Filed under: Crime

APB video podcast introduces the criminals of San Paro

by James Egan Nov 14th 2009 at 12:00PM

Filed under: Podcasts, Video, Lore, New titles, All Points Bulletin, Crime

All Points Bulletin is definitely on the radar for a number of fans of urban crime games seeking a deeper multiplayer environment. While many of us would enjoy a perpetual cascade of felonies (or arrests), Realtime Worlds wants players to have a sense of San Paro as a fleshed out urban setting where they can create their own stories. Realtime Worlds Lead Creative Designer Stephen Hewitt (aka 'KitKat') discusses the stories that will run throughout All Points Bulletin in the latest video podcast and introduces viewers to the criminal organizations players will tangle with at some point.

We get a look at the G-Kings gang, who are essentially punks clawing their way up the criminal hierarchy of San Paro. Hewitt also gives us a glimpse at the Blood Roses, an organization comprised of trust fund club kids dipping their toes into a life of crime just for the thrills. Stick with us after the jump for the latest All Points Bulletin video podcast, The Organizations of San Paro.

All Points Bulletin closed beta has begun

by James Egan Oct 19th 2009 at 11:30AM

Filed under: Betas, MMO industry, New titles, All Points Bulletin, Crime

Urban crime (game) enthusiasts, rejoice! The All Points Bulletin closed beta has begun, according to reports at both Eurogamer and Kotaku. It was rumored that the beta would begin this month and it seems there are presently three windows of gameplay a week in the All Points Bulletin CBT -- Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings, says Eurogamer's Oli Welsh. Those interested in ripping up the streets as either a Criminal or an Enforcer can still apply to become an All Points Bulletin beta tester at the game's official site.

APB is in development at Realtime Worlds in Scotland, and aims to bring a new level of online interaction to multiplayer urban crime games. Check out Massively's coverage of All Points Bulletin for more on what Realtime Worlds is creating.

CrimeCraft prepares for a conversion to free to play, announces first content update

by Seraphina Brennan Oct 2nd 2009 at 12:30PM

Filed under: Business models, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Crime, MMOFPS, CrimeCraft

The newly(ish) launched MMOFPS CrimeCraft made a bombshell of an announcement today, revealing that they were dropping their current subscription/boxed product model in favor of a free-to-play model.

CrimeCraft, which retails for 40 bucks at Best Buy and FutureShop, will be unleashing an "unlimited free trial" for their game along with a content update at the end of this month. Users who participate in this "unlimited free trial" will have the option to upgrade to a subscription based account in one of two flavors -- a 4.99 a month subscription or a 9.99 a month version. The difference between these two subscriptions comes down to customization, number of available skill slots, and the speed of experience gain.

So what about those people who paid the 40 dollars for the software? Well, you'll be getting an "Original Gangster" tag and icon for your character, a third free month of the 9.99 subscription plan, exclusive access to upcoming content, and more unannounced in-game items.

All Points Bulletin beta kicks off next week, new gameplay footage released

by James Egan Oct 1st 2009 at 7:00PM

Filed under: Betas, New titles, All Points Bulletin, Crime

All Points Bulletin from Realtime Worlds is eagerly anticipated by the GTA and Saints Row set, bringing much greater online interaction to the urban crime game genre. All Points Bulletin has been accepting beta applications and, according to Gamesindustry.biz, the beta will begin next week. They report that Realtime Worlds CEO Gary Dale mentioned the beta going live during Tech Media Invest 2009 in London. If all goes as planned, this is certainly good news for those of you who applied as beta testers.

APB video podcast 10 is also out, and shows us a continuation of the GamesCom 2009 footage from last month. In fact, this video quite literally picks up where the previous footage left off, showing off a bit of the Last.fm integration into All Points Bulletin, and how the unobtrusive heads-up display guides you to mission locations. We've got an HD embed of the video for you, so stick with us past the jump for a closer look at APB's gameplay.

Redefining MMOs: The Shooter Invasion

by James Egan Sep 18th 2009 at 4:00PM

Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMO industry, PvP, Opinion, Massively meta, Consoles, Crime, MMOFPS, Redefining MMOs

The MMO industry is always changing, and if we're going to stay ahead of the curve, we need to re-evaluate some of our views and ingrained notions from time to time. The Redefining MMOs series at Massively is our look at the state of massively multiplayer online games as it is today, and where we see it going. This week we're going to look at how shooters have invaded the MMO space, give you a run-down of some promising MMO shooters on the horizon, and finally tackle the question of whether or not they should be covered here at Massively.

Something we're seeing more and more is a blurring of the lines between formerly distinct game genres -- this is especially true of shooters and MMOs. There are a number of shooters on the horizon that fit the bill as MMOs (although not RPGs), but such games are a radical departure from the DikuMUD pedigree shared by most MMORPG titles we cover at Massively. These shooter-MMO hybrids may have quests, levels, and classes, but they cast few illusions about being true RPGs. They're shooters through and through, but have persistent settings or are massively multiplayer -- traits which catch our attention.

