Lead, on May 8 2009, 08:35 AM, said:
If all the bits and pieces mentioned in various places (true or not) were put together it would go something like this:
- George and Scott own equal parts of 3D Realms.
- DNF taking forever to make costs tons of money.
- Scott who is arguably the smarter businessman gets tired of this over time and doesn't want to dump his money into it anymore.
- Scott looks to other things like Radar Group and newly launched Apogee Software LLC and leaves 3D Realms in Georges hands.
- Scott is still technically a manager at 3D Realms but is effectively done with 3D Realms at that point.
- Scott is now free to run companies as he sees fit without dealing with a 50% partner.
- A year or so later George wasn't able to handle it, especially with lack of Scott's personal and financial cooperation.
- Eventually funds begin to run low.
- Since Scott is out, and so is money, George drives out to California to show Take 2 the game in an attempt to wow them into funding development to finish DNF.
- Vague references were made to Take 2 possibly having (verbally) promising money, but didn't deliver.
- When George requested the $5 million from Take 2 so DNF development could be funded.
- Take 2 counter-offered with giving 3D Realms $30 million instead.... *IF*3D Realms sells all rights to the Duke IP. (currently Take2's only has publishing rights)
- George\They refuse this and keep the Duke IP, instead shutting down the company and going on life support.
- The purpose of not selling the IP is because the Duke IP still has the potential to make money, and it is their trademark. It would be like iD selling the Doom IP.
- George is said to have previously went to iD Software and Epic in an attempt to make a deal with funding for them, but is turned down.
- ..was also said to still have plans to contact other companies to make similar requests.
- A company in a better position to spend $5 million, such as EA or Microsoft are seen as the most likely candidates for possibly investing in saving DNF.
This also goes along with my line of thinking but I have a slightly different take.
I believe the game is pretty much done at this point with a few minor things here and there to add in. Now that George knows the game is basically done, he
decides he wants to get out from under Take2 publishing the title or wants a new deal from Take2 that will significantly lower their "take" of the profits while
giving more back to 3drealms. George packs up the game and goes to show them the game and then proposes a new publishing arrangement with Take2
or to get let out of their publishing contract with them. Take2 tells him they will have an answer for him shortly and he packs up and goes home. Meanwhile, he's
in good spirits because he figures he has Take2 by the balls and that after all this time, they'll cut whatever deal he wants because the game is now done.
Things are going good on the game's end and they reach a major milestone(I think this is where they basically finished up the game) and then order a barbeque
for the entire company for celebration. Take2 contacts George and says they will not renegotiate the contract and will not let 3drealms go to another publisher. Basically they tell him to "STFU". Since Take2 does not deal with George, he decides he will not let them publish DNF and shutters 3drealms and apparently, the
game.
Now whether he decides to merge with Apogee or under Radar Group is anyone's guess at this point. He could then rename the game and release it. Take2 has publishing rights for "Duke Nukem Forever" and that's it. If that game is "cancelled" it would surely mean Take2 has nothing to distribute.
I believe what Lead posted above with bits of mine are probably pretty damn close to how this all went down. Until we officially hear from George, it will be rumor and innuendo as usual with this game.