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Duke Nukem Forever demo drops June 3 for First-Access Club members

Borderlands: Game of the Year purchasers and preorder buyers will get first whack at the 14-years-in-development game in three weeks.

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After nearly a decade and a half in development, Duke Nukem Forever will finally go on sale June 10 internationally and June 14 in North America. However, those looking to take the game for an early test drive will be able to 11 days earlier--provided they have the proper code.

Duke Nukem Forever's demo is just weeks away.
Duke Nukem Forever's demo is just weeks away.

Today in a short video (see below), Gearbox Software CEO Randy Pitchford announced that the Duke Nukem Forever demo will be available for download to members of the First Access Club starting June 3. To join the club, gamers will need a code obtainable by purchasing the Game of the Year edition of Borderlands or preordering the game from participating retailers. The code is redeemable on the First Access Club's website.

Initially announced in 1997, Duke Nukem Forever was synonymous with vaporware for over a decade. While at original studio 3D Realms, it went through at least two engine changes, with its protracted development reportedly costing $20 million to $30 million.

Then, in early 2009, publisher 2K Games' parent company Take-Two lost patience with 3D Realms, refusing to give it the funds to continue development of the game. It went on to sue the suburban Texas developer, with court documents revealing the New York-based publisher was developing another Duke Nukem game, Duke Begins, with Gearbox. That developer, flush with cash from the success of Borderlands, went on to buy all Duke Nukem Forever assets and the Duke Nukem IP itself last September.

When Duke Nukem Forever launches, it will be available in both a standard edition, as well as a Balls of Steel Collector's Edition for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. This top-tier bundle includes a bust of the titular hero, a set of playing cards, dice, and two casino chips. A comic and hardcover art book are also included in the collection, along with a numbered certificate of authenticity.

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Avatar image for WarGrad
WarGrad

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Beat the demo, seems a bit easy on normal. Still kicks ass!!! @gershon check your receipt, or emails.

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ShonnyG112

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I have the GOTY Edition but can't find the code. Where do I find it?

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PoeticRose

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I have the Balls of Steel edition pre-ordered and paid for. Can't wait for the game to come out!

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mrzero1982pt2

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the game of the year edition(NEW) still has the code, but i am passing on the demo. why? i have the game ordered and paid for. nothing will stop me from playing this game... NOTHING!

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drgribb

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i want the balls of steel edition sooooo baddd...... I just don't have $100 right now to pony up for it :( hoping i can come up with that cash before they're all accounted for.

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Avatar image for servb0ts
servb0ts

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i meant boards flooded with hater topics galore

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servb0ts

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it takes Balls of Steel to release a demo before game comes out, especially after long wait. expect boasts flooded with hater topics galore.

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pyshco

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i dont understand why my post about the spelling erorr has been rated down ofc its not there any more gamespot probably edited their post but that shouldnt be why, and onto the demo bussinesss i mentioned is it my fault if i tell people what everyone else will be doing to get the demo i love Duke but i wont be a fan boy and flame and thumb down everyone who says some minor bad things about the games pre launch services, hence what happend to me

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Avatar image for chesed
chesed

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Honestly, this game is probably not going to do well in terms of expectations. Game news sites are all focused on how it took 14 years for it to come out. That's impossible to live up to (tho I'm not saying it was 14 years in development). I hope the game is good enough to kick start the franchise again. If the game is mediocre, a demo would probably be a bad thing. People will play the demo, realize other shooters are better, and be done with it. Good for consumers, I guess... I'm satisfied having played DN back in the day. I don't recall it being all that like a lot of people seem to remember it as. I actually loved Rise of the Triad much more. Regardless, hope it turns out great. Would love a campy, humor-filled shooter.

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Avatar image for DillTurnips
DillTurnips

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@thenephariouson i loved them all...Hells Highway almost made me tear up a bit too.

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senjutsu

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Piece of Cake!

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thenephariouson

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@DillTurnips, Yeah, i would really like to see another BiA game, i loved Hells Highway.

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GabrielOnuris

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Probably the demo will be released for everyone on june 14, together with the full version. Some games nowadays had its demo versions released months after the full version, it's getting normal.

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lonewolf1044

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Welcome to capitialism and nothing stays the same. Get used to it and you do not have to buy anything that you are not forced to buy.

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Avatar image for DillTurnips
DillTurnips

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ok, after this is done they then need to finish Aliens: Colonial Marines, and then make the next Brothers in Arms game. the last one ended on a cliffhanger and i wana know what happens next.

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PixelAddict

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@buft I feel your pain. I did the same. You'd think that those of us that bought Borderlands at launch and ALL the DLC (including the so-so Moxxi's) would at least get a token thanks. Not just the Johnny-come-latelys.

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buft

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What a bunch of rubbish, i bought borderlands on release and every piece of DLC on day and date and my reward for loyalty is a big middle finger as usual.

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Avatar image for DanielL5583
DanielL5583

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I DARE anyone to say this won't be awesome!!

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joeborg14

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Don't believe their lies!!

