But CEO says that infrastructure, not IP, is secret to the firm’s success
Runescape developer Jagex has revealed it is working on a brand new MMO due for launch in March 2009.
The unnamed MMO was revealed by CEO Geoff Iddison during a panel discussion at today’s GameHorizon Conference in Newcastle.
Dubbed ‘Nextscape’ by Iddison, the game was said to incorporate – as Runescape does – a variety of business and subscription models to drive consumer engagement, he said.
However, although the company has run its successful Runescape MMO since 2001 – offering biweekly content updates - with the new property due to join it early next year, Iddison said that Jagex’ real value isn’t its IP, but its infrastructure.
“We’ve got an infrastructure behind Runescape which is the real silver of the Jagex, the value of the company,” said Iddison. “It’s not the game, the game is going to come and go,” he said.
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“The infrastructure is the thing that can scale. Runescape has 10 years of good growth – but the infrastructure is infinitely scalable,” he added of Jagex’ vast operation of servers and online support teams. Although Jagex employs 400 people at its Cambridge, UK HQ, only 25 per cent are dedicated to development. Half the staff are focused on content and support while the rest are dedicated to that infrastructure.
“All the emerging markets, mobile games and payment systems are a driver bhind Jagex,” he added when discussing how the infrastructure takes advantage of emergent industry trends in the online space to drive company growth.
“Once you’ve got that infrastructure ticking its amazing what you can get on it.”
It’s possible that Jagex’ next offering will look to target a wider consumer base/ Although a big force in the more casual end of the MMO market, Runescape’s fantasy world has mostly male players ages eight to 18 which are getting younger as time goes on, admitted Iddison, saying the firm’s strategy currently excluded female players but that “we’ve got some plans there” to redress the imbalance.
"“It’s not the game, the game is going to come and go,” he said."
I think thats the biggest load ever Jagex isn't going to get rid of Runescape it would be a disaster for them. What happens if people don't like your new games? & you can Runescape you've got nothing left.
Personally I'd be keeping my hugly successful game if I had one.
As for targeting Girls just add more dress options in Runescape & we will come to that all you need to do.
I've had bad experiences after trying Runescape. Starting my first quest in the game, I asked other players around me where to find things or how to work the mill only to be called a noob and given no answer to my question. I'm guessing only 8-10 year olds play the game due to the fact they discriminate against newer players. I'm learning to steer clear from these types of games which attracts youngsters.
Hey Cara, I'd like to point out that "the game is going to come and go" doesn't mean Jagex would simply end Runescape when releasing a new game. What he was trying to say is that eventually Runescape players will tire of the game and it's player based will drop down on it's own. This quote should no way imply Runescape will be shutting down aytime soon. It is the players who will end Runescape, not Jagex. What it does mean is that Jagex will have a much easier time developing new games as these new games can borrow the technology behind runescape, thus skipping a lengthy chuck of development time.
(I should add...)
New games also don't have to mean the end of previous games. They're trying to expand their market share. Banking on one game to reach a huge diversity of players is foolish. A new game would be a COMPANION, not a replacement for existing properties. Did FunOrb try to replace Runescape? Heck no. But it did increase their demographics and pull in some casual gamers.
hopefully this new game will be just as fun as runescape and hopefully bring in a older people to the game i like runescape alot i dont play it anymore mostly because after a couple of years playing it it gets a little repetitive there updates are great to members not so much to free memebers even though i was a member the game has good grafixs for a java based game and is no doubt the best browser based game out this will they make the next game browser based or download able is another question indeed i think they are the best at makeing browser based games that anyone can play
Nice to hear Iddison talk talk about MechScape (AKA NextScape).
to the guy complaining he was called a noob u have no right to complain as a runescape player of a higher lvl i get bombarded with questions all the time and me and most of the others in the game we only call u a noob not because were being rude its because were tired of all the questions. its not a personal thing and it in no way effects the gameplay or experience.
"...and it in no way effects the gameplay or experience."
Bullsh**!
Of course it effects the game experience, and yes, it IS rude. Such negative greetings can turn you off to a game instantly. There is no need to be rude when you don't want to answer questions from newbies. If you don't feel like answering questions, respond with "Sorry, I'm busy." or "I don't know, try asking someone else." or some other polite rejection.
...and since it's an interesting tidbit:
Look: "you are a noob" and "sorry I'm busy" both contain 11 letters...that means you can just as easily type something nice instead of being a jerk without any extra hassle on your part. So why not be polite?
Hmmmm, hope they give their new game a customer support team. Hey, maybe they can give them the one they dismantled from RS! And I agree, it doesn't take any more typing ability to be polite. Players like you are why I keep my chat off.
Things began to change for the worse I think when Iddison became CEO, people who talk in terms " business and subscription models to drive consumer engagement" and "Infinitly scalable infrastructures" probably have little idea of how such games run and how players interact. The geezers even trying to flog a RS book now.
