Take-Two sues over lack of Duke Nukem Forever completion

Duke Nukem Forever may not be all the way dead, but the first lawsuit over the game's carcass has already been filed. What can Take-Two hope to get by suing 3D Realms? It's unclear, but the company is out $12 million, and has no game to show for it.

Read the whole story

 

[LugubriousAmoeba]

Could they be awarded the IP for it? that way they can hire another studio to do it?

 

[Knives]

Originally posted by LugubriousAmoeba:
Could they be awarded the IP for it? that way they can hire another studio to do it?

That's actually not a bad idea ...

 

[LJ]

George Broussard repeatedly stated the 3DR was self funded. Was he lying about that also?

Frankly, Take 2 has a good claim here. It looks like the project was very badly mismanaged. There is plenty of value in the Duke Nukem IP still -- so Take 2 should be able to get compensated.

 

[Sifaka]

"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."

One of the funnier quotes I have seen in a long time... I want to know who in the gaming community thought we would ever see this game?

 

[Bobson]

Originally posted by Knives:

Originally posted by LugubriousAmoeba:
Could they be awarded the IP for it? that way they can hire another studio to do it?

That's actually not a bad idea ...

They could possibly also get all the source code too, to take to another company to finish rather than having someone else start from scratch. Assuming there really is enough done to make it worthwhile anyway.

 

[Shades047]

Maybe this will help shed light on just what exactly happened with this project. It really has potential- anything this badly managed just HAS to involve dead hookers, the Russian mafia, and spurned lovers out for revenge, at the LEAST.

 

[Alfonse]

Maybe Take-Two can make a videogame about the production of Duke Nukem Forever.

 

[EtrnL_Frost]

Originally posted by Sifaka:
One of the funnier quotes I have seen in a long time... I want to know who in the gaming community thought we would ever see this game?

It's even better if you read it: "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."

Maybe it was a communication error?

 

[MoistDinosaur]

Originally posted by Alfonse:
Maybe Take-Two can make a videogame about the production of Duke Nukem Forever.

GTV? Grand Theft Video Game

 

[thekaj]

While the lawsuit is understandable—Take-Two basically paid $12 million to publish a game that was never finished—it's unclear what the company hopes to gain in the courts.

I'm guessing its $12 million back.

 

[Caedus]

Talk about kicking them while they're down... -- --

 

[Staticstarter]

Mistake #1: Take2 gave $12 million to 3D Realms. A better return on investment would have been the horsetrack.
Mistake #2: Take2 thinks by suing they can get money from 3D Realms. Tip to Take2: You can't get blood from a stone.

The humor in all this is that filing a lawsuit implies to me that Take2 actually believed 3DRealms would complete Duke Nukem Forever. LOLz, that's for sure!

Honestly I hope they don't make Duke Nukem Forever. Duke is more historically iconic and famous as vaporware instead of a poorly made, flop game tarnishing his image.


This comment was edited by Staticstarter on May 15, 2009 18:31

 

[the_little_troll]

If the sheer incompetence in handling DNF´s development is any indicator of the team´s game development skills in general, let´s all thank God DNF never saw the light of day.

If there ever *was* a development of DNF in the first place, of course......

 

[ayelao]

Originally posted by Staticstarter:
The humor in all this is that filing a lawsuit implies to me that Take2 actually believed 3DRealms would complete Duke Nukem Forever. LOLz, that's for sure!

Or perhaps they feel that, by suing, they can coax the court to hand them the IP so they could both publish and develop the game without getting into a bidding war or having the work done on the project siphoned off to another project. I'm sure they want to ensure that the money they invested in publishing the game was not entirely wasted.

 

[river-wind]

the IP.

The company doesn't have $12 million to repay, but by getting into court quickly, Take Two is likely to end up at the top of the heap of creditors when #DR goes to bankruptcy court.

 

[stopher2475]

Out 12 mill? Shoulda hedged with a video game default swap.

 

[StuckInaCube]

Originally posted by river-wind:
the IP.

The company doesn't have $12 million to repay, but by getting into court quickly, Take Two is likely to end up at the top of the heap of creditors when #DR goes to bankruptcy court.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Harry_Greek]

Take the IP and run!! TAKE THE IP AND RUN DAMMIT!!!

