Mangaed to log in just now and there is now an AA option in the advanced video settings (there hadn't been one in previous beta events).

I enabled it and it renders correctly for me. Everything is being rendered as it should, and with noticable AA. Well, at least in the character select screen. We'll see about the actual game. :)

I'm running an HD5850 with the 10.11 drivers. My AA, AF, and Vsync settings in my Catalyst panel are set for the application to decide.

Make sure that your driver settings in the Catalyst Control Panel are not forcing Anti Aliasing on.

There are still issues with ATI/AMD cards and the rendering engine when AA is enabled. Will it be fixed? Who knows, but word on the street is that the 3D engine itself is not very AA friendly to begin with.

"But I am damned good at racing games."

Being good at "Burnout" or other arcade-style racers means nothing in APB. Yes, the controls feel a bit sluggish because everything happens server-side. Aside from that, vehicle modeling is based on sim racers, rather than the arcade variety (the devs even said as much). Once you practice a bit to compensate for the lag in input, driving is pretty damn fun. I find it no more difficult than leading my targets back in the good ol' days of playing FPS's on dial-up.

Overall, I agree with just about everything is this review, vehicle handling aside. I am also a current subscriber to the game who was in both closed and open beta tests. The game is far from perfect, but for me it is indeed fun. I also understand what the game is, and isn't. APB really is a love it, or hate it game. There isn't much of an in-between.

The score given may seem low, but I think it's pretty close to what I would have given it. Maybe a solid 7, but certainly no higher based on its current form.

Originally posted by Irishoak

With a cash shop you are always waiting for the other shoe to drop. The game has to be designed around making you buy things, if it was playable completely free why would they run it? They are in business to make money, not pals. Where as a P2P game is designed to keep you paying. Even if some companies are not so good at it the whole idea is customer retention. The games that retain best usually have loads of free, worthy content of some meaning or value. If it is a F2P game not along the lines of GW (I do not see how they can apply that business model to this game but hey could be wrong), as in it contains a cash shop, I'll most likely be a sad fat guy and skip it. I will be sad about it though.

I think the main difference here between APB and the typical F2P MMO (from Korea, China, etc.) is that there is already revenue generation right from the get go, just like Guild Wars.

APB will be sold as a retail product. The client will NOT be free to download (like CrimeCraft). Additional revenue through tiered subscriptions or cash shops will be just that, additional revenue. You've bought the client, so the developer/publisher has already made some money back on their investment.

Since APB is primarily a skill based game than a gear/stats game I think it's relatively safe to assume that there won't be much in the way of sold items that could grossly unbalance game play. If you already suck at FPS/TPS/Driving games, there isn't much that can be added to immediately make you suck less.

Time will tell...

Originally posted by Dameonk

Originally posted by Karmakazi

 

I just hope it actually delivers (can't really compare the two but crimecraft was a massive failure)

 

I don't see why not.  I've played both, they feel like you're playing the same game.  Combat wise, both are horrible.

Have yet to play APB's beta, but I have to disagree that both APB and CrimeCraft are essentially the same. There are definitely similarities in some aspects but the biggest draw for potential gamers outside of the graphic design/music tools is the fact that combat can be instigated outside of an instance, unlike CC.

Yes, APB will have instances as well for larger conflicts, but the free roaming aspect of single player GTA-style games is there as well, again, unlike CC.

Ultimately, players don't want an instance based game with a social lobby system like Global Agenda or CrimeCraft. People want the ability to engage in social or combative activities in a relatively seamless environment. Having to jump from one to the other all the time creates a real disconnect between the two and destroys any sort of immersion in the game. Hopefully the developers at RTW understand this and are doing what they can to minimize it.

If I may ask, what exactly was it about APB's combat that you felt was not up to standard? I have played CC, so if you reference that I'll have a general understanding of the mechanics.

Originally posted by Hochmeister

Originally posted by Rent-A-Hero

I'm one of those who is very excited about what APB has to offer. However, I am concerned that the game will not have enough in terms of content and general game play to warrant a monthly sub.

They have already stated that they are going the Guild Wars route with the game. You buy the client, you play online with no additional cost. But, if you read the statement carefully they have alluded to the idea of additional benfits either through subscription or other methods.

I purchased Global Agenda when it was released, and while it is a decent game I for one would have been very PO'd if I had to pay a monthly sub for what was being offered. I think they realized this may have been the case with consumers as well and caused them to change the pay structure prior to its release.

As cool as many of the concepts in APB sound, there is still only so much you can do in a free-roaming GTA-style game. My vote is for basic F2P, with optional P2P for expanded content and game play elements. Not sure how that would work out, but I certainly don't want to see APB turn into the trainwreck known as CrimeCraft.

Rent-A-Hero u seam to be saying that APB should have a Runescape like apeal to it wich could work very well.

Well, I haven't tried Runescape, so I can't really comment on their structure. However I do see revenue avenues available to APB beyond the base game that wouldn't "break" the game world.

They could tack on a cash shop that would offer things like expanded design elements for the in-game graphic design tools, or music samples for the music editor. Other players would receive the data through updates so they could see/hear them on others, but would be locked out from using them (unless they pay for them, of course). They have said that player housing won't be in the initial release but is being considered for the future. Buying a personal space or gang pad could be an option as well, along with all the furnishings that one may wish to put inside. F2P accounts could visit such locations but would be unable to be added to a list that would allow them to edit the environment, if it were gang housing for instance.

I understand people's issues with cash shops as they can, and have, unbalanced other games, but so long as the items offered are primarily for decorative purposes (such as bling'ing out a gun in gold finish) they should be fine to implement.

I'm one of those who is very excited about what APB has to offer. However, I am concerned that the game will not have enough in terms of content and general game play to warrant a monthly sub.

They have already stated that they are going the Guild Wars route with the game. You buy the client, you play online with no additional cost. But, if you read the statement carefully they have alluded to the idea of additional benfits either through subscription or other methods.

I purchased Global Agenda when it was released, and while it is a decent game I for one would have been very PO'd if I had to pay a monthly sub for what was being offered. I think they realized this may have been the case with consumers as well and caused them to change the pay structure prior to its release.

As cool as many of the concepts in APB sound, there is still only so much you can do in a free-roaming GTA-style game. My vote is for basic F2P, with optional P2P for expanded content and game play elements. Not sure how that would work out, but I certainly don't want to see APB turn into the trainwreck known as CrimeCraft.

Lol, you're about a year too early. Even if XIV has been in development long before the E3 announcement, they're still in the late planning stages at best.

Any footage of gameplay that SE has shown is probably in-engine proof of concept material and not representative of finished game mechanics. I'd say that they might have something resembling a playable version (alpha or beta) by this time next year. In the meantime, keep playing XI, or find another MMO to tide you over.

Cheers