Court filing reveals 2K Games was developing 'Duke Begins'

by Griffin McElroy { Jun 22nd 2009 at 11:15AM }

Did you seriously think he'd just roll over and die? He's Duke Nukem, guys. We're pretty sure he can't be killed by conventional weapons (such as bankruptcy).

This news came in response to last month's Take-Two court filing against Duke Nukem Forever developer Apogee Software, which attempted to recoup loans the publisher had distributed to Apogee -- loans which would have ostensibly been repaid by DNF royalties. Apogee's attorneys responded Friday with a shocking revelation -- in exchange for their support, Apogee gave Take-Two the rights to simultaneously develop another Duke Nukem game. Take-Two tasked 2K Games with said development under the working title Duke Begins.

Apogee's defense states that 2K "halted or otherwise canceled all development work by the third-party game developer on the Duke Begins game in April 2009," an action Apogee sees as Take-Two's attempt at, "pressuring Apogee to sell the Duke Nukem franchise rights to Take-Two for less than their true value." With the cat officially out of the bag, we expect to hear more about the Duke's origin story (like, if it's still being developed) in the near future.

[Update: Turns out that the mysterious third-party developer working on Duke Begins for Take-Two was none other than Gearbox Software.]

Tags: 2k-games, apogee, court, duke-begins, duke-nukem, duke-nukem-forever, fps, take-two

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

NaeemTHM @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:19AM

This would of course be followed by The Dark Duke.

NaeemTHM @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:20AM

WAIT! Even better: The Duke Knight

Captain Planet @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:22AM

Followed by "The Duke Knight Returns"

Captain Planet @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:23AM

Duke: The Killing Duke?

NaeemTHM @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:27AM

If Duke Nukem Forever ever got released they could follow it with Dukeman and Robin.

Brucie_K @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:31AM

Damn it! You beat me to it.

Storm Eagle @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:31AM

Awesome. That shit just wrote itself, didn't it guys?

LaughingTarget @ Jun 22nd 2009 12:03PM

It'll then get an animated film called Duke: The Mask of the Phanboy.

Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 22nd 2009 2:32PM

As long as it isn't Duke and Robin

Crazy-008 @ Jun 22nd 2009 7:21PM

Duke is the hero that Take-two deserves, but not the one it needs right now.

ill trooper @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:28AM

So now we have to read about "Duke Nukem Forever" for like, forever? This thing never ends...

Aguiluz @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:31AM

They should make the games open source GPL so the fan community can take care of it.

reebo @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:32AM

Alien bastards shot down my 3rd party sequel.

Storm Eagle @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:33AM

Duke. What have they done to you?

They've...ripped off my head....and shit down my neck...

Mazrael @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:39AM

..maybe with small hands like that.. the Duke was originally a woman.. looking a bit like Grace Jones there...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Jones

boogadoog @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:45AM

Apogee hasn't released a Duke game in over ten years, just how much do they really think the franchise is worth?

Rupan III @ Jun 22nd 2009 12:28PM

Star Wars.

LaughingTarget @ Jun 22nd 2009 12:08PM

Let's see, a franchise that spawned novels, TV shows and cosplayers vs a game that is nothing more than a crude mashup of 1980s action stars. Duke is nothing like Star Wars and based on return on investment, Duke is less than worthless.

Rupan III @ Jun 22nd 2009 3:14PM

I fully AGREE with Laughing Target, as 'boogadoog' asked what THEY THINK it is worth.
Me, i only care once i have my hands on it.
It was THIS VERY FRANCHISE which broke me of feeling any attachment to a game coming out, though i have to admit i'm overly ecstatic about picking up Terminal Reality's Ghostbusters today, got the XB360 version.
Excellent game.

MarioSpitza @ Jun 23rd 2009 10:23AM

I agree.

I can understand Apogee's stance since Duke probably has a lot of sentimental value to them, but I honestly don't understand Take Two's. They're putting so much money, time, and effort into obtaining the series, but I can't see why.

