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DNF #1
Duke 3D #1
Back in late 2001, long after internal development ceased, 3D Realms handed the reigns of their Prey project over to Human Head Studios. Before the changeover, the developer complied all the Paul Schuytema-era design design documents, and created a videotape containing a 20 minute tech demo for potential engine licencees and some off-screen E3 footage to serve as a rough guideline for future developments. Unfortunately, the VHS is likely a victim of time.
Quote
D A R K H A R V E S T
a Tommy Hawk Adventure
(Design Document)
Originally created: 1997-1998
Revised: 3/30/2001
Further updated and condensed: 9/20/2001
Final cleanup: 10/16/2001 - Handed off to Human Head
a Tommy Hawk Adventure
(Design Document)
Originally created: 1997-1998
Revised: 3/30/2001
Further updated and condensed: 9/20/2001
Final cleanup: 10/16/2001 - Handed off to Human Head
All it not lost though, as I’ve tracked down quite of bit of never before seen Prey content. We’re talking around 40 John William Galt VO barks, some brand new concept art and renders, internal docs offering outlines of 3DR's ambitions for the title circa 1997/1998 and some loose directions for the rebooted project. Most importantly, there's the story files and preyweb, the latter of which is a backup of 3D Realms’ internal design meetings featuring some broad level progression break downs, weapon and enemy descriptions, and gameplay brainstorming, basically providing a general overview of the entire project. All in all, there's a lot! This is the official Prey bible and then some!
I figured this glimpse at 3DR’s internal design process in the late 1990s would be something that most here would want to see. Once you've downloaded it, open the INDEX file in the preyweb folder to enjoy a bevy of Prey history from the safety of your browser! Or check out the storyfiles folder for an overview of the narrative, level scripting and how the studio envisioned the 1998 project in its final form. Here's a sample:
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Chapter 1.
*** start of Apache reservation level – CH1L1 ***
Night on a reservation in eastern Arizona. The elders sit around a large fire as the G’ans, costumed tribesman representing the mountain spirits, dance before the flame. Talon Brave stands in the shadows of the motor pool garage, watching and pulling on a cigarette. He sees no magic in their rituals, not now, not since he was a boy. He turns his back and disappears into the shadows.
In the sky, the clouds crackle with phosphorescence and the chanting stops for a moment as the elders look skyward. They start in again, raising their arms to the sky. In a hissing of rapidly ionized atmosphere, a column of bluish-white energy bursts from the clouds and engulfs the clan circle. For an instant, the circle of tribal elders are seen in silhouette, first in human form, and then only their bones visible as their flesh vaporizes. In a flash, there is nothing but a settling cloud of desert dust. Seconds count off in silence, and then the alien ship begins its final descent.
Talon enters his row-house and flops down on the worn vinyl recliner. He picks up his crescent wrench and wipes the grease from the handle as an explosion rocks the cabin. Talon bolts out the door. From behind the motor pool, a column of flame erupts, then another by the school. Screams fill the air, and Talon runs towards the school. People run towards him, followed by something dark, hulking and incredibly fast. Mary Thunder rushes towards Talon, screaming for him to run as the dark creature leaps forward and jumps upon an old man. In a flash, we see the white of exposed bone, as the old man explodes into geyser of blood.
Talon reaches for Mary, but she too is grabbed by a pair of the dark creatures. Talon swings his wrench, but a third creature jumps at him, knocking him back. He hears Mary scream as she is pulled away. Talon leaps to his feet and runs back to his cabin. He throws back a hidden cellar door, grabs his bolt-action rifle, his great grandfather’s Colt Peacemaker and medallion, and leaps into the darkness.
Talon runs through a wet, dark corridor, the beasts close behind, until he comes to a metal ladder that leads up into the motor pool oil change pit. He leaps up the ladder and throws himself to the cement floor of the garage just as a beast slashes for his ankle. He spins and fires several shots down into the pit then pushes a large tool cart in to cover the opening.
