https://mastodon.social/@dosnostalgic/115979247993526220

I remember downloading from a FTP server, playing, and uploading to a local BBS in the dark with my dorm roommie asleep. LOL! Do you remember its release day, old PC gamers?
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--- PyGate Linux v1.5.6
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On Thu, 29 Jan 2026 18:06:03 -0000 (UTC), ant@zimage.comANT (Ant)
wrote:

https://mastodon.social/@dosnostalgic/115979247993526220

I remember downloading from a FTP server, playing, and uploading to a local >BBS in the dark with my dorm roommie asleep. LOL! Do you remember its release >day, old PC gamers?

You know, I'm usually pretty good about stuff like this... but in this
case? Not really. I'm not even sure I got the shareware version first,
or just bought the retail version from the start. There was a four
month distance between the release of each, which makes it seem
unlikely... but at the same time, this was in 1996, when I didn't have
steady internet access anymore.

I do remember that I much preferred DN3D over Quake. The former had so
much more character that the latter lacked. Quake might have been the technically superior engine, but it was really hard to see its
advantages; Duke seemed to do everything Quake did, except it actually
had colors and a usable frame-rate. And it did a lot more too! You
could ride a subway! You could explode buildings! You could play pool!
Quake didn't do any of that! Why was it better again?

That said, Duke was very much rooted in its era; Quake was a lot more
timeless. DN3D was a fun romp --one I can still glean enjoyment from
today-- but were you to dangle a remake or sequel for either game?

It'd be Quake by a mile.




--- PyGate Linux v1.5.8
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Fri, 30 Jan 2026 09:13:09 -0800
Justisaur <justisaur@yahoo.com> wrote:

On 1/29/2026 10:06 AM, Ant wrote:

https://mastodon.social/@dosnostalgic/115979247993526220

I remember downloading from a FTP server, playing, and uploading to a local BBS in the dark with my dorm roommie asleep. LOL! Do you remember its release day, old PC gamers?

I don't remember when or how I got it. Fun game though very juvenile humor.

I still play various levels - mostly chewing through the "addons" pack.
Some are fabulous, some not so much, some frustrating. but we all know
dnkroz now, but even so finding the keycards can be hard.

--
Bah, and indeed Humbug.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.8
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> looked up from reading the entrails of the porn spammer to utter "The Augury is good, the signs
say:

<snip>

I do remember that I much preferred DN3D over Quake. The former had so
much more character that the latter lacked. Quake might have been the >technically superior engine, but it was really hard to see its
advantages; Duke seemed to do everything Quake did, except it actually
had colors and a usable frame-rate. And it did a lot more too! You
could ride a subway! You could explode buildings! You could play pool!
Quake didn't do any of that! Why was it better again?

Quake was really 3d, while Duke3D was actually 2.5d, but faked being 3D
really well.

Duke might not have been real 3D, but it was a vastly better game than
the overly _BROWN_ Quake.

Even NiN (and the nailgun tie-in,) couldn't make Quake better.

That said, Duke was very much rooted in its era; Quake was a lot more >timeless. DN3D was a fun romp --one I can still glean enjoyment from
today-- but were you to dangle a remake or sequel for either game?

It'd be Quake by a mile.

Duke Nukem Forever kinda poisoned the well.

I very much doubt there will ever be another after that Rin-approved
turkey.

Pity. If they could capture what made Duke good (which forever did
*NOT* do,) a remake/reboot/sequel (ignoring Forever as though it never happened,) there could be some demand.
Probably just people who played the original, since the cancel culture
DEI people would have their heads exploded by Duke's humour and
behavior.
[They'd likely insist that Duke be a respectful black Trans male who
carries a pride flag everywhere and wears a keffiyeh or something.]

Xocyll
--
I don't particularly want you to FOAD, myself. You'll be more of
a cautionary example if you'll FO And Get Chronically, Incurably,
Painfully, Progressively, Expensively, Debilitatingly Ill. So
FOAGCIPPEDI. -- Mike Andrews responding to an idiot in asr

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.8
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Subject: Duke Nukem 3D 30th Anniversary Tribute | The Voice, Creators, and Legends Behind the King

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70mZq8bUStw from https://indieweb.social/@jbz/115979990294118959

In comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action Ant <ant@zimage.comant> wrote:

https://mastodon.social/@dosnostalgic/115979247993526220

I remember downloading from a FTP server, playing, and uploading to a local BBS in the dark with my dorm roommie asleep. LOL! Do you remember its release day, old PC gamers?

