's doing. Truthfully, it's pretty hard to tell from the latest tiny screenshot to emerge from the ever-elusive Duke Nukem Forever, which has surfaced on 3D Realms' site as part of a plea for developers to join the company's cause.As for the Duke, looking at the screenshot we like to imagine that he's running to the grocery store, probably to pick up a pack of Stride. After all, the ridiculously long lasting flavor will serve our hero well while he, like the rest of us, continues to wait.
You can actually watch Duke Nukem Forever on Jace Hall Show
So, let's just get this out of the way: We sort of dig former Monolith boss Jace Hall's new show. Well, more specifically, we dig Jace Hall, but we could do without some of the trappings of overproduction that surround him. But Jace? He's aces. See for yourself right after the break.Moving on, we think we speak for the whole internet when we say "OMG WE TOTALLY JUST SAW DUKE NUKEM FOREVER." More shocking? The 30 seconds or so we see in the video (it starts at about 4:15) actually looks pretty decent, even though we'll be the first to admit that watching a game via shaky cam over a bald dude's shoulder isn't the most optimal way to judge this sort of thing. So, it's been 26 years in development, what do you guys think of it?
First footage of Duke Nukem Forever
The very first episode of The Jace Hall Show is now live, and it includes the impossible: footage of Duke Nukem Forever. The segment with 3D Realms begins at 2:33, and we can honestly say that we appreciate host Jace Hall for asking the team "What the f*uck is taking so long?" The real fun, however, begins at 4:18, when we actually get a tiny glimpse of the game in action. Fans of Duke Nukem 3D will notice plenty of things from the original game, including some of the classic weapons. Specifically, there is footage of the shrink ray including the ever important moment when Duke crushes his recently debigulated foe. Hall concludes by saying, "I saw it. They have been working. It's not a myth. You're going to be pleased."Let's hope so.Update: Find the (autoplaying) video after the break. Sorry 'bout that.
Shacknews sees Duke Nukem Forever ... the game ... really
Some of the Shacknews crew are one small evolutionary step away from people who swear they've seen UFOs, the Virgin Mary in their toast, or Elvis at the laundromat. They've seen Duke Nukem Forever. No, we don't mean the underwhelming teaser they dropped last year or, well, that's about all we've seen in the last half-decade; we're talking about the actual game actually running on a modern computer.They "witnessed several different DNF gameplay scenarios, mechanics, and environments being demonstrated ... including environmental puzzles and interactivity, a host of finished weapons, the existence of an in-game forklift, and plenty of heads and arms being blown off." For those skeptics out there disinclined to believe the existence of such nonsense, we point you towards the following comment by one Mr. George Broussard from developer 3D Realms, posting under the name GeorgeB3DR: "... out of the blue I just decided to show them DNF for about an hour ..."... right, and we imagine they were also abducted "out of the blue" by a piece of toast with Elvis' face on it right after that. Duke Nukem Forever exists indeed.
Top 10 games we'll never see
When an anticipated MMO is said to be cancelled, it takes a little piece of us right along with it. As a Star Trek fan, you may have been excited to hear the news of a Star Trek Online MMO, but upon the news of its cancellation, you've wept quietly under your desk ever since. The same goes for Darkfall. Seven years is a long time to wait for a game's release, only to have it continuously put on hold indefinitely.Despite the fact that most of this Cracked.com list does not consist of MMOs, it's still an appropriate homage to the possibilities we've missed out on when it comes to our voided games on any platform.
Duke Nukem Forever screen shows alien, we think
Our initial assessment of the fragile 3D Realms and Dallas Business Journal relationship seems to have been made in haste, or maybe it was jealousy. The Dallas Business Journal has released a brand new image of the anticipated uh... most-wanted um... video game Duke Nukem Forever. The image, which is shown above in its original size, might be of an enemy in the upcoming title but because we do not have access to the Hubble Space telescope to magnify it from its 300 pixel wide glory we can't say for sure.
