Duke Nukem Forever – April 28, 1997 – May 6, 2009?

by Rory

duke_nukem_screenshot2

These lists have been made before, but I’d like to make one of my own. It is an understatement to say that Duke Nukem Forever has had a long development cycle. I guess they’re using Scrum or Agile or something. Anyway, whole video gaming systems have launched and died in the time span between the announcement of DNF and its (apparent) demise. Let’s take a look at some of the milestones in gaming history and their connection to Duke Nukem Forever. I’m sort of plodding around, plucking out dates at random. If you remember something specific, feel free to comment and I’ll add it to the list.

April 28, 1997 – Duke Nukem Forever is announced.

September 7, 1997 – Final Fantasy VII is released in North America.

September 25, 1997 – Ultima Online is launches.

September 30, 1998 РNorth American release of Pok̩mon (Red and Blue versions).

July 21, 1999 – Halo is announced at the Macworld Expo (this is before Microsoft acquired Bungie).

September 9, 1999 – Final Fantasy VIII is released in North America on the same day as the Sega Dreamcast video game console.

April 14, 2000 – Daikatana.

September 2001 – World of Warcraft is announced.

October 26, 2000 – The PlayStation 2 launches in North America.

November 15, 2001 – The Microsoft Xbox launches alongside Halo: Combat Evolved.

November 23, 2004 – World of Warcraft is released.

June 27, 2007 – Ultima Online: Kingdom Reborn is released. It’s still going, with another new expansion slated for release this year. Good god.

May 6, 2009 – 3D Realms shut down? Fate of DNF: Uncertain? (like this is some sort of profound update on its prior status)

Twelve real years is like a century in the world of gaming. If you need a frame of reference, consider this: the entirety of the Halo trilogy was released during the development of DNF (plus several novels, an RTS game, and a cat helmet). Legitimate SNES games were still being published the year Duke Nukem Forever was announced. It’s not clear yet whether or not DNF is truly finished, but damn. Damn.

Where were you the day Duke Nukem cut off his own head and shat down his own neck?

(screenshot is from Wikipedia)