Holy Shit All Points Bulletin CLOSED BETA THIS WEEK!

PhoneBone · February 2008

Is this an exclusive 360 game perhaps? Might be nice to know before I get all excited (I've hit my limit for console purchases this generation).

Rook · February 2008

PhoneBone wrote: »

Is this an exclusive 360 game perhaps? Might be nice to know before I get all excited (I've hit my limit for console purchases this generation).

PC and Nextgen consoles according to the website.

Fig-D · February 2008

Rook wrote: »

PhoneBone wrote: »

Is this an exclusive 360 game perhaps? Might be nice to know before I get all excited (I've hit my limit for console purchases this generation).

PC and Nextgen consoles according to the website.

Oh good, I thought it was PC only and I wasn't about to go upgrading my computer again so soon.

Waka Laka · February 2008

Rook wrote: »

SilkyNumNuts wrote: »

Gorgeousness. Just... Wow. Is it just me or did that character he created look better than a lot of games purpose built characters?

Plus it's still on the crackdown engine isn't it?

Can't wait.

It's Unreal 3 Engine.

Texture...

*POP*

...Texture...

...*POP*

I sure hope not.

Malach · February 2008

This looks exceedingly cool. Some of the law enforcement art is incredible, so is the criminal but I completely agree with Panny, all the people you hate on Live will want to be criminals. And the purpose of the game will be...to hunt them down, and murder them.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS GAME IS TO HUNT DOWN 14 YEAR OLD SUBURBAN WHITE KIDS WHO WANT TO BE "GANGSTA'" AND KILL THEM.

I just...oh god yes... 2008 release? So, well, I never expect anything to actually come out when it first says, but maybe an 09 release on 360?

I just, god, a group of 14 year olds break into some store. I have a badge, a big ass revolver, and a rifle strapped to my back. While they're grabbing shit I drop 2 fast from long range and then when there's like 2 left going WHA!? I stroll in with a giant revolver in my hand?

If this game allows for this exact scenario, I will play it for all time.

Also, far too early to say it but I will anyway. PAPD anyone?

Dashui · February 2008

Wow, this looks incredible. I'm not really big into MMOs and monthly payments for them, but I may have to pick this up when it comes out. It'll be out this year, apparently. I'll probably get it for 360 and play as the police. I hope the community for it on consoles won't be entirely mind numbing, but that may be a little too much to ask for.

It's funny, you know, that this game was announced years ago and then you never heard anything from it since. No footage. Nothing. And now suddenly it pops up with a really kick ass demonstration.

Willeth · February 2008

Malach wrote: »

PAPD anyone?

Vs. the SE++ Posse?

Fig-D · February 2008

Willeth wrote: »

Malach wrote: »

PAPD anyone?

Vs. the SE++ Posse?

I think he meant all of PA flying peacefully under one banner.

...

Right then, GTPD vs Criminal Entropy ++.

Szechuanosaurus · February 2008

Fig-D wrote: »

Willeth wrote: »

Malach wrote: »

PAPD anyone?

Vs. the SE++ Posse?

I think he meant all of PA flying peacefully under one banner.

...

Right then, GTPD vs Criminal Entropy ++.

Looks like I'm going to need two accounts. Unless I start H/A Private Security.

Crimson King · February 2008

Szechuanosaurus wrote: »

Fig-D wrote: »

Willeth wrote: »

Malach wrote: »

PAPD anyone?

Vs. the SE++ Posse?

I think he meant all of PA flying peacefully under one banner.

...

Right then, GTPD vs Criminal Entropy ++.

Looks like I'm going to need two accounts. Unless I start H/A Private Security.

The D&D Demons will be the best gang ever. We'll stand around sipping tea and arguing over whether the UZI or AK-47 is the best weapon for busting caps in arses. All of our characters will have monocles.

I am for more interested in the character creator for this game then I am in the game itself, though the thought of being a professional wannabe gangster killer is genuinely appealing. My character will be a ninja cowboy! With a monocle.

