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Duke Nukem 3D (PC)

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This page details pre-release information and/or media for Duke Nukem 3D (PC).

To do:

  • Include concept art from XBLA port
  • Development Timeline
  • pre-release screenshots
  • Sort the page out
  • Everything else
  • A collection of prerelease material can be found here and here.

Duke Nukem 3D started life looking much different to what is seen in the final game, resembling the first two games more in tone and style rather than the final release.

Development Timeline#

1992#

  • Unknown - The game starts development.
  • December 18 - George Broussard announces a list of tentative release dates. In a list of games to be out "by summer", he reveals Duke Nukum 3D, a sequel to Duke Nukum II being "developed concurrently" with it, and coming "shortly after [it's] finished".1
  • December 28 - Jay Wilbur from id Software states that, unlike Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold, Duke 3D will not use their engine.2

1993#

  • March 22 - Apogee's file list on this day lists the game as set for a release during the holiday season of 1993.3
  • March 26 - Apogee's file list on this day does the same as on the 22nd.4
  • December 3 - Duke Nukem II, whose ending teases "DUKE 3-D", is released.5

1994#

  • February 14 - Apogee's file list on this day lists the game as set for a release during the holiday season of 1994.6
  • April 1 - Apogee's file list on this day does the same as on February 14th.7
  • April 23 - Details on the game's 3D technology is described in an Apogee post full of information on new games.8
  • July 15 - Apogee releases a game list that sets Duke 3D for a Q1 1995 release.9
  • August 27 - In Apogee's announcement of the 3D Realms brand, Duke 3D is mentioned as one of the games under the brand set for 1995.10
  • September 28 - Artist Steve Tietze mentions just getting finished on working on the game.11
  • October 7 - 0.9410 build is compiled with some footage surfacing in late 2022.
  • November 8 - Apogee's finger update on this day groups Duke 3D with games mentioned to be running on the BUILD engine.12
  • December - The LameDuke prototype is compiled.

1995#

  • June 12 - George Broussard estimates "by September" as the release, and states that levels are being tweaked.13
  • June 23 - George Broussard reassures the release as "when it's done", or within 1995.14
  • September - The release window at this point is "when it's done", or more precisely, late 1995 or early 1996.1516
  • September 22 - 0.909 build is compiled with two leaked footages of the game, one taking place on E2L1 and the other showcasing the different weapons of the game.
  • October 25 - George Broussard states that the shareware version is set to be out by Christmas.17
  • November 20 - The Duke Nukem 3D official slideshow is released.18

1996#

  • January 4 - The v0.99 Beta is compiled.
  • January 15 - George Broussard states that the game will be out "probably in the next 10 days or so".19
  • January 28 - A release update from George Broussard and Joe Siegler is posted, stating that it's "about 24 hours or so away".20
  • January 29 - The shareware release v1.0 occurs.
  • February 20 - The game is updated to version 1.1.
  • March 4 - The Computer Gaming World demo is last modified.
  • May 5 - 3D Realms start shipping the full v1.3d version.21
  • May 16 - The full version is released to retail.22
  • November 27 - The Plutonium PAK is released, upgrading the game into the Atomic Edition v1.4.
  • December 12 - Atomic Edition v1.5 is released.

1997#

  • May 25 - Version 1.0 of the Mac OS Classic port is released.

Concept Art#

D3d_gallery2.jpg D3d_gallery3.jpg D3d_gallery6.JPG

Art depicting an early version of the Octabrain, refereed to as "Jellyfish"

Pre-release Screenshots#

D3d_DUKE1.png D3d_prereleaseD3d30.png D3d_D3d40.png D3d_D3D07.png D3d_DUKE3D23.png D3d_spacesuitprerelease.png

Other#

An early design of the Protozoid Slimer from the instruction manual.

