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APB Payment Model, Release Date, Pre-Order Bonuses Revealed
by Alice O'Connor, Apr 30, 2010 7:00am PDTRealtime Worlds' cops vs. robbers MMO APB will run under a pay-as-you-play payment model when it launches on June 29, publisher EA announced today.
Fifty hours of playtime is included with the $50 full game, which will run down as players enagage in Grand Theft Auto-style shenanigans in APB's 'Action' districts. Once their time has run out, players can pony up $6.99 for an extra twenty hours' playtime. The game's combat-free 'Social' districts will not drain players' time at all.
Alternatively, players can simply pay $9.99 for thirty days of unlimited play--with discounted ninety- and 180-day packages on offer--similar to a regular MMO subscription or apparently even pay for their game time with earned virtual currency.
"We wanted to provide a simple and flexible way for occasional and core players alike to pay for their play without being financially tethered to the game," explained Realtime Worlds founder David Jones. "The model also provides an opportunity for customers to subsidize their costs by leveraging their talent or market savvy in the 'points' Marketplace. Highly talented players could potentially even play for free in this way."
APB will be released for PC on June 29 in North America, July 1 in mainland Europe and July 2 in the UK. Pre-ordering provides the bonuses of exclusive in-game cars, clothing and emotes--pictured above--as well as 'APB VIP' early access plus access to the 'Key to the City' demo.
There's still no word on the once-planned Xbox 360 release, a subject which Realtime Worlds has been quiet on for quite some time.
The following pair of short trailers from EA's European wing show off the pre-order bonus items in-game and seem to indicate that, in Europe at least, they might be split between 'standard' and 'exclusive' editions.
Comments
I have +800 with L4D2 and i only payed $50 US dolars. THIS APB is a fucking scam. SO WTF THIS IS THE PC MARKET, NOT XBOX POINTS SYSTEM. AND FUCK WARCRAFT 2.
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Why someone would want to save $3 is beyond me. I'd rather pay up $10 a month and get unlimited play. Seems like a good game to give up WoW for in my opinion. Once they work out the big kinks in the Beta atm and add a few more extra curricular things to do, they should be set.
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-50 hours come in with the game. Is really anyone put more than 50 hours into it?
-When was the last time you put 50 hours into a game?
-If the district-social-customization part of it doesn't take time from you i don't think it'll be an issue.
-All said, this will fuck them in the ass sales wise, people don't like to play like they're running out of time, just sayin'
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Don't bother crossing your fingers untill devs give thier actual word on it.
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Jesus man, just use the monthly rates like the rest of the world uses.. if someone is seriously into this game they could end up spending ridiculous amounts of money just to play.
The use of in-game currency to pay for time is intriguing but I think that the regular payment plan is shite.
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q[RTFA]q
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Does that mean that I can log on and talk to people and stuff in those districts even when my subscription has run out?
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They are giving us choices, which is something everyone usually likes to have.
So it sounds like it only uses playtime when you're actually out *playing* and shooting people, not when you are just hanging out, chatting and putting a group together (and maybe trading? I dunno what all is in the social zones).
Plus having an option to buy time with in-game points is a nice bonus. I don't expect it'll be very easy to fully pay for the time that way, but it's good to have an option for people who want to do that.
Now let me into the beta so I can see if it's worth getting at all. ;)
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http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/apb-requires-no-monthly-subscription
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That been said driving in game sucks badly since even with no lag(rare) the car's have some mad turning delay taking up to 3+ seconds to know you are trying to turn.
My main gripe at the moment with MMO's for more casual peeps like me, is that you constantly feel like you should be playing it, so that yuo're getting your money's worth, even when you dont fancy it.
This way, I can play when I want, and if i take a few weeks out, I'm not throwing money down the toilet.
But, I also like the traditional option for when I fancy blasting through some hours.
Along with the free social areas, all thats left is for the game to actually be worth paying money for! Certainly peaked my interest now though! :D
$10 is less than many MMOs, but I still can't see myself spending $10 a month for what is essentially GTA4 multiplayer with faster matchmaking and more customization.
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It doesn't take anything away from the currently MMO model that everyone is used to and it also introduces a model to the USA, that's really popular in Asia currently.
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