Peewi · February 2008

This looks like it's going to be a really cool game. Too bad my computer sucks and I won't be able to play it.

Something Witty · February 2008

Oh man finnaly an MMO I want to play! Also for whatever reason the concept art made me think of Cowboy Bebop or something, I really like the style. I'm going to a loose cannon cop on the edge, maybe I'll even have a death wish.

Szechuanosaurus · February 2008

Peewi wrote: »

This looks like it's going to be a really cool game. Too bad my computer sucks and I won't be able to play it.

It's coming out on consoles as well, isn't it?

Klyka · February 2008

Talking about this game with friends near other people may be the best thing:

Old Grandma sits next to you on bus:

"So then we broke into that store and got all the TV'S but suddenly a cop shows up with a rocket launcher! And he shoots and the entire store explodes. Man, Timmy got BURNED so bad man. But we all managed to get away and stashed the loot and had a good laugh over Timmy's corpse."

Old Grandma sits next to you on bus: D:

darleysam · February 2008

Oooops, didn't see this thread before I bumped the other one. Read the Eurogamer writeup and it sounds frickin' sweet.

Peewi · February 2008

Szechuanosaurus wrote: »

Peewi wrote: »

This looks like it's going to be a really cool game. Too bad my computer sucks and I won't be able to play it.

It's coming out on consoles as well, isn't it?

Yeah, but the the only console I have is Wii, and I doubt it's coming out on that.

Sorenson · February 2008

Something Witty wrote: »

I'm going to a loose cannon cop on the edge, maybe I'll even have a death wish.

Makes me wonder how good of a Charles Bronson APB'll be able to make. The idea of skulking about with a rifle or rocket launcher killing random asshole criminals is wonderful.

darleysam · February 2008

Peewi wrote: »

Szechuanosaurus wrote: »

Peewi wrote: »

This looks like it's going to be a really cool game. Too bad my computer sucks and I won't be able to play it.

It's coming out on consoles as well, isn't it?

Yeah, but the the only console I have is Wii, and I doubt it's coming out on that.

"Waggle the controller to create your character"

Eurogamer writeup:

Realtime Worlds boss Dave Jones has been showing off the huge amount of customisation options featured in forthcoming PC and Xbox 360 title All Points Bulletin.

Speaking at the Game Developers Conference, Jones discussed his decision to stay away from traditional MMO genres for APB. "The more fantasy you go, the more sci-fi, basically you're diminishing your audience," he said. "People these days don't want to learn things over and over again. Making games contemporary, urban and cool lowers the boundary."

So for APB, he explained, Realtime Worlds decided to "replace geek with chic" - Air Jordans instead of Stalker Boots, Raybans instead of telescopic eye goggles, AK-47 instead of Braggart's Bows and so on.

Then it was time to show off the character creator, "a big part" of APB. "Effectively it's user-generated content," he observed. "But one of the problems is 90 percent of user-created content is crap. We've all seen Second Life."

Jones said he wanted players to be able to make unique characters using a free-form, high quality and easy-to-use system. He demonstrated the high level of detail you'll be able to choose - not just your character's body shape and skin colour but things like hair length and how pronounced their veins are. You can even place moles and freckles wherever you like, or choose how old scars you've selected look.

There will be a huge wardrobe of clothes to choose from and these are also customisable. You can use a decal creator to design your very own logo and apply this to your outfit. Plus you can place the decal on your character as a realistic-looking tattoo or stick it on your car. You can share it with fellow gang members so they can do the same, and buy and sell decals within the game.

To demonstrate the potential of the character and decal creators, Jones showed off some he made earlier - "The Geek Squad". An APB-created Peter Molyneux appeared on-screen, complete with Lionhead-branded jacket and trademark black polo neck. Jones also created characters looking impressively similar to Warren Spector and Richard Garriott. For the finale, he presented an in-game version of Shigeru Miyamoto - and as the camera panned down it was revealed he was wearing only boxer shorts. Covered in images of Toad.