 

[Quitch]

Originally posted by Staticstarter:
The humor in all this is that filing a lawsuit implies to me that Take2 actually believed 3DRealms would complete Duke Nukem Forever. LOLz, that's for sure!

Well, yeah 3DRealms are a joke now but you're forgetting that this wasn't always the case.

 

[axia777]

Originally posted by LugubriousAmoeba:
Could they be awarded the IP for it? that way they can hire another studio to do it?

I would say that they take the entire game from them. The code, art assets, and all information related to it. 3d Realms screwed it up for 12 years now somebody else can do it in around 2-3.

I think the fact that 3d Reals odes not have any money is a good thing for Take 2. Now 3d Realms can settle with T2 for the Duke game instead of cash.

Personally I would see if the Housers of Rockstar are willing to it it. Rockstar would do an awesome Duke Nukem I think.

This comment was edited by axia777 on May 16, 2009 02:28

 

[SuinusLatinus]

Originally posted by Bobson:


They could possibly also get all the source code too, to take to another company to finish rather than having someone else start from scratch. Assuming there really is enough done to make it worthwhile anyway.

Yes, all 12 lines of it... -- --

 

[krimhorn]

Personally I would see if the Housers of Rockstar are willing to it it. Rockstar would do an awesome Duke Nukem I think.

The minute someone mentioned that Take2 might be trying to get the court to award them the IP that is exactly what I thought. R* would do a great job with the Duke. Whether they would nail the tongue-in-cheek toilet humor and the gameplay is up for grabs though.

 

[gommer]

Well DNF never truly existed. It was all a ruse just to sell game engines. It is interesting that Take Two is suing, when in all likelihood they were in on the scam.

 

[JabberWockey]

And now whatever products that belonged to 3Drealms is now going to go to Take Two when 3D Realms files for bankruptcy. Ingenious move on Take Two's part - they get everything to the company except the all-male staff that sunk the company in the first place.

 

[Kristofff]

Originally posted by thekaj:

While the lawsuit is understandable—Take-Two basically paid $12 million to publish a game that was never finished—it's unclear what the company hopes to gain in the courts.

I'm guessing its $12 million back.

More likle the IP. There is no cash to be got.

Originally posted by JabberWockey:
And now whatever products that belonged to 3Drealms is now going to go to Take Two when 3D Realms files for bankruptcy. Ingenious move on Take Two's part - they get everything to the company except the all-male staff that sunk the company in the first place.

Holy misandry, Batman!

 

[axia777]

Here is more BS for the pile....

3D Realms' Miller Responds to Take-Two Nukem Suit
By Brian Crecente, 2:00 PM on Sat May 16 2009, 16,924 views (Edit post, Set to draft, Slurp)

3D Realms never received any of the $12 million that Take-Two is suing the company for, 3D Reamls' co-founder Scott Miller told Shacknews today.

3D Realms "didn't get a penny of that [$12 million]," according to Miller. "This, along with so much else, is 100% spin, being eaten up by those who have no clue whatsoever."

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. filed a breach of contract suit against Apogee Software Ltd. this week in a Manhattan Court over the developer's "continually delayed" Duke Nukem sequel. Details of the suit were not disclosed in a report by Bloomberg, nor has the New York County Civil Court provided specifics about the damages Take-Two is seeking.

Take-Two also says they invested more than $12 million in the game.

http://kotaku.com/5257517/3d-r...-take+two-nukem-suit

Right, because we all know that 3D Realms are always completely honest.....

 

[idontunderstand]

Originally posted by LJ:
Frankly, Take 2 has a good claim here. It looks like the project was very badly mismanaged.

Devs spent too much time doing "research" about the hookers in the game?

 

[luciferos]

Let it stay dead if 3d realms ain't doing it. If you put Duke in someone else's hands I don't think they could stroke it the way they're supposed to. It'll be just another random, faceless shooter without the humour and without the objectifying of the females.

Forget it. It's Duke Nukem Forever by the real creators or nothing at all in the future, by anyone. Take your pick. If some other house does it it just won't be Duke Nukem anymore. I promise.