The unsung stars of 2008

APB || Real Time Worlds || PC, 360

Player-controlled criminal gangs, gamer-fed ranks of dedicated lawgivers, modern-day urban battlegrounds... APB (that's All Points Bulletin, non-CB radio fans) is nothing if not ambitious. Effectively, we're looking at a Grand Theft Auto MMO here.

But we shouldn't fear the traditional gulf in quality between GTA proper and GTA 'inspired' games. APB comes from David Jones, creator of the original GTA, but who also spearheaded the most excellent Crackdown. Fingers crossed then, for an equally strong third creation.

Blocks || Spielberg/EA || Wii

Also known as PQRS, Blocks makes up one part of Steven Spielberg's trio of gaming projects. It's a puzzle game, seemingly mixing Jenga and Tetris.

Basically you have a stack of blocks, which you try to knock over (examples being with a bowling ball, or using the Wiimote to push and shoot). Simple, eh? The aim is to have all the blocks land flat. Wii needs interesting games, especially ones with high production values, and Blocks could be a quirky hit.

LMNO || Spielberg/EA || PC, 360, PS3

Spielberg's second project (that's a codename, in case you didn't guess)is a vastly different proposition to the Wii title Blocks. You'll be taking on the role of a retired spy, in an adventure billed by US magazine Newsweek as North by Northwest meets ET.

Details? Fat chance. But we do have an intriguing quote to go on: "[LMNO] focuses on a touching and ever-changing relationship between you and a mysterious female character who holds the key to many futures". We can't believe Spielberg would put his name to a project that didn't deliver quality.