Vogster Entertainment restructures, confirms office closings

by Tracey John Sep 17th 2009 at 6:30PM

Filed under: New titles, Crime, CrimeCraft

Vogster Entertainment, the maker of recently launched MMO CrimeCraft, confirmed that the company has restructured its resources, though its New Jersey headquarters still remains operational.

The announcement comes following rumors from various sources that the company has completely shuttered, including a post from Giantbomb.com which stated employees at its Kiev, Ukraine office have updated their social networking profiles to "imply that they're looking for work."

Vogster has just issued a statement to Massively saying that it is "restructuring to focus its resources toward the enhancement and expansion" of Crimecraft.

"As an independent developer, we need to be very strategic in our use of available resources and shift from already launched titles to support the ongoing development and growth of CrimeCraft," said Vogster's VP of development Daniel Prousline in a press statement.

"We regret the necessary staffing changes and the talented employees that this impacts, but it is an unavoidable step in moving to the operational stage of CrimeCraft and optimizing for the development of yet to be announced titles."

All Points Bulletin video podcast a first look at gameplay

by James Egan Sep 14th 2009 at 4:00PM

Filed under: Podcasts, Video, New titles, All Points Bulletin, Crime

It's no secret that some of us at Massively are looking forward to playing All Points Bulletin, an urban crime title on the way from Realtime Worlds. We learned a bit more about the game at PAX 2009 but we're always hoping to find out more. Fortunately, the company released a new video podcast today filmed at GamesCom 2009 in Cologne that many of our readers have been waiting for -- one with actual gameplay.

The series of videos released prior to this focused on the extensive customization options All Points Bulletin will offer. Although we see quite a bit of gameface from the audience in this latest video podcast, we also see a bit more of that attention to detail emphasized in the previous video footage playing out in the mean streets of the waterfront district. Among other things, the footage shows some very detailed gun animations w. shell ejects and, unsurprisingly, a lot of polish on the look of the vehicles. The user interface is also rather unobtrusive, particularly with the clear compass to guide players.

Interested in checking it out? We've got an HD video embed of APB Video Podcast 9: Viva Cologne for you after the jump.

One Shots: Makes being bad look good

by Krystalle Voecks Sep 1st 2009 at 2:00PM

Filed under: Screenshots, One Shots, Crime, CrimeCraft

We've sent out the call several times recently for players to send in screenshots of places we hadn't seen before, and we're glad to report that we've finally managed to land one from CrimeCraft. This inner-city One Shots was sent to us by Ivan, who sends in his thoughts: Just thought since [CrimeCraft] doesn't seem to be getting any love, I would drop a screen shot. This is the midtown district. A couple of skyscrapers in the distance. Notice the in game ads which I think fit in with the world very nicely; the little game that could. I think it has lots of potential. [I've] been having a blast.

if you're playing an MMO we haven't seen, we want to hear from you! Just email your images and thoughts in to oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name and a brief description of the area. We'll post them out here for everyone to check out and give you the nod for sending it in.

Gallery: One Shots

CrimeCraft launches, producer responds to naysayers

by Tracey John Aug 25th 2009 at 6:30PM

Filed under: Interviews, Launches, New titles, Crime, CrimeCraft

You still may be knee-deep in recent news about an expansion for a little game called World of Warcraft, but there are also a few other games being released before then -- like CrimeCraft, for instance.

Developed by Vogster Entertainment, the crime-themed MMO (called a Persistent World Next-Gen Shooter or "PWNS" by its developers) has shipped and is available exclusively at Best Buy today. But ever since the gang-on-gang shooter's been announced, it's been criticized for just about every aspect -- its name, its business model, its crafting system -- you name it.

"You have to take it with a grain of salt," said senior content producer Mike Donatelli of the criticism in an e-mail to Massively.com. "Some people had a preconceived idea of what they wanted us to be. They thought we were [Grand Theft Auto IV] online, and it's just not the case... There are a lot of risks, which is the reason why you haven't really seen a game like CrimeCraft before."

As the former content design lead for Warhammer Online, Donatelli also spoke a variety of topics, including what he learned from his work at Mythic, what it's like to be at an independent developer and what we can expect for CrimeCraft following launch.

CrimeCraft's digital download options and bonuses

by William Dobson Aug 12th 2009 at 1:00PM

Filed under: Launches, New titles, Crime, MMOFPS, CrimeCraft

CrimeCraft's launch date is just around the corner now, and if you haven't pre-ordered yet but plan on doing so, there really isn't a lot of time left! While the retail distribution of the game in North America and Canada is exclusive to particular stores (Best Buy for NA and Future Shop in Canada), there are a few choices when it comes to making a digital purchase. Future players will be able to buy and download the title from CrimeCraft.com, Direct2Drive (IGN), Steam and Best Buy Digital. All of the digital downloads come with a few in-game perks (different from each other), and all of them bar Steam offer some extras for pre-ordering. No matter which way you go, the suggested price of US$49.95 includes two months of premium subscription, including a ration of gold bars that are used for in-game microtransactions.

