After the death of 3dRealms was announced, along with the completion of my scathing article on the subject, I began to question what the company had actually put out over the last 12 years.  Of course, there was Duke Nukem 3D and its various add-ons and console ports.  I wasn't aware of too many "new" titles being produced during that timespan though.  I was also in a bit of a lull during the early 2000's as far as PC gaming goes so the co-developed title, Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project, easily slipped under my radar.  Until I saw the game advertised for sale on gog.com (which any old-school gamer should visit immediately if he hasn't already), I never knew it existed.  Was this an FPS?  A "way too late" expansion for Duke Nukem 3D, or a different game entirely?

After plunking down my $5.99 (at the aforementioned GOG or "Good Old Games"), I'm happy to say that Manhattan Project is a very solid action platformer that many fans of the genre should love.  Given that it's an older release (2002), the game runs fantastic even on my lowly little netbook (Atom 1.6Ghz, 2GB RAM, Intel GMA 950) and actually looks pretty cool too.  Everything you know and love about old-school Duke is here.  From the witty one-liners to the scantily clad "babes", to the over-the-top violence and gore.  Mutant guts splat on walls and floors, Duke becomes progressively and verbally incensed when he can't find the keycards, and sexual innuendo permeates throughout.  In other words, it's a Duke Nukem game for Duke Nukem fans... probably what "Forever" was supposed to be or should've been.

One of the biggest stories coming out of the recent 2009 Game Developers Conference (GDC) is a new technology called OnLive.  This subscription based service promises nothing less than the latest and greatest games that are streamed not only to televisions via a sub-$100 "micro-console", but also to even the lowliest PC and Mac based computers.  A quick look at the official website bears some interesting facts, including partnerships with many top game developers/publishers including EA, UbiSoft, and Epic.  Additionally, the service boasts the ability to not only play high end games on decidedly low end hardware, but to do it in an instant on fashion, with no lengthy downloads to wait for or additional components to install.

Naturally, both those in the gaming industry and gamers themselves are incredibly excited over this new prospect.  For game creators, OnLive means a single distribution channel for their titles, hitting not only the majority TV/Console players and the lesser but still viable PC games market, but also the often untapped Mac platform that continually gains user base and momentum.  For gamers, OnLive represents the convergence of multiple gaming platforms (console, PC, Mac) into one standardized product.  It also promises a true instantaneous, on-demand experience where the user merely selects the game he/she wants, pays accordingly, and plays without waiting hours for a full software download.