References#

  1. Apogee Release Dates - ">> These are some other games in the works to look for by summer:
    >>
    >> * Duke Nukum 2 - VGA / SoundBlaster/Adlib. Your favorite superhero is at
    >> it again, blasting everything in his way!
    >>
    >> * Duke Nukum 3D - Yup, that's right. Duke will make his 3D appearance
    >> shortly after Duke 2 is finished. Both games are being developed
    >> concurrently, so you Duke fans will have plenty of summer blasting fun!
    >> 256 VGA, SB/Adlib."↩︎
  2. Re: Apogee Release Dates - "Blake Stone will use [our] engine, but Duke 3d will not."↩︎
  3. Apogee Games... - "Duke3D Xmas/93 VGA"↩︎
  4. Apogee Software - "Duke3D Xmas/93 VGA"↩︎
  5. 3D Realms Site: Detailed Release Timeline↩︎
  6. Re: ** "Official" v1.2 Distribution ** - "Duke Nukem 3D Xmas/94 - Duke's back in 3D!"↩︎
  7. Apogee File List - "Duke Nukem 3D Xmas/94 - Duke's back in 3D!"↩︎
  8. Apogee Software New Game Release Information↩︎
  9. Apogee Software Game List - July 15th 1994 Edition - "Duke Nukem 3D 1stQ/95 - Duke's back in 3D! Multi-player!"↩︎
  10. Announcing 3D Realms Entertainment - "All four games are due out in 1995. Each one will have a shareware version available for free through bulletin boards (i.e. Software Creations BBS) and online services (i.e. CompuServe and America Online). Each shareware version--approximately one third of the full game--will advertise the complete game, which is sold directly by 3D Realms. (The industry known "Apogee Model" shareware marketing system.) FormGen Corporation has the worldwide exclusive license to release each game into the retail channel at the same time the shareware versions of each game are released by 3D Realms."↩︎
  11. 3D Artist looking for pos. in Dallas - " I just got finished working on a video game that will be available for the Pc from Apogee Software Called Duke Nukem 3d."↩︎
  12. Apogee's finger update - "NOTE: The following four games use 3D Realms' "Build" engine, which is similar to id's DOOM engine, but with many advancements. These include looking up & down, reflective floors, mirrors, true rooms above rooms, multi-colored lighting (DOOM only had white lights), moving vehicles, translucent sprites (for ghosts, explosions, windows, etc.), rotating sprites, high-res mode for Pentiums, user-modifiable parameters, underwater swimming, and much more. Of course, these games will have modem and network play."↩︎
  13. Re: DUKENUKEM3D - "Duke Nukem 3D should be out by September. We are playing DeathMatch every day on the levels, teweaking [sic] them."↩︎
  14. https://groups.google.com/g/comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action/c/UFTeSj7lbOw/m/yNOZMCBKyjAJ Re: Duke Nukem 3d - "Right :) Our official release date is "when it's done". It will be out this year though."↩︎
  15. Re: Duke Nukem 3D on Target? - "3D Realms officially states the release date as "when its done :)" Unofficially, they are looking at the end of '95/early '96."↩︎
  16. Re: Duke Nukem 3D on Target?- "Duke 3D is going come our very late this year or early next year.
    We've added new engine abilities and that is adding a few months to development. These new features are designed to make the game more competitive with Quake. (As if that's even possible! )
    Scott, 3D Realms"↩︎
  17. Shadow Warrior and Ruins? - "We're trying to have a shareware Duke out by XMAS and Shadow Warrior will be along in early 96."↩︎
  18. Duke Nukem slide show - "Just a quick note to let you know that we released the Duke Nukem 3D slide show yesterday. At all the usual sites: ftp.uml.edu, www.3drealms.com, CompuServe (GO REALMS), AOL (GP APOGEE) and Software Creations (www.swcbbs.com).

    George Broussard, Pres., 3D Realms"↩︎
  19. Midi sound: Any new games use it?? Sell my Ro - "Duke Nukem 3D will be out in Jan (probably in the next 10 days or so). The game is done and we are just testing and finishing a few last items.

    George Broussard, Pres., 3D Realms"↩︎
  20. Duke Update Real Info...↩︎
  21. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/1411893409064608/2848174588769809↩︎
  22. https://web.archive.org/web/19961019034200/http://www.ogr.com/news/news0596.html↩︎