Just as Talon takes in a deep breath, another beast tears though the steel garage door and begins to circle the oil change pit. Talon leaps into the school bus but realizes that he has left the keys on the workbench. He kicks open the emergency door and fires at the beast. He sprints to the front of the bus and leaps out of the door to grab the keys. As he spins around, he slams the butt of his rifle into the charging, wounded creature. He dives into the bus and clambers into the seat as the beast leaps in after him. Talon grabs a crowbar from the dashboard and buries the hook deep into the creature’s skull as he jams the keys into the ignition and starts up the bus.
With the rear wheels anchored from behind, Talon has no choice but to throw the bus into first and stomp on the accelerator. As the bus bursts out of the garage, the two creatures pinned in the oil change pit burst forth and begin to devour their slain cousin. Driving out onto the reservation, Talon sees a landscape decimated by flames and wonton destruction. He speeds onward, heading for the road.
*** start of Apache reservation level – CH1L1 ***
Night on a reservation in eastern Arizona. The elders sit around a large fire as the G’ans, costumed tribesman representing the mountain spirits, dance before the flame. Talon Brave stands in the shadows of the motor pool garage, watching and pulling on a cigarette. He sees no magic in their rituals, not now, not since he was a boy. He turns his back and disappears into the shadows.
In the sky, the clouds crackle with phosphorescence and the chanting stops for a moment as the elders look skyward. They start in again, raising their arms to the sky. In a hissing of rapidly ionized atmosphere, a column of bluish-white energy bursts from the clouds and engulfs the clan circle. For an instant, the circle of tribal elders are seen in silhouette, first in human form, and then only their bones visible as their flesh vaporizes. In a flash, there is nothing but a settling cloud of desert dust. Seconds count off in silence, and then the alien ship begins its final descent.
Talon enters his row-house and flops down on the worn vinyl recliner. He picks up his crescent wrench and wipes the grease from the handle as an explosion rocks the cabin. Talon bolts out the door. From behind the motor pool, a column of flame erupts, then another by the school. Screams fill the air, and Talon runs towards the school. People run towards him, followed by something dark, hulking and incredibly fast. Mary Thunder rushes towards Talon, screaming for him to run as the dark creature leaps forward and jumps upon an old man. In a flash, we see the white of exposed bone, as the old man explodes into geyser of blood.
Talon reaches for Mary, but she too is grabbed by a pair of the dark creatures. Talon swings his wrench, but a third creature jumps at him, knocking him back. He hears Mary scream as she is pulled away. Talon leaps to his feet and runs back to his cabin. He throws back a hidden cellar door, grabs his bolt-action rifle, his great grandfather’s Colt Peacemaker and medallion, and leaps into the darkness.
Talon runs through a wet, dark corridor, the beasts close behind, until he comes to a metal ladder that leads up into the motor pool oil change pit. He leaps up the ladder and throws himself to the cement floor of the garage just as a beast slashes for his ankle. He spins and fires several shots down into the pit then pushes a large tool cart in to cover the opening.
Just as Talon takes in a deep breath, another beast tears though the steel garage door and begins to circle the oil change pit. Talon leaps into the school bus but realizes that he has left the keys on the workbench. He kicks open the emergency door and fires at the beast. He sprints to the front of the bus and leaps out of the door to grab the keys. As he spins around, he slams the butt of his rifle into the charging, wounded creature. He dives into the bus and clambers into the seat as the beast leaps in after him. Talon grabs a crowbar from the dashboard and buries the hook deep into the creature’s skull as he jams the keys into the ignition and starts up the bus.
With the rear wheels anchored from behind, Talon has no choice but to throw the bus into first and stomp on the accelerator. As the bus bursts out of the garage, the two creatures pinned in the oil change pit burst forth and begin to devour their slain cousin. Driving out onto the reservation, Talon sees a landscape decimated by flames and wonton destruction. He speeds onward, heading for the road.
I hope you enjoy this peak behind the curtain into the hidden history of 3D Realms!
(but since DNF is by George "Design Documents are for Pussies" Broussard, probably not).
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I'm definitely going to enjoy going through all of this. 
