Payback (video game)

Payback is a video game developed and published by Apex Designs. It was first released in 2001. It was followed by a sequel in 2012, Payback 2.

Payback
Amiga cover art
Developer(s)Apex Designs
Publisher(s)Apex Designs (Amiga)
DSI Games/Zoo Digital (GBA)
Freeverse (Mac)
SeriesPayback
Platform(s)Amiga, WarpOS, Game Boy Advance, Macintosh, GP2X, iOS
ReleaseAmiga
  • EU: February 15, 2001
Macintosh
  • WW: January 2003
Game Boy Advance
  • WW: November 19, 2004
iOS
  • WW: January 28, 2009
GP2X
  • WW: January 28, 2010
Genre(s)Action, Grand Theft Auto clone[1]
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay

The game is similar in gameplay to the original GTA, with new camera angles and more weapons being obvious differences. The player can use shotguns grenades, as well as weapons such as remote controlled cars carrying explosives.

The game also supports four-player multiplayer deathmatch.

The Game Boy Advance version includes eleven cities.

Development

It was originally a fan's project to make an Amiga clone of Grand Theft Auto. In the author's own words, "every effort has been made to ensure that Payback beats GTA in every way."

The game was eventually expanded into a commercial release, and in 2002 Apex Designs announced plans to bring it to Microsoft Windows, Macintosh, and the Game Boy Advance (GBA). The Mac version was speedily released, but there is still no word on the Windows version's released date. A version for the GP2X handheld has since been released.

Despite the game being a clone of GTA, even copying car names such as the "Mundaneo", Rockstar has made no attempt to stop Apex Designs from publishing this game, or warn them about infringing on their copyrighted materials.

The GBA version was also finished, but Apex Designs couldn't initially find a publisher. After numerous failed attempts to get it published, it was not until late 2004 that DSI Games finally picked up the game.

An iOS version of Payback was announced on December 29, 2008 and released on January 28, 2009. It contains all the features of the GP2X version. The developers announced that it was going to be released on January 15; however due to a bug, it was pushed back to January 28. A behind-the-scenes report is listed on their website.

Additional content

The Amiga version allowed fans to make their own deathmatch maps (see the link below). These cannot be added into the GBA version, but a slightly modified 'Isla Nublar' map is featured as an unlockable bonus.

Sequel

A sequel to Payback, Payback 2 for iOS and Android devices, was released on 4th October 2012.

On October 25, 2020 a head at Apex Designs confirmed that an untitled sequel to Payback 2 was in development and was set to release sometime in 2022 on iOS, and Android devices.

References
  1. Fahey, M. (2012) The Original Grand Theft Auto iPhone Clone Returns with Payback 2. Kotaku. 10 Apr. Retrieved 11 Oct, 2014
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