Take Two Claims 3D Realms Holding Money, Slept With Boyfriend
By Chris Cesarano
So here’s the skinny. Around mid-May, Take-Two asks Apogee Software, better known as 3D Realms to gamers everywhere, if they would also co-develop Duke Nukem Forever for Xbox 360. Apogee, however, said they would only do it if Take-Two would “fully fund Apogee’s reaching a certain milestone”. Hesistant to commit to a company known for sitting on their collective asses, Take-Two agreed to fund half of the project to the Alpha Milestone of the PC version, and from there fund the project in its entirety. Apogee said no.
So now that 3D Realms has exploded into the ether, Take-Two wants to continue development of Duke Nukem Forever on its own. However, Realms refuses to hand over the assets and source code for the game, and Take-Two is afraid that the development team may sell off important and secret properties related to the game and brand as a sort of backlash of, y’know, losing a job. Case in point, Tramell Isaac leaking previously unreleased screenshots and renders, mentioned specifically in Take-Two’s complaint, and the leaked video reel of gameplay footage and animations.
But here’s the big kicker. While Apogee aren’t only being jerks to begin with, Take-Two claims “Upon information and belief, Apogee has title to a substantial amount of funds deposited in an off-shore account, which Take-Two believes Apogee can use to fund its outstanding obligations.” It sounds a bit bizarre and out there, but I wouldn’t put it past 3D Realms.
I should technically not be choosing sides, but let’s face it. Apogee should have been glad someone was willing to invest any money into a company that has outright admitted to playing World of Warcraft for years instead of developing Duke Nukem Forever. These are also the guys that took forever to develop Prey, and while it wasn’t necessarily a bad game, it wasn’t all that great and the writing was atrocious.
The good news, at least, is Take-Two is still looking to complete Duke Nukem Forever. They just need to get the assets and source code so they can continue development. Hence, lawsuit.
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