History VideoGame / DukeNukem

The Duke Nukem franchise started early in TheNineties as a series of regular side-scrolling [[PlatformGame platformer games]]. It started under Creator/ThreeDRealms development, but in 2010, the rights to the series went to Gearbox Software. In February 2021 Gearbox (and by extension Duke) was purchased by Creator/THQNordic. Later that year, 3D Realms was purchased by them as well, once again placing Duke and his original creators under the same roof.

* VideoGameCrueltyPunishment: While the player ''can'' kill babes and male {{NPC}}s when they appear, such as the male strippers in ''Time to Kill'' or any male civilian in the 2001 leak version of ''Forever'', this results in alien forces promptly teleporting to the player's position, forcing the player to fight extra enemies, this can range from a few basic enemies that aren't too challenging to outright EliteMooks in some of the games. (The 2001 leak version of Forever has Duke lose EGO instead.)

* VideoGameCrueltyPunishment: While the player ''can'' kill babes and male {{NPC}}s when they appear, such as the male strippers in ''Time to Kill'' or any male civilian in the 2001 leak version of ''Forever'', this results in alien forces promptly teleporting to the player's position, forcing the player to fight extra enemies, this can range from a few basic enemies that aren't too challenging to outright EliteMooks in some of the games. (The 2001 leak version of Forever has Duke lose EGO for killing friendly {{NPC}}s.)

* VideoGameCrueltyPunishment: While the player ''can'' kill babes and male {{NPCs}} when they appear, such as the male strippers in ''Time to Kill'' or any male civilian in the 2001 leak version of ''Forever'', this results in alien forces promptly teleporting to the player's position, forcing the player to fight extra enemies, this can range from a few basic enemies that aren't too challenging to outright EliteMooks in some of the games. (The 2001 leak version of Forever has Duke lose EGO for killing friendly {{NPCs}}.)

* VideoGameCrueltyPunishment: While the player ''can'' kill babes and male NPCs when they appear, such as the male strippers in ''Time to Kill'' or any male civilian in the 2001 leak version of ''Forever'', this results in alien forces promptly teleporting to the player's position, forcing the player to fight extra enemies, this can range from a few basic enemies that aren't too challenging to outright EliteMooks in some of the games. (The 2001 leak version of Forever has Duke lose EGO for killing friendly NPCs.)

There are also hints of a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Nukem_(character)#Proposed_feature_film live-action film]] being made. In June 2022, it's FINALLY confirmed that the creators of Cobra Kai and Legendary Entertainment will create the film.

* RatedMForManly: And how!

* BadassBaritone: From ''3D'' and onwards, Duke speaks in a deep, manly voice and delivers BondOneLiners regulary.

The Duke Nukem franchise started early in TheNineties as a series of regular side-scrolling [[PlatformGame platformer games]]. It started under Creator/ApogeeSoftware[=/=]3DRealms development, but in 2010, the rights to the series went to Gearbox Software. In February 2021 Gearbox (and by extension Duke) was purchased by Creator/THQNordic. Later that year, 3D Realms was purchased by them as well, once again placing Duke and his original creators under the same roof.

* BadassBaritone: From 3D and onwards, Duke speaks in a deep, manly voice and delivers BondOneLiners regulary.

[[NamesTheSame Not to be confused with a member of]] WesternAnimation/{{Captain Planet|AndThePlaneteers}}'s RoguesGallery.

* ''VideoGame/DukeNukemManhattanProject'' (2002)

* ''VideoGame/{{Duke Nukem 3D}}'' (1996)
* ''VideoGame/DukeNukemManhattanProject'' (2002)

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The third game presented a massive shift in both genre and tone.

* AwesomeMcCoolName

There are also hints of a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Nukem_(character)#Proposed_feature_film live-action film]] being made.

* AwesomeMcCoolname

* CanonDiscontinuity: The [[GaidenGame third person shooters]] ''Time to Kill'' and ''Land of the Babes'', for the original Playstation, while decent in their own right, aren't regarded as canon. The fact that they were made by different developers probably has something to do with that.

* GirlinessUpgrade: [[GenderInvertedTrope Gender inverted]]. It is hard to believe that, [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness once upon a time,]] [[RealMenWearPink Duke wore a pink shirt, watched Oprah, maintained a curly hairstyle]], and kept his language within the territories defined by GoshDangItToHeck. Then, [[DarkerAndEdgier something]] happened in between the two alien invasions...

* NegativeContinuity: {{Zigzagged|Trope}}. The guns at the Duke Museum in ''Forever'' state that they were used by Duke in 1996 ... which refers to the year when ''3D'' came out. ''II'' was supposed to happen in 1998, since ''Duke Nukem'' is set in 1997, and the introduction of ''II'' mentions "defeating Doctor Proton last year", with ''3D'' happening immediately after ''II'''s conclusion. However, the ''Balls Of Steel Limited Edition Guide'' says: "This pegs the original invasion around 1999, which works out, since ''Duke Nukem'' and ''Duke Nukem II'' are set in the then-near future of 1997 and 1998."