APB - MMO without the grind

Modeps

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
17,254
44
91
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/854/854140p1.html

Looks extremely promising.

We were shown a video to demonstrate how the gameplay works. The gang, having decided upon a target of an armored car began moving into position. Without having committed a crime yet, the enforcement is oblivious. As soon as the gang commits the crime, an APB goes out.

Here is where APB is so clever. The servers automatically match a similarly skilled set of enforcement agents to deliver the APB to in a dynamic form of matchmaking. You'll never have a clue who you'll get matched up with. It's all done automatically based on stats.

After the APB was sent out to a clan of enforcement agents, we watched a chase scene unfold. Cop cars converged on the van. One gang member drove while two others hung out of the sides firing guns at the officers. A cop car tried to block off an alley at one point?another time one took a jump over a barrier to get closer to the criminals. The scene ended with the gang making it to the drop off point at the same time as the cops and a shootout began.

Since it is all driven by experience and skill, APB won't always match teams up with even numbers. We saw another example of four new criminals (in t-shirts and jeans) trying to steal a television. As soon as they smashed a car through the store window to get at it, an APB went out to a single enforcement agent. The new players feel like they have a chance since they have numbers while the experienced player can show his skills. This mission ended with the cop killing all four criminals with a rocket launcher.
 

R Nilla

Diamond Member
Jul 26, 2006
3,835
1
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Wow, GTA MMO? This sounds pretty cool. If there isn't leveling or character stats, I hope there's at least some kind of unlockable (maybe a la COD4?) to keep things interesting.
 

Queasy

Moderator<br>Console Gaming
Aug 24, 2001
31,796
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From what I read, you don't level up as much as you obtain better items and customization options.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Unrelated, but APB was one of my favorite arcade games when I was a kid, along with The Simpsons arcarde game (which my brother and I finished together down the shore one summer).
 

R Nilla

Diamond Member
Jul 26, 2006
3,835
1
0
Originally posted by: Queasy
Shakeycam video of the GDC presentation for APB.

That looks like a lot of fun! Of course, that demonstration doesn't factor in the antisocial element of griefers and XBL turds.
 

jdport

Senior member
Oct 20, 2004
710
0
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This just made me laugh... it's almost worth playing the game just to recreate the scene:

This mission ended with the cop killing all four criminals with a rocket launcher.