3D Realms CEO on Revolution

[score]

From IGN (http://revolution.ign.com):


Outspoken 3D Realms CEO Scott Miller has recently updated his official blog to wax about the upcoming next generation console wars. In his writings, the industry veteran makes his predictions about the eventual popularity of the three major consoles, including Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Revolution.

"My prediction for this new round of consoles is that the Xbox 360 and PS3 will wind up about equal in terms of sales, with Nintendo's Revolution coming in a distant third," Miller writes. "Perhaps this will be the last console from Nintendo."
Read More (http://revolution.ign.com/articles/683/683176p1.html)

Editor's Note This is the same Blog post for the infamous No devkit for Prey news item.

[Silversmith]

To Scott,

I see that you have time to write you Outspoken feelings on your blog. Now if you can only channel that energy in finishing (or Restarting) Duke Nukem Forever, then perhaps I can take your advice.

Thanks,

Silversmith

P.S. You are certanly welcome to my candlelight vigil on the 10th aniversary for the missing Duke game.(How long has it been?????)

[Zeal]

This guy is probably right, anyway. Sounds logical to me.

[Taco]

There is no one I respect less in this industry than Scott Miller.

[Smithersnz]

But in saying that, I don't think he's taking into account the paradigm shift that will happen this generation. The PS3 will do very well, as long as people want Blu-ray players. It's cheaper to buy a PS3 than a standalone player. Nintendo has stated their plan, to be placed alongside the xbox and PS3, which means that if they succeed in creating a parallel product, they shouldn't even be considered to be in the race between *** and Sony. I'm a Nintendo fan myself, but like Silversmith said ^^^^^^^^ once they put out the product they've been working on for, what is it, 10 years? then I may take him seriously.

I mean, as soon as DNF and 3D realms is brought up, they lose the argument on that basis alone. In related news, Axel Rose announces new GnR album out soon.

[kokyunage]

This guy is probably right, anyway. Sounds logical to me.

What makes you think that?

[Doctor Setebos]

This guy is probably right, anyway. Sounds logical to me.
Yeah, cause when everyone said the N64 was their last console, that happened. And when everyone said the GameCube was their last console, that happened as well, didn't it?

I guess third time's a charm? :rolleyes:

[RMan]

Hehe, I'd think getting a negative prognosis from Scott Miller would be a good thing.
This guy is probably right, anyway. Sounds logical to me.
Another good sign for Nintendo.

[PantherModern]

If it is N's last console, I will be surprised. They are currently the only profitable game console manufacturer. So, how does that make them losers? Even if they only carry a small segment of the market, they will be making money. And in business, that is what matters.

[Abednigo]

At least Nintendo releases actual, usable, playable products, unlike some people. :rolleyes:

[Dark Hamlet]

I think the guy is being a bit presumptuous. I mean, I'm guessing the reason he said what he did was because Nintendo is going in a completely different direction than Microsoft and Sony. But, if you look at the handheld market, there is an analogous situation with the DS versus the PSP. This is not a very good analogy since Sony does not have the experience with the handheld market that they have with the console market, but it is still worth taking a look. Who would have predicted that the NDS would have done so well? I mean a touch screen on a handheld? It sounded like a gimmick, but now I own one and I love it. Just because an idea is new and different doesn't mean it is going to flop.

I'm glad that Microsoft and Sony are keeping to a relatively traditional console design because it works well and shouldn't be completely scrapped. However, I am also glad that Nintendo is bringing something brand new to the industry, and I think many people agree with me and will eventually buy a Revolution. I think the Revolution will sell even if it is different.

So, in conclusion, this Scott Miller guy can shove it :)

[Rirath]

Yeah, cause when everyone said the N64 was their last console, that happened. And when everyone said the GameCube was their last console, that happened as well, didn't it?

In my eyes, only Nintendo could come back from an overall lackluster system like Gamecube without going under in the console market. It's almost insane the Dreamcast was Sega's last console, yet Nintendo can still go on. The Gamecube, honestly, probably should have been their last console. In some ways the Gamecube may end up being their last mainstream idea of a console, if the Revolution is as unique and different as they'd have you believe.

Myself, I'm in the camp that believes Nintendo is being 'different' because they're both out of options, and know their fans. They've taken 3rd, and seem happy with it. More power to them, if the price is right.

