Lost In Translation/APB - All Points Bulletin

APB ; All Points Bulletin
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

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.

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

APB arcade cabinet.
APB - All Points Bulletin flyer.
Back of the APB - All Points Bulletin flyer.

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

Sinclair ZX Spectrum version of APB at the World of Spectrum

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.