Remember the failed APB (All Points Bulletin) game from last year? Seems that the failed Cops n’ Robbers MMO is getting a reboot courtesy of GamersFirst Studio.

The reboot, which is on track to out-perform the original, is only 30,000 users behind the all time high for the original APB title. The game was unable to sustain the community because of the limited amounts of players and people probably didn’t enjoy running around for an hour looking for someone to fight.  Real Time Studios folded, in the US at least, and APB went to the highly unfavorable seventh circle of gaming hell. All but forgotten, GamersFirst is looking to really save the brand.

Part of the appeal of the new title  is that is Free to Play. You can still sign up here, but be aware that GamersFirst has made it clear that only about half of the current 100,000 registrants will be able to participate in the beta.

The beta starts at the end of February.

Source [Gamasutra]

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Children running to their nearest GameStop to buy GTA IV should think twice. A recent survey conducted by the Federal Trade Commission revealed that overall, 80% of underage shoppers were denied purchase of M-rated video games.

This is an improvement over a 2006 FTC survey, which indicated that a mere 42% were not allowed to make such purchases. The results are part of a larger nationwide survey on retailers’ vigilance against unaccompanied children purchasing CDs with the Parental Advisory Label, M-rated video games, tickets to R-rated movies, R-rated DVDs, and unrated DVDs that were R-rated in theaters.

In terms of M-rated games, the survey gathered data from eight major retail chains: Toys R Us, Wal-Mart, Hollywood Video, GameStop/EB Games, Kmart, Circuit City, Target, and Best Buy.

The results revealed that GameStop was the most stringent, refusing sales of M-rated titles to minors 96% of the time, followed by Wal-Mart’s 82%. On the other hand, the biggest offender was Hollywood Video, which turned down sales to minors only 60% of the time, followed by Circuit City with 62%.

Source: FTC.gov via Gamasutra.com

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