APB MMO closing down already

http://www.next-gen.biz/news/realtime-worlds-apb-closing-tomorrow

 

I think this is some sort of record for a MMO flopping.  Even Hellgate London survived almost a year.  I wonder if any poor bastards who bought it will get some sort of refund.

99,471 views 29 replies
Reply #1 Top

Yeah this is UltraFail 9001.

 

Great idea, HORRID implementation. Total failure to actualy make a GAME, they were so focused on trying to make an 3D facebook they forgot that people need to actualy need to BUY thier character customizer game.

Reply #2 Top

I think this is some sort of record for a MMO flopping.

Wow... I think you're right.  2 1/2 months. :O

  • 29 June 2010 - NA Release
  • 18 August 2010 - Realtime Worlds was placed into administration
  • 16 September 2010 Realtime Worlds announced APB servers were to be shut down

When I saw mention of the developer looking for a buyer, I didn't think it was long for this world but I didn't think the end would have come this soon.

Anyone remember the review embargo that they had originally placed upon the game?

Reply #3 Top

According to MMORPG.com's list of canceled games, it looks like it's going to hold the title of the shortest lived MMO.

There was an MMO titled Seed that was 4 months.  I honestly never heard of it before.

Asheron's Call 2 was 7 months.

 

The List - What Went Wrong With APB
http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/358/feature/4475/What-Went-Wrong-With-APB.html

 

Reply #4 Top

Uberepicfail? :D

Reply #5 Top

Yeah, I cannot really believe this, especially because I now wasted a total of $60-70 on it! I figured it'd last a bit longer because I enjoyed playing it and the servers always seemed full. The character customization was enjoyable, combat wasn't bad, driving was fun, and the chat system (locational voip) was, IMO, groundbreaking for an MMO.

The sad thing is that nobody else will ever try something like this again.

Damn :(

Reply #6 Top

Sorry to hear that James.

That's one downside of buying MMOs.  If they shutdown, although uncommon, the software is completely useless.  At least with singleplayer games the game is still playable even if the developer/publisher is gone.  Granted the older it is, the more trouble it might be to get it running, but still.

At least with Hellgate: London, it was playable in singleplayer mode and had a final patched released that I think may have opened up some stuff.  I have the patch downloaded but dammed if I've ever installed it.  Just can't bring myself to reinstall and play it.

Reply #7 Top

Quoting James009D, reply 5
Yeah, I cannot really believe this, especially because I now wasted a total of $60-70 on it!

unlucky.

Reply #8 Top

Quoting James009D, reply 5
Yeah, I cannot really believe this, especially because I now wasted a total of $60-70 on it! I figured it'd last a bit longer because I enjoyed playing it and the servers always seemed full. The character customization was enjoyable, combat wasn't bad, driving was fun, and the chat system (locational voip) was, IMO, groundbreaking for an MMO.

The sad thing is that nobody else will ever try something like this again.

Damn

It had a sordid enough history while it was in development I suppose it was inevitable.

If it had launched with 1.4.1s features instead of where it did, it would've been a success IMO.

It sucks because there aren't any other multiplayer action games I really want to play.

On another note, I wonder if the art assets and code are being sold to another developer.

Sigh...off to ponder how dismal gaming has been lately.

Reply #9 Top

Speaking as someone who has endured the stigma of "Ha, you played Tabula Rasa, the MMO that got closed in less than 2 years!". I am somewhat relieved that there's a new bleeding fish in the shark tank.

Nonetheless, it's sad that the game didn't make it. It had a few good ideas, and having it shut down just like that isn't fair to the people who made it and especially tot he people who bought it.

Reply #10 Top

Heh Tabula was not that bad, i have the stigma of playing Dark n Light, now that was the worst launch in mmo history. It was pretty much dead in 3 days of launch but stayed open for a bit after.

Reply #11 Top

It's interesting to note that the average user review score for APB on metacritic is about the same as the average user review score for elemental. Good thing Elemental is probably costing a lot less to maintain.

Reply #12 Top

I gotta say if The Agency doesn't impress I'm going to get a sour taste in my mouth for online gaming.  I'm just finding it much harder to get into any of it anymore.

Reply #13 Top

I really have high hopes for The Agency, but lately all they've show is PvP, and about a year ago, the head designers quit the project. It's probably the only new MMO I may actually be able to play(no online fee) that I really look forward to. After Tabula Rasa, going back to a standard MMO just seems wrong. Here's hoping SOE pulls it off.

Reply #14 Top

There's always Guild Wars 2.  No monthly fee and no overpowered micro-transactions screwing the game over are a sale for me.

Reply #15 Top

Funny how you guys are calling it a "flop", when this topic points to an article that actually tells you why.....

Has NOTHING to do with the game being a failure at all.

Reply #16 Top

Yeah, it does. If it was a great game (which includes all payment options etc) it would never have got to this point.

Reply #17 Top

http://bit.ly/akNLTS

I guess I might as well finally try Global Agenda.  *shrug*

Reply #18 Top

Apparently EA is offering a free game to people who have APB.

Reply #19 Top

Quoting Savyg, reply 18
Apparently EA is offering a free game to people who have APB.

Sweet =)  I just got a free copy of Bad Company 2.

I was planning to buy it on Friday.  =)

Reply #20 Top

Well, technically it wasn't free.  You just bought a copy of Bad Company 2 instead of APB, seeing as the APB DVD is now a coaster (or you might not even have that if you bought it digitally).  Still surprising PR move by EA.  I guess with Activision and Ubisoft trying to take the belt for 'most evil publisher on Earth' EA management must have seen an opportunity to repair some damage.

Reply #21 Top

EA has been trying to improve for a while, behavior wise.

Reply #22 Top

Quoting lbgsloan, reply 20
Well, technically it wasn't free.  You just bought a copy of Bad Company 2 instead of APB, seeing as the APB DVD is now a coaster (or you might not even have that if you bought it digitally).  Still surprising PR move by EA.  I guess with Activision and Ubisoft trying to take the belt for 'most evil publisher on Earth' EA management must have seen an opportunity to repair some damage.

Considering I got a lot of play out of my APB install (there was no DVD) I didn't feel that bad about the purchase.

Actually I've liked EA for a while, and now I love them. :)  I didn't expect that at all.

Reply #23 Top

Quoting <span>Tridus</span>, reply 21
EA has been trying to improve for a while, behavior wise.

I know it's like I've walked into a mirror universe or something. Ubisoft picked up the hate our customer mantle and EA is trying to make nice.:O I'd make a comment about Activision/Blizzard, but I haven't looked at our played one of there games in a long long time, not sure I am digging battle.net or realID though.

Quoting Aractain, reply 16
Yeah, it does. If it was a great game (which includes all payment options etc) it would never have got to this point.

Yeah APB is as failed an MMO as they come.

Reply #24 Top

Quoting Nesrie, reply 23
Yeah APB is as failed an MMO as they come.

The saddest part of that is they'd just gotten everything to where it should've been at launch (save for cheaters, but I'm sure they could've gotten that under control easily enough) to have a great game.

I am saddened by the loss...and hope if someone did buy the assets it is resurrected in some form.

Reply #25 Top

LOL

what they mean close apb?

i bought it for 50 € played maybe 5-7 hours, and cant more play with my rest hours? :D

thats cool^^