Duke Nukem 3D Rewind Feature Explained

In Friday's post about the Duke Nukem 3D XBLA port, we were pleased about the video sharing feature, but a bit puzzled over proposed 'time rewinding'. What, as Jerry Seinfeld will probably say if he becomes desperate for material, is up with that?

Turns out, both features are but two sides of the same coin. As you play the game in single or multi-player the game engine records everything you do. In multiplayer mode this translates to being able to create instant videos of your online antics that can be shared with fellow players for later gloating.

In single player mode you can create videos too, but you can also rewind through the recorded timeline and start playing again from any point - particularly useful for those pesky 'hidden lizard trooper' moments. Yes it is essentially cheating, but it does look like fun and will save you from the grind of play a little, save, play some more, save that some of the trickier single player levels could require.

Hands-on with Duke Nukem 3D XBLA [Shacknews]

D3 Publisher will be bringing Puzzle Quest: Galactrix, Naruto and Bangai-O to the Penny Arcade Expo later this week.

This year's Penny Arcade Expo seems to be an interesting mix of announcements, unveilings and games that aren't just dated, but already available at stores. It's as if some of the publishers and developers in attendance haven't gotten the message yet: PAX is kinda a big deal.

Full D3 break-down on the jump. The only thing on the list I'm looking forward to messing around with this coming weekend is Galaxtix.

Duke 3D To Feature Video Sharing, Time Rewinding

The XBLA port of Duke Nukem 3D is to include some new features intended to spice up the classic run 'n' gun 'n' make-sexist-pun gameplay.

First up is the ability to record and share video clips of multiplayer games and share them with other players via Live. This is, frankly, genius - multiplayer was always Duke 3D's ace in the hole and the ability to record your friend's humiliation for posterity is an excellent idea.

Secondly — and slightly bafflingly — the single player elements of the game will incorporate a 'time rewinding' mechanic that we assume will be like that found in Prince Of Persia - Sands Of Time or perhaps Braid. Whether this is intended to make the game a bit easier or just to allow you to replay a particularly explody battle is unclear. It sounds a bit unnecessary, but perhaps it will all make sense when we actually see it.

Duke Nukem 3D to feature saved films and rewind feature [Xboxic]

Duke Nukem 3D Out "Sometime In September"

Duke Nukem 3D for Xbox LIVE Arcade dated! Well, roughly. Xbox rep Jason Ing tells game site Joysitq that the 3D Realms developed title has passed certification and will be released "sometime in September". The enhanced Duke Nukem 3D is being published by Microsoft and is a XBLA exclusive. Insert obligatory Duke Nukem catchphrase here.

X08: Duke Nukem 3D coming to XBLA 'sometime in September' [Joystiq]

Game Sharer Must Pay Over $29,000

An unnamed British woman looks set to be out £16,086.56 ($US29,950) after being ordered by London's Patents County Court to pay American developer Topware Interactive. Apparently, the woman shared Topware's Dream Pinball 3D on a person-to-person file-sharing site. Says prosecutor David Gore, a partner at law firm Davenport Lyons:

llegal filesharing is a very serious issue resulting in millions of pounds of losses to copyright owners... As downloading speeds and internet penetration increase, this continues to be a worldwide problem across the media industry which increasingly relies on digital revenues...The damages and costs ordered by the court are significant and should act as a deterrent. This shows that taking direct steps against infringers is an important and effective weapon in the battle against online piracy.

The woman must pay damages of £6,086.56 and costs and disbursements of £10,000. Davenport Lyons isn't finished — the law firm is going after 100 people believed to have also illegally uploading Topware's IP. Dream Pinball 3D? More like Nightmare Pinball 3D.

Illegal file-sharers face fines after copyright case [Telegraph via MCVUK]

Duke Nukem XBLA Ready To Get Some

There is a new Duke Nukem Game! No, sorry, not that one!

