crytek have the most advanced game engine ever to be made. its gonna take other software houses at least 2 years to bring out something that can rival the cryengine 2 in its graphical quality and efficiency.
they are trying to build this game up like the Half life 2 build up and delays. problem is that because half life 2 was so badly delayed it had a lot more competition to compete with which is why it did not have a big impact.
hl2 was supposed to come out just before farcry did and you all know the rest.
now if duke nukem forever does not come out before stalker or crysis then its gonna have a very hard time competing with the other games unless its a true revolution in gaming.