--
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." --Ephesians 4:2
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--- PyGate Linux v1.5.8
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 1/29/2026 10:06 AM, Ant wrote:

https://mastodon.social/@dosnostalgic/115979247993526220

I remember downloading from a FTP server, playing, and uploading to a local BBS in the dark with my dorm roommie asleep. LOL! Do you remember its release day, old PC gamers?

I don't remember when or how I got it. Fun game though very juvenile humor.


--
-Justisaur

?-?
(\_/)\
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--- PyGate Linux v1.5.8
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Subject: Re: Duke Nukem 3D 30th Anniversary Tribute | The Voice, Creators, and Legends Behind the King

On Fri, 30 Jan 2026 23:46:40 -0000 (UTC), ant@zimage.comANT (Ant)
wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70mZq8bUStw from https://indieweb.social/@jbz/115979990294118959

In comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action Ant <ant@zimage.comant> wrote:

https://mastodon.social/@dosnostalgic/115979247993526220

I remember downloading from a FTP server, playing, and uploading to a local BBS in the dark with my dorm roommie asleep. LOL! Do you remember its release day, old PC gamers?

*--

Believe it or not, I actually have Duke Nukem 3D 20th Anniverary
edition *installed*.

Now you are going to make me actually play it! :-)

-pw

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.8
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Subject: Re: Duke Nukem 3D 30th Anniversary Tribute | The Voice, Creators, and Legends Behind the King

On Fri, 30 Jan 2026 20:17:53 -0700, PW <noneused@noneused.net> wrote:

Believe it or not, I actually have Duke Nukem 3D 20th Anniverary
edition *installed*.

Now you are going to make me actually play it! :-)

The 20th Anniversary Edition isn't that well regarded, especially by
Duke3D fans. The general opinion seems to be that you're better off
playing the originals using a source-port. Mouse smoothing can't be
turned off, the new content is mediocre, and its got new bugs. It
seems mostly Gearbox's attempt to profit off the license by selling a console-optimized version.* The core game remains solid so if this is
your only option you'll probably still have fun... but if you can,
just use eDuke32 https://www.eduke32.com/ (and if you really want to
play the new levels, use https://github.com/Hendricks266/e32wt)

Me, I've all the original versions installed on disk as part of my
ultimate dos game collection, /and/ I have the classic editions on
Steam and GOG from before Gearbox demanded their version be the only
one available, so I can happily avoid their hacked up edition. ;-)



----

* Gearbox also yanked the classic versions off the Internet, so you
can't find them on GOG or Steam; only the new Gearbox editions.
Fortunately, Zoom apparently bought an irrevocable license to the
originals years back, so if you really need to get the classic
versions, you can pick them up here. It even has content not included
in the 20th Anniversary! https://www.zoom-platform.com/product/duke-nukem-3d-atomic-edition
Or, you know, yo-ho-ho. Because fuck Randy Pitchford. ;-)



--- PyGate Linux v1.5.8
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Subject: Re: Duke Nukem 3D 30th Anniversary Tribute | The Voice, Creators, and Legends Behind the King

On Sat, 31 Jan 2026 11:22:46 -0500, Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

On Fri, 30 Jan 2026 20:17:53 -0700, PW <noneused@noneused.net> wrote:

Believe it or not, I actually have Duke Nukem 3D 20th Anniverary
edition *installed*.

Now you are going to make me actually play it! :-)

The 20th Anniversary Edition isn't that well regarded, especially by
Duke3D fans. The general opinion seems to be that you're better off
playing the originals using a source-port. Mouse smoothing can't be
turned off, the new content is mediocre, and its got new bugs. It
seems mostly Gearbox's attempt to profit off the license by selling a >console-optimized version.* The core game remains solid so if this is
your only option you'll probably still have fun... but if you can,
just use eDuke32 https://www.eduke32.com/ (and if you really want to
play the new levels, use https://github.com/Hendricks266/e32wt)

Me, I've all the original versions installed on disk as part of my
ultimate dos game collection, /and/ I have the classic editions on
Steam and GOG from before Gearbox demanded their version be the only
one available, so I can happily avoid their hacked up edition. ;-)

----

* Gearbox also yanked the classic versions off the Internet, so you
can't find them on GOG or Steam; only the new Gearbox editions.
Fortunately, Zoom apparently bought an irrevocable license to the
originals years back, so if you really need to get the classic
versions, you can pick them up here. It even has content not included
in the 20th Anniversary! >https://www.zoom-platform.com/product/duke-nukem-3d-atomic-edition
Or, you know, yo-ho-ho. Because fuck Randy Pitchford. ;-)

*--

I also have Duke Nukem Forever! :-)

Is that supposed to be any good?

