APB gunning for an M

By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpot
Posted Jul 26, 2008 4:20 am AEST

Realtime Worlds president says developer is expecting a Mature grade from the ESRB for its massively multiplayer cops-and-crooks game.

Funcom's Age of Conan showed that a massively multiplayer online game can succeed despite (or perhaps because of) a lot of gore and a few stray nipples. Although the Norwegian developer's Hyborian Adventures may be the first mainstream MMO to carry an M for Mature rating, it likely won't be the last.

Realtime Worlds president Tony Harmon told GameSpot today that he's expecting his modern-day cops-and-robbers game APB to land an M from the Entertainment Software Rating Board. Though the game has no release date yet, the developer is planning to submit it to the ratings process next year.

Earlier this year, Realtime Worlds purchased the publishing rights to APB back from its original partner on the game, Korean outfit Webzen. Harmon said that the game has no publishing deal in place at the moment, but Realtime has been talking with "pretty much all the big players."

Little has been revealed about the game since Realtime founder and Grand Theft Auto creator Dave Jones made it the focus of a Game Developers Conference session in February, but Harmon said that Realtime will start talking about the project a little more sometime this fall. Until then, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

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pure_desi
Posted Aug 4, 2008 9:51 am AEST

wow this is gunna take a WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEE
i hate waiting for games!!!!!!!!!
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Baseman28
Posted Jul 29, 2008 5:52 pm AEST

Well, this sounds interesting.

I mean the game, not this very tiny bit of news. I never heard of this game before but now I think I'll keep an eye on it.

Also, what exactly happened to Huxley?
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ne0man
Posted Jul 28, 2008 10:41 am AEST

i think dave jones should get another sandbox game but this time it should be nothing more than Gta2 in full 3d, with the industrial, futuristic-noir setting, gangs, respect, car upgrades, wallet robbers, car robbers, dark humour...how I would pay for that...
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Vividnightmare
Posted Jul 28, 2008 10:23 am AEST

This isn't news, I don't care what rating it gets. AND WHERE THE HELL IS HUXLEY!???? I've been waiting for Huxley since BEFORE the 360 release! This is retarded, by the time it comes out if ever I won't care...
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tawagivercetti
Posted Jul 27, 2008 10:11 pm AEST

This is not news
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jmoney1500
Posted Jul 27, 2008 9:12 pm AEST

I want crackdown 2 d*** it
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Sins-of-Mosin
Posted Jul 27, 2008 7:47 pm AEST

AoC is fake. They tried to sell the game as a adult only game but forgot to put in enough content to satisfy an adult.

Another MMO, at least it's not fantasy.
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Wezker619
Posted Jul 27, 2008 12:36 pm AEST

actually where the f*** is Huxley.
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Mystoksor
Posted Jul 27, 2008 11:45 am AEST

jesus, why are all these retards jumping on the MMO bandwagon? Sure, there are good mmos, and there will be more, but it's not a good substitute as far as REAL FANS are concerned for a real sequel. Where's KotOR III? Where's Crackdown 2? Come on....
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czer7896
Posted Jul 27, 2008 4:08 am AEST

i wonder will it get an 18 rating from PEGI and the BBFC? anyway the game looks amazing.
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drangel_jam
Posted Jul 27, 2008 2:14 am AEST

I thought APB wa sunder MSFT's watch due to Crackdown and an early Teamxbox preview.
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Emraldo
Posted Jul 26, 2008 8:51 pm AEST

Slow news day?
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oflow
Posted Jul 26, 2008 7:36 pm AEST

cant wait this will be good, the original GTA creators are behind it.
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sandshark8
Posted Jul 26, 2008 6:25 pm AEST

I'm getting this game regardless of the rating. The customization looks amazing.
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BulletsnOctane
Posted Jul 26, 2008 12:17 pm AEST

I've been following this game for a while now.
I'm glad to here something about it again.

A mature rating isn't a bad thing. Then again, it really doesn't matter what it's eventually rated, because so many people - regardless of age - are going to get their hands on it. I can't wait. This should be a good one.
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gameguruXG
Posted Jul 26, 2008 9:43 am AEST

This game is going to be AMAZING, I follow it over at apb-evolved.com =D
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necronaux
Posted Jul 26, 2008 8:41 am AEST

If they already know they'll be getting an "M" rating, they might as well go all out.
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BNOv5
Posted Jul 26, 2008 6:37 am AEST

Ima be in jail by the time this is released Gzzz !!
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pourya_ahmadian
Posted Jul 26, 2008 12:39 am AEST

[This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]
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combatsoldier
Posted Jul 25, 2008 10:26 pm AEST

I am definitely getting this. Awsomeness.
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peeweeshift
Posted Jul 25, 2008 10:09 pm AEST