Cars are fully customisable too - according to Jones, you can expect the same level of depth as you'd find in a standalone racing game. There are all sorts of cosmetic tweaks you can make, and you can also fiddle about under the bonnet.

Even the in-game music is customisable. Realtime Worlds has established a partnership with music sharing site last.fm and they've developed a system which will let you choose what tracks your car plays as it drives round. If you pass another player who also has one of those tracks in their MP3 library, that's what they'll hear as you drive by.

According to Jones, there's no grinding in APB. He took inspiration from Counter-Strike - "the best online game ever". Instead of "playing like a programmer" in games like World of Warcraft (which, Jones was careful to point out, he's a big fan of), the fun and reward will come from interaction between players. Because you have more freedom, missions are dynamic and entertaining even if you repeat them. "Players will come back again and again because the gameplay is fun, not because they are working their way through a grind," Jones promised.

A grindless MMO? Sounds intriguing. We'll find out if Realtime Worlds has pulled it off when APB is released later this year.

Update: Ellie missed it because she had to duck out the session early, but Jones confirmed one other intriguing feature of APB at the end of his talk. Players will be able to carry video cameras in the game and use them to make movies and post online. Jones said his testers had already used this feature to re-make an entire Final Fantasy VII battle sequence in APB's world. This was part of his philosophy of supporting emergent behaviour among players, and it certainly sounds cool to us.

Says PC and 360.. sudden exclusivity deal?

DarkWarrior · February 2008

Was it ever coming to PS3? I don't know the publisher but its the same guy behind Crackdown right? So probably was always going that way.

darleysam · February 2008

DarkWarrior wrote: »

Was it ever coming to PS3? I don't know the publisher but its the same guy behind Crackdown right? So probably was always going that way.

Yeah, Realtime did Crackdown, but I didn't think they had any arrangement with MS, an I just assumed that APB was for all systems. Could be quite a big game for the 360 if it's exclusive though.
Dammit, now I really want this game.

Senshi · February 2008

haha oh wow, this is going to be fantastic. Though I usually hate the law, it looks like it'll be the only viable option if I want to gun down all the wigger 14 year-olds.

Modelling characters after people from Hill Street Blues will be fun, fun, fun.

Or Miami Vice.

Mortal Sky · February 2008

This looks fucking ace, and since even the cops look badass, I'm going law.

EDIT: Wait, you can do graffiti art as gang members? Given my interest in said hobby, this means that I might just go gang. Also, the gothy aesthetic of some criminal concepts is totally up my alley, though cops might be able to go there, too. Either team looks absolutely awesome, so I guess I'll have to see.

Mgcw · February 2008

Sorenson wrote: »

Something Witty wrote: »

I'm going to a loose cannon cop on the edge, maybe I'll even have a death wish.

Makes me wonder how good of a Charles Bronson APB'll be able to make. The idea of skulking about with a rifle or rocket launcher killing random asshole criminals is wonderful.

Oh my god. I want this game simply to make Paul Kersey and FUCK thugs up.

Accualt · February 2008

This will be a media darling.

Captain Eleven · February 2008

Malach wrote: »

This looks exceedingly cool. Some of the law enforcement art is incredible, so is the criminal but I completely agree with Panny, all the people you hate on Live will want to be criminals. And the purpose of the game will be...to hunt them down, and murder them.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS GAME IS TO HUNT DOWN 14 YEAR OLD SUBURBAN WHITE KIDS WHO WANT TO BE "GANGSTA'" AND KILL THEM.

Sold on day 1, on the condition that my toon can look like Erik Estrada.

Mortal Sky · February 2008

Accualt wrote: »

This will be a media darling.

Accualt performed critical hit on nail!

Willeth · February 2008

I just hope that you can switch between either at will. As in, if I want to be a cop who nabs the occasional TV, I can do. Or if I can be a criminal, watch some copper take out a whole gang of people stealing stuff, anf then take out the cop myself and nab teh lootz.

Senshi · February 2008

Spoiler:

I call the white suit and blue tshirt.

