‘Grand Theft Auto Inspired Poisonville,’ Confirms Bigpoint

German developer Bigpoint has told IncGamers that its online game Poisionville was inspired by Rockstar’s global success Grand Theft Auto and that the title is their ‘most ambitious project to date’.
The game, which is now available in open beta and will be released under the Playboy banner, is reported to have had a £1.5 million development budget and has been described as a title that will ‘revolutionise the browser-game market’.
Speaking to IncGamers, founder and CEO of Bigpoint Heiko Hubertz said: “I believe it is fair to say that Poisonville drew inspiration from GTA. The game is set in a gritty, urban environment and gamers must engage in criminal activities to regain respect. Poisonville introduces a new wave of browser-based MMOs that gamers can expect from Bigpoint.
“Poisonville quite literally sets new standards in terms of visual quality and sophisticated gameplay for online games. With its launch into open beta last week, this title can be considered our most ambitious project to date. Key elements include a full 3D environment, over 600 quests, PvP and PvE action, and the use of mocap technology in its development. In the future, we’ll release more titles that further demonstrate our ability to produce very high-quality games that run within standard web browsers, including ToonRacer, Battlestar Galactica Online, The Mummy, and an announced title the San Francisco office is hard at work on.”
The game is set in a fully 3D world with no download or installation, but directly to the players’ browser. The firm says this was possible by using a modified version of the Java-based jMonkeyEngine that required an ‘incredible amount of technical savvy’.
The title is the first browser game to utilise motion capture and also offers day and night modes, AI, customisable vehices and more.
Although free-to-play, Hubertz told us the title will offer players the chance to “purchase premium virtual items, which will allow them to have an enhanced gaming experience.”