APB (1987 video game)

APB
Arcade flyer
DeveloperAtari Games
Publisher
Atari Games
DesignerMike Hally
ProgrammersDavid Theurer
Alan Murphy
Russell Dawe
ArtistMike West
ComposersBrad Fuller
Hal Canon
Earl Vickers
Amiga
David Whittaker
PlatformsArcade, Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Atari Lynx
ReleaseArcade
  • NA: July 1987
Home computers
Lynx
  • NA: August 1991
  • EU: 1991
GenreVehicular combat
ModeSingle-player
Arcade systemAtari System 2

APB (short for "All Points Bulletin") is a 1987 vehicular combat video game developed and published by Atari Games for arcades. The player assumes the role of Bob, a rookie police officer, who drives around the city ticketing motorists for minor infractions and pulling over more serious offenders. Eventually, Bob must apprehend criminals for which an all-points bulletin has been called.

The arcade cabinet resembles a police car, with a gas pedal, steering wheel and a siren button, complete with flashing lights atop the unit. The game's cartoonish visuals and sense of humor gained it positive reviews. The game was slightly criticized for its difficulty; the game's developers later admitted that a long development cycle had resulted in the gameplay growing more complicated than originally planned.

Ports of APB were released for the Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum in 1989. The home versions were mostly developed by Tengen and published by Domark. A version for the Atari Lynx handheld was published later in 1991.