If Dungeon Runners could be compared to any game on the market, you could probably stick it as World of Warcraft with a mix of Diablo, where players actively click to make their characters attack. Players do their trading and grouping in public hubs, and then go off to raid various dungeons of varying level, with varying groups of varying mobs. Where Dungeon Runners truly shined was in the slapstick humor and parody nature of the title. New characters are greeted by the Noobosaur, PvP is done in a town called Pwnston, and weapons and armor have exaggerated and outlandish titles (If I remember, there are mentions of seal clubbing in several weapons). The game runs on a freemium model, where players can pay a membership for benefits such as better drops.
So in a move that surprises no one, the announcement came yesterday that the title will be shutting down on New Years Eve this year, at midnight. Dungeon Runners fell to the same hurdle that brought down The Matrix Online, Tabula Rasa, and more; The game was simply not profitable anymore. The team that currently runs Dungeon Runners numbers at three, and isn’t up to the task of taking on the ridiculously expensive and risky steps that may, or may not, have saved the title.
But, those of you who are familiar with NCsoft’s method of shutting down titles will know that subscribers will not be going away without some compensation packages. Current subscribers will receive free copies of City of Heroes and Guild Wars Prophecies, as well as 30 day time cards for each. It isn’t Dungeon Runners, but in the words of Producer Steve Nichols; “it’s still frigging nice!”
Dungeon Runners marks the second title NCsoft will be closing down as 2009 progresses. If you’d like to enjoy Dungeon Runners while it lasts, you have about three months, during which the exp has been raised, drops are heightened, and there will undoubtedly be players giving their last goodbyes.
MMO Fallout 