Topic: 3D Realms closes down

[Quemaqua]

I think basically Apogee became 3DR, and Apogee has been kept on as a brand for like the handheld titles and stuff.  But I'm pretty sure it's all the same company.

[Xessive]

3D Realms Responds To Take-Two's Lawsuit: We Are Not Closing (Source: Megagames.com)

"In light of recent press articles and statements by Take-Two (to the media and in a lawsuit), we want to set the record straight on some issues.

Despite rumors and statements to the contrary, 3D Realms (3DR) has not closed and is not closing. 3DR retains ownership of the Duke Nukem franchise. Due to lack of funding, however, we are saddened to confirm that we let the Duke Nukem Forever (DNF) development team go on May 6th, while we regroup as a company. While 3DR is a much smaller studio now, we will continue to operate as a company and continue to license and co-create games based upon the Duke Nukem franchise.

As some of you may know, Take-Two filed a lawsuit last week containing various accusations and claims against 3DR and the uncompleted DNF game. Take-Two never paid 3DR advances or any signing bonus or any other funds related to DNF, up until July 2008, at which time they paid $2.5m in connection with another agreement for an unannounced game.

This is the sum total Take-Two has paid 3DR in connection with DNF. Take-Two claims that they paid $12m to GT Interactive/Infogrames to acquire the publishing rights for the DNF game. To be clear, 3DR was not a party to that transaction and did not receive any money from it. When the DNF game was originally signed with GT Interactive in 1998, GT paid 3DR a $400,000 signing bonus. Up until July 2008, this was the only publisher money we received for the DNF game. Meanwhile, 3DR put over $20m into the production of DNF.

Take-Two retains publishing rights for the DNF game, although 3DR retains certain rights to sell the game directly to the public. Late last year, 3DR began negotiations with Take-Two to provide funding to complete the DNF game. In the meantime, 3DR was hitting mutually-agreed milestones, despite not having a new agreement finalized.

Take-Two was well aware that 3DR needed the funding to continue the DNF game development. Suddenly, after months of negotiations, Take-Two materially changed the parameters of the proposed funding agreement. 3DR informed Take-Two that it could not financially afford the changes Take-Two was suggesting and would be forced to release the team if an agreement was not reached.

Take-Two made a last minute proposal to acquire the Duke Nukem franchise and the 3DR development team. Take-Two's proposal was unacceptable to 3DR for many reasons, including no upfront money, no guarantee minimum payment, and no guarantee to complete the DNF game. From 3DR's perspective, we viewed Take-Two as trying to acquire the Duke Nukem franchise in a "fire sale." Those negotiations fell through on May 4th, a deal never materialized, and the DNF team was sadly released a few days later.

Less than a week after the DNF team was released, Take-Two filed its lawsuit in New York, seeking immediate temporary injunctive relief. The court denied Take-Two's request for a temporary restraining order. While we cannot comment on the details of the ongoing lawsuit, we believe Take-Two's lawsuit is without merit and merely a bully tactic to obtain ownership of the Duke Nukem franchise. We will vigorously defend ourselves against this publisher."

[MysterD]

3D Realms Responds To Take-Two's Lawsuit: We Are Not Closing (Source: Megagames.com)

W7's post might not have quoted the ordeal, but his link on Shacknews states that all.

[Xessive]

Yeah I know, but I felt compelled to contribute something and the best I could muster was the quote and details

[MysterD]

Zero Punctuation has a hilarious "Review" for Duke Nukem Forever.

[Cobra951]

Hahaha!  The bit about having 3 blond children tickled me silly.

[MysterD]

Jace Hall's season finale for his Internet Show tomorrow will be about DNF's History - and will also show off some unreleased in-game footage of DNF

[MysterD]

Here's Jace Hall's Internet Show - Season 2 Finale.
DNF Talk begins around 5 min 48 seconds into the episode.
Around 7 mins and 42 secs in, he shows DNF footage until around 8 mins and 56 secs.
Talks about DNF for a very short bit.
9 mins and 46 secs in, more DNF Footage until 10 mins and 43 secs.

[scottws]

What the fuck?  Even after DNF is gone, people are still talking about it!  Stop already!  Everyone was right.  DNF = Did Not Finish.  Duke Nukem Never-ever was appropriate.  Let it go and die already!

[Pugnate]

What the fuck?  Even after DNF is gone, people are still talking about it!  Stop already!  Everyone was right.  DNF = Did Not Finish.  Duke Nukem Never-ever was appropriate.  Let it go and die already!

While this might seem a bit over top, I pretty much agree. I was so sick of hearing about that game, that I am glad it died. What made it worse was that it would generate so much excitement over nothing. Little art assets, snipets of job placements etc.

haha, remember that trailer last year? I would love to see a link to that thread.

[MysterD]

While this might seem a bit over top, I pretty much agree. I was so sick of hearing about that game, that I am glad it died. What made it worse was that it would generate so much excitement over nothing. Little art assets, snipets of job placements etc.

haha, remember that trailer last year? I would love to see a link to that thread.

Link.

[MysterD]

Here's more on Take-Two's detailed lawsuit on 3DRealms summed-up on Shacknews, which has all kinds of allegations and madness in there -- such as 3DR has lots of money in an offshore bank account, 360 version hasn't even been started yet, etc etc. And that's just for starters!

And if you're really adventurous, the 20-page plus document is on Shacknews here to read, too.

[MysterD]

A lot of this info is coming straight from that 20-page document.
So, here's some of the document that is interesting, which Voodoo Extreme IGN is pointing out.

Supposedly, 3DR has spent around so far $20 million on DNF.

Since 3DR did take around $2.5 million from Take-Two, Take-Two wanted to have the rights to have usage for a Duke Nukem game of their very own made. 3DR supposedly agreed to this.

One of their Take-Two's 2K Games groups (hmmmm....maybe 2K Boston?) is working on their own Duke game called Duke Begins, which is planned for 2010 -- and the royalties made off this game that would go to 3DR (for letting Take-Two use the IP license) would go to repaying the $2.5 mill 3DR owes Take-Two.

[MysterD]

Looks like Gearbox was the company that was working on the "currently scrapped" Duke Begins project for Take 2.

[Xessive]

D, with your thread-resurrection capabilities steadily rising you may eventually develop enough capacity to resurrect dead studios and dead projects.

[MysterD]

D, with your thread-resurrection capabilities steadily rising you may eventually develop enough capacity to resurrect dead studios and dead projects.

Oh, I bet the reason so many dead franchises get resurrected and/or rebooted is b/c the dev's and publishers read what I post on OWNet and decide, "I like the way this one guy named MysterD thinks."

Unfortunately, they see 700 posts in a thread, thinking a lot of people are interested in it, but they failed to realize that I'm the only one postin' in that fuckin' thread!

[MysterD]

GOG has a list of Duke Nukem 3D Mods they really like.

High Res Mod
Duke Plus
Weapons of Mass Destruction
Infestation in Time

[MysterD]

Take-Two and 3DR lawsuit has been settled.