Realtime Worlds brings APB embargo forward

Realtime Worlds has brought forward the embargo for reviews of APB to a new date of July 2, four days earlier than previous requirements indicated.

The move follows some complaints in the videogames media that enforcing such an embargo would make it impossible for publications to responsibly inform the public in advance of purchase.

The new date is in line with the UK release date - with journalists now being given access to an Early Access event starting on June 26.

Realtime Worlds originally argued that it had enforced the live embargo period in an attempt to elicit fair reviews of the game, with many of the dynamics of the online title relying on a vibrant community.

However, it was pointed out that such a move could also be interpreted as an attempt to prevent potentially negative critical reaction from being seen by consumers until after they'd purchased the game.

Realtime Worlds has since contacted GamesIndustry.biz to explain further the company's motives, and highlight the new embargo date. The full statement is as follows:

"The 'Key to the City' event is a demo event, not an open beta in the usual sense of the term. Players only have five hours of Action District playtime and are well aware that characters, customisations, vehicles, clothing and symbols created during the event are going to be wiped in time for launch.

"As a result anyone attempting to review the game during this period would experience a somewhat unrealistic representation of what APB is offering the user and as such it was deemed inappropriate to allow reviewers to do so.

"The decision was purely based on wanting reviewers to experience and see the full live server with players having both progressed and expressed themselves. Our service will also be down for the period between the end of 'Key to the City' on June 19 and the start of our 'Early Access' event in North America on June 26. This too would have prevented reviewers from playing the game.

"The initial July 6 embargo date was based on the UK street date of July 2 and on press not having access to the game until said date. We are however moving the embargo date forward to July 2 and giving reviewers invitations to the 'Early Access' event in order to ensure that they are able to properly experience APB and its community in time for street date.

"Realtime Worlds is confident that APB All Points Bulletin is a great game and we have taken on board all the feedback provided to us by our community during the closed beta testing period in preparation for our launch.

"If we were not confident in the game we would not have sent out hundreds of thousands of access keys for our ongoing 'Key to the City' event, we would also not be encouraging players to post their own videos and screenshots online.

"The best way to make the decision for yourself is to jump in to the Key to the City. So head over to www.apb.com, grab a key and draw your own opinion."