E3 2008: Apogee returns

In December, 3D Realms shocked the industry by showing, for the first time since 2001, brand-new footage for the long-regarded-vaporware Duke Nukem Forever. While scarcely more than a minute of footage, the teaser indicated that 3D Realms was on the verge of releasing Duke Nukem Forever in 2008. Comments by 3D Realms' George Broussard notwithstanding, a report from the Dallas Business Journal indicates the developer is targeting an Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 release, in addition to the PC.

With the Duke's revival assured--dare it be said--it now appears that one more remnant from the past will reemerge. Today, Apogee Software--abandoned by 3D Realms as a publishing label since 1996--announced that it would be relaunching its publishing efforts for smaller-scale development by bringing back a number of games from its legacy catalogue, as well as all-new properties.

Apogee's first project will be a three-episode Duke Nukem Trilogy that it plans to bring to the "handheld market." The trilogy's individual installments will be titled Critical Mass, Chain Reaction, and Proving Grounds. However, Apogee did not elaborate on which specific platforms the games would arrive, when they are expected to hit the market, or if the three titles were part of a single product or part of a trio of releases. Apogee had not responded to requests for comment as of press time.

"This marks a new beginning for a famous publisher with a history of market-making innovation," said Apogee chief operating officer and cofounder Terry Nagy. "I can't think of a better character than Duke or a better franchise than the Trilogy to usher in a new era for Apogee."