While we continue the Duke Nukem Forever death watch, 3D Realms has confirmed that the reissued Duke Nukem 3D for XBLA is not only finished, but has passed MS certification and ripe for release..

The original PC game (released in 1996! Good grief, I'm old) looks incredibly dated now, but the gameplay is still quite fun — especially on multiplayer. There is something just so satisfying about shrinking your opponents and squishing them beneath your size 13 combat boots..

Check the link below for a list of XBLA achievements that popped up on Acheive360Points.com.

Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad Coming To 360

Why should Wii owners have all the bikini zombie slaying fun? Eagle-eyed Kotakuite Jeff caught a listing on D3Publisher's website for Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad, an Xbox 360 exclusive version of the game. Control both sisters, Aya and Saki, as they strive to save the earth from zombie infestation. A special dress-up mode allows you to unlock special costumes and outfit the girls as you see fit, so I'm pretty much sold already. Others might enjoy Story Mode, Free Play Mode, Survival Mode, and Quest Mode, but I'm all about playing dress-up and then showing off my outfits via co-op multiplayer.

D3Publishers is being a bit sneaky with this one, as I found no mention whatsoever of the game outside of their page, but we'll be sure to update you as soon as we have info on a release target, more gameplay details, or pictures of the pretty, pretty clothing.

Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad [Official Page]

Igarashi: Wii Ware Could Keep The 2D Dream Alive

Despite Castlevania's periodic forays into 3D games (many of which incite fanboy rage), series creator Koji Igarashi is long-known as a staunch supporter of the 2D aesthetic.

And he tends not to keep his secrets too near his chest, readily expressing his interest in certain things (warming up to the Wii remote just prior to the revelation of Castlevania: Judgment, for example).

So when Iga, asked by MTV Multiplayer about a return to classic Castlevania form on the console, expresses affinity for Wii Ware, it's easy to get fingers crossed for a traditional Castlevania on Wii:

D3 Publisher: Boobs, Sheep, and Aliens, Oh My!

Duke Nukem Voice Actor Harasses People In Duke's Voice

If you could do the Duke Nukem voice, like really do it really well, you'd probably call people and say things like "Blow it out your ass". Well, that's pretty much what the voice actor behind Duke Nukem Jon St. John does! According to John:

I often have friends ask me to place a call to some unsuspecting victim and get medieval on their asses in the Duke voice. I once called a radio morning show on the east coast and harassed the DJ's in Duke's voice...they had recorded the call and ended up using parts of the call over and over again on station promos!

And hey, Jon St. John will even record stuff just for you. Well, if you pay him money. For fifty bucks, he'll happily record a message up to 30 seconds in any audio format. And he has "no issues with profanity". That's good.

An Interview with Duke Nukem - Balls of Steel [ZERGWatch via VGB] [Pic]

D3 Publisher's E3 Line Up - Onechanbara And Friends

After announcing that they're bringing the bikini-clad, cowboy hat-wearing, zombie shooting Onechanbara to North America yesterday, does D3 Publisher have any other games featured at E3 that really matter? I suppose it depends on who you ask. Me? I'm excited about Puzzle Quest: Galactrix for Live Arcade, DS, and PC, but I am the puzzly sort. Anime fans might enjoy Naruto: Clash of the Ninja Revolution 2 for the Wii, though I'd say we're all wishing they'd just advance the storyline already and give us some new characters in the states. Same with Path of the Ninja 2 for the DS. The new Bangai-O Spirits certainly isn't anything to sneeze at. Ben 10: Alien Force? Shaun the Sheep?

I suppose once you announce a game where a scantily clad woman gets splattered with zombie blood the rest of your line up looks a bit pale by comparison.

Bikini Zombie Slaying Comes To America With Onechanbara

Finally, D3 Publisher of America has come to its senses! We don't want your Dark Sectors, guys; we want your poorly animated super soldiers shooting giant bugs and gooey zombie killin' adventures in combat inappropriate clothing. We want that mind-numbing stuff. That's why we're so pleased to learn, via GamesRadar, that Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers will be coming to the Wii in early 2009.

