Duke Nukem Uses Excessive Force to Warn Against Bad Reviews

2K Games is no longer entrusting the Redner Group with their Twitter account after some unprofessional ranting about poor reviews went public.  The Redner Group was promoting the poorly received new Duke Nukem Forever video game, and was not happy with what was being said about the game.

The most  inflammatory Tweet has since been deleted, but said “Too many went too far with their reviews…we are reviewing who gets games next time and who doesn’t based on today’s venom.”  While blacklisting reviewers from future products after unsavory reviews are published is common, it is rarely verbalized.

In an official statement made by 2K games stating that they do not endorse “the comments made by Jim Redner and we can confirm that The Redner Group no longer represents our products. We have always maintained a mutually-respectful working relationship with the press and do not condone his actions in any way.”

The gaming industry relies heavily on reviews, and while reviewers are aware of the chance that a bad review could prevent them from getting first dibs on the next round of new games, often their loyalty lies where they should –with their readers.  Threatening the people that essentially sell your product for you is never a good business strategy, and in this case, will probably cause more damage for the Nukem franchise than the initial reviews.