3D Realms created Duke Nukem and pioneered shareware distribution, building a gaming empire from the shareware model before the infamous Duke Nukem Forever development saga.
ibm-pcdeveloperpublishershareware1987
3D Realms proved shareware could build empires. From Apogee’s early days through Duke Nukem 3D’s cultural impact, they distributed games directly to players and kept most of the profits. Their success enabled ambitious projects—though Duke Nukem Forever’s 15-year development became gaming’s most notorious cautionary tale.