Apogee resurrected, brings Duke Nukem to handhelds

8:43 AM on 07.14.2008   |   Jim Sterling

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If the million emails in our tips inbox are to be trusted, then I think Apogee Software might be reforming. Further proof we have comes in the form of a press release that starts with "Legendary Apogee returns to action." Ah, so that settles it then.

The Apogee name is marking its return with the Duke Nukem Trilogy, set for release on handhelds. The Trilogy is made of three (shocking) episodes entitled Critical Mass, Chain Reaction and Proving Grounds. 

This is the paragraph where I'd usually insert some witty observation or slightly snarky banter, but I can't think of anything. Instead, I'm going to just talk about this usually being the paragraph where witty observations and snarky banter goes, turning the whole thing into a meta-paragraph, or metagraph for short. Who needs wit these days anyway? You can read Apogee's aforementioned press release after the jump.

Legendary Apogee Returns to Action

The publisher that pioneered episodic gaming and online distribution is back.

Dallas, Texas -- July 14, 2008 -- Apogee Software is back to re-establish itself as an innovative leader in interactive entertainment. Apogee is reviving some of its legacy catalogue of 30+ releases as well as publishing all-new properties in collaboration with diverse creators and developers.

Apogee is bringing the King of Action himself, Duke Nukem(tm), to the handheld console market with three new missions, together called the Duke Nukem Trilogy(tm). Apogee Software is producing the Trilogy under an exclusive license agreement with 3D Realms and MachineWorks Northwest LLC. The Trilogy is comprised of three episodes: Critical Mass(tm), Chain Reaction(tm), and Proving Grounds(tm).

"This marks a new beginning for a famous publisher with a history of market-making innovation," said Terry Nagy, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Apogee. "I can't think of a better character than Duke or a better franchise than the Trilogy to usher in a new era for Apogee."

"It's funny how what's old is new again in this industry," remarked Apogee co-founder, Scott Miller. "Many of the things Apogee pioneered are back in style, so it only makes sense to bring back Apogee and its properties with a visionary team that will once again create innovation for gamers around the world."

Apogee pioneered the shareware game revolution in 1987 by inventing the concept of game demos, distributed online, which advertised the remaining episodes in a series. Before this time, game demos and episodic releases were unheard of. These concepts created by Apogee have become mainstream today. Apogee's amazing history includes the original releases of Commander Keen(tm) (1990), Duke Nukem(tm) (1991), Wolfenstein 3-D(tm) (1992), Raptor(tm) (1993), and Rise of the Triad(tm) (1994), just to name a few.

About Apogee

Apogee Software, LLC, is a privately held Texas company, with a core team of industry experts in game development, publishing, and distribution. Apogee builds franchises around original IP, developing and publishing content for retail and digital distribution on next-generation consoles, the PC, and mobile platforms. For more information, please visit www.apogeesoftware.com