Duke Nukem Forever: don't believe the rumors, it's not done
According to a report in the Dallas Business Journal, Duke Nukem Forever, the game whose title carefully reflected development length, will come out in 2008 for next-gen systems. 3D Realms front-man and President, Scott Miller, confirmed a late 2008 release, padding the claim with "we may miss the mark by a month or two, but I feel very confident that we're on target this time," landing the game at a February 2009 release at the latest. But, really?According to our lovely friends at Joystiq, 3D Realms isn't so sure those statements were made. Scott Miller shrugs his shoulders and the company has issued a statement, saying quite clearly: "The release date is still 'when it's done,' and will be until the appropriate moment. Platforms have not been finalized or announced." So there you have it. Don't believe the rumors -- it's still more or less vaporware.[via 1UP]
Duke Nukem Forever, XBLA Duke confirmed for 08 [Update 2]
Update 2: The original interview in the Dallas Business Journal has been edited with many corrections regarding all things Duke. Primarily it now reads Duke Nukem Forever is internally projected for a 2008 release by 3D Realms and will likely come to the Xbox 360, PS3 and the PC. Basically, we're back to square one. Update: 3D Realms has informed Shacknews that the release date and platform availability for Duke Nukem Forever were not confirmed in the Dallas Business Journal interview, though the company apparently did not deny the information regarding the XBLA release of Duke Nukem 3D. Original article: Hot off the presses internets comes word from 3D Realms that Duke Nukem Forever is confirmed for late 2008 release. Hitting Xbox 360, PS3 and the PC it was announced for in 1996, Duke is the daddy of everything vaporware. In an email exchange with the Dallas Business Journal, 3D Realms president Scott Miller confirmed that the long 12-year wait for Duke's return will be over by the end of the calendar year. Miller went on to reiterate, "we may miss the mark by a month or two, but I feel very confident that we're on target this time." Miller also confirmed the existence of the rumored Xbox Live Arcade version of the classic PC title Duke Nukem 3D, which will feature online multiplayer support, leaderboards, and a co-op mode. When asked about a possible release date for the XBLA title Miller said, "we're talking to Microsoft about getting a release slot sometime this year." We're holding our collective breaths.
Duke Nukem Forever art director interviewed
Though obviously lacking in details regarding the perpetually in-development Duke Nukem Forever, we can't say we're eagerly awaiting every drop of information (this isn't Brawl, after all). Still, we'll give props to Down in Front, who managed to corner the game's art director, Tramell "T-Ray" Isaac, for an interview.What have we learned? Nothing of great consequence. The unsurprisingly underwhelming teaser trailer was all captured from the in-game engine using Fraps, and the game's storyline takes place in the near future, in Las Vegas. Information regarding release dates, or even general assurances that development in moving along nicely, are notably absent. Like we're surprised.
Fury still being sold in retail outlets, but who's buying it?
There's a forum post at atomicmpc.com that involves itself with the fact that Fury is still being sold in retail outlets (Electronics Boutique specifically named, though apparently there are others), when the game is free to download and free to play. As written here, though, it's not quite so cut-and-dried, as there is a slight benefit to owning the physical disc. My question, however, is this: given the depth of negative press Auran has gotten for Fury, is it worth paying for at all? Across the board, Fury's gotten nothing but horrible reviews, and I'm surprised the game exists at all. This is an industry story on the level of Duke Nukem Forever, or Daikatana. Is the disc worth owning for any reason other than a White Elephant gift?
Where's Duke Nukem been the last decade?
The door swung shut, his familiar frame lumbered in, sunk into the couch, like nothing had changed these last ten years. "Where have you been?" we screamed. "It's been ten years!""I'm looking for some alien toilet to park my bricks. Who's firrrrst?""So that's it? You come in here stinking like a wet cigar and that's all you've got to say for yourself?" He puffed on his cigar, blew radioactive smoke in our faces, and left ... Evidently, the boys at ShackNews have gotten over their abandonment issues (any pointers?) and taken a calendar-heavy look at the game's progress (or lack thereof, knowhutamean?) over the last decade of development. Most telling: the two E3 trailers, in '98 and '01, that show plenty of gameplay in what would almost seem to be a nearly complete game. Once you're done reading that, take another look at The Duke Nukem Forever List, an incredibly sobering breakdown of the things that have transpired since the game was first announced (spoiler alert: Google didn't exist yet). How much were milk and eggs back then, Grandpa? Read – A Decade of Duke: The Brief Long History of DNFRead – The Duke Nukem Forever List
Duke Nukem Forever teaser: it exists
And that's really all you can say about it. The surprise Duke Nukem Forever teaser that was announced last night is now on the internets for all to see, and we're left pretty much where we started. Well, maybe not exactly where we started, but we can definitely see the starting line from here. So, what's in the video? Assuming this is in-engine footage, it looks fairly pretty. Duke's biceps are excellently manly and full of bulging veins. There are pig monsters, squid monsters, and generic alien monsters. Duke spits out a trademark one-liner, which unfortunately falls a little flat. That's it. Roll credits. It's okay though. It's a teaser after all. Consider us teased. Now, 3D Realms, it's time to put up or shut up. Show us some gameplay footage or at least let us in on the ten year old joke.
Duke Nukem Forever teaser perpetuates cycle of non-delivery
Much like being trapped within the confines of a stereotypical Star Trek episode, watching Duke Nukem Forever's latest tease is an unwelcome encounter with your favorite industry's very own temporal loop. We've all been through the cycle of doubt and anticipation many times over, hurled back to the beginning whenever 3D Realms decides to switch engines, scrap designs and slam the big ol' reset button on George Broussard's desk.This particular peek at 3D Realms' perpetually approaching wolf offers exactly what you'd expect: bulging biceps, tentacled aliens and absolutely no assurances that your ten-year wait will be worth it. Until we see an actual game, consider our reserves of faith and interest thoroughly depleted.
