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Duke 3D #1
3D Realms site just have shutted down. 0_o "This domain has just been registered for one of our customers!
Domain registration and webhosting at best prices.". What the hell is going on there?
3D Realms Shutting Down
- I used to be a Brown Fuzzy Fruit, but I've changed bro...
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#1592 Posted 18 May 2009 - 07:52 AM
btGrave, on May 19 2009, 03:44 AM, said:
3D Realms site just have shutted down. 0_o "This domain has just been registered for one of our customers!
Domain registration and webhosting at best prices.". Gonna check whois.
Domain registration and webhosting at best prices.". Gonna check whois.
It's still registered to them, It's just that there is nothing contained on the server it seems and is displaying that as a default page.
Forums are also down.
This post has been edited by The Commander: 18 May 2009 - 07:52 AM
#1593 Posted 18 May 2009 - 07:55 AM
Wonder if they just decided to be done with it all.
The forum move supposedly already happened.. so I'm curious to see if this is just them about to put up a "3DRealms is closed, thanks for being a part of something big, etc" static page and that will be that.
The forum move supposedly already happened.. so I'm curious to see if this is just them about to put up a "3DRealms is closed, thanks for being a part of something big, etc" static page and that will be that.
#1595 Posted 18 May 2009 - 08:02 AM
when I pulled up 3drealms.com just now it worked fine, after clearing my cache, no more images but the site will come up. same with you guys? forums are quite gone, though. Only the home page still works as a shadow of itself, the download page etc are all gone too
This post has been edited by storm8ring3r: 18 May 2009 - 08:03 AM
#1596 Posted 18 May 2009 - 08:06 AM
storm8ring3r, on May 19 2009, 02:02 AM, said:
when I pulled up 3drealms.com just now it worked fine, after clearing my cache, no more images but the site will come up. same with you guys? forums are quite gone, though. Only the home page still works as a shadow of itself, the download page etc are all gone too
Nope, completely dead and gone here. It's not a mystery why... There's no-one there to look after it anymore.
Edit: Spoke too soon. It's all back again.
This post has been edited by NonSequitur: 18 May 2009 - 08:08 AM
#1598 Posted 18 May 2009 - 08:08 AM
doing a traceroute shows it not going anywhere close to Texas
[edit] well, that was inttersing, it's back up.
6 27 ms 26 ms 26 ms te-0-1-0-7-cr01.seattle.wa.ibone.comcast.net [68 .86.90.249] 7 30 ms 30 ms 30 ms pos-0-8-0-0-cr01.portland.or.ibone.comcast.net [ 68.86.85.206] 8 43 ms 42 ms 41 ms pos-1-14-0-0-cr01.sacramento.ca.ibone.comcast.ne t [68.86.85.201] 9 55 ms 57 ms 56 ms pos-0-9-0-0-cr01.sanjose.ca.ibone.comcast.net [6 8.86.85.181] 10 56 ms 56 ms 57 ms te3-3.mpd01.sjc04.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.11. 105] 11 56 ms 57 ms 57 ms te9-1.ccr02.sfo01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.0.1 77] 12 81 ms 232 ms 218 ms te2-3.ccr02.mci01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.24. 110] 13 66 ms 65 ms 63 ms te-1-3.bb-a.ga.mkc.us.oneandone.net [38.104.86.4 2] 14 65 ms 66 ms 64 ms te-1-1.bb-a.slr.lxa.us.oneandone.net [74.208.1.6 5] 15 65 ms 67 ms 65 ms te-1-1.gw-distp-b.slr.lxa.oneandone.net [74.208. 1.118] 16 64 ms 66 ms 64 ms ae-1.gw-prtr-r3-1b.slr.lxa.oneandone.net [74.208 .1.174] 17 67 ms 66 ms 64 ms u15349871.onlinehome-server.com [74.208.171.241]
[edit] well, that was inttersing, it's back up.
This post has been edited by Rellik: 18 May 2009 - 08:09 AM
#1599 Posted 18 May 2009 - 12:57 PM
Is The 'Duke Nukem Forever' Cancellation A Huge Publicity Stunt?
Here's a jumbo-size internet-born conspiracy theory for you: The cancellation of long awaited FPS Duke Nukem Forever is nothing but a huge P.R. stunt to drum up interest in the title. Here's the (scant) evidence:
* The website Save Duke Nukem was registered the day the game was announced as canceled.
* The site Save Duke was registered the day before the announcement was made.
* Both sites were registered by anonymous proxy, something fans probably wouldn't do-- someone is trying to cover something up!
* A ton of material (screenshots and videos as well as detailed design documents) was leaked immediately following the games official cancellation. The theory goes: If 3D Realms had all of this material sitting around while their company crumbled, and the games was this close to completion, why wouldn't they have used it to save the company and the game?
