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Yesterday, it was rumored and later confirmed that video game developer 3DRealms was closing up shop — a fact that not even some of upper management (specifically, their webmaster) knew a day in advance. Why is this relevant at all? (As if you don't already know!)

3DRealms has been promising a revolutionary update to their "Duke Nukem" franchise — Duke Nukem Forever — for more than 12 years, and has publicly suffered several major setbacks (probably due to mismanagement). The project came to be regarded as vaporware and with the closure, has been deemed the ultimate vaporware.

Prior to yesterdays news, one dedicated fan has been running what he coined "The Duke Nukem Forever List" — a list of things accomplished from conception through completion since DNF's announcement (like the entire Grand Theft Auto series of video games), and some things that took place earlier but took less time (like the Beatles forming, releasing all of their albums, touring the world several times, and ultimately breaking up). Today, the list remains, but with a preamble about the recent announcements and a large tombstone graphic with the DNF game's name on it.

My dad, both of my brothers and I all played Duke Nukem 3D — the last installment of the game. At the time, it was absolutely incredible. It would have been just as incredible, I'm sure, to play DNF together as well… if it was half as good as was promised. It was a dream that we all held in the back of our minds, hoping it would one day come true.

We were satiated along the way with screenshots, "gameplay" videos (that it's being claimed were not actual gameplay, but rather were scripted specifically for the videos — sorry, no direct link for the source, but it's quoted here, search for "scripted"), and christmas cards (1, 2) insinuating that a release was imminent. All gave good reason to be patient; it looked like it might come close to keeping its promise of something revolutionary, and even close would have been close-enough for the masses; and for me.

It's a sad day in video game history, for sure. So I guess there's only one thing left to say…

Shake it, baby…