im sick of this "the game isnt art so it's damaging the industry" argument. Film is art and yet Transformors and G.I. Joe no only happened, they poured money back in to a starving film industry to help set up the building blocks for studios to begin releasing better films again.
Literature is art and yet Twilight is the biggest thing to happen in books in the last ten years. it is completely without artistic merit (not for lack of trying followed by a swift faceplant) and yet more people are reading books now because of it.
Painting is art and the first painting that comes to peoples minds when you mention a painting is the Mona Lisa, which isnt famous for being particularly good, its only famous because it was stolen. second to this argument, look at the work of Jackson Pollock, the idea that THAT is art is beyond me.
getting back to Duke though, i was a Duke 3d kid. It speaks directly to me because im it's core audience. for those who missed Duke 3d due to age or other variable I'm sorry. seriously.
I'm not going to call Duke satire or parody, but what Duke is, what he reprosents is Big, Dumb fun, and right now that's what i would like. I dont need an over the top war drama/ soap opera for soliers right now. COD, battlefield Halo and killzone have filled me up on this, i dont need an intensive story and thought provoking ideaology right now, thank you Bioshock and friends you met that need for me. what i want, no need right now is some big, dumb fun topped off by so bad they're good one liners and huge explosions.