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Shippin' Out June 12-18: Duke Nukem Forever

New release slate championed by premiere of Gearbox's long-in-development action game; Wii Play: Motion, Child of Eden, Alice: Madness Returns, Transformers: Dark of the Moon also out.

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Duke Nukem can be called a lot of things, but vaporware is no longer one of them. Gearbox Software's much anticipated first-person action game Duke Nukem Forever finally arrives tomorrow for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC, following an international market release last week.

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.

Gamers can finally get their hands on Duke Nukem Forever tomorrow.
Gamers can finally get their hands on Duke Nukem Forever tomorrow.

Duke Nukem Forever 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.

Out today for the Wii is Wii Play: Motion. From Nintendo, the new bundle sports a black Wii Remote Plus and an all-new compilation of 12 minigames. Among the minigames are an umbrella-based gliding game and a whack-a-mole-type garden-pest control title involving a virtual mallet.

Gamers looking to play an explicitly twisted riff of Lewis Carroll's classic Alice's Adventures in Wonderland can pick up Alice: Madness Returns this week. The game sees a grown-up version of the titular heroine grappling with insanity. Her journeys take her back to Wonderland, where players will find combat, platforming, and puzzle challenges.

Alice is back, wielding a knife.
Alice is back, wielding a knife.

Fans of famous Japanese designer Tetsuya Mizuguchi's Rez can pick up the man's latest project this week, Child of Eden. The game takes its cues in large part from Mizuguchi's previous rhythm shooter, and it features the same style of music-enhanced shooter gameplay with psychedelic visuals.

It also bears a storyline: Gamers will attempt to rescue the embattled Project Lumi, which is an effort to "reproduce a human personality inside Eden, the archive of all human memories." A virus has invaded the program, however, and players must defeat it before all hope is lost.

Lastly, gamers looking to jump into the latest Transformers title can pick up Transformers: Dark of the Moon this week. The title is due tomorrow for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Additionally, versions of the game are being released for the DS, 3DS, and Wii.

Though it bears the same name as its cinematic inspiration, Transformers: Dark of the Moon is actually a prequel to the big-budget blockbuster, which arrives in theaters July 1. The game will introduce Shockwave to the Transformers movie games, as well as a new mechanic. In addition to their robot and vehicle modes, the Transformers in Dark of the Moon will have a hybrid "stealth force" mode combining firepower with mobility.

For further details on the week's games, visit GameSpot's New Releases page. The full list of downloadable games on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Live Marketplace, and Wii Shop Channel will be revealed later this week. Release dates are based on retailer listings and are subject to change.

MONDAY, JUNE 13
Wii Play: Motion--Wii--Nintendo

TUESDAY, JUNE 14
Alice: Madness Returns--X360, PS3, PC--Electronic Arts
Balloon Pop 2--3DS--UFO Interactive
Child of Eden--X360--Ubisoft
Duke Nukem Forever--X360, PC, PS3--2K Games
Transformers: Dark of the Moon--360, PS3--Activision
Transformers: Dark of the Moon - Autobots--DS--Activision
Transformers: Dark of the Moon - Decepticons--DS--Activision
Transformers: Dark of the Moon - Stealth Force Edition--Wii, 3DS--Activision
Wipeout: In the Zone--X360--Microsoft

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Avatar image for deactivated-5f4b46d20662e
deactivated-5f4b46d20662e

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This game is the type of game parents should give to their kids to make them stop playing video games. Its so bad you will quit games for life.

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TheVGamer

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So wait, you give Thor The God of Thunder a video review, yet you don't for Duke that's been in development 20 times longer??

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ninjaroach81

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@Lazy_Marine Spot on! I was saying similar stuff, like the fact DNF went from MIA to shelves within a year probably meant they just took whatever material was done, threw it together, coded it for modern platforms, and released it. The sad thing is, Gearbox can still lay claim to being the ones to release the undisputed king of Vaporware!

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banderweir

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Anyone else think Korbin Dallas (Bruce Willis) from the 5th Element looks just like Duke? I mean, orange wife-beater, frosted short blond hair, action hero... They are almost a carbon copy of one another.

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amaan4ever

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Wow i used to play Duke nukem classic version on the PC when i was barely even 6 or 7 years old. I havent played DN:Forever but seeing the reviews i dont think i will get this game. Man i was hoping a score of atleast a 8.5 but 3.5 is like totally unexpected

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toonsim2

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Oh dear, my heart wanted this to be good but my head knew it would suck. Didn't expect it to be this bad though.