[jacktion]

This guy is such a joke. He really needs to just let DNF die. He has been developing the same game for over 10 years! And he keeps insisting it is coming! His previous post said that the developers of Prey didn't have 360 dev kits. And they did. So he is a confirmed idiot.

Also, everyone who understands anything about the business side of the games industry knows that Nintendo has been totally dominating this generation. They are making money hand over fist. They have been completely kicking Sony and MS's butts as far as business is concerned. It doesn't really matter what a bunch of fanboys whine about on the internet. In reality Nintendo is by far the industry leader.
So to the people who can't understand why Sega stopped making consoles but Nintendo hasn't, I'll try to explain.

Nintendo is a wildly successful company. They make a lot of something called 'Money'. Sega lost all of their 'Money' and went out of business.
Understand?

[F3nyx]

waxI don't think they know what this word means

[Roc Ingersol]

Nearly 2 full console generations have come and gone, and Duke Nukem Forever is still Duke Nukem Whenever.

3d realms only seems to talk about the future that never comes to pass.

[overdrivechao]

Oh, man he is so off base.

The NGC, in it waning days in nov. and dec., outsold the Xbox 3 times over. That's not even looking at Japan, where Microsoft is all but reviled.

And announced today: the sixth version of handheld that plays the same Gameboy Advance games. And it will sell millions.

1. GBA (Long)
2. GBA Advance SP
3. Brighter GBA Advance SP
4. GBMicro
5. DS
6. DS Slim

All Play GBA games. All sell like hotcakes. Go Nintendo.

[Taco]

He has been developing the same game for over 10 years!

He couldn't develop a "Hello World" script. I don't know what he does. I think all he does is try to take credit for other people's work(Max Payne, Prey).

[Rakael]

I now have a new quote, weee.

[phantomhitman]

can someone fill me in on the whole duke nukem forever thing. I know about the enormous delays and the fact that the game will never see light, but I want to know what happened.

[bapenguin]

can someone fill me in on the whole duke nukem forever thing. I know about the enormous delays and the fact that the game will never see light, but I want to know what happened.

Do you know how the pyramids were built? You are basically asking the same question.

[Sloth]

3D Realms was relevant like in 1995. They haven't released a game since. I have a feeling DNF will be a good game, but be considered a flop because theres no way it can live up to its legacy.

[Taco]

Not much to say, numerous development restarts and engine changes. Juicy Daikatana like details haven't been released. Things are pretty tight lipped.

[Smithersnz]

Do you know how the pyramids were built? You are basically asking the same question.

No, the pyramids were actually finished on time.

The game has taken 10 years to come out, because every time they are almost finished the latest and greatest engine comes out, and they start redesigning it. I think it went Quake 2 engine, Unreal, unreal 2, quake 3... and we haven't heard anything in a while.

I really hope it's good.

[Steele Johnson]

"Duke Nukem Forever will be released March of 1999" -Scott Miller

So much for accurate predictions. lol

[Taco]

Never went to Quake3. Quake2, Unreal and a couple Unreal version upgrades and who knows how many customizations.

[automaton]

If I worked for 3D Realms, for fucking shame, I wouldn't show my face in public. Next to Infinium, they are the biggest joke in the industry.

[Smithersnz]

Bring back the build engine I say.

[dr_wily]

some people just dont know how to keep their mouths shut. Just saying anything, stupid or not, just opens you up for attack when you have issues like 10 fucking year development.

what a moron, on so many counts.

[jacktion]

I now have a new quote, weee.

Hey!

Um... is this a good thing or a bad thing?

[H.Bogard]

This guy is probably right, anyway. Sounds logical to me.

This coming from a man who once claimed that there were more PSP's sold than DS's ......SHOCKING!

[CrysDark]

Didn't 3-d realms do Shadow Warrior, can't hate a company that gave us that game.


"Who wanta some wang!"

[51|RandoM]

Scott who?

[Achilles]

He said that the Revo wouldn’t get much marketshare (following the GC and the N64). He should be forced to repent by having his feat placed on hot coals.

I agree with him, but I don’t think this will be Nintendo’s last system. Unless their software sells really badly on it. It’s hard to have a reason to stop making something while it’s still profitable.

[Dr Quincy]

DEATH TO THE '360!

*rides atom bomb, in homage to Dr. Strangelove, hat in hand, into Scott Miller*

[Dr Quincy]

May Nintendo's last system be the missile defence system which, in a last ditch bid for brand immortality, vaporises Scott Miller with a brutal salvo launched at Garland, Texas. Hoo-rah!

