Duke Begins developer revealed to be Gearbox Software

by Christopher Grant { Jul 14th 2009 at 2:25PM }

Shacknews reports that the developer of Duke Begins -- the Duke Nukem prequel project being developed not by 3D Realms, but rather by publisher Take-Two and a "well-known videogame developer" -- was, in fact, Gearbox Software. If that name sounds familiar that's because – like coffee shops and mysterious rashes – the Texas-based developer pops up all over the place, whether in reference to the long-overdue Aliens: Colonial Marines; the recently re-skinned Borderlands; or the oft-rumored Halo 4.

As revealed by recent court documents, Gearbox was brought on to develop Duke Begins following a 2007 agreement between 3D Realms and Take-Two. In exchange for the rights to make another Duke game, 3D Realms received a cool $2.5 million advance to help fund the ongoing development of Duke Nukem Forever (and, in turn, extend the practice of wondering aloud, "How on Earth can 3D Realms afford to keep making this game?").

3D Realms claims that the "halted" development of Duke Begins in April 2009 "materially harmed Apogee and/or will necessarily delay the commercial release of the Duke Begins game." They claimed that any such delay in release would "delay any royalty payments ... from sales of the Duke Begins game and prevent Apogee from being able to repay the [$2.5 million] advance when it becomes due in 2012." And now you begin to see where all this talk of lawsuits came from. We've put word into Gearbox and Take-Two and will let you know what we hear.

Tags: 2K-Games, 3D-Realms, Apogee, Duke-Begins, Duke-Nukem, Duke-Nukem-Forever, Gearbox, Gearbox-Software, Take-Two

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Alex @ Jul 14th 2009 2:30PM

I wonder what a game in development over the course of several gaming generations would come out like.......

dark_inchworm (on Steam!) dark inchworm (on XBL!) @ Jul 14th 2009 2:34PM

If you aren't being sarcastic, two words for ya:

Too Human

ChomskyKnows @ Jul 14th 2009 4:47PM

here's 4 more (even worse) words for ya:

Alone in the Dark

Nate Addison @ Jul 14th 2009 2:30PM

Duke Nukem can't die!!!! This is proof that Duke Nukem is Chuck Norris' alter ego. Watch your back world!!!!

dark_inchworm (on Steam!) dark inchworm (on XBL!) @ Jul 14th 2009 2:38PM

Are you sure? That just makes things complicated...

http://godmode.keenspot.com/d/20070924.html

Captain Planet @ Jul 14th 2009 2:32PM

Damnit, I bet it would have been a good game =(

dark_inchworm (on Steam!) dark inchworm (on XBL!) @ Jul 14th 2009 2:32PM

Well, that's not so bad.

...as long as they don't have another voice actor fill Duke's shoes. C'mon.

Viol8tor Mode @ Jul 14th 2009 2:38PM

Vin Diesel says "wassup".

Damian @ Jul 14th 2009 2:38PM

Well he does like video games, so maybe he should.

Damian @ Jul 14th 2009 2:39PM

The duke nukem franchise is in god mode, it can never die.

ArchiGamer [thephilosophyofgames.wordpress.com] @ Jul 14th 2009 2:46PM

So, another 13 years then?

ColorblindMonk @ Jul 14th 2009 2:58PM

Whatever it takes to throw in a real Duke Nukem game into today's market.

Huey2k2 @ Jul 14th 2009 3:01PM

I am starting to think Duke Nukem games are a big practical joke in the video game industry.

They know we want them but they don't really feel like making them so they PRETEND they are being made and make up crazy excuses as to why they are being "delayed" just to get our hopes up.

AvA (ice~) @ Jul 14th 2009 3:01PM

I'm not gonna lie, I'm really starting to want a new Duke Nukem game...

NaeemTHM @ Jul 14th 2009 3:09PM

Then you're falling for 3D Realms brilliant scheme! See no one really cared for Duke after Duke Nukem 3D. A few games came after and flopped big time, so 3D Realms built the greatest hype machine the video game industry has ever known: Duke Nukem Forever.

With enough time they knew the gaming community would be clamoring for a new Duke game.

THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ Jul 14th 2009 4:21PM

I have been playing through the XBLA re-release and I am finding that I kind of want Forever to come out. I lamo when he dropped a brick in that dead alien's neck.

The Dark Wayne @ Jul 14th 2009 3:05PM

Geez, Gearbox is making like what, 7 games? Maybe that's why they cant seem to release a fucking game

Neuromancer @ Jul 14th 2009 3:12PM

I don't know why more people don't realize this.

As much as I like Gearbox, they spread themselves out way too thin.

J.Goodwin @ Jul 14th 2009 4:49PM

Yeah, if they aren't careful, I can see them destroying their brand honestly. It can't be good for your reputation or your cash flow to have so many projects shut down.

Martin @ Jul 14th 2009 3:39PM

What a monumental clusterfuck.

Ricardo @ Jul 14th 2009 3:43PM

Why the hell is people saying Gearbox is spreading themselves too thin. Gearbox has confirmed they two games currently in development, Colonial Marines and Borderland, and then they have 3 other "projects". The big game Pitchford was taking about in 2007 is most likely is not a Halo game but Duke Begins. That leaves two which could just be what they plan in working on next after Aliens CM ships. The Heat game is not in development and no new BIA is in the works

For a studio that has over 160 employees and is currently hiring like crazy I would say they are not doing anything crazy