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Lazy_Marine

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Btw, the price of this game already dropped to $40 at some stores, lol :D

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Lazy_Marine

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i laugh at you those who criticized me for bashing this game at the previews :D. I expected this, infact i thought gamespot will give it a 2.0. I played the PC version and it can't even be called a game. Gearbox is rubbish as usual. Enjoy your trash game those who still think this game rocks.

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Avatar image for deactivated-62a2e05c0ed2d
deactivated-62a2e05c0ed2d

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i still dont understand why some people can say that this is the best game they have ever played... they must really have VERY few games and all of the probably suck

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FuryX-4

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Its official people, Gamespot has given Duke Nukem Forever a 3.5 for PC and 3.0 for 360. It may depend on your opinion, didn't play or have this game yet, but for this review, this is an ouch to the King. :(

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Jedilink109

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@PC-RUL3S Yeah I think it should maybe be a bit bigger around the crosshairs. But it also depends on the size of the object you're looking at when you ADS. On small things it seems kinda touchy, but on bigger stuff it doesn't do it as much. Either way, I just got this game today and I love it. I don't know what kind of game everyone else was expecting. I was just wanting a fun old school style Duke Nukem game which exactly what this is. When you think of it being a sequel to DN3D or Zero Hour, then it fits perfectly. I seriously think everyone's expectations were so high thinking this was to be the second coming or something...It's just a satire filled shooter. Get over yourself people. Fun is fun. Just have some already.

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Hurvl

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If DNF is like Serious Sam I'll definitely try it. Alice is twisted, but not as twisted as the fact that it says "98 Comments (104 New)". How can there be more new comments than the total amount of comments?

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PC-RUL3S

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@Jedilink109 I know what depth of field is and this isn't that if you play DNF you will see what I mean maybe I am just not used to this dodgy console style graphics because I normally play games with large draw distances and a wide FOV.

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miltpauris

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Predicting 5,0 or lower for Duke. The game is BAAAAD.

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AlbertoML

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In the end, reviews are just opinions. Honestly, even though Black Ops had a higher score than Aliens vs. Predator, I had more fun with the latter (all it nostalgia or whatever, it was rough around the edges but I ended up wanting to go back more than with Black Ops)

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TrueIori

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I still get Duke I know what to expect , so I won't be that disappointed as other. Also getting Alice it going to be awesome :).

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CalicoJack98

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I can't believe they did this to The Duke.

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importguy

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I have this feeling that GameSpot is "choosing" their final score for Duke Nukem Forever very, very carefully...

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deactivated-61fa3b5d03ccc

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KAK game like i said

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banderweir

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I want to take back my last comment after having actually played the game. Excruciating is not nearly a strong enough word. This game looks bad, very bad on my high-end pc. You have to hear Duke say some lame catchphrase after about 80% of every kill. And even if you turn the dialog volume down in the options, you then can't hear what anyone else says either. The one thing I was right about before was that the uber-long development cycle would be bad for the game; it apparently ruined it. I wanted a true old school FPS, but this has many new school FPS features tacked on, such as recharging health (which I HATE) and switching between only 2 weapons (like singularity). The "humor" was hard to sit through. I guess this kind of stuff seemed a lot better/funnier when I was 14...

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Omegaman007

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WOOOO!!!! TRANSFORMERS!!!!! It's not Duke Nukem, and I feel because of that a great game (made by the same company that did War for Cybertron) will slip silently by.

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Nexttime45

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Why is IGN always faster with important reviews?

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AgentRebecca

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Duke sucks! All hail Balloon Pop 2!!! LMAO just kidding, wanted to see if i could make people mad saying that XD but i liked Duke games but im not getting this one...yet, ill wait for price drop, im saving for better games late this year...ALOT of games...ill be broke...

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WR_Platinum

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Its finally coming out. Hail to the king baby!

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the_requiem

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DNF is Chinese Democracy of video games.

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ax_prime_basic

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It's all about DNF for me this week... but I know it's going to be a very polarizing game, with the majority of the feedback falling in the negative camp. People who love Battlefield, Call of Duty, and Halo and never grew up playing the original will undoubtedly think it's trash. People who grew up playing the original but want it to be thoroughly modernized will also think it's trash. People who want something that plays like a better looking version of Duke Nukem 3D will be the ones who are happy with DNF, and I happen to be in that last group. The problem with Duke's case is, there is just no way to get that cheesy, overblown, totally 90's macho baloney to feel modern... of course it's going to feel like a relic. Duke could never be anything but a reminder of a simpler time. That said, I still play Duke Nukem 3D on my 360. After dumping hours into Call of Duty, Halo, and Brink, sometimes all I want to do is hop into the rudimentary, crass, and silly world of Duke Nukem and blow up some pig aliens. No clans. No weapons to unlock. No K/D ratios to nurse. Just a bunch of enemies between me and the end of the level, with a bunch of nonsense to dink around with on the way. That's all I wanted out of DNF, and that's exactly what it is. Now... those alien bastards are going to pay for shooting up my ride!