[Busted_Astromech]

Also, everyone who understands anything about the business side of the games industry knows that Nintendo has been totally dominating this generation. They are making money hand over fist. They have been completely kicking Sony and MS's butts as far as business is concerned. It doesn't really matter what a bunch of fanboys whine about on the internet. In reality Nintendo is by far the industry leader.

Now, while I certainly understand supporting Nintendo against the hate that comes in, you might want to take a step back. Yes, Nintendo is the only company that's consistently profitable. However, their home console division has been making progressively less money since the NES days. So while it's foolish to say Nintendo might stop making consoles (really, does this guy get anything right?), it's just as bad to frame Nintendo as the industry leader.

A better statement would be that they have one of the best business models, but even that ignores the fact that they've lost marketshare steadily for the past 20 years.

Really, Nintendo is still the best at making money, but unless the Revolution turns things around for them (and I'm hoping it will), they will find themselves in a situation where eventually there consoles don't get enough penetration to make money. That's at least 2 generations away, though, and no one is in any position to make any predictions about the Revolution. It's an unkown factor; no one knows how the market will accept it.

[XxSATANxX]

Did no one go to the closed door at CES?

Nintendo is aiming for a huge upset. I think they may have it. The big secret is it's actually about the.....wait for it.............GAMES!

[YoungAlCapone]

Scott who?

Scott Miller, one of the guys who has been promising us Duke Nukem Forever for almost 10 years and still expects anyone to give a shit about what he thinks.

Go ahead and forget that name again now.

[Busted_Astromech]

Hmmm...that's the second time I've heard you mention that, XxSATANxX. Have anything you'd care to share?

(And NDA's are for losers....c'mon!)

[Lutheran]

This guy is probably right, anyway. Sounds logical to me.


Of course it sounds logical to you , your the I HATE NINTENDO AND IM PROUD OF IT guy..

[Slack3r78]

There is no one I respect less in this industry than Scott Miller.
DEREK SMART

DEREK SMART

DEREK SMART

[Taco]

I thought carefully before I posted that. Derek Smart crossed my mind. I still posted it.

[Taco]

As a side note I'm not a 3d Realms hater, never have been, and actually like George B.

Scott Miller is a total choad though.

[jacktion]

their home console division has been making progressively less money since the NES days.

A better statement would be that they have one of the best business models, but even that ignores the fact that they've lost marketshare steadily for the past 20 years.


A salient point. But how could they not lose market share? They created the market. They were pretty much the only boy on the block at the beginning. So as the market has evolved it has become clear that there is room for more than one or two companies at the table. Just as there are numerous car manufacturers now, but in the beginning there was really only Ford dominating. So since videogames are in their infancy, the market is just developing now. Companies are finding their niche and figuring out how this all works.
There was no choice but for Nintendo to lose market share. You can't stay at 95% forever.
The trick is to stay profitable as the market divides. Nintendo has done that. If they continually lose market share until they are zero than that would be a problem, but their profitability indicates that won't happen. Their share will rise and fall as all shares do.

So don't consider the dividing of the market as failure. Business is about profits and Nintendo is way ahead of everybody else in that respect.

http://revolution.advancedmn.com/article.php?artid=6342

Check this out. It just came out. They are making more money than they expected. How does Sony's profits statement look? Or MS's xbox division?
Exactly.

[Rifter]

Wow, I remember when these were called .plan files, not blogs. :-)


As for the Revolution. I kind of like Nintendo's strategy. They are NOT going for first place. They are going for a strong second place. The expect the fans to get a PS3 or Xbox 360, and it sounds like the big N wants a revolution sitting next to your primary console choice.

[agentgray]

Can Scott Miller even be considered a developer anymore? Did they make that much money so long ago to stay in business today?

We all know that DNF is going to flop because it will never meet gamers expectations. He'll be like the George Lucas of videogames.

"He raped my childhood!"

Their only saving grace would be to introduce the game to a new generation. That generation will probably go meh.

UPDATE: what I meant with all that rant was that what he says means absolutely nothing to me.

[Achilles]

Can Scott Miller even be considered a developer anymore? Did they make that much money so long ago to stay in business today?

We all know that DNF is going to flop because it will never meet gamers expectations. He'll be like the George Lucas of videogames.They've been working on Prey for a really long time and that game looks great. I don't much care how long a game has spent in development. Why release a game before it's ready? Because gamers won't consider you a developer if you don't apparently.

