It's been 15 long years since Duke Nukem 3D took the gaming industry by storm, bringing revolutionary changes to the first person genre along with very adult-centric content. Its long-awaited follow-up in Duke Nukem Forever has taken forever to come to fruition, its release becoming a parody of itself.
Now Gearbox Software finally got it out but unfortunately for a lot of gamers, the company behind it and even their PR company, Duke Nukem Forever certainly did not live up to expectations.
We're still working away on Game Rant's Duke Nukem Forever review but it's safe to say it's not a great game. Reviews across the board are slamming it for a variety of reasons and it's not creating a good situation for publisher 2K Games.
Market Watch put up a report about the stock value of Take-Two Interactive dropping, in large part due to the negative scores against Duke Nukem Forever. The stock price fell 4% on Tuesday (DNF's release date) and Cowen & Co., a financial services firm, claims that the company's ability to hit their income target for the year “has been significantly reduced.”
In other negative news, as the reviews of Duke Nukem Forever started rolling in Tuesday and the snark against Duke picked up on Twitter, 2K Games' third party PR firm The Redner Group took it to heart and issued the following tweet:
"#AlwaysBetOnDuke too many went too far with their reviews...we r reviewing who gets games next time and who doesn't based on today's venom"
That came from Jim Redner, who runs the group, and as you can imagine, it caused quite a stir online. The issue of bias and favoritism between PR and media is a hot topic and although this message is borne out of frustration and emotion at some of the more mean-spirited reviews out there, such a message is in the wrong and Redner quickly removed the tweet, issuing an apology via Twitter and through email.
2K Games however was unforgiving and the following morning, issued the following messages through their official Twitter account @2KGames:
"2K Games does not endorse or condone the comments made by @TheRednerGroup and confirm they no longer represent our products."
"We maintain a mutually respectful relationship with the press and will continue to do so. We don't condone @TheRednerGroup's actions at all."
The Redner Group's Twitter has remained silent since their apology and it's a terribly unfortunate situation, knowing everyone involved and knowing them as genuinely good people. Our review will be up shortly so stick around Game Rant for that and all of your other gaming news needs.
For Redner's full apology, continue to page 2.
Hello,
I would like a quick moment of your time to humbly ask for your forgiveness. I made a major error in judgment. I acted out of pure emotion without any thought to what I was saying. It is with a sad heart that I come to you now asking that you forgive me. I posted a Tweet this evening saying that I was reviewing The Redner Group’s policy for future reviews of video games based on today’s Duke Nukem Forever scores. I must state for the record I was acting on my behalf. 2K and all other clients had nothing to do with my comment. I want to be very clear that this came through me and was in no way affiliated with any of my clients especially my former client 2K.
Though I didn’t name names, I did say that I thought some reviews had gone too far in tone. Meaning, that the tone of some of the reviews was poor. I respect the scores, it had to deal with the tone. I was unable to properly convey that in 140 characters. But that it beside the point. We are all entitled to our opinions regardless of score, tone or meaning. My response was a juvenile act on my part. I know better and my emotion got the best of me. I have worked very hard on this project. I want it to succeed. I just got upset and acted out.
I believe we are all allowed to voice our opinions and that opinions by their very nature are correct. Many of you quickly pointed out my error in judgment. For that I thank you and apologize.
I truly respect what you do. You have helped me achieve a little bit of success in this industry. I depend upon you. Your coverage is of the utmost importance to me. You have helped me secure coverage for all of the projects that I have touched. I have tried to treat you all with respect, dignity and honesty. Tonight I threw that all away, and I am extremely sorry.
The video game industry is an industry that I love. I have tried to dedicate myself to this industry. Tonight I failed the industry.
With much respect, I hope that when we meet again you will be able greet me with a smile and without malice. I will gladly do the same.
I am truly sorry for what I did. I know better than that. If I have caused you any issues, now or in the past, I apologize.
Best of luck,
Jim Redner
Duke Nukem Forever is currently available for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.
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Follow me on Twitter @rob_keyes.
Source: Market Watch