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Caldrin

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Like i was saying al lthe time Duke will just be a re-hash of the old game and thats what it is.. it cant compete with todays story driven FPS games but thats not what its about. I guess if you go into it expecting a deep immersive story line then your going to be very disappointed. Myself I left mindless FPS games back in the mid 90s and was not looking forward to Duke..

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red666devil

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Hail to the King Baby... I m just happy that duke sequel got released.... party at ma place

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Chico_Azteca

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finally the mythical game is released....and it sucks want to get Alice....but OoT 3D got my money this week

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CornelMosneag

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@jlm2k5 - gamespot has a very smart way of reviewing. Dragon Age 2 is the best example. While other reviewers went ahead calling it the best RPG of the decade gamespot waited and watched how fans trash it around. then they came out with a moderate review while others had to reduce their scores in shame and loose all their credibility. Duke Nukem is the same story PC Gamer gave it 80/100 and after a few days decreased to 60/100. Gamespot will review it soon in the same way... telling us that although a very very bad game it is Duke (Jesus-God) and you must love it otherwise you have no heart.

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jlm2k5

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WHERE IS EFFING DUKE NUKEM REVIEW, did it rock or did it stink, come on Gamespot!!!!!!

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-Vulpix-

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I'm going to be getting Duke Nukem Forever would like to get Transformers and Alice as well, but out of my budget

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Fightingfan

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Am I the only person who is enjoying Duke? It's awesome just like the older Dukes, heck if anything it should get a 10/10 for not trying to be COD.

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raptures330

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@endorbr "OMG all you people who keep whining about this game underdelivering or not being worth the wait, what were you guys expecting? This is not CoD or Battlefield. It's an FPS in the vein that FPS were originally created. This game looks to be more of the same that I enjoyed playing 15 years ago. " "Nobody promised that it was just an enhanced version of Duke 3D. " Pick one opinion and stick with it. Either it was to be more of the same... or not. If it was going to be more of the same: it was not. If it was going to be an upgrade a step forward: then it competes with today's AAA FPS titles directly... and get's put to shame. You just don't want to admit it is a pretty average game with some pop culture references and babe jokes. Probably because you have not played it yet.

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deactivated-62a2e05c0ed2d

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so funny how GS fails "..... Duke Nukem Forever finally arrives tomorrow....." Uhm the game has been out a couple of days for Europeans and on Steam.. So next time write it will hit the US and then Asia/Australia last on the week, instead of making it sound like the game is coming out tomorrow then to the rest of the world later when it is already out for many people -.-

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Knucklemouth

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I'm predicting a 6.5 for Duke! That's my optimistic prediction too.

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Iridescent406

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Really feel bad for Duke Nukem; feels like it was bound to be an average shooter (at best). This probably means this is the last we while see of the king for pretty much as long as we care about gaming (if it sells poorly).

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Tsuchikage

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I never thought the day would come when Duke Nukem Forever would actually be released.

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holtrocks

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Did not except nukem to do good i mean anyone who saw the gameplay knew that it would suck

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QtrArt

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Alice: Madness is good

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MetalMan300

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Surprise surprise! Duke Nukem (supposedly) sucks, did anyone really expect differently?

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Craze_Maniac

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not going to get Nukem ,its so bad but i think the fans will still like it , its Duke Nukem lol Alice would be great for me .

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Pete5506

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I remember playing the first Alice back in 2000, I may need to check out the new one

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kennythomas26

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I'm going to try and pick up Duke Nukem: Forever somaetime this week or in the next couple of weeks for sure.

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Goyoshi12

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@xgalacticax Next week. It comes out on the 19th of June. :)

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fel_rossi

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lol

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soulless4now

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I can't believe IT's finally coming out after all these years...

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Fayt1986

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duke was good it just wasnt epic but its fun while it lasts ^^ i finished it in around seven hours and will play it again. my duke nukem bust rules.

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ShadowofSonic

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Duke Nukem SUCKS

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DarkSeraphim666

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Don't forget, Outland is coming out on PSN this tuesday. Been waiting for a long time for this.

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