Responding to your update, since Scott's probably not going to be making games for the Revo, his opinion on this doesn't really mean much, and there's no reason that it should mean anything to you.

[XxSATANxX]

Hmmm...that's the second time I've heard you mention that, XxSATANxX. Have anything you'd care to share?

(And NDA's are for losers....c'mon!)

5/18/06 All bets are off. Just thought some of the industry types who hang here could get my back on this one. Appears no one went to CES and in fact that room was filled with non-industry tech heads. I was never a fan of Nintendo but I think they are on to something come Revolution day! :cool:

[Taco]

They've been working on Prey for a really long time and that game looks great. I don't much care how long a game has spent in development. Why release a game before it's ready? Because gamers won't consider you a developer if you don't apparently.

He couldn't develop a "Hello World" script. I don't know what he does. I think all he does is try to take credit for other people's work(Max Payne, Prey).

http://www.humanhead.com/

Any questions?

[Achilles]

http://www.humanhead.com/

Any questions?Well he's a CEO the fact he doesn't know how to program, assuming he doesn't, doesn't matter. But I was saying that a game can spend a long time in development and still turn out well. And the team working on it shouldn't be written off. I was talking about Duke, using Prey as an example.

[Taco]

Ok, thought you were attributing Prey to Miller. Prey however has not been in development that long. Couple years now maybe?

[feeble]

lol
ign didnt waste anytime to add this to their site.

its also funny he actually hasnt tried the console, so atm he has just about the same amount of say as everyother gamer.

at any rate, i was thinking the same thing about a year and a bit ago.
but nintendo have actually done a complete turnaround in my mind.
so who knows

[Achilles]

Ok, thought you were attributing Prey to Miller. Prey however has not been in development that long. Couple years now maybe?It's been kicking around for a while now. It was in full development a good long while ago, then they put it on the shelf for a few years, and recently took it back down and made a game out of it. I suspect Duke's been kicking around in the same way, I'd be shocked if they've had a full team cranking away on that thing for the last 10 years or whatever it's been.

Human head started working on Prey in 2001 (so 5 years in development by the time it ships). Here’s an article on it.
http://www.3drealms.com/news/2006/01/prey_weekly_upd.html

That’s an awesome sig you’ve got there btw. :)

[Smithersnz]

Prey however has not been in development that long. Couple years now maybe?

I was reading about Prey in the same article in PC Gamer, back in '96 I think, where DNF was first announced. Probably not in developement all that time, but it has been around a long time. Of course, it looks to be heaps of fun, so I don't mind. However, DNF better be the best game I have ever played, if I'm going to stop hassling Miller.

[51|RandoM]

Scott Miller, one of the guys who has been promising us Duke Nukem Forever for almost 10 years and still expects anyone to give a shit about what he thinks.

Go ahead and forget that name again now.

i was being sarcastic, lol.

I tend to think of 3drealms as a tax shelter. They don't produce anything, so they must be able to show a pretty big loss every year, something to write off to help mitigate the taxes on whatever the duke nukem franchise is still bringing in from past efforts.

Even if you look it at the the line of past Duke Nukem games, almost none of them were made by 3drealms anyways. :p

[kizke]

5/18/06 All bets are off. Just thought some of the industry types who hang here could get my back on this one. Appears no one went to CES and in fact that room was filled with non-industry tech heads. I was never a fan of Nintendo but I think they are on to something come Revolution day! :cool:

I wish you could say more than that. :\ Still, four months is not a long time to wait.

[YoungAlCapone]

i was being sarcastic, lol.

I tend to think of 3drealms as a tax shelter. They don't produce anything, so they must be able to show a pretty big loss every year, something to write off to help mitigate the taxes on whatever the duke nukem franchise is still bringing in from past efforts.

Even if you look it at the the line of past Duke Nukem games, almost none of them were made by 3drealms anyways. :p


I know, I took it and ran with it. It worked for the point of my post. That the guy saying the revolution is going to be Nintendo's last console says things all the time, and they tend to be false.

About the game being released in a timely manner, I agree that a game should stay in development until it is ready. However, to promise a game is coming soon for ten years is completely unacceptable.

Oh, and I am pretty sure Prey has been tossed around and shelved for around 7 years now. However, the developer has some very tangible evidence that the game is at least actually in production. In fact they are getting the game out the door, while everyone is still wondering if DNF even really exsists anymore.