All of the information you need to know in order to make your choice is just past the break -- be sure to check it out if you plan on getting CrimeCraft digitally.

The next APB behind the scenes video podcast is online

by Seraphina Brennan Aug 12th 2009 at 11:00AM

Filed under: At a glance, Podcasts, Video, Culture, Game mechanics, All Points Bulletin, Crime

The APB developers over at Realtime Worlds are continuing their behind the scenes video podcast series in episode 8, "Spoiler Alert." No, no, they're not talking about storyline spoilers or people who scream "Ozymandias did it!" when they come out of Watchmen. (Yes, I'm that evil.) They're talking about car spoilers.

This week the crew goes out to the Scottish Modified Car Show, all in order to point out how much customization is available for cars in the game. From decals, to new parts, to color, all of the cars in APB will have some extreme customization options that will allow players to really express themselves. Well, express themselves more past shooting one another over and over while slinging taunts.

The full video is available for your viewing pleasure at MMORPG.com.

Redefining MMOs: Breaking the Mould

by Lesley Smith Aug 6th 2009 at 9:30AM

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Aion, EVE Online, EverQuest II, Business models, Classes, Game mechanics, MMO industry, PvP, Leveling, PvE, Opinion, Browser, Virtual worlds, All Points Bulletin, Crime, Final Fantasy XIV, Cities XL, Redefining MMOs

Just think about that title for a second. Of all the games genres you've played, isn't it MMOs that feel most like carbon copies of one another? Level systems, the character creation process and class archetypes are nearly universal, with hundreds of games sharing the same characteristics. Don't you sometimes wish that MMO developers would step back and reassess the genre they have collectively created? This week, as part of Massively's "Redefining MMOs" series, it's my turn to muse on a topic and I've chosen to look as whether it's time the MMO mould (or mold, as my American editors would say) should be broken and re-examined.

Many aspects of MMOs, such as classes, levelling, raids and bosses, endure simply because they work. After all, if it ain't broke why fix it? But sometimes it feels like you need a breath of fresh air, to step back and smell the roses. This is especially the case when carbon copy MMOs start being rolled out. In the last few months I've tried MMO after MMO and can literally play each one blindfolded. Mages are mages, warriors are warriors and clerics by any other name are still priests. While the archetypes of these classes -- the healer, the tank, the caster, the melee damage-dealer and the pet-toting badass -- differ slightly between genres and titles, they are part of a formula that seems to define the MMO genre.

Skip past the cut to read the rest of the article

All Points Bulletin video shows off fashion for the discerning thug

by James Egan Jul 26th 2009 at 12:00PM

Filed under: Podcasts, Video, New titles, All Points Bulletin, Crime

The team at Realtime Worlds has put out the 7th video podcast for their urban crime title All Points Bulletin, continuing their theme of focusing on customization options in the game. They've already shown us how we'll be able to embed symbols into everything from our clothing and vehicles or even our own skin.

This latest video podcast shows some of the fashion influences from their local city of Dundee, where they visit Arkive clothing, while showing a little more footage of the style that you can give your Criminal and Enforcer thugs in All Points Bulletin. Stick with us after the jump for the HD video embed.

Rumor: All Points Bulletin to launch in March 2010

by James Egan Jul 23rd 2009 at 1:00PM

Filed under: Launches, MMO industry, New titles, All Points Bulletin, Crime, Humor

Fans of urban crime games like Grand Theft Auto should have something to look forward to in 2010, with the release of All Points Bulletin from Realtime Worlds. It's an MMO-like game where you'll be able to go on rampages through city streets with hundreds of other players, either as criminals or the vigilantes who hunt them. We learned at E3 2009 that All Points Bulletin is slated for an "early 2010" release, in partnership with Electronic Arts, but now rumor has it that APB will release in March.

UK gaming site MCV reports, "The hotly-tipped APB by Scottish developer Realtime Worlds will arrive at retail in March, MCV can reveal." EA is still sticking with "early 2010", however, according to our parent site Joystiq. If we get any solid confirmation of the All Points Bulletin release date, we'll definitely give this a mention.

Dave Jones: All Points Bulletin shelf life 5 to 10 years

by James Egan Jul 22nd 2009 at 8:00PM

Filed under: Interviews, New titles, All Points Bulletin, Crime

The crime-focused title All Points Bulletin is one of the upcoming games we've taken a fairly keen interest in here at Massively. While we're still hoping for more gameplay footage in the video podcasts that APB developer Realtime Worlds has been releasing since E3 2009, but there's been a fair amount of general info revealed about the game in recent interviews.

Although APB's design is a departure from some of the game mechanics found in massively multiplayer online games, Realtime Worlds is banking that their urban crime title will have the longevity of a solid MMO. Dave Jones, Creative Director on All Points Bulletin, says they could be looking at five to ten years of life in the game.