APB takes the universal theme of Criminals and Enforcers and brings it to a persistent, open-world, online multiplayer setting in the modern, crime-ridden fictional city of San Paro. Some players will achieve notoriety by feeding on the city, its people and its businesses…the Criminals. Some will live by a higher code and instead feed on the criminals and their organizations…the Enforcers. This dynamic where players become the core content for other players is one of the many unique features of APB. This dynamic where players become the core content for other players is one of the many unique features of APB. Its deep, rich customization system provides players with the ability to completely personalize their identity. Looks, clothing, vehicles and even music, all to astonishing detail and quality.

Where will you stand in the battle for control? Discover unforgettable weapons, experience incredible customization and try to survive a frenzied battle for control of the streets.

US-based Reloaded Productions Inc. acquired the Intellectual Property rights for the online multi-player game APB last year after its Dundee-based developer Real Time Worlds went into administration. It intends to relaunch the game as APB Reloaded.

Reloaded Productions will establish a dedicated Scottish game development team in Edinburgh as part of its global development operation. The location was chosen because of the world-class creative and technical talent available in Scotland.

The studio is expected to create at least 22 high quality jobs in game engineering, 3D art and game design, and will be launched with support from Scottish Development International (SDI) and £125,000 in Regional Selective Assistance from Scottish Enterprise. Reloaded Productions has appointed Michael Boniface as General Manager in Scotland and he is overseeing recruitment for the studio.

On the day Ms Hyslop launched the Scottish Government’s Creative Industries Strategy, she said: “I am delighted that Reloaded Productions will establish a studio in Edinburgh rather than creating jobs only in its existing locations in Irvine, California and Bangalore, India. It is testament to the talent, infrastructure and cutting-edge skills Scotland has to offer in this fast-growing and competitive market and our continued promotion of this key sector internationally. “Today’s announcement reinforces Scotland’s global reputation for creativity and innovation and as an attractive location for growth companies. Through our Creative Industries Strategy we intend to build on this reputation and on the talent that already exists here to strengthen economic growth and create opportunities for all of Scotland to prosper.”

Bjorn Book-Larsson, CEO of Reloaded Productions Ltd, said: “After visiting Scotland, meeting some extraordinary game development professionals and also seeing the Scottish Government’s enthusiastic support for creative and technical ventures, we decided to invest in a Scottish team focused on the core game engineering and key creative design tasks. “Our hope is to expand the Scottish presence and increase the size of the team over time as we add more creative game projects as part of our global MMO development efforts.”

The Creative Industries Strategy sets out how the Scottish Government is working to support the sector, which generates billions of pounds each year for the Scottish economy and supports more than 60,000 jobs. It includes areas such as improving skills, increasing investment and improving access to finance and international markets.

The Minister continued: “We want to realise the full potential of our creative industries, which was identified as a high-growth priority sector in our recently updated Economic Recovery Plan. This strategy is a crucial part of our work to establish an economic environment that is attractive to growth companies. “We are working closely with the sector as well as relevant public sector agencies to ensure the creative industries have the support they need. Creative Scotland last week stated its ambition to see Scotland recognised as one of the world’s most creative nations and will play a key role in this process. “I am confident that this strategy for the creative industries – with its focus on growth, talent and ambition - will help make Scotland a more successful country with opportunities for all to flourish.”

Andrew Dixon, Chief Executive of Creative Scotland, said: “Creative Scotland’s ambition for Scotland’s cultural economy is that, in 10 years, it exceeds the UK average and contributes to sustainable economic growth. During 2002 and 2007, Scotland’s creative industries exports increased by 36% to a total value in excess of £3 billion and Creative Scotland’s investment in the cultural economy aims to build on this momentum. We will work with the enterprise agencies and local authorities to ensure the best possible advice to creative businesses through the Business Gateway and the Cultural Enterprise Office. “We have fantastic talent in Scotland across all of the creative industries and Creative Scotland is committed to ensuring that they retain and exploit more of the value of their intellectual property. The commitment of Reloaded Productions to establish a studio in Edinburgh confirms that Scotland has world-beating talent on its doorstep.”  

The launch of the Creative Industries Strategy comes as Cultural Enterprise Office announces the latest successful applicants for its Starter for 6 enterprise training programme for new start creative businesses.

Cultural Enterprise Office Director Deborah Keogh said: “The Scottish Government’s investment in Starter for 6 has paid dividends. The specialist training and cash investment have enabled hundreds of entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into sustainable businesses. It is a powerful example of how public sector support through specialist agencies such as Cultural Enterprise Office is delivering tangible results for the Scottish economy.”

Also being announced today is more than £110,000 of Scottish Government support in 2010/11 for creative industries projects. It includes:

• £85,700 for Dare to be Digital’s Dare 2011 programme. The highly-regarded international computer games competition will this year include teams from Finland and Iceland.
• £25,000 for the Public Catalogue Foundation which is digitising images of oil paintings held in publicly-owned collections in Scotland to make them more accessible to all.