...stray nipple....where :O. lol kidding. they just mean scandily dressed ladies, artistic blood, swearing, and mature themes....like kidnapping :O.
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Viral-venom13
Posted Jul 25, 2008 10:05 pm AEST

This game sure has been in development for a really looooonnnnngggg time!!
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Vincent9mm
Posted Jul 25, 2008 9:37 pm AEST

Oh no its a mmorpurger!
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Gruug
Posted Jul 25, 2008 8:48 pm AEST

AoC was only successful because it was over hyped. A lot of people of let their subs run out as the game just isn't finished yet. Maybe in a few months. Also, AoC went with M rating hoping to cash in on the "sex sells" mentality. Unfortunately, that is not why most people play games and it probably was the wrong focus. If they would have spent more time on quality they may have had fewer people leaving....are you listening Realtime?
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Destroyeron13
Posted Jul 25, 2008 7:49 pm AEST

AoC was successful?
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-GhostMLD-
Posted Jul 25, 2008 5:44 pm AEST

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]
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Tactis
Posted Jul 25, 2008 5:18 pm AEST

ehhh i am not too sure about this game but at least i liked Crackdown so maybe it will be good
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Colsworl
Posted Jul 25, 2008 5:14 pm AEST

Yes, very interesting article. I'm looking forward to the pending report that will discuss how the next Mario game will in fact be rated E.
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doubleo_maestro
Posted Jul 25, 2008 4:20 pm AEST

People can also come to http://apb-evolved.com to find out all they need to know about apb and it's development. It even has developers posting in the forums.
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mista-bungle
Posted Jul 25, 2008 4:05 pm AEST

ScribbleJam,

People could also just go to the game's GameSpot section and read about it....
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ScribbleJam
Posted Jul 25, 2008 3:59 pm AEST

[This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]
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xbox360progamer
Posted Jul 25, 2008 3:46 pm AEST

i never heard of this game before but for them to want a rated M rating it has to be pretty bloody and gory .
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k2theswiss
Posted Jul 25, 2008 3:18 pm AEST

to tohuman huxley is going to pwn. ign has alot more info on it they say it due sometime in 09
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someguy503
Posted Jul 25, 2008 3:03 pm AEST

Needs moar gore, swearing, and cheap hookers...
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Avenger1324
Posted Jul 25, 2008 2:44 pm AEST

no publishing deal in place and buying back the rights from the company that planned to publish it - sounds like APB is having difficulty finding someone willing to risk supporting an MMO on 360

If even the ever-awake Koreans aren't interested in your MMO then you've got problems
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tohuman
Posted Jul 25, 2008 2:42 pm AEST

anybody else wondering about huxley? just asking
can't wait to play apb!
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cooldude03
Posted Jul 25, 2008 2:04 pm AEST

Submitting APB to be rated next year that's plenty of time to change their mind.
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mujeeb1
Posted Jul 25, 2008 1:32 pm AEST

Nice.. first trailer came out 3 years, 1 month and 24 days ago, now they know what rating they're aiming for. By the time it's about ready, the next Xbox and PS systems will be ready to launch, so they'll have to rework it, so I say.. it'll be about by about 2012-2013. You heard it here first.
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kerrman
Posted Jul 25, 2008 1:29 pm AEST

God I've wanted this game for what seems like a decade. I want it to come out asap.
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Thomasdeleo
Posted Jul 25, 2008 1:17 pm AEST

I hope this game makes it out by late 09.
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MrNib
Posted Jul 25, 2008 12:54 pm AEST

This will probably be the only MMO ill pay for
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KOTORkicker
Posted Jul 25, 2008 12:34 pm AEST

Hmm. Sounds like fun.
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razgriz_101
Posted Jul 25, 2008 12:30 pm AEST

good game made bout 30miles from where i live up in Dundee.Gonna buy it for 1 they are scottish and 2 it looks pretty good.
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shaggyaz
Posted Jul 25, 2008 12:13 pm AEST

well a game like this is gonna have mature content so not really a suprise
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killer_rabbit20
Posted Jul 25, 2008 12:10 pm AEST

Wow. GTA turned into an MMO. Might just try it lol.
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JayEss04
Posted Jul 25, 2008 12:08 pm AEST

THE CUSTOMiZATION LOOKZ KRAZY. BUT.. IDK ABout THIS GAME iM JUST GONNA HAVE 2 PLAY IT OR GET MORE FOOTAGE 2 SEE iF ITLL BE A HOTT GAME
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M0AB
Posted Jul 25, 2008 12:03 pm AEST

duh
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paullywog
Posted Jul 25, 2008 12:03 pm AEST

well a game like apb is just lame if it isn't rated m.
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NemesisLives
Posted Jul 25, 2008 12:00 pm AEST

I predict... epic failure
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Henninger
Posted Jul 25, 2008 11:59 am AEST

I'll try it out.
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