I'm also in the I don't think George B. is an idiot camp.

[thecrazyd]

I wish you could say more than that. :\ Still, four months is not a long time to wait.
Are you kidding? It is fucking torture. I can't fucking wait til E3. Gonna be the first year I can go.

[Taco]

was reading about Prey in the same article in PC Gamer, back in '96 I think, where DNF was first announced. Probably not in developement all that time, but it has been around a long time. Of course, it looks to be heaps of fun, so I don't mind. However, DNF better be the best game I have ever played, if I'm going to stop hassling Miller.

t's been kicking around for a while now. It was in full development a good long while ago, then they put it on the shelf for a few years, and recently took it back down and made a game out of it. I suspect Duke's been kicking around in the same way, I'd be shocked if they've had a full team cranking away on that thing for the last 10 years or whatever it's been.

Human head started working on Prey in 2001 (so 5 years in development by the time it ships). Here’s an article on it.

The current iteration of Prey has nothing to do with the one from the 90's. It was canceled and restarted from scratch with a different dev house years later.

That said, I didn't realize Human Head had been on it since 2001, time flies.

Thanks for the comments on the sig ;).

[mister_slim]

5/18/06 All bets are off. Just thought some of the industry types who hang here could get my back on this one. Appears no one went to CES and in fact that room was filled with non-industry tech heads. I was never a fan of Nintendo but I think they are on to something come Revolution day! :cool:
You are a tease... Satan is certainly an appropriate name.

[Conner Dain]

...snippet of a conversation from the last time Scott Miller checked into a hotel.

"Mr. Miller, will you be needing an additional room for your ego?"

[Eric_T_Cheng]

DEREK SMART

DEREK SMART

DEREK SMART

Is that like say "Beetlejuice" three times?

[SMES]

DEREK SMART

DEREK SMART

DEREK SMART

At least Derek makes actual tangible games.

And what about the Phantom guy, "Mr. Salesman." He's gotta be worse than Derek or Scott.

[jadkins555]

Scott Miller said on ********** ages ago that the Xbox would fail because there wasn't a market for a third system.

Why should we listen to him now?

[TheBrainKills]

The guy has not even touched a controller, yet he is predicting Nintendos demise (much like Zeal), that is like looking at a piece of chocolate and saying that it tastes like shit.

[Fyd]

...and duke nukem 3d was the last game of 3drealms :)

[mneosyne]

WHAT a brilliant man, I mean WOW who would think that nintendo would sell fewer consoles than microsoft or sony. Its not like this situation has ever happend before, its not like he's saying exactly what happend last time all 3 came out with systems.

its almost as if this dork can actually make a game, in a solitary decade.

[Grifter]

Axel Rose announces new GnR album out soon.

You better not be fucking with me. A new GnR album is no joke, unless it's just axel with a new band. in that case axel can fuck right off for all I care

[Sl1pstream]

...and duke nukem 3d was the last game of 3drealms :)

Shadow Warrior was released after Duke 3D.
Even if DNF gets released, many (new) gamers haven't even played a Duke Nukem game.

[SuperMonkeyFighter2]

The current iteration of Prey has nothing to do with the one from the 90's. It was canceled and restarted from scratch with a different dev house years later.

That said, I didn't realize Human Head had been on it since 2001, time flies.

Thanks for the comments on the sig ;).

To further that note, the game has been done on Take 2's dime (although you never hear mention of that in Scott's ramblings). Another fun fact 3D Realms has never done a game on Windows 95 or higher. Also, isn't it funny how 3DR plasters their web site with Prey news ... is this to take away from the fact that there is zero Duke news? Whatever happened to Bombshell? You know, that Duke Nukem spinoff game featuring their NEW character. The one Scott rambled on, and on about while preaching to everyone the "secret" of how to create a marketable character.
Here's some free advice to all 3DR folks: Stay off the message boards, stop playing EQ (This means you George), stop dissing other people's products (especially when you, as a developer have NONE), and just ship YOUR game, or just kill it already. This is a bigger joke than Daikatana ever was.

[51|RandoM]

Scott Miller said on ********** ages ago that the Xbox would fail because there wasn't a market for a third system.

Why should we listen to him now?


In that particular instance, he was half-correct. :D

[bjornbarspingvinen]

Haven´t nintendo lost marketshare for the last 2 systems(non-handheld) ? N64 sold(alot) less than supernintendo(which I thought was nintendos prime(SNES)), Gamecube had an even slighter marketshare.