* UFOs are, like, totally real and the president and the CIA know it.
* The point of the subterfuge: To drum up user interest in the Duke franchise and put it into the forefront of gamers' minds by creating a fake grass-roots "Save Duke" movement.
Let me propose an alternate theory:
* These two sites were registered by employees of the company who knew the company was shutting down, or even fans who heard rumors before the news actually broke.
* All these leaks are actually that: Leaks. They were released more to secure future employment for laid-off artists and programmers than to drum up interest in Forever. If you take a look at the videos, they're pretty far from the kind of polished, finished product game companies release to promote their game, but they're exactly like the kind of thing artists put on their "reels."
* There is no fake grass-roots campaign. Everything we know officially about the game is actually the truth and no one is trying to manipulate gamers' minds.
The conspiracy aspects of this story seem pretty ridiculous to me. That a company would release detailed design documents that provide the entire game plot and every spoiler in it would be unprecedented. If it is a P.R. stunt, it's a very, very complete one. And a very unlikely one. It's not like 3D Realms would need to do anything but set a definite release date and put out a demo to gain the attention of the entire gaming world, so it would prove ultimately pointless. Besides, pretending your company has gone out of business to promote a game seems like an suicidal strategy, in a business sense.
As for the future of Duke, I think we'll see it -- eventually. Someone will (hopefully) snap up the rights to the seemingly almost finished game and put it out. I'm an eternal optimist, here, though. It's been more than a decade, and for all that time I've thought the game was coming.
Which brings me to the third theory: The whole thing is half P.R. stunt and half truth. This theory goes like this: Someone (as yet unknown) has concrete plans to publish the Duke game, and is using the closing of 3D Realms and some future "grassroots" Save Duke campaign as part of publicity-generating ploy. More likely than the original conspiracy, but still not too likely. After all, as mentioned, all the gaming world would need to catch fire with Duke-fever would be a demo and a release date.
In any case, unlike most conspiracy theories, this one should be resolved relatively quickly. We've put our feelers out to some acquaintances who worked at 3D Realms, and hopefully we'll hear something definite soon... Unless, of course, I am part of the conspiracy, and I'm only trying to draw your attention away from what's really going on here, which is complicated and involves reverse vampires. Ha, ha, I'm just joking.
...or am I?
Feel free to opine, speculate and spin wild theories in our comment section below; after all, what good is a conspiracy theory without uninformed and/or hysterical opinions?
=> LINK <=
Here's a jumbo-size internet-born conspiracy theory for you: The cancellation of long awaited FPS Duke Nukem Forever is nothing but a huge P.R. stunt to drum up interest in the title. Here's the (scant) evidence:
* The website Save Duke Nukem was registered the day the game was announced as canceled.
* The site Save Duke was registered the day before the announcement was made.
* Both sites were registered by anonymous proxy, something fans probably wouldn't do-- someone is trying to cover something up!
* A ton of material (screenshots and videos as well as detailed design documents) was leaked immediately following the games official cancellation. The theory goes: If 3D Realms had all of this material sitting around while their company crumbled, and the games was this close to completion, why wouldn't they have used it to save the company and the game?
* UFOs are, like, totally real and the president and the CIA know it.
* The point of the subterfuge: To drum up user interest in the Duke franchise and put it into the forefront of gamers' minds by creating a fake grass-roots "Save Duke" movement.
Let me propose an alternate theory:
* These two sites were registered by employees of the company who knew the company was shutting down, or even fans who heard rumors before the news actually broke.
* All these leaks are actually that: Leaks. They were released more to secure future employment for laid-off artists and programmers than to drum up interest in Forever. If you take a look at the videos, they're pretty far from the kind of polished, finished product game companies release to promote their game, but they're exactly like the kind of thing artists put on their "reels."
* There is no fake grass-roots campaign. Everything we know officially about the game is actually the truth and no one is trying to manipulate gamers' minds.
The conspiracy aspects of this story seem pretty ridiculous to me. That a company would release detailed design documents that provide the entire game plot and every spoiler in it would be unprecedented. If it is a P.R. stunt, it's a very, very complete one. And a very unlikely one. It's not like 3D Realms would need to do anything but set a definite release date and put out a demo to gain the attention of the entire gaming world, so it would prove ultimately pointless. Besides, pretending your company has gone out of business to promote a game seems like an suicidal strategy, in a business sense.
As for the future of Duke, I think we'll see it -- eventually. Someone will (hopefully) snap up the rights to the seemingly almost finished game and put it out. I'm an eternal optimist, here, though. It's been more than a decade, and for all that time I've thought the game was coming.
