I guess it took people about 10 years to realize that news containing the words "Duke," "Nukem" and "Forever" are to be skipped and that they should move on, as every last one of them brings more sorrow to those waiting for the day when it's finally confirmed, let alone released. However, a few lines up on theinquirer.net say that the game is indeed coming.

Next year though, and even that's a maybe! Voodoo Extreme has managed to talk to an insider at 3D Realms. Here's how Duke Nukem Forever is shaping up: "...significant progress has been made on the PC code of the game and development has finally picked up its pace over the year. The game's look is supposed to be completely over the edge with tons of stuff returning from the original series (Shrink ray and Nuke button rumored to be confirmed).

The gameplay is being pepped up with attitude, killing a mutated pig with a 8 ball stick never felt so good, a console version is also being planned upon simultaneously, and expect further announcements around some big gaming expos next year."

Some while ago, the 3D Realms' new creative director, Raphael Van Lierop, told Gamasutra in an interview that the game was in a playable stage, having released an enemy screenshot, too (upper left, click to enlarge), and that fans "won't be disappointed." Their upcoming announcements, though, weren't going to include Duke.

Now, why would you want to go public saying something like that? Doesn't 3D Realms see that people are getting fed up with negative answers on DN Forever development progress? Anyway, as theinquirer.net also says, "a console version is also being planned," while "further announcements around some big gaming expos next year" are being expected. Also, the company has rolled out a bunch of screens depicting DN Forever in-game action, but they're not that spectacular. Bet you a chocolate bar, a Metroid II GameBoy cartridge and five hundred thousand dollars, that Duke bites the big one again this year.