Gearbox: Duke’s development will “be forgotten as a footnote”

Talking to IncGamers this week, VP of Marketing for Gearbox Steve Gibson  gave us his thoughts on the drawn out development history for Duke Nukem Forever and whether it would help the game in terms of sales.
“From a business perspective, we’re hoping it’ll get people to a look.  Do you remember the movie Snakes on a Plane? And how everybody talked about it being so funny and what not, but then no one showed up to the theatre to watch.  We were like are we Snakes on a Plane? PAX proved otherwise, with people waiting 5 plus hours to play…

If you think of Red Dead Redemption, Waterworld or Avatar.  People don’t talk about how long it took Red Dead to be made any more, or Avatar.  But, people talk that way about Waterworld. If and when people love Duke then i think that’s all they’re going to care about anymore.  The rest will just be forgotten as a footnote.”
Duke Nukem Forever was announced back in 1997 and entered a new stage of development hell when developer 3D Realms closed its doors. With ensuing lawsuits now settled, rumours of Gearbox picking up the game appeared back in August.
When the new title was revealed at PAX last month it caught many by surprise, expecially as there was playable demo on show.
Watch out for more coverage of Gearbox’ title here on IncGamers next week.