-pw

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.10
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Subject: Re: Duke Nukem 3D 30th Anniversary Tribute | The Voice, Creators, and Legends Behind the King

PW <noneused@noneused.net> looked up from reading the entrails of the
porn spammer to utter "The Augury is good, the signs say:

On Sat, 31 Jan 2026 11:22:46 -0500, Spalls Hurgenson ><spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

On Fri, 30 Jan 2026 20:17:53 -0700, PW <noneused@noneused.net> wrote:

Believe it or not, I actually have Duke Nukem 3D 20th Anniverary
edition *installed*.

Now you are going to make me actually play it! :-)

The 20th Anniversary Edition isn't that well regarded, especially by
Duke3D fans. The general opinion seems to be that you're better off
playing the originals using a source-port. Mouse smoothing can't be
turned off, the new content is mediocre, and its got new bugs. It
seems mostly Gearbox's attempt to profit off the license by selling a >>console-optimized version.* The core game remains solid so if this is
your only option you'll probably still have fun... but if you can,
just use eDuke32 https://www.eduke32.com/ (and if you really want to
play the new levels, use https://github.com/Hendricks266/e32wt)

Me, I've all the original versions installed on disk as part of my
ultimate dos game collection, /and/ I have the classic editions on
Steam and GOG from before Gearbox demanded their version be the only
one available, so I can happily avoid their hacked up edition. ;-)



----

* Gearbox also yanked the classic versions off the Internet, so you
can't find them on GOG or Steam; only the new Gearbox editions. >>Fortunately, Zoom apparently bought an irrevocable license to the
originals years back, so if you really need to get the classic
versions, you can pick them up here. It even has content not included
in the 20th Anniversary! >>https://www.zoom-platform.com/product/duke-nukem-3d-atomic-edition
Or, you know, yo-ho-ho. Because fuck Randy Pitchford. ;-)

*--

I also have Duke Nukem Forever! :-)

Is that supposed to be any good?

No.

You might want to play it through once, but it's unlikely you will ever
want to play it again, unlike Duke3D. It misses the mark on humour and
action stuff.

It's Jackass or something similar done by geriatrics, not stupid frat
boy types.

Xocyll
--
I don't particularly want you to FOAD, myself. You'll be more of
a cautionary example if you'll FO And Get Chronically, Incurably,
Painfully, Progressively, Expensively, Debilitatingly Ill. So
FOAGCIPPEDI. -- Mike Andrews responding to an idiot in asr

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.10
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Subject: Re: Duke Nukem 3D 30th Anniversary Tribute | The Voice, Creators, and Legends Behind the King

On Sat, 31 Jan 2026 20:01:31 -0700, PW <noneused@noneused.net> wrote:

I also have Duke Nukem Forever! :-)
Is that supposed to be any good?

No.

God no.

Aside from many of the other problems, DNF tried to shove modern FPS sensibilities (like regenerating health and a four-weapon limit) into
a boomer-shooter framework. It had some interesting -if not original
ideas- implemented poorly. Its story was dull, its level design
cramped and uninteresint, its character charmless and, golly gee, can
we really draw pictures with a piece of poo? That was the height of
the humor of the game.

You can, at time, see the glimmers of inspiration in the game. Some of
the monster designs are neat. For all the game suffers from 'real is
brown' syndrome, the visuals aren't too bad (for its era). It's got a
lot of the trademark interactivity and wackiness of the DukeNukem 3D
franchise.

But you can tell this is a game that has suffered from a too-long
development cycle, with numerous restarts and multiple teams working
on it.

That said, the expansion DLC is marginally better than the main game.
But you're really better sticking with the 1995 "Duke Nukem 3D". Even
despite its age, it's still the far better game.


(Although personally, I'd just go with "Doom", played through a
sourceport and with the BrutalDoom mod. The gore of the latter is so ridiculously over-the-top that you can't help but laugh).





--- PyGate Linux v1.5.10
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)