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13remen

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I guess a few people are doing somme selective reading and just making this article say what they want it to? You can get the demo from preordering the game too. Yes...you can preorder a game at Gamestop by only putting $5 dollars on it. Yeah putting $5 down on a game as a preorder that you can immediately take back after getting the code...these guys are so greedy. If you have any interest in the game, I don't think putting $5 down on a game temporarily is asking too much. If you can't shell out that $5 then you really have nothing to complain about since that amount falls significantly short of the total cost of the game. I guess posting this was probably a waste of my time since you guys can't read and those that can read already knew what I said. Might I point you in the direction of Derek Zoolander's Center for Children Who Can't Read Good and Wanna Learn to do Other Things Good Too?

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SauhlGood

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seriously now the demo is being sold... lol greed has no bounds... and love the video playing it off as if its good news your selling us a "demonstration" of a product meant to encourage us to buy it, but you have to buy it to get the demonstration....

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cmacinnis

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Wow... what the hell does one have to do with the other? What ever happened to demos being out there for everyone, not just the people that bought a specific game.

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ChiefFreeman

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not excited about this. where is Aliens: Colonial Marines? C'mon Randy.

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Avatar image for boredywardy
boredywardy

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I remember the days of demos coming on the fronts of magazines. Available to everyone... Now it seems they are just a selling point for other games. Silly really, demos are to advertise your game.

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Lykanthropie

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only for first access nembers - a few years ago - demos were available for everyone and sometimes weeks or even mounths before the game.

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Avatar image for c_rakk
c_rakk

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Great news! :D

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Voodoo933

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I've waited almost 15 years for the game. Getting the demo 10 days early is cool with me. Shoot, Im glad the game even exists. HAIL TO THE KING BABY!!!

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Avatar image for FonikhSoupia
FonikhSoupia

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Why so many complaints? I didn't see anyone complaining about the Gears 3 demo, which had the same marketing technique!

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Avatar image for PodXCOM
PodXCOM

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Did you know Randy Pitchford was thinking of adding a gay Sidekick? << LINK REMOVED >> vote me up if you want that gay Sidekick back.

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ForceFedBullets

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Annoying over-enthusiasm in the video

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parrot_of_adun

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@deathwish026 Where did you pre-order it?

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parrot_of_adun

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Why so much complaining about the availability? EVERYONE gets the demo, we club members just get it a little earlier. We didn't buy the right to play the demo, it's just a bonus. It sure as hell isn't why I got the BOS edition anyway.

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fuse5150

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time to kick @ss and chew bubble-gum, but im all out of gum.. lol classic.

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zidan4000

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people will pirate it anyway , the company doesn't have the right to make you pay for a demo.

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Talldude80

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not a bad bonus for buying the GOTY edition of Borderlands. Which i bought on sale at Gamestop anyways! :-) but only a week early? thats not a big deal.

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Avatar image for Mysticalnubcake
Mysticalnubcake

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Hail to the King, baby!

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Avatar image for pyshco
pyshco

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also the demo will probably be put up by most torrent sites for free DL, they shouldnt really make u join a silly club to play a demo anyway

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pyshco

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spotted a spelling error in this post "--provided they the proper code." dosent make sense i think it should say (Provided they HAVE the proper code.)

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Avatar image for silverdoe
silverdoe

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damn, even a demo requires something. it's not even a closed beta! lol

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supertegwyn

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I'm in the club! W00T for me!

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Discomaster

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Man, Sony should be trying to get the rights to have the demo put up on the PSN on that same date as part of their making up for the system being down for so long. Just saying.

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Avatar image for godzillavskong
godzillavskong

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It has dragged on so long it was hard to stay interested. Not a purchase on day one for me, although I may get it later on down the road. Too many great games out that I haven't even purchased yet. I wish I was rich!!!

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TankBusterJenn

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Glorious old-school shooter going to be GOTY. Always bet on Duke.

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Tsuchikage

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It looks like Duke Nukem Forever is actually coming out this time. Finally.

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aSchizophrenic

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"its protracted development reportedly costing $20 million to $30 million" Wow.... That is a lot of money. If this game sucks then that will be a huge fail.

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Gelugon_baat

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"To join the club, gamers will need a code obtainable by purchasing the Game of the Year edition of Borderlands or preordering the game from participating retailers." I had suspected that any demo or beta of this game would be tied to the purchase of either Gearbox's or 2K's games. :?

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XeonForce

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Bobby Kotick take notice: CEO's can get hands-on with their games, and also be pretty awesome. Wait... I totally wasted my breath...

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Evz0rz

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Randy Pitchford is far and away the most awesome and likable CEO in the gaming business IMO

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DrKill09

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Meh, the full game will be out soon enough. Hey, remember shareware? :P

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raahsnavj

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Duke was cool when I was a rebellious teenager. Catchy lines and bathroom humor jokes broke the mood of the typical mute Doom and Quake - but now-a-days I don't see the need. $7.50 for borderlands GOTY was worth it - I didn't even realize it had a 'bonus' for being early on in the demo.

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