Sure, it wasn't my most memorable experience at Tokyo Game Show last year and these games aren't exactly "good," but you can dispatch the undead in bikinis, biker outfits and barely legal schoolgirl get-ups. We're willing to sacrifice our joints to over-waggling if it helps convince D3 to bring Onechanbara VorteX over here.

Onechanbara's coming to the Wii [GamesRadar - thanks, Jeff!]

Rumored and then confirmed earlier this year, Duke Nukem 3D is making its way to the Xbox Live Arcade this year, but when? The time could be near, as an anonymous tipster sends us several pictures of the game's XBLA entry. Of course it isn't available now...note the 1337 placeholder price tag...but the fact that these shots are coming out indicates the game is very close to release. Check out the other screens below, including a shot of the "Looks Like A Cleanup On Aisle Four" achievement, which makes stepping in a pile of shit fun!

Microsoft Keen On 3D Gaming, Have Performed Experiments

If you care to remember, Jim Cameron has said that the game adaptation of his upcoming sci-fi flick - Avatar - is already running in 3D, and running in 3D on a 360. Ubisoft are the guys behind that game, but they're not the only ones looking at the tech. XNA boss Chris Satchell has said Microsoft have also been "experimenting" with stereoscopic gaming, although he's quick to stress that, as it stands, the requirement that gamers wear glasses makes the technology's widespread acceptance a thing of the future, not the present.

Microsoft has experimented with 3D games, reveals Satchell [GI.biz]

Double D Dodgeball In Action

As revealed at the end of the trailer, Double D Dodgeball is coming to Xbox Live July 30th.

Why Won't Duke Nukem Forever Be At E3?

Duke Nukem's development is - according to 3D Realms' Scott Miller - "swimming along nicely". No, "seriously nicely". So it's fair to assume that we'll be seeing it in some kind of capacity at this year's E3, right? Uh, no. It won't be there. At all. Why not? Miller says it's because E3 is now irrelevant. "It's just that we view E3 as irrelevant nowadays. In fact, I wasn't even aware it was coming up". Harsh words from Scott Miller, who is perhaps secretly envious that E3 has a firm date.

3D Realms: Duke Coming Along, E3 "Irrelevant" [Next-Gen]

Watched so you don't have to! The New York Asian Film Festival recently kicked off, showing lots and lots of, you guessed it, Asian films. Included in that pan-Pacific cinematic buffet was OneChanbara — a film we actually want to see. That Girl from the cleverly named That Girl's Site saw the flick, blogging:

I went to go check out Chanbara Beauty on Friday but unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) I had a little too much to drink right before the movie so I didn’t get to see it in its entirety because I fell asleep. I remember some zombies and some chick in a bikini named Aya who had a sword, and she used this sword to fight the zombies. At some point I woke up and she was fighting some other chick who was in a school uniform of some kind. I don’t remember ever seeing this little girl [with arrow] in the movie so I have no idea who she is or what she has to do with the movie. And then the movie ended.

We would've remembered everything if we had seen it. But we didn't, so tough tooty.

OneChanbara Review [That Girl's Site]

New Duke Nukem Screen Is Small

Found over on the 3D Realms careers page, there's this new Duke Nukem Forever screenshot. It's tiny! And there's Duke and a sunglasses and a pipebomb and a gun... Don't forget that this was posted on a job page and not via traditional publicity means. And for those interested, the 3D Realms help wanted reads:

Need more help. Must go faster. Scotty, we need more powah! ATTN: 3DR Website level designers, local Dallas/Guildhall level designers and level designers everywhere...

If you're a pro, or an amateur, if you have talent and passion, feel free to send us your stuff. Programmers interested in game play programming, or with 360 experience should look us up, too.

For those not interested, move along, move along.

Help Wanted! [3D Realms via Shack News]