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View Full Version : GDC: David Jones' new MMO: APB


GeckoYamori
02-22-2008, 02:30 PM
David Jones is the brainchild behind concepts like Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto.

Basicly what Jones said at the show was that MMOs have become synonymous with World of Warcraft and the mechanics behind it, and he doesn't like that. So he's taking the core idea of a persistent world and building something new around it.

APB is basicly an online version of cops and robbers. It's not an RPG in the sense that it's based on building your character's stats and skills, but there should still be that sense of progression. It will also have unprecedented customization features, but within reasonable limits so you don't end up with a heap of disjointed turd (and furries) like in Second Life.

To show off just how versatile the character creation process is, they create a poser gang of high-profile game developers: http://gamevideos.com/video/id/17691

Here's a gameplay segment of an experienced Shaft-lookalike taking on a group of n00bs trying to steal some TVs: http://gamevideos.com/video/id/17694

zircon
02-22-2008, 03:35 PM
Every MMO that claims to break the WoW mold is basically the same. Lots of character customization, less numbers and gear, more player vs. player, less restrictions, and more persistence. It's ALL the same. They never work.

GeckoYamori
02-22-2008, 03:51 PM
I don't think I've really seen anything like that apart from the ones that act more like online social communities rather than actual games with objectives to complete.

zircon
02-22-2008, 05:22 PM
Many developers who propose this don't follow through on it effectively and the game ends up more like a WoW clone anyway; probably because investors want them to go after an established model. But I seriously have heard this proposed at least a dozen times, not only by developers but by MMO critics. IMO it's a flawed model; really user-alterable, persistent worlds are too ambitious, and we already saw UO do that (with some of the best developers around) and it didn't work for them in the end. People LIKE grinding for reward, it's what keeps them playing MMOs to begin with.

Dhsu
02-22-2008, 07:51 PM
Judging from what I've read of Ultima Online, EVE Online seems to be its spiritual successor and is doing fairly well so far.

UnforgivingEdges
02-23-2008, 01:40 AM
David Jones is the brainchild behind concepts like Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto.

And, uh, you know, CRACKDOWN.

zircon
02-23-2008, 03:46 AM
Whoa, he was behind Crackdown? OK, my opinion has changed :) I love that game!

Dhsu
02-23-2008, 07:41 AM
Half the appeal of that game was going Chuck Norris on every single bad guy.

Fenrir
02-23-2008, 12:42 PM
So does APB stand for something or what?

HoopyFrood
02-23-2008, 03:29 PM
All Points Bulletin. A message meant for all police cars