14 DAY TRIAL // Ever dreamed about a Grand Theft Auto MMO? Ever dreamed about a never-ending GTA game where all the gangs and the police forces are real, human players? Just imagine what possibilities arise when an entire city's population is controlled by us, the gamers, the GTA fans, the Liberty City citizens. Yes, this is actually a great piece of news - if the GDC comes with the official announcement of Diablo 3, then we can honestly say that we want nothing more. But let's see if we can really say about this game that it is a Grand Theft Auto MMO.
First of all, you should know that the game's name is APB (All Points Bulletin) and it is being developed by no other than the GTA creator, David Jones. In fact, David presented this wonderful game that will instantly drive Jack Thompson crazy, during the GDC (duh!), stating that it is nothing less than "a natural successor to GTA". And we really don't mind, even though GTA IV hasn't been launched yet.
If you've spent some time in the virtual Liberty City, you already know what APB will be like: an urban culture, gang-violence crime game in which players take on the role of gangs or enforcers - essentially cops versus robbers. This means that, for example, if you decide to break the law, real, human-controlled cops will be immediately alerted and they will be able to start the hunt. The twist comes from the fact that you won't only be fighting against (or for) the law, but you will be fighting against rival gangs as well - just like in the GTA games.
Another thing that comes to complete the customizable gang experience is the fact that in APB there will be no two players to look the same even though, as David Jones said, all will stay true to normal, human appearances. As a little joke for the GDC, Jones had pre-created a gang of hoods who credibly represented game development legends Shigeru Miyamoto, Peter Molyneux, Warren Spector and Richard Garriott, which he showcased for the audience.
"There is no grind in this game," said Jones. "Players will come back again and again because the gameplay is fun, not because they are working their way through a grind." Oh, yeah, this will indeed be fun and great. Just thinking about a GTA MMORPG makes me get drunk of joy. Hopefully, there will be some people willing to be cops, though. You know, Grand Theft Auto games do not really make you wish to play as a cop...