The thing is that NIntendo make alot of money off their dominance in the handheld market and IP, non-handheld they are losing marketshare by every console. Nintendo can keep putting out systems that are stationary, but their SNES glory days I think are over. Handheld though, they will rule forever. It´s sad when I think about Sega Genesis and SNES days, those days were felt like the golden age of console gaming....


Aslong as they have a calculated manufacturing cost and decent sales for the revolution they will put out a new machine, but I don´t think we will ever see them releasing "THE" console ever again.

Sega and Nintendo should have joined forces when PS1 came out. That would have been an awesome pair :)

[fushi]

I am sorry Mr. Miller, but while Sony has mindshare and Microsoft momentum, Nintendo has LOOOOVVEEEE so I don't think Nintendo will be going anywhere.

Please change your ways Mr. Miller, otherwise you will lead a shameful life as sinner.

[Testcase]

No, the pyramids were actually finished on time.




No, the pyramids were actually finished. PERIOD.

Thus it was, until proven otherwise.

[Taco]

I've seen the project plan for the Pyramids.

Have you?

[mister_slim]

I've seen the project plan for the Pyramids.

Have you?
Yeah, it's on the back of the dollar bill.

[Fyd]

Shadow Warrior was released after Duke 3D.
Even if DNF gets released, many (new) gamers haven't even played a Duke Nukem game.

OOps, yes i forgot it, shadow warrior was released after, i like that game :).

[hd1]

My prediction for 3D Realms is that Duke Nukem Forever may never come out, hence the name. Also, this may be the last game they make.

[GWhite]

Yeah, it's on the back of the dollar bill.

I wonder if there was an open beta for any of the pyramids.

[Beelzebud]

Janurary 1997: Work on DNF started.*

April 1997: Quake 2 engine purchase announced. (they got it in mid-late 1997 before Quake 2 was released). Scott Miller states that he is confident that DNF will be released by mid 1998 and prey in late 1998 making 1998 a bit year for 3DR. He also mentions that his confidence is not misplaced.

August and September 1997: First screenshots in PC gamer (hummer, farmer i think).

May 1998: First DNF E3 video shown. You can see that a lot of work has been done.

Late 1998: 3DR announces switch to Unreal tech. It is expected to take no longer than 6 weeks and 3DRealms says "DNF is a 1999 game."

Mid 1999: 3DR admits that the engine switch took a lot more time than originally estimated.

Late 1999: 3DR announces upgrade to UT level tech. It is expected to take two weeks. 3DR releases a Christmas card saying that DNF will be released in 2000.

2000: I don't think anything happened. They released some sexy screenshots in late 1999/early 2000 (for the time). Broussard begins claiming that DNF development did not start until 1998. Inquiring minds wonder how they got so much done before May (E3) 1998.

May 2001: 3DR comes out of nowhere and puts DNF up at E3. They state that DNF will be released in 2001 and the end of the E3 2001 video says "WID in 2001". Many part of the video bear a clear resemblence to the 1999 screenshots.

October 2001: Broussard posts "sorry guys, it won't be a 2001 release" on the VE3D forums. "Don't worry, the last major hurdle is AI."

Unknown 2001: Broussard states that DNF will definitely be out before Unreal 2.

January 2002: Voodoo Extreme makes a list of top 10 titles to be released in 2002. #1 on that list is Duke Nukem Forever. Someone posts "when will we see something" in the 3DR forums. Broussard responds with "soon".

June 2002: The "soon" thread gets locked.

Unknown 2002: Broussard states that DNF will definitely be out before DooM 3.

2003: Broussard states that DNF has been "on track since early 2002" and that they haven't reached the light at the end of the tunnel, but "they finally found it." He wisps away the years between January 1997 and January 2002 and wishes people would consider DNF's development as if it started in 2002 (this is a strong hint that DNF was far from complete). Unreal 2 released.

Broussard adopts the "DooM 3 and HL2 will have been in development for 5 and 6 years when they're finally released -- DNF isn't taking that much longer" belief (notice: his numbers are very inaccurate).

Late 2003/early 2004: Take 2 complains about DNF development and expects it around "late 2005". "At this point we're just hoping the team [in garland] will finish the project."

2004: Broussard states that DNF development has been on track since "late 2002/early 2003", bumping up his earlier statement in an attempt to fight back release expectations. It is clear, from this behavior, that DNF will not be released this year or next. DooM 3 is released. Half Life 2's release is anticipated this year.


