New York (CNN/Money) - The relationship between publishers and game developers can sometimes be a rocky one. But that animosity is usually kept fairly quiet, at least until the game has been released.
Occasionally, though, the hostilities boil over – and the resulting public spectacle becomes a titanic battle of egos. We"re in the midst of one of those fights these days, with Take Two Interactive and 3D Realms sharing the pugilistic spotlight. For the past several months, the publisher of blockbuster titles such as "Grand Theft Auto" and the developer of the wildly popular "Duke Nukem" franchise have been taking increasingly hostile public shots at each other. And there"s no telling where – or when - it might end.
At issue is "Duke Nukem Forever", the franchise"s long-in-development latest installment. In February, Take Two announced plans to take a $5.5 million write-down on their earnings due to the game"s "extended development time". Last month, Take Two CEO Jeff Lapin told analysts in a quarterly conference call "we"re in a wait and see mode at this point. ... Right now, we"re just hopeful that [3D Realms] will finish it."