Gearbox Worried Duke Nukem Too Crude For ESRB

Logan Westbrook

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Feb 21, 2008
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Gearbox Worried Duke Nukem Too Crude For ESRB

Duke Nukem Forever [http://www.amazon.com/Duke-Nukem-Forever-Pc/dp/B002I0JAJ2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1286528628&sr=8-1] "dances the line of decency," says Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford.

Forget scientists in bright orange suits or nameless marines from the future, Duke Nukem is a real man and a real hero, as long as your definition of "real" is "ridiculously over the top." His new game doesn't pull its punches either, something that Pitchford thinks might present some difficulties later down the line.

At a recent event in London, Pitchford asked journalists not to film the new trailer that Gearbox had put together, saying that it didn't want Take-Two to be "punished" for Gearbox's creativity. The trailer apparently featured: strippers, nudity, gratuitous swearing, curse words rendered in massive letters, giant aliens getting punched in the junk and Duke getting pleasured by two girls at once. Demonstrating a mastery of understatement, Pitchford said the ESRB and PEGI would likely not approve of the content.

Obviously, without seeing the trailer, it's hard to say anything concrete about it, but the description doesn't sound like a game that's coming out without some tweaking first. It seems like Gearbox has really embraced the idea of Duke as an over the top, hyper-masculine pastiche, but it might have to be toned down before it hits the shelves.

Source: CVG [http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=268583]



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Fredrikorex

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Sep 25, 2009
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I wonder if this game gets an adults only rating...
(I hope not)

EDIT: I didn't think this post through very much. (of course I want duke nukem to have an adults only rating)
 

AzimuthZeke

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May 8, 2010
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I don't think it'd ever make it to Australia. :(
Stupid censorship. Stick a big ass R 18+, and send it to Aus, regardless of content. Goddamn it, there are adults here that want to play badass duke nukem forever. :(
 

minimacker

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Apr 20, 2010
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Oh no, I hope they won't tone it down.

It's THE Duke! He's supposed to be too much for one man (Or woman) to handle!
 

Steppin Razor

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Dec 15, 2009
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They're making Duke Nukem exactly like Duke Nukem was back in his glory days? Foolish, naive developers, you're supposed to piss off the fanbase by raping and pillaging our memories of the greatness that was the Duke by making a gritty, cover-based shooter.

Gearbox - YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG.

On a more serious note, this sounds exactly like what I expected from a Duke Nukem game. Things are looking good if this makes it through without any major censoring.
 

HolyLiaison

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Sep 30, 2010
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Good thing most the people that know anything about this franchise are 25+ years old now thanks to the 12 year pause between the last game and this one. ^_^
 

LawlessSquirrel

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I can't possibly see this getting anywhere close to Australia. I mean, if Left 4 Dead 2 couldn't have visible flames on zombies or the presence of corpses, there's no chance of this making it through. If it does, it's more of a sign that the system is hideously broken.

Hopefully someone in the PAL regions gets it uncut though. Even if not, still will most likely import or get over Steam, 33%-50% of the price is tempting enough.

I'm not usually a fan of over-the-top content, but seriously...I keep saying we need a ridiculous and light-hearted FPS to break the cycle, and here it is, the last real obstacle being censorship.

Ahh Censorship, my nemesis strikes again.
 

Loonerinoes

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Apr 9, 2009
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I'll put it this way - the more of the 'good ole Duke' that I can see make it unscathed past the censors and moral guardians, the more of a success this game will probably be, in spite of its vaporware reputation thus far.

But hahahaah...if I'm perfectly honest, Duke Nukem's personality (hell even his looks to some degree!) remind me of the cartoon Johnny Bravo. A guy, that launches himself on the scene a decade too late - every would-be romantic goes with the times and becomes cultured, civilized and oh so very 'considerate' but not Johnny Bravo, no sir! He's a hunka-hunka burnin' lurve ready to impress chicks...no matter if they consider that kind of romantic approach out of date. :D

Same with Duke Nukem! Every action hero's become this guy with a big and important message, who can handle himself in a social situation. Not Duke, no sir! He keeps kicking ass the old fashioned way and you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way!

To be honest...as much as I couldn't care about the game, even when it was announced that it was, after all, NOT vaporware...I can't help but hope that we might regardless get a game release the likes of which we'd be used to getting at the end of the 90s...you know...if anything merely for the sake of treating it as an experiment in how well a game that went all retro-style could do these days. I think it could still turn out to be important if a game as old-fashioned and crude as this manages to sell well - it'd signal to other publishers and developers that ya know - hey, it's okay to take these kinds of risks, the audience might like a bit of delving into the older game simplicity in certain ways. :)
 

Nevyrmoore

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Aug 13, 2009
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Dear lord in heaven, please let the ESRB say "Fuck it, it's the Duke!" and release it censorship free.
 

samsonguy920

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Mar 24, 2009
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Opening the floodgates on everything in the game at first sounds practical to me. I doubt Gearbox will trim anything more than what will be needed to cross from AO to M rating.

Of course if things go to crap come November here in the US, then there may be a lot more needing to get cut.

Hold strong, friends from Down Under! Something may yet come in your favor!
 

Infernai

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Apr 14, 2009
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TheLoneSeeker said:
Can't see this making it in to Australia anytime soon :-|
Aww hell no! They are GOING to allow it through, or there will be hell to pay...I've waited over a decade pal, and i'm not letting some crotchety old farts stop me! *loads shotgun*
 

Wicky_42

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Sep 15, 2008
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The don't rate downloaded add-ons, right? I'm seeing a tamed game with free day one dlc to bring back the Duke ;)

But I don't think any studio's worked that out yet...
 

Nevyrmoore

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Aug 13, 2009
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Wicky_42 said:
The don't rate downloaded add-ons, right? I'm seeing a tamed game with free day one dlc to bring back the Duke ;)
I can see it now. Without DLC, everything is fluffy bunnies and rainbows and Duke fires sweeties out of his guns.
 

vrbtny

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Sep 16, 2009
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Don't you fucking dare ERSB!! We've waited 12 years of this damn game, we want the full-monty. Don't you fucking dare ERSB Or I'll set the duke on you!

Quiver in fear.