Logically, I'm thinking Take Two thinks there's a lot of profit to be made from it, but from my perspective, Duke Nukem has lost a lot of its popularity over time (and it's arguable if that popularity was ever that great to begin with), and it probably won't be a profitable franchise anymore.

Rupan III @ Jun 22nd 2009 12:00PM

I have to admit, in court that would DEFINITELY be a No No considering the start on such a project warrants acceptance and execution of an agreement which resolves the issues pertaining to loan equity. Halting said development in no way 'should' release Take 2 from Apogee/3D Realms' contractual assertion that Take 2 accepted the rights as payment.
It's always up to the Judges and they could make a decision that it only warrants partial payment based on any discovery of financial wrong doing and otherwise general hankey pankey on 3DR's part. I mean, by gosh, the judge could have been a gamer 10 years ago and gotten personally jaded back then at the face they never got to play the game and be having flashbacks of personal bias related to it.
Any male Judge under the age of 50 COULD be susceptible to having to dismiss themselves due to personal bias on the issue! (SARCASM)
All in all, I don't like to see IP 'STOLEN' from people, but honestly, 3DR/Apogee has used the 'promise' of the execution of a revolutionary shooter based on the now impossibly over hyped Duke Nukem IP to bankroll enough money to pay for a couple of major hollywood movies over the greater part of 2 decades. The judge might contend that transfer of the IP to the investors is the only way for them to see restitution.
3DR/Apg have dug themselves deep into this one themselves. I hope anything resulting from this serves only as a warning and is not used predominantly as precedent in future cases, as i HOPE nothing like this occurs ever again.

Rafael @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:50AM

i wish people stop talking about duke nukem, this game is dead , lets just bury it.
enough.

sony boy @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:57AM

Wow, so they were planning to milk the franchise...ugh...

WINterfang @ Jun 22nd 2009 12:10PM

How can you milk a dead cow? it's probably just bones, they need a new cow.

sony boy @ Jun 22nd 2009 12:51PM

"Wow, so they were PLANNING!!!! to milk the franchise...ugh..."

Freestyle Farfetchd @ Jun 22nd 2009 2:39PM

With 5 main series Duke games in the last 18 years and none in the last 7, I'd hardly call putting 2 out now milking it.

sony boy @ Jun 22nd 2009 4:39PM

you forgot the handheld games which could've been 5 duke games.

Orion @ Jun 22nd 2009 12:21PM

I'm gonna laugh my ass off when DNF finally comes out and it's a damn Wii minigame fest.

"15 fuckin' years... and we present you with THIS! TADA!"

Shagittarius @ Jun 22nd 2009 12:44PM

TADA!

I like that word, I don't get to say it enough, I should think about becoming a magician.

ohyeahcola @ Jun 22nd 2009 12:37PM

I've got balls of steel

uncle jesse @ Jun 22nd 2009 12:43PM

Duke's origin story? Really? I love the guy, but I don't really think the story needs more depth other than aliens blew up my ride and i'm all outta gum.

You know what I just realized, look at Duke. Look at his design. They don't make action characters like that anymore. He's just some big dude in Ray-Bans, with a blonde buzz cut and a bright red muscle shirt. These days, they have 5 o'clock shadows, with dark hair and dark eyes and always wearing black. I think that's why I love Duke so much. Takes me back. Remember paying the strippers ("shake it baby"), seeing their tassles, them booting them? Ah, good times.

Storm Eagle @ Jun 22nd 2009 12:49PM

Nothing takes me back more than your name, Uncle Jesse...

*Eye Twinkle*

ahem. no homo.

uncle jesse @ Jun 22nd 2009 12:56PM

What really takes me back was when I got in that motocycle accident all those years ago. I had to have both of my arms in casts, making me completely dependant on the family to do everything for me. It was such a hilarious predicament that even getting myself a bowl of cereal was quite the ordeal. Too bad only Michelle was around to see that. I even added a banana!