The recent quest 'A first resort' had an annoying NPC that spoke using similar terms, wonder if it was a Jagex staff member taking the rise out of him?
my little brother is 6 years old and he plays runescape. he cant type so he doest say anything.
my account has been locked iv been w8 3 day's on my acount please unlock it i wanted 2 chnge my email address plz unlock it i'v put 2 years into it
I am a high level who is really angry with how i am being treated on this game. I have been hacked and appealed. appeal is now green zoned which is fine. however i cant get to play on my account so sent lock appeal 1.5hours ago....and i still cant get anywhere! i have been hacked on 10diffrent occasions on other accs and dont wana have to start again! please sort!!!! or lose me and my 130 frends from ur game for good!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am ex member and was going to be one again btw!
i can twait to see what the new game is
i just hope they do not make runescape2 like rsc and completely cut it off when nextscape comes out that would blow
I am an mmo player and older than dirt. I played RS for 5 years with 6 of my family memebers...We all quit when they took away the ability to share items in the game. I enjoyed RS very much, love the concept. I think quests are ok but you had such a diverse number of options to do in the game. So I am very sad that I can't play the game as I knew it. The whole object of playing RS was so my family members in other states and I could do something together in the evening. We helped each other all the time...January came and zip it was taken away...Sniff...Goodbye RS...I will try the new game and see how it is!
"I've had bad experiences after trying Runescape. Starting my first quest in the game, I asked other players around me where to find things or how to work the mill only to be called a noob and given no answer to my question. I'm guessing only 8-10 year olds play the game due to the fact they discriminate against newer players. I'm learning to steer clear from these types of games which attracts youngsters."
fyi that is only in f2p wrlds
The reason the player base drops is because of A) The crowd is getting younger which is what put some of my friends off of the game. As we were getting older (only 16-17 at the time), we were growing tired of having what we said censored to a ridiculous degree because of the young crowd and B) Jagex's overly zealous policy of banning accounts for simple things.
there is a rs 2 its what it is now and im a lvl 111 and i looove to help low lvls out so i find that offencive
oh yeah if you need help on rs plz just ask ill be happy to help
ps.i just got my full dragon im so stoked!!!! :P
i miss pking baaad!!! and wth is with them taking out player drops i saw some1 in full dragon (with a dfull helm!!!!!)and a zammy godsword he died from poison !!! he didnt drop any gosh darn thing!!!!!!!he lost the gs and the full helm and noone else was there!! it would have been miiiiine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!im maaad give me my full helm and zammy gs he came back to get saying he dropped them but he got nothin back either!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i wanted that dragon full helm and zammy gs soooo baaad!!!
whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!! waaaaaaaaaaaah!!! i would have been riiiiiiiiiiiich
richer than zezima!!!!! well not that rich but riiiich!!!! i could have sold full helm and gotten berserker neclace and ring of stone and and and and *sob*
dude i know your pain
im bored is anyone acctually here or am i alone?
im just gonna talk to myself then
did anyone have a simular expereance?
im all alooooone!!!!!!
Ive been playing for years... with brief breaks...
biggest was taking out dueling / Pking.. and replacing it with that lump of **** affectionatly known as clan war arena.
Level 133 in Runescape and love the game, I hope Mechscape is as good :D
**** Jagex! I have had an account open since the beginning of Runescape called Peepshow4354, and it was perma-banned and insta-banned just a few days before last Christmas because I said "2 Girls 1 Cup" in the middle of the GE. Like I ****ing saw the video at that time! I was told to watch it, and I was asking what it is! 7 or more years into a ****ing account for that bull**** to happen to me! **** you Jagex, Andrew Gower can go suck a fat ****!
Well, I don't think I'm going to play the new game that jagex is developing. Since jagex took away the wildy I lowered in time very badly In playing Rs. Only because they Remade Pvp and I love clanning so much Im still playing. Still I would't encourage anyone for trying out the new game. Hope you guys can enjoy it!
Bartjuh
i personally think that jagex/makers of runescape should bring back the wilderness (pk). every since it was takin off the game i lost mos of my interest in the game. if there should be any major player drop it would be because of that.i started playing runescape in the 6th grade; i am currently in the 11th and some of the changes that jagex are making in the game are stupid. thx peace out!
I personally think Runescape got ruined after jagex took out the wild, staking, and now the trade limit? cmon, let's be realistic.. thats what brought people in. The game basically sucks now.
I personally think Runescape got ruined after jagex took out the wild, staking, and now the trade limit? cmon, let's be realistic.. thats what brought people in. The game basically sucks now.
I love Runescape just the way it is. I hated wildy due to pkers, so I'm glad it was taken away and they were given a world where it's consensual pvp. Only reason player dislike it the way it is now is because they had it so good for too long. Time for a new generation of players.
ok...i still play rs but usually there are alot of girls who play? so it is not mainly males from 8 to 18
and there are old ppl like 40 who play
but this is the biggest crap i've heard from jagex
released in march 2009?? it's april 28th 2009 almost a whole month behind the release date...
and honestly
rsps are getting more people to play then jagex is
think of it
they say so many accs have been made
but think
how many of those ppl already own an account?
lol a jagex mod quoted the following while i was woodcutting today
"runescape in my opinon is going to fail because of the new ceo, he never tells the mods or admins what they are doing"
For some reason ive installed java and jagex and runescape is still not working for me, and i get so frustrated because that is the only game i like and play.
I have been talking with some of my friends on runescape and we think that the trade limited sould olny be for non-friends because we friends was helping each other out with money and the mest up rule happen. We are all mad about it and like i said that rule should not work if you are friends.
