Report: EA Anticipated Mediocre Review Scores for Realtime Worlds' APB

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Although EA Partners boss, David DeMartini, expressed sympathy for the recent trouble plaguing developer Realtime Worlds, he claimed that EA foresaw mediocre review scores for the studio's latest title, All Points Bulletin.

"We did suggest that where it landed from a review score standpoint was where we thought it was going to land from a review score standpoint," DeMartini told GamesIndustry.biz.

APB was published under the EA Partners banner, which in the past has distributed titles for Valve and Harmonix and will soon release the Epic Games shooter Bulletstorm.

While Realtime Worlds has yet to formally shut its doors, the Dundee, Scotland-based developer is reportedly looking for a buyer to take over its studio.

DeMartini reportedly hinted that APB may have needed more time for development; however, he did not feel that decision would have been practical.

"I feel bad for David [Jones -- Founder of Realtime Worlds], I feel bad for everybody on that team," DeMartini said. "It's not the outcome that they wanted. 300-400 people are now going to be working somewhere else, have their lives uprooted, their families are in a bit of turmoil right now as they try and catch on with another games company."

Although he claimed that the situation may have tarnished the game, the team and the experience customers gleaned from it, he felt APB included some elements that are "worth the money," including the customization and character creation capability.

"It's an idea that had such tremendous promise, but didn't have an opportunity to get to the finish line that everyone had hoped. It's just unfortunate the way it worked out."

Xav de Matos was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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From The Chatty
  • reply
    August 19, 2010 1:11 PM

    "plaguing?" Xav.

    • reply
      August 19, 2010 2:00 PM

      As in to cause worry and/or distress. Shutting down a business certainly qualifies, no?

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