Print
Anyone in need of a lesson in how not to use Twitter or any Web 2.0 outlet to promote a product, here it is. Following the backlash of bad and sometimes venomous reviews of Duke Nukem Forever, the game that, in a sense, has been 14 years in the making, Duke's PR team responded with a knee-jerk Twitter post essentially threatening to blacklist reviewers who were overly critical of DNF from receiving future games.
"#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," @TheRednerGroup tweeted.
Arstechnica took particular exception to what some might have perceived as a threat, while going on to explain how catty the reviews industry can be. Veiled threat or not, most would agree that Duke's PR firm crossed the line, and The Redner Group acknowledged as much when it deleted the tweet and posted a couple of followup messages.
"I have to apologize to the community. I acted out of pure emotion. I will be sending each of you a private apology," @TheRednerGroup tweeted, followed by a pair of followup tweets exonerating publisher 2K. "I need to state for the record that 2K had nothing to do with this. I will be calling each of you tomorrow to apologize," reads one, followed by, "Again, I want everyone to know that I was acting on my own. 2K had nothing to do with this. I am so very sorry for what I said."
While Duke Nukem Forever has received some harsh criticism in the media, part of the problem might be that it's impossible to live up to more than 14 years of waiting and several years of hype. Maximum PC's sister magazine, PG Gamer, "check[ed] unrealistic expectations at the door" when reviewing DNF, which you can read here.
Image Credit: PCGamer.com
Comments are closed on this article
shasty78
June 21, 2011 at 12:03am
Duke Nukem Forever could have been the most perfect game, with exhilarating action, multitude of new weaponry, latest technology, engrossing story, a perfect first person shooter, and it still would not have been good enough for most people.
I think most reviewers, critics, and huge fans were mostly upset as they were expected gold perfection, winning lottery tickets, and ecstasy every second of the day when thinking about DNF and/or playing it. It couldn't have ever been good enough for those who thrashed it. It is what it is.
I've been among those who have waited for 14 years, as I was not only a fan, but a big multiplayer, and builder of my own DN3D levels. I'm excited to build all new levels using Unreal Tech for DNF!
I have to say I was unhappy that Duke, or to say the new life giver's of Duke, did not stick with the legacy of being able to carry multiple weapons as the days before. Also, Duke did not used to regenerate life - which I thought was weak. He used to be able to get armor, but not anymore. But the comedy, the all-to cheesy jokes, and action stuck with the Duke of old - which was nice. It was also interesting the integration of problem solving puzzles and driving, which made me long for more shooting action at times. It would have been awesome, an 11 out 10 game, if all about the game characteristics of Duke stayed the same, and new levels, built around a new technology and a new story. But re-gen health, two guns, not tons of weapons, were changes that were to me, unwelcome.
But, I still would give it an 85-90, as I think the campaign was fun, and I'm enjoying the multiplayer as well. However, I feel in the days of Call of Duty, Crysis, and such others, people's expectations were way too high. Duke was never meant or intended to be a game such as these, and it's not! That's what I dig about it. It did stay somewhat true to itself. Great job 2K for reviving an awesome legacy. You almost got it perfect.
Rift2
June 15, 2011 at 9:19pm
The industy needs less serious games like Redneck Rampage =) Duke Nukem fits right in but
everyone in this day of age is so caught up on perfection =) That they bash the Duke cause they never
played the original.
don2041
June 15, 2011 at 6:37pm
I havnt played the game yet but a good game should have like a good movie 1st a good plot 2nd good acters everything else is eye candy and above all be fun!!!
TommM
June 15, 2011 at 2:56pm
In case someone hasn't already mentioned this, 2K has sacked The Redner Group over this. (shrugs) And I'm pretty sure it will be a long time before someone else picks up a contract with them. Oh well.... ;)
https://twitter.com/#!/2KGames/status/81056724546633729
stonecold52
June 15, 2011 at 2:00pm
It all depends on expectations. I agree with kixofmyg0t, "Been playing it and yes, it's not the Crysis/Mass Effect/Final Fantasy/etc of today but that's the point. It's FUN." My age shows, but I remember the reviews for the Leisure Suit Larry games, but I enjoyed them tremendously. DNF means Duke Nukem Forever and it is great.
Ghok
June 15, 2011 at 12:37pm
Sounds to me like it mostly wants to be a 1997 game, which is fine, but it also has some modern console elements... but not the good kind. A 1997 style game would be fun to play, but I wouldn't pay full price for it.
jonelsorel
June 15, 2011 at 12:22pm
@ creators of DNF :
I'm pretty sure I WON'T be interested in buying whatever game you think of resurrecting in the future, as what you did with this sequel to an icon of its time is PURE GARBAGE!
It's amazing that a studio capable of creating Borderlands and other wonderful games can release such crud, whatever publishing and financial interests were in the middle.
Btw.. is DNF = did not finish?
chop_slap
June 15, 2011 at 12:05pm
The way this was marketed and ALL THE TIME put into it, 14 years. And all they gave was this?? LAME. At least it still gives Doom 2 a good run for its money.
polecat
June 15, 2011 at 12:00pm
I personally don't think that reviewers should get free copies of games at all. They are not getting the full experince of the game if they don't have to pay their hard earned money to be able to play the game.
I understand that reviewers often need to get copies of a game before it goes gold (especially print magazines), and it would be a little weird to charge the reviewers for a beta copy of a game, but there's a big difference between the beta version of a game, and a gold/final version of a game.
