Sometimes, it pays to be both the developer and the distributor of your own MMORPG. The company known as Realtime Worlds knows what that's like. It recently regained global distribution rights from Webzen, Inc. regarding the cops-and-robbers MMORPG known as All Points Bulletin (AP). The two companies were originally partnered in 2005.

This move follows Realtime Worlds recent US$ 50 million second round funding. For Realtime Worlds, it's all about the freedom and the independence to push creative boundaries with APB. This also means that the company will take a more active hand in managing the distribution strategy of the game worldwide.

Realtime Worlds founder and CEO David Jones commented on the avenues that would open for the company as a result of its having regained the APB distribution rights:

Owning the distribution rights to APB marks a major milestone in Realtime Worlds’ evolution into a premier online entertainment company. By controlling the rights to APB we can ensure that gamers around the globe experience the revolutionary gameplay we envisioned when we first began creating the property.

We are excited about the prospect of having direct, personal relationships with our players, which is a dream come true for many development studios.