Electronic Gaming Monthly to Return From the Dead

The January 2009 issue of EGM, the last issue before its cancellation.

Like a lot of gamers, I was saddened and disappointed when my favorite gaming rag, Electronic Gaming Monthly, was suddenly canned in January. For years I had been buying the magazine, looking forward every month to the tounge-in-cheek writing style and unbiased, no-bullshit reviews. Not only was it my favorite game magazine, it was the only one I would buy. Game Informer, Gamepro, Official Xbox Magazine, none of those ‘clicked’ with me the way EGM did.

So I was happy to read the good news on Gamepolitics this morning. Steve Harris, the original founder of EGM, has reaquired the rights to the magazine and will be launching it later this year under a new publishing label.

It will be a pleasure to add new issues of EGM to my already abundant stash once more. I just hope the magazine is as funny and free spirited with the old staff gone…

3D Realms Bites It, Fate of “Duke Nukem Forever” in Question

AAAAAAAAAHHUGGGGGGH *splat*

Well folks, it finally happened. After 12 long years of teasers, broken promises, and endless examples of other people actually getting work done, the company with the famous catchphrase and an exorbitant amount of time on its hands has fallen. 3D Realms is officially dead.

I can’t say I’m surprised. If one has a company that does next to nothing for over a decade except occasionally produce something, it’s not going to stay afloat for very long. 3DR’s lazy ass was sitting on borrowed time ever since the announcement in 1997 kicked off the biggest joke in video game history.

But although 3DR may be gone, Duke Nukem Forever remains in the air. Take-Two Interactive still holds the publishing rights, and it’s possible that another development team will pick it up. Then again, it could just as easily get canceled and put to rest forever. In either case, we’re likely not going to be hearing “When it’s done!” repeated ad nauseum for 12 more years.