Mortal Sky · February 2008

Willeth wrote: »

I just hope that you can switch between either at will. As in, if I want to be a cop who nabs the occasional TV, I can do. Or if I can be a criminal, watch some copper take out a whole gang of people stealing stuff, anf then take out the cop myself and nab teh lootz.

If this could happen, which I doubt it will, then I'd be a happy man for the simple reason of being able to tag everything and then kill the wigger. Also, this would really piss off the media man.

Sorenson · February 2008

Mortal Sky wrote: »

EDIT: Wait, you can do graffiti art as gang members? Given my interest in said hobby, this means that I might just go gang. Also, the gothy aesthetic of some criminal concepts is totally up my alley, though cops might be able to go there, too. Either team looks absolutely awesome, so I guess I'll have to see.

"NO! NO MORE GAY PORN SPRAYS!"

EDIT: Not you, but I wouldn't trust the average gaming prick to have some decency with this option.

Captain Eleven · February 2008

Senshi wrote: »

Spoiler:

I call the white suit and blue tshirt.

Excellent. Now who wants to be TJ Hooker?

Mortal Sky · February 2008

Sorenson wrote: »

Mortal Sky wrote: »

EDIT: Wait, you can do graffiti art as gang members? Given my interest in said hobby, this means that I might just go gang. Also, the gothy aesthetic of some criminal concepts is totally up my alley, though cops might be able to go there, too. Either team looks absolutely awesome, so I guess I'll have to see.

"NO! NO MORE GAY PORN SPRAYS!"

D:
I meant more like being the Banksy or the Crash of APB, blasphemer.

KrunkMcGrunk · February 2008

I hope that the try and create some realism with car-damage. It'd be cool if players could actually set up effective road blocks, and use other vehicle based tactics without them becoming completely meaningless, as they are in GTA. If I run into another car at 75 MPH, I should not be able to drive away.

The thing that excites me about this game is the potentiality to use actual police tactics in apprehending people, or vice versa for the crime side. It could make for some really cool gameplay.

Also, I want to set up the Russian mob! I want to be able to run a respectable crime syndicate, rather than just some rag-tag gang-banger bullshit.

Dashui · February 2008

Do we know that this will have a monthly payment? I mean, it probably will, but each game will have up to only a hundred players in it. We're not talking several hundred or a thousand. Have they expressly said anything about that yet?

Mortal Sky · February 2008

Dashui wrote: »

Do we know that this will have a monthly payment? I mean, it probably will, but each game will have up to only a hundred players in it. We're not talking several hundred or a thousand. Have they expressly said anything about that yet?

It's been pretty much confirmed that there'll be a fee.

Malach · February 2008

Dashui wrote: »

Do we know that this will have a monthly payment? I mean, it probably will, but each game will have up to only a hundred players in it. We're not talking several hundred or a thousand. Have they expressly said anything about that yet?

No word on it yet far as I know, but for what it's worth, I'm fairly certain that MMOs can be played on a Silver account on Live. Why anyone would bother with a Silver, I don't know. But...there it is anyway.

815165 · February 2008

I wonder how they're going to deal with the crazy bad guys:cops ratio.

DouglasDanger · February 2008

This could be really great, or it could be pretty cool and be ruined by the community, as others have side. Lots of jackasses could act all "gangsta" and make it unbearable.

The character concepts look amazing. I'm guessing the "enforcement" side is not really police, but contractors or something. I'm intrigued by the character creator. It is the most in depth one I have ever seen by far.

Still need a 360 though.

darleysam · February 2008

You chaps see the last.fm stuff as well?

And the video camera thing?

Zzulu · February 2008

Ruined by a bad community? All big MMO's have horrible communities for gods sake. The only thing that'll matter is the guild you're in. Everyone and everything else is collateral cannon fodder.

I can't decide if I'm going to be a hustling lowlife clad in rainbow furcoats or a Judge Dredd type yet. Man, I kind of already want this game. Good hype.

Penny Arcade

Holy Shit All Points Bulletin CLOSED BETA THIS WEEK!

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