Lost In Translation/APB - All Points Bulletin

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This page is a stub for arcade games that are part of the Lost In Translation series using information based on MAME (version 0.113u2).
For an example of preferred content and layout please refer to Out Run or The Ninja Warriors.


APB
All Points Bulletin
APB marquee.
APB title screen.
APB control panel.
Manufacturer Atari Games
Released 1987
Control
Method
Dial
Pedal
3 Button(s)
Main CPU T11 (@ 10.000 MHz)
M6502 (@ 1.790 MHz)
Sound CPU Stereo
YM2151 (@ 3.580 MHz)
(2x) POKEY (@ 1.790 MHz)
TMS5220 (@ 625.000 kHz)
Video
Details
Raster (Vertical)
512 x 384 pixels
60.00 Hz
256 Palette colours
Screens 1
ROM Info 36 ROMs
1,998,848 bytes (1.91 MiB)
MAME ID apb · apb1 · apb2 · apb3 · apb4 · apb5 · apb6 · apbf · apbg

About The Game

APB (or All-points Bulletin) is an overhead-view driving arcade video game in which players take on the role of policeman 'Officer Bob' as he takes to his patrol car and drives the streets in pursuit of lawbreakers. The object of the game is to meet (or preferably exceed) the daily quota of 'busts', as he tries to catch a variety of law-breakers.

Along the way, players must refuel their patrol car (by driving through filling stations) as well as meeting targets within a set time limit. Any accidental collisions or running over of pedestrians will result in the player earning 'de-merits', while a 'perfect day' will earn bonuses, with further bonuses awarded for each arrest made that exceeds the daily quota. Picking up donuts extends the time limit for a day.

Trivia

APB was Dave Theurer's last game at Atari Games. He went on to work on the 'DeBabelizer' for Macromedia with other Atari alumni. Other games by Dave include "Missile Command", "Tempest" and "I, Robot".

The game enjoyed moderate success in the marketplace, as most Atari games did. It's high-resolution graphics and novel cabinet design, with the flashing lights atop, added to it's initial appeal.

Greg Gibson holds the record for this game with 1,002,324 points on January 23, 1988.

An APB machine was shown at the 2003 classic arcade games show 'California Extreme' in San Jose, California.

Tips and tricks

  • Warp : When you start a new game, you may press the Siren button and start to get a level 1-8 warp, or press Gun+Siren and start to get a level 1-16 warp.
  • High scores scrolling : Right on the joystick to scroll down and Left to scroll up.
  • During the preliminary level where you have to 'arrest' cones, to beat the timer and get the bonus after you arrest enough cones you can do a 180 and return to the start the way you came.

SPOILER - All criminals

Day Criminal Address Reward
03 Freddy Freak Small town USA bar 1,000 dollars
05 Candy Goodbody Dead man Corner bar 2,000 dollars
07 Bernie Gasman Highway 20 Forest Bar 3,000 dollars
09 Phillip Fuse Highway 30 overpass 4,000 dollars
11 Cool Hand Duke Highway 00 in Drinkerstown 5,000 dollars
13 Buzz Geiger Highway 40 past GasnGrub 6,000 dollars
15 Joe Korncob Highway 44 near GasnGrub 7,000 dollars
17 Luigi De Muccio Highway 50 at Milk Toast 8,000 dollars
19 Dick Slob Highway 70 near aquaduct 9,000 dollars
21 Iggy Dingdong Highway 70 10,000 dollars
23 Juan Fingers Highway 70 Alpine Flats 11,000 dollars
25 Hans Oop Highway 99 Cactus Falls 12,000 dollars
27 Fake Frank Highway 10 Police Station 13,000 dollars
29 Sid Sniper Highway 70 overpass 14,000 dollars
31 Billy Bob Jack Highway 50 near bar 15,000 dollars

Staff

Credits
Dave Theurer (DFT)
Mike Hally (MLH)
Alan Murphy (AJM)
Mark West (MLW)
Brad Fuller (BAF)
Hal Canon (HLC)
Earl Vickers (EAR)
(RBD)

Cabinet and Artwork

Ports

Box art for the DoMark port of APB.
Consoles
Atari Lynx (1990)
Microsoft XBOX (2004, "Midway Arcade Treasures 2")
Nintendo GameCube (2004, "Midway Arcade Treasures 2")
Sony PlayStation 2 (2004, "Midway Arcade Treasures 2")
Computers
Commodore C64 (1989)
Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1989)
Atari ST (1989)
Amstrad CPC (1989)
Commodore Amiga ("APB (All Points Bulletin)", 1989, DoMark)
PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (2006, "Midway Arcade Treasures Deluxe Edition")


External Links


The contents of this page are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
The sources used include MAME (version 0.113u2) and history.dat (revision 1.28 - 2008-10-18).
Please see http://www.arcade-history.com for credits.