So the most reasonable points in which they could've completely restarted would've been after each of the E3 videos. They could've restarted after the E3 1998 video or after the E3 2001 video. Luckily, you can refute both of these possibilities by simply looking at what Broussard was saying back then -- the Unreal engine upgrade was certainly not expected to require them redoing much. Things were added and tech was changed, things were adopted. This was all stated in interviews with Broussard himself.

It is more difficult to question whether they've restarted at some point after E3 2001. Clearly, in late 2001/early 2002 when Broussard was saying that the last major hurdle was AI and "soon", he could not have just restarted the project. Furthermore, in 2003 he stated that development had been good since early 2002. If this was the case, then there was no point at which he could've restarted (unless you restart while telling fans "the last major hurdle is AI" and "soon").

* "We've actually been working on the game since January." -- Scott Miller, 1997.



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Video game systems that have been released in DNF's development time:

Neo Geo Pocket Color
Wonderswan
Dreamcast
Gameboy Advance
N-Gage
Playstation 2
X-Box
Gamecube
Nintendo DS
Sony PSP



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Major releases in prominent game series since first DNF press release on April 25, 1997:

Grand Theft Auto 1, 2, London, III, Vice City, likely San Andreas

Fallout, Fallout 2, All eight (to my knowledge) Infinity Engine games and expansions, and three Baldur's Gate console spinoffs

Final Fantasies VII, VIII, IX, X, X-2 XI, Tactics, Tactics Advance, Crystal Chronicles, Origins, Anthology, Chronicles and the Ergheiz & two Mysterious Dungeon spinoffs

Legend of Zelda: Four Swords, Wind Waker, Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Link's Awakening DX, Link to the Past GBA, Legend of Zelda GBA, Oracle of Seasons, Oracle of Ages

Unreal, Return to wherever the **** that was, Unreal Tournament, UT2k3, UT2k4 and at least 4 games off the top of my head that use its engine

Quakes 2 and 3, and God knows how many games used those two engines

Thief 1, 2, 3

The Sims and all seven expansions

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1, 2, 2x, 3, 4, Underground

Madden NFL '98, FIFA '98, NBA '98 and NHL '98 for the Super Nintendo, and NHL '98 for both the SNES and Genesis

Might & Magic VI, VII, VIII and IX

With the exception of Meridian 59, every MMORPG apart from MUDs (I may be off here; at any rate UO was released five months after DNF was announced)

Mortal Kombat 4, Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, and in October Mortal Kombat: Deception

King of Fighters 97, 98, 99, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, Maximum Impact

Tekken 3, Tekken 4, Tekken Tag Tournament and in October Tekken 5

Romance of the Three Kingdoms VI, VII, VIII, IX, Dynasty Warriors 1-4 (and 2 expansions), Samurai Warriors, Kessen 1 & 2, Dynasty Tactics 1 & 2, Mystic Heroes

Every Dance Dance Revolution game

Every Street Fighter III game

Every single Pokémon game released in the US

Every Deer Hunter game

Chessmaster 5500, 6000, 7000, 8000, 9000 with 10th edition out in two months, just on the PC

Twenty (to my knowledge) Mega Man titles, for GBC, GBA, GC and N64, not including direct ports


Thirty (to my knowledge) Star Wars titles, again not including direct ports

And something new! Working Designs is famous for taking absolutely forever to release a product. Since the announcement of Duke Nukem Forever, WD has released Albert Oddesy, Magic Knight Rayearth, Sega Ages (maybe), Raystorm, Elemental Gearbolt, Lunar: Silver Star Story, Sillhouette Mirage, Lunar 2: Eternal Blue, Alundra, Arc the Lad Collection, Raycrisis, ThunderForce V, Vanguard Bandits, Silpheed and Gungriffon Blaze, with Growlanser Generations out in two months. Working Designs CEO Victor Ireland has made approximately 3,710 Usenet posts since the announcement of Duke Nukem Forever.

Also:

The Voyager 1 spacecraft has travelled approximately 2.5 billion miles since the announcement of Duke Nukem Forever.

The rovers Spirit and Opportunity were proposed, authorized, announced, designed, launched and successfully landed upon Mars within the timeframe of Duke Nukem Forever's development.

The majority of the children who were entering high school the school year following Duke Nukem Forever's announcemnt are now eligible to drink.