All profits bulletin Scots computer games developer set to score worldwide hit with much-anticipated online package

Published on Friday 30 April 2010 21:32

REALTIME Worlds, the Dundee-based computer games developer, is poised to receive a revenue boost after yesterday unveiling the dates for the release of its latest title.

All Points Bulletin (APB) will go on sale in North America on 29 June, 1 July in mainland Europe and 2 July in the UK.

The game is being released in partnership with Electronic Arts, the New York-listed games giant behind the Fifa and Command & Conquer titles.

David Jones – who developed classic games including Grand Theft Auto and Lemmings, and is now creative director of Realtime Worlds – told The Scotsman in 2008 that APB could ultimately generate "hundreds of millions of pounds" for the company, which has a current turnover of about 5 million.

The new game is the company's first big online title, with customers buying 50 hours of game-play when they purchase the software for about 34.99 and then buying an additional 20 hours for about 5.59, or longer blocks of 30, 90 or 180 days' unlimited play.

Jones said: "We're delighted to finally be announcing the release date for APB.

"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."

Jones said players would also be able to create content and sell it to other players in an online "marketplace".

He added: "The (payment] model provides an opportunity for customers to subsidise their costs by leveraging their talent or market savvy in the marketplace. Highly talented players could potentially even play for free in this way."

Realtime Worlds was founded in 2002 and now employs about 200 staff at its development centre in Dundee.

The firm also has a sales office in Boulder, Colorado.

US investment fund Maverick Capital pumped $50m (at the time, about 25m) into the company in 2008.

The company had previously raised $30m in 2006 from Maverick New Enterprise Associates and giant advertising firm WPP.