Which brings me to the third theory: The whole thing is half P.R. stunt and half truth. This theory goes like this: Someone (as yet unknown) has concrete plans to publish the Duke game, and is using the closing of 3D Realms and some future "grassroots" Save Duke campaign as part of publicity-generating ploy. More likely than the original conspiracy, but still not too likely. After all, as mentioned, all the gaming world would need to catch fire with Duke-fever would be a demo and a release date.
In any case, unlike most conspiracy theories, this one should be resolved relatively quickly. We've put our feelers out to some acquaintances who worked at 3D Realms, and hopefully we'll hear something definite soon... Unless, of course, I am part of the conspiracy, and I'm only trying to draw your attention away from what's really going on here, which is complicated and involves reverse vampires. Ha, ha, I'm just joking.
...or am I?
Feel free to opine, speculate and spin wild theories in our comment section below; after all, what good is a conspiracy theory without uninformed and/or hysterical opinions?
=> LINK <=
- Honored Donor
-
#1602 Posted 18 May 2009 - 01:12 PM
3D Realms Release Pertaining to Recent Events Surrounding Duke Nukem Forever
Dallas, TX (May 18, 2009) - 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.
Dallas, TX (May 18, 2009) - 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.
#1603 Posted 18 May 2009 - 01:46 PM
All we can hope is the lawsuit is thrown out due to the fact that T2 bought it from someone else other than 3DR, and that it ended up being a 'bad investment'.
Shit happens, you can't just sue people just because you valued something at $12million when it was, or becomes, worth less than what you bought it for.
In the end: 3DR still has the intention to make the game -albeit short on cash atm-, T2 will publish the game, and short of any lines in the existing contracts based upon release dates, it seems 3DR will be in the clear in the end (hopefully).
Noting to the article, in 2008 they were negotiating a contract that had milestone dates and most likely a release date, but that deal went sour once T2 became greedy.
Shit happens, you can't just sue people just because you valued something at $12million when it was, or becomes, worth less than what you bought it for.
In the end: 3DR still has the intention to make the game -albeit short on cash atm-, T2 will publish the game, and short of any lines in the existing contracts based upon release dates, it seems 3DR will be in the clear in the end (hopefully).
Noting to the article, in 2008 they were negotiating a contract that had milestone dates and most likely a release date, but that deal went sour once T2 became greedy.
#1604 Posted 18 May 2009 - 01:53 PM
Contract is a contract. Hopefully it gets thrown out.. but it's still a contract. The optimistic in me hopes that not only will 3dr kick take 2's ass but will sue them for damages or whatever and get enough out of it to finish DNF. Though I've been thinking. Maybe DNF will only get released online.. since 3dr can do that if things work out. In such a case... I would even make an exception to my "non-online" content policy and get the game that way.
#1605 Posted 18 May 2009 - 02:01 PM
Maybe part of their rights to sell directly to the public would include physical copies.
#1606 Posted 18 May 2009 - 02:04 PM
Ras, on May 18 2009, 03:01 PM, said:
Maybe part of their rights to sell directly to the public would include physical copies.
I recall something about "online distribution." so I doubt it. Unless you mean like sell directly from their now defunct website?
#1607 Posted 18 May 2009 - 02:08 PM
Ras, on May 19 2009, 12:01 AM, said:
Maybe part of their rights to sell directly to the public would include physical copies.
So maybe you would be allowed to enter the 3DRealms lobby in future and buy the game directly from GB's hands
#1608 Posted 18 May 2009 - 02:11 PM
Alhexx, on May 18 2009, 03:08 PM, said:
So maybe you would be allowed to enter the 3DRealms lobby in future and buy the game directly from GB's hands
I was thinking more along the lines of sneaking in through the sewers and making underground exchanges.
#1610 Posted 18 May 2009 - 02:21 PM
3DREALMS NOT SHUTTING DOWN
According to Shacknews, 3drealms is not "shutting down". They are "re-structuring the company", although all of the development team is gone.
Looks like they will probably like follow many other corporations that have defaulted, either through Chap. 11 or some other bankruptcy protection to continue their work. They also claim that Take 2 actions amount to bully tactics.
IMHO Take 2 is forcing 3drealms to finish the game, one way or another. 12 fucking years is well overdue for this game. Get your shit together 3drealms and finish the damn game !!
According to Shacknews, 3drealms is not "shutting down". They are "re-structuring the company", although all of the development team is gone.
Looks like they will probably like follow many other corporations that have defaulted, either through Chap. 11 or some other bankruptcy protection to continue their work. They also claim that Take 2 actions amount to bully tactics.
IMHO Take 2 is forcing 3drealms to finish the game, one way or another. 12 fucking years is well overdue for this game. Get your shit together 3drealms and finish the damn game !!
