Duke Nukem: Not Dead Yet, Says Game Exec

Back in May 2009, it was reported that the popular Duke Nukem franchise would finally come to and end, after the parent company (3D Realms) was forced to lay off all its employees. Duke Nukem, as many PC gamers already know, was especially famous for his raunchy and violent exploits in the 1996 first person shooter (FPS) Duke Nukem 3D.

After over a decade of rumors that Nukem would return to PCs and consoles, it appeared then that such hopes had been dashed.

However, in a recent interview with the gaming media, 3D Realms CEO Scott Miller said that Duke was not dead at all; in fact, he suggested that the famous character -- known for his tongue-in-cheek humor and alien blasting -- could make a re-appearance in the new decade. "The next few years should see a strong resurgence in Duke," Miller noted. (Source: 1up.com)

So, where might we see Duke?

Surprisingly, it might not be where we expect him.

Although gamers have for years yearned for the next first person shooter title (long-rumored to be dubbed "Duke Nukem Forever"), the character might actually take on a new role.

"There are numerous other Duke games in various stages of development, several due out this year. We are definitely looking to bring Duke into casual gaming spaces, plus there are other major Duke games in production. Almost all of these [projects] are unannounced," Miller said.

Casual Gaming Spaces

By this, it's most likely Miller is referring to Nukem games on gaming systems played by a mass audience, such as the Apple iPhone, Nintendo DS, and perhaps even the Nintendo Wii.

Rumors have swirled for a year about titles in development for both the DS and iPhone, but so far neither have made an appearance. If they're targeting "casual gaming spaces" it seems less likely 3D Realms will be releasing Duke Nukem Forever or a First Person Shooter of its kind.

For his part, Miller isn't yet ready to give up on Duke Nukem Forever, saying that although the people behind the project were let go, the project itself is still alive -- even if it is comatose. "Yes, we released the internal team, but that doesn't correlate to the demise of the project," Miller said. (Source: gamedaily.com)