Kinetic
June 15, 2011 at 12:24pm
Maybe, but this is why I always put more stock into the actual customer reviews on metacritc or amazon that were written by people who bought the game themselves, rather than someone who was handed a free copy and charged with writing up a review for it.
No offense to Maximum PC what so ever.
Holly Golightly
June 15, 2011 at 10:54am
I am pretty sure it is a good game. It is a classic brought back to life. Now... If Blood Rayne makes a return, I am so on it! Anyhow, I want to check out Duke Nukem... I am just waiting it out.
benicoletti
June 15, 2011 at 9:54am
Tell Amber to break the seal on the copy she got and lets hear MaxPC's thoughts on the game. I think it would be incredibly cool to win the game for free and have some of the Max PC staff sign the DVD with a sharpie or something. Lets spice up the contest a little.
Slurpy
June 15, 2011 at 9:29am
@D00dlavy - Ben doesn't even mention the "objectionable content" after the first half of the first page. Three quarters of the article is bashing the gameplay, and rightly so.
Though you are right about the spam filter and deeefunding. That's kind of amusing.
kixofmyg0t
June 15, 2011 at 9:27am
I pre ordered the game from Gamestop, when i went in to pick it up yesterday the sales rep tried his hardest to talk me OUT OF PICKING IT UP. He offered me store credit for another game...ANY other game and tried telling me over and over how bad it was and blah blah blah.
Long story short I walked out of that store with the damn game in my hands. I don't care how bad the reviews are, I want the damn game.
Been playing it and yes, it's not the Crysis/Mass Effect/Final Fantasy/etc of today but that's the point. It's FUN.
D00dlavy
June 15, 2011 at 9:08am
I plan to buy it because I'm curious, enjoyed Duke Nukem 3D and wish to support Gearbox.
I thought the reviews were full of shit. Every game reviewer has decided to don a suit of knight’s armor and, by admonishing the game, they're doing chivalry for the world and “the lesser sex” whom so desperately need these men to come to their rescue. Cause, you know, without them, we’d need another women’s suffrage movement to establish order after Duke.
...At least, that’s what it must feel like for them. The game is supposed to be gross, flippant and immature, and while it certainly may be evaluated on these points, the ArsTechnica review pretty much focuses on nothing else.
ArsTechnica, a site I used to frequent more often, chokes on political correctness. I was banned for deeeefundddding Duke Nukem and, yes, eventually "impersonating" Duke's character myself. Furthermore, when ArsTechnica started (hypocritically) pimping female writers’ headshots as “clickbait,” I called them on it and was called a misogynist for my efforts. (I still don’t know WTF happened to that thread, but Ceasar is a flaccid wank) rolls eyes
I purposely went out of my way to read Ben’s ArsTechnica review for Duke Nukem. It was precisely what I expected.
Oh, and not all reviews have been bad. I’ve heard a ton of people say how fun the game is.
This game has got to be better than a Michael Bay movie. :-)
MAXIMUMPC - FK your SPAM FILTER. I spent fifteen minutes trying to figure out why my post wouldn't go. "Flagged as spam?" Piss off. Fk off.
The word: DEEEEFEEENDING (I gotta mispell it or it won't go)
Please fix this comment system because I have better things to do. Most your readers do, I'm sure.
DoctorX
June 15, 2011 at 8:58am
not sure why the hostility... I bought it and loving the game. But you cannot realistically compare it to anything out today because basically it is a throwback to an earlier time. The trailers did do justice to the game. I am a bit at a loss why the hate and bad reviews. I guess they are yonger than 30 years old. Us old timers who played duke nukem 3d is completely at home.
Grow up people and buy a life.... sheeze!
(edit: no i am not a female shovenust (sp?) pig.)
D00dlavy
June 15, 2011 at 8:49am
I plan to buy it because I'm curious, enjoyed Duke Nukem 3D and wish to support Gearbox.
I thought the reviews were full of crap. Every game reviewer has decided to don a suit of knight’s armor and, by admonishing the game, they're doing chivalry for the world and “the lesser gender” whom so desperately need these men to come to their rescue. Cause, you know, without them, we’d need another women’s suffrage movement to establish order after Duke.
...At least, that’s what it must feel like for them. The game is supposed to be gross, flippant and immature, and while it certainly may be evaluated on these points, the ArsTechnica review pretty much focuses on nothing else.
I purposely went out of my way to read Ben’s ArsTechnica review for Duke Nukem. It was precisely what I expected.
Oh, and not all reviews have been bad. I’ve heard a ton of people say how fun the game is.
This game has got to be better than a Michael Bay movie. :-)
P.S. Fk your spam filter, MaxPC. I have better things to do than guess why my comment is spam.
D00dlavy
June 15, 2011 at 9:10am
This isn't my real comment. Up way above. This site kept marking me as a spammer and I spent fifteen minutes trying to figure out why.
G-dfuckingdamnit.
DoctorX
June 15, 2011 at 8:57am
i agree.. i read the ars technica review and i thougt he was being immature
MrSelatcia
June 15, 2011 at 8:30am
#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,"
if, of course, any of you are still reviewing games in 14 years when the next one comes out.
What a joke. Whoever put out that tweet is in for a harsh morning. Good luck finding work in this economy.
TommM
June 15, 2011 at 8:19am
The game was doomed to fail with the historical delay, too many fingers in the development pie and the off-the-charts expectations. It was almost as if John Lennon and George Harrison had been resurrected and the Beatles were going to release a new album.
Total no-win situation.
Phosphorous
June 15, 2011 at 8:01am
They probably should have just scrapped this game. Like the article said, there was so much hype put into this that nothing could have made this as great as it could have been.
