It's been announced that APB, the forthcoming Massively Multiplayer Online Game from David Jones - not the Monkee or the Bowie but the creator of the Grand Theft Auto series (not the directorial debut of Ron Howard) and the most-addictive Lemmings - has been signed by mega Korean MMOG publisher Webzen. I mean mega - one of their online games has 56 million people signed up. The company is keen to stretch their digital tendrils into the Western markets, and Jones is their man in charge.
APB, or All Points Bulletin, could break the genre into the consciousness of PlayStation generation. Stepping away from the traditional orcs and goblins obsession which keeps the audience niche, the game is set within contemporary cities, recreated in the virtual domain, pitting the factions that want to uphold the law against the rabble who prefers to break it. Real stuff. What dreams are made of. With a potential bounty of new converts to the scene, this title could redefine gaming as we know it.
APB should be on our shelves in 2007. More information when it debuts at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in May.