#1611 Posted 18 May 2009 - 02:22 PM
Alhexx, on May 18 2009, 05:08 PM, said:
So maybe you would be allowed to enter the 3DRealms lobby in future and buy the game directly from GB's hands
I meant them mailing them out if you ordered on the site, but ramen's info says that's wrong.
#1612 Posted 18 May 2009 - 02:35 PM
Ramen4ever, on May 18 2009, 05:53 PM, said:
Contract is a contract. Hopefully it gets thrown out.. but it's still a contract. The optimistic in me hopes that not only will 3dr kick take 2's ass but will sue them for damages or whatever and get enough out of it to finish DNF. Though I've been thinking. Maybe DNF will only get released online.. since 3dr can do that if things work out. In such a case... I would even make an exception to my "non-online" content policy and get the game that way.
A contract is a contract, that's correct. But in cases like this, they didn't pay for the contract//publishing-rights directly from 3DR, but from Infogrames. (As far as I know *Which isn't a lot >_>) 3DR has no obligation to fulfill a solid return on that specific $12mil investment by T2. (Although there might have been other funds//potential obligations for them to fulfuill. *$400,000 signing bonus which could've been transferable along with the publishing asset, renegotiation contract 2006/7ish, other BS*)
Too bad we don't got any business lawyers that lurk this forum to provide accurate speculation on what they think a situation like this would end.
------------------
Edit:
Thinking back on it, unless T2 is misinformed about the game itself being canceled instead of hiatus due to funding, they seem to trying to sue them for money due to the recession. (Which people seem to think they don't care about that and just want the IP)
But the problem with them suing 3DR now is that since 2000 when they bought the publishing rights, 3DR has been reported to have had major restructuring of the game twice since then. Game companies know that they have to keep up with the times, and because of the delays and other BS 3DR has put out with the game, wouldn't they have sued years ago if they could? (Especially if you think of the business world as "Make money or get the fuck out of the way")
This post has been edited by Thndr: 18 May 2009 - 02:42 PM
- Honored Donor
-
#1613 Posted 18 May 2009 - 03:00 PM
From the press release:
This is the most reassuring statement I've seen since this thing began. So I guess it means they'll license DNF to someone?
The thing they need to focus on now is obliterating Take Two at this hearing on June 4th, and then they can start worrying about getting this game out!
Quote
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.
This is the most reassuring statement I've seen since this thing began.
So I guess it means they'll license DNF to someone? The thing they need to focus on now is obliterating Take Two at this hearing on June 4th, and then they can start worrying about getting this game out!
#1614 Posted 18 May 2009 - 03:08 PM
Question is how long will this hold up DNF even if they do win? a year? two? By then the content we saw would already be obsolete in a few ways. Not to mention that the more creative things will have been stolen and crammed into crap games.
- Judge Mental
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#1615 Posted 18 May 2009 - 03:11 PM
Ramen4ever, on May 18 2009, 04:08 PM, said:
Question is how long will this hold up DNF even if they do win? a year? two? By then the content we saw would already be obsolete in a few ways. Not to mention that the more creative things will have been stolen and crammed into crap games.
I honestly dont care. Get the Goddamn thing on the shelves.
- Honored Donor
-
#1616 Posted 18 May 2009 - 04:59 PM
Commando Nukem, on May 18 2009, 03:11 PM, said:
I honestly dont care. Get the Goddamn thing on the shelves.
The mention of 3DR's right to directly sell the game in the press release was very interesting to me. Hopefully George and Scott will take advantage of that option if things don't work out with Take Two.
Also, it was great to see that the restraining order that Take Two was seeking against 3DR was denied. 3DR can at this point still work with the game! Unless the tide turns, we're on track to play the game in my opinion.
The press release basically confirmed 3DR's intention to still release the game. You can tell that they're determined to release it.
This post has been edited by ultra tree 85!: 18 May 2009 - 04:59 PM
#1617 Posted 18 May 2009 - 05:00 PM
Commando Nukem, on May 18 2009, 04:11 PM, said:
I honestly dont care. Get the Goddamn thing on the shelves.
Would be nice but "shelves" is unlikely to happen unless the publishing rights really get cleared up. At the moment I'd be leaning far more towards an online distribution only.
#1619 Posted 19 May 2009 - 01:15 AM
Babe, on May 19 2009, 04:14 AM, said:
Hello 3DR, sell the game through gog.com !
!Yeah, DNF on gog.com would be awesome! I'd buy it immediately!
#1620 Posted 27 May 2009 - 01:49 AM
I never thought of this until now, but they could get busy on the Duke Nukem Movie, finish it, and release it soon. 3DR would bring in quite a few bucks from that, wouldn't they? That should be plenty of $ to get the company up and running again! Of course, it depends how well the movie sold and what percentage of the profit 3DR would get.