Gasp! Duke Nukem Forever trailer releases today!
Potato pancakes and waffle fries! 3D Realms announced on their forums (which are currently down due to excessive bandwidth usage) that today, Wednesday, December 19th they'll be releasing a brand new Duke Nukem Forever teaser trailer ... you hear that? A Duke Nukem Forever teaser trailer! According to the forum post, the 3D Realms crew showed off the teaser at their annual company Christmas party and they all agreed that the masses needed to see it. The trailer should be available by 1:00PM eastern and you know that we and the world can't wait. So, for the time being, gush over the official 3D Realms released DNF screen-grab above. Vaporware, what?[Via TeamXbox, Thanks DjDATZ]
Duke Nukem Forever teaser coming tomorrow
As a sign that Duke Nukem (the character) is still alive and kicking, 3D Realms has announced that a teaser video for Duke Nukem Forever will go live tomorrow at noon CST (that's 1:00 p.m. EST, or Joystiq Time). To tide us over, the developer has released a screenshot (seen above) from tomorrow's video to prove that it does, in fact, exist. After over a decade of waiting, it's about time somebody released a teaser video of the game in its current form. Of course, the very word "teaser" gives us the impression that it'll be less than 30 seconds long and have little to no bearing on the actual gameplay. If you've been waiting over 10 years to see Duke puff a high-resolution cigar, then good for you! If not, feel free to join us in the Land of Expected Disappointments tomorrow (with well roasted crow on standby).[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
First look at Space Time Studios
TenTonHammer have an interview up with Space Time Studios, discussing their brand new "epic science fantasy" MMO. This is the first serious bit of news to come out of the studio, other than their art director visiting China.Space Time Studios are still keeping quiet about major details of their new MMO, but we now know that the primary focus will be real-time space flight & combat, and it's epic science fantasy. Whatever that means. Presumably kobolds riding beholders and firing laser rifles at each other. Formed in late 2005, Space Time Studios includes many game industry vets that have worked on such titles as Star Wars Galaxies, Jump to Lightspeed, Wing Commander ... and even a Duke Nukem Forever escapee.Major details and a name for their project shouldn't be too far off, so stay tuned.
Yet another tiny Duke Nukem Forever image
Duke Nukem Forever is starting to have a lot in common with modern myths. Like Sasquatch or the Loch Ness Monster, months pass with no news whatsoever, and then the topic is ablaze again with the release of a blurry photograph. The newest image comes from the latest issue of Game Informer, inside an article discussing 3D Realms' Earth No More. So, what can we discern from the new image? Not much. We can see lightning, what looks like a tree or tentacled creature, some walls, and that's about it. Of course, that won't stop hungry Duke Nukem fans from analyzing the image until their eyes bleed.We'd like to join them, but like many Sasquatch Duke Nukem Forever skeptics, we're just not convinced the game actually exists.
Duke Nukem won't be 3D Realms' next 'big announcement'
3D Realms has some big announcements coming in the next six months, but nothing about Duke Nukem Forever, according to new creative director Raphael Van Lierop."I can say that we have a big announcement coming in the next four weeks, and I'm not sure, but I believe we have another major announcement coming in the next four to six months," he said in an interview with Gamasutra. "While I can't say exactly what these are, are they about Duke Nukem Forever? No."Since beginning the DNF project just over a decade ago, the company has managed to release 12 titles, which can be summed up as Prey, two Max Paynes and nine Duke Nukem iterations. Van Lierop said that their business model benefits from a "very collaborative relationship" with other developers. If DNF isn't one of the company's next two big announcements, then we'll likely see another partnership, perhaps the Prey sequel that 3DR's CEO Scott Miller told Firing Squad in February was already mapped out from a "high-level story standpoint." The first big announcement will coincide with this year's E3 Media and Business Summit. Fun fact: In the span of two questions, or 521 words, in the interview, there are 9 mentions to Duke Nukem Forever, totaling 27 words (with only one of those references by the interviewer). That's over 5% of the words used in that section!
Will Oblivion ever come out?
Happy 10th un-birthday, Duke Nukem Forever! As we "celebrate" your un-life, we want to think about a PSP game with an analogous development time: Oblivion. CVG reminds us that the title was supposed to launch by now, possibly in time for the recent PS3 release. They contacted Ubisoft for some word on whether or not the title was actually still in development, but they received a noncommittal "no comment."Gamestop's release date for the title continues to shift, having moved from last year to this, from April to September, back to April, and now December. Do you think Oblivion will ever come out for our system?
