APB dev prepping new MMOG - Report

Back in 2003, DMA Design and Grand Theft Auto creator Dave Jones joined with Sony Europe managing director Ian Hetherington and Nintendo of America director of development and acquisition Tony Harman to found Realtime Worlds. At the time, Hetherington noted that Realtime Worlds had two titles in development and that "fans of GTA and next-generation racing games will not be disappointed."

Of the first, Hetherington was clearly referring to APB, a persistent-world online shooter that Electronic Arts will be distributing in early 2010. The second title was presumed to be Crackdown, an open-world Xbox 360-exclusive action platformer that garnered a positive critical reception when it debuted in 2007. As it turns out, though, that wasn't necessarily the case.

As reported by UK-based GI.biz, Dave Jones said as part of the GameHorizon conference in Newcastle, UK, today that Realtime Worlds' first game has yet to be announced. Jones reportedly said that the developer initially secured $30 million to fund the unnamed game. However, because the title was so "ambitious," the studio opted to first launch APB.

Realtime Worlds subsequently found an additional $50 million in backing in 2008, shortly before repurchasing APB's publishing rights from Webzen.

Of the new game, Jones reportedly confirmed that it will be a massively multiplayer online game. Additional details on the title were not revealed, however, with Jones said to have noted that Realtime Worlds will officially announce the project in 2010.

Last week, Realtime Worlds announced that the studio now employs 250 staff, with the Dundee, Scotland-based developer intending to increase that number to 300 by 2010. Realtime Worlds is currently looking to fill some 40 positions, one of which is for a design lead on the unannounced MMOG.