All Points Bulletin: Realtime Worlds Announces APB Closure

Stradden

Today, we learned that Realtime Worlds’ first foray into the world of MMOs will be closing down. All Points Bulletin, better known in the gaming community as APB, has, according to the game;’s website, “come to a premature end.”

This announcement comes despite the game;’s original plans to launch update 1.4.2 today, having released patch notes as recently as yesterday.

We wish APB, the staff a Realtime Worlds and the game’s player base the best of luck in whatever comes next.

Here is the official announcement:

APB has been a fantastic journey, but unfortunately that journey has come to a premature end. Today we are sad to announce that despite everyone's best efforts to keep the service running; APB is coming to a close. It's been a pleasure working on APB and with all its players. Together we were building an absolutely amazing game, and for that, we thank you. You guys are awesome! From all of the Realtime World staff we thank you for your continued support. The servers are still up, so join the party and say goodbye!

Piasek

APB on Closed Beta was fun. Later on retail version was even better...well APB was something new on MMO market...something exited without orcs, elfs etc.....to bad that next good MMO with all fans, coz of lack of money R.I.P....

Ozmodan

Originally posted by Piasek

APB on Closed Beta was fun. Later on retail version was even better...well APB was something new on MMO market...something exited without orcs, elfs etc.....to bad that next good MMO with all fans, coz of lack of money R.I.P....

How anyone can say this game was good is beyond me when you have hacking and exploiting going on at the level they had,

If you can't come up with a viable funding design for your expected audience, you are just flushing development dollars down the drain as these people did.

Miles-Prower

It's a crying shame, really. I can't imagine what must've went wrong for them to close the game down right after announcing 1.4.2.

 

~Miles "Tails" Prower out! Catch me if you can!

jiveturkey12

I hate to say it but APB's problem was not the lack of money. The game was just poorly developed, i mean if a high end computer from a couple years back cant run it theres problems.

 

Still sad to see it close so quickly, i mean its only be out a few months. I think thats the fastest a major retail MMO has ever closed down.

blackthornn

isn't SOE going to buy it, trash the code, nerf the hell outta it, add it to station pass and then let it die again?

Miles-Prower

Originally posted by blackthornn

isn't SOE going to buy it, trash the code, nerf the hell outta it, add it to station pass and then let it die again?

Nah, they're too busy gutting EQ2 by making it F2P. EQ2 was probably the most expensive MMORPG ever.. Aside from maybe Second Life. Heck, in order to play EQ2 not only did you need an expansion every 6 months, but you needed adventure packs on top of your already $15 a month, lol

 

~Miles "Tails" Prower out! Catch me if you can!

gortic

i feel bad for all the people who acctually bought it, 50$ thrown away

Miles-Prower

Originally posted by gortic

i feel bad for all the people who acctually bought it, 50$ thrown away

Don't remind me >.<

 

~Miles "Tails" Prower out! Catch me if you can!

KyngBills

Originally posted by blackthornn

isn't SOE going to buy it, trash the code, nerf the hell outta it, add it to station pass and then let it die again?

That sounds like a plan!!! 

gkb3469

another one bites the dust

Drakynn

I think the real shame is not that the game has closed down,the game had many issues and poorly though out mechanics and business plan but was some fun and allowed peopel who like to crate virtual things be creative,but that it's failure may discourage investors and developers further  from exploring other MMO genres outside of the popular and over represented  MMORPG.

wiredknights

I got the pre-order when the game launched, played 1h30m and never went back.. truly a waste of money. This kind of "business" shouldn't be allowed. Launching a game and 3 months and half later closing doors is a true ripoff..

There must be some laws against this kind of things.. this almost smells like a scam.

darkra1n

This is legal?? They haven't complete a minimum time service before to close it?

Thanks to god i dont bought it.

sorry for my english u.u

galliard1981

werent apb devs the same guys who made shadowbane? that would be another very good trashed mmo. is it a curse or what?

cloud8521

Originally posted by darkra1n

This is legal?? They haven't complete a minimum time service before to close it?

Thanks to god i dont bought it.

sorry for my english u.u

 its legal, and if it isnt its not like a failing company on the verge of bankrupsy will care about a fine. also they never gave a service length garentee did they

Miles-Prower

While I bought the game, there were way too many ways to continue playing the game free of charge. It was possible to easily buy items from vendors and sell them for RTW points which can be used to buy game time. Some people in the game had subscriptions as far as 2013..

 

I paid for 2 Months worth of time just buy trading my in-game money for RTW points using the AH.

 

~Miles "Tails" Prower out! Catch me if you can!

Sciva

What a shame.

eyeswideopen

Originally posted by galliard1981

werent apb devs the same guys who made shadowbane? that would be another very good trashed mmo. is it a curse or what?

No, RealTime Worlds only other game was Crackdown on Xbox 360.

ThomasN7

Good idea but bad design. I wish them better luck in the near future.

PyrateLV

Lol. that was quick. Though not surprising

The Customization System was the only really great thing the game had going for it.

Zones were small.

There were too few of them.

Weapons and Mods were unbalanced.

Matchmaking System was horrible.

Missions were too linear and boring.

Hacks and Cheats up the @$$.

 

I feel bad for RTW

Im sorry for all those that bought the game and liked it.

But I totally LOFL /facepalm at this guy http://www.thehumanavatar.com/home

Lunny08

Originally posted by Ozmodan

Originally posted by Piasek

APB on Closed Beta was fun. Later on retail version was even better...well APB was something new on MMO market...something exited without orcs, elfs etc.....to bad that next good MMO with all fans, coz of lack of money R.I.P....

How anyone can say this game was good is beyond me when you have hacking and exploiting going on at the level they had,

If you can't come up with a viable funding design for your expected audience, you are just flushing development dollars down the drain as these people did.

 

Some people don't judge games on the crappy people who play it.

Dark_HUmar

what about my money ?

Miles-Prower

Originally posted by Lunny08

Originally posted by Ozmodan

Originally posted by Piasek

APB on Closed Beta was fun. Later on retail version was even better...well APB was something new on MMO market...something exited without orcs, elfs etc.....to bad that next good MMO with all fans, coz of lack of money R.I.P....

How anyone can say this game was good is beyond me when you have hacking and exploiting going on at the level they had,

If you can't come up with a viable funding design for your expected audience, you are just flushing development dollars down the drain as these people did.

 

Some people don't judge games on the crappy people who play it.

Thank you for saying what I wanted to say, but didn't.

 

~Miles "Tails" Prower out! Catch me if you can!

afoaa

They were sadly utterly unprepared for the reality of running an online game. There were no in-game gamemasters you could contact and no working anti cheating software. So the game became a pigsty of cheaters in no time.

Add in that they made game systems that went against normal gamer behavior and had little understanding of player motivation and the game was doomed.

cosy

RIP