Danish investment firm, SDN Invest, has acquired Apogee Software, Ltd d/b/a 3D Realms (not to be confused with Apogee Software, LLC – publishers of Rise of the Triad) SDN Invest is part-owner and principal investor in Denmark-based game studio and Rise of the Triad developer, Interceptor Entertainment. Effective immediately, the new CEO of 3D Realms will be Mike Nielsen. Mr. Nielsen also serves as Chairman of the Board at Interceptor.
SDN Invest was founded by Nielsen when he stepped down as CEO of Coolshop.com – a leading online retailer in Northern Europe which he co-founded in 2002 – to focus on investing in companies with potential.
“3D Realms is legendary for its contributions to the gaming industry.” Remarked Nielsen, the newly appointed CEO. “As both the pioneer of the shareware model and an always generous partner who has provided both funding and guidance to game studios such as id Software, Parallax Software, Remedy Entertainment, and many others. 3D Realms has also developed, co-developed, and co-financed such hits as Commander Keen, Duke Nukem, Wolfenstein 3D, Rise of the Triad, Raptor, Shadow Warrior and Prey. There are only a handful of independent studios with a better track record of original games. Yet even with this stellar track record, we hope we can take the company to new heights.”
“3D Realms has always been a defining partthe PC games industry.” Added Frederik Schreiber, CEO of Interceptor Entertainment. “Getting 3D Realms under our wings is a huge step for us and we are extremely excited about the acquisition.”
Scott Miller, co-founder of 3D Realms concluded, “My long time partner George Broussard and I are extremely proud of our past, especially as developers who always tried to partner with up-and-coming studios who just needed their break. Our history shows we did that throughout the 1990s & 2000s, and I expect the new 3D Realms to continue with this tradition in full force. Our industry needs more good guys, who honor the profession and fellow hard-working developers.”
Interceptor Entertainment CEO Frederik Schreiber confirmed the news on our forums as well his Twitter account today, and said that more news will follow soon.
According to Danish newspaper Børsen, Mike Nielsen is the newly appointed CEO of Apogee Software and 3D Realms.
Neither Gearbox nor Interceptor Entertainment said how this will affect Duke: Nukem Mass Destruction, but Interceptor said it will have an official statement tomorrow.
[Gamespot]
[Forum Discussion]
Gearbox Software has today filed a lawsuit against 3D Realms and Interceptor Entertainment for allegedly infringing on their Duke Nukem intellectual property rights and trademarks in producing ‘Duke Nukem: Mass Destruction’, a Duke Nukem title rumoured to be in development by Interceptor Entertainment with the involvment of 3D Realms, without any permission granted to either party by Gearbox Software or any legal right do to so granted to either party in the 2010 asset purchase agreement for the Duke Nukem intellectual property.
This case stems from efforts to illegally exploit Gearbox’s intellectual property rights in the Duke Nukem video game franchise. Specifically, Defendants Interceptor and 3DR have colluded to misappropriate and make infringing use of the Duke Nukem trademarks and copyrights owned by Gearbox.
‘Exhibit C’ of the filed complaint seems to discuss elements of the asset purchase agreement including 3D Realms retaining of the rights to several Duke Nukem titles that were in development at the time of the asset purchase by Gearbox Software that seem to include the Duke Nukem Trilogy that was in production by Apogee Software, LLC. at the time and another prior to now unheard of Duke Nukem game entitled ‘Survivor’. 3D Realms claim that ‘Duke Nukem: Survivor’, title that they previously held the rights to under the asset purchase agreement, is the same as the ‘Duke Nukem: Mass Destruction’ title, simply using a different name, that was allegedly in development by Interceptor Entertainment and is the cause of the filed complaint against Interceptor Entertainment and 3D Realms.
Gearbox does not believe, as you reportedly claim, that this new project was formerly known as “Survivor”
Recently—and without consulting the Duke IP’s actual owner, Gearbox— Interceptor announced its intent to develop a Duke Nukem game based upon the various characters, content and intellectual property owned by Gearbox; the proposed game is entitled “Duke Nukem: Mass Destruction.” Apparently, after selling its Duke Nukem IP rights to Gearbox in 2010, 3DR sought to privately convince others that the sale never happened. The result is the unauthorized development effort that reportedly exists between 3DR and Interceptor.
Meanwhile the ‘All Out Of Gum’ teaser website discovered earlier this month that previously displayed a countdown has been updated to display an ‘Emergency Broadcast System’ announcement accompanied by background audio that sounds reminiscent of a scene from a science fiction film.
