Jagex’s Problem With “Not RuneScape” Continues On


By the time you read this, Transformers Online will have already been delisted from MMO Fallout. To find out why, continue reading. Back in July, Mark Gerhard wrote about how Jagex is done messing around with pet projects (read: massive financial disasters) like 8Realms and FunOrb, and that the company would only focus on serious developments from there on out.

“I think to other projects, like 8Realms and things like that, I think that was one of the last hobby projects that we carried through, and obviously that was evident. Now it’s just working on the projects that matter.”

In order to continue on to Transformers Universe, we must first take a stroll down Jagex memory lane. RuneScape launched in 2001 and is a massive success and continues to bring in mucho dinero. FunOrb launched and was subsequently abandoned without even as much as a goodbye to the community. The FunOrb team was whisked away to 8Realms, which was also an unmitigated disaster of marketing and was canned mid-beta. Meanwhile on the serious MMO side of things, Jagex’s first true MMO after RuneScape was shuttered, twice, because a few years and countless millions are what it took before someone said “this isn’t fun.” First as MechScape and then as Stellar Dawn. As for Transformers Online, I noted:

“Jagex’s previous projects are a fine example that, left to their own accord, the company will screw around for a few years, waste countless millions and the good faith of their community, and eventually scrap the game entirely because it didn’t turn out fun. Nobody wins, not the developers who are laid off, not the community, and not the investors who expect their money to be spent wisely.”

So why isn’t Transformers Universe listed on MMO Fallout anymore? Simple: It is no longer an MMORPG. Jagex has announced that the game will be re-envisioned as a MOBA more along the lines of League of Legends or World of Tanks than the traditional MMORPG that Jagex has been leading us along with over the past year or so. Who do you have to thank for this? One Alex Horton.

“Transformers are about war; they’re about action. They don’t carry gold, bake bread, catch fish, cut down trees. But for all they take away, they throw open so many more opportunities. Maybe there’s more in a selection of characters and abilities, and the strategy in that, than there is leveling a character endlessly and going through fuck loads of boss battles.”

Rather than creating a character through the robust creation system Jagex had been showing off at conventions, players will collect Jagex-created robots and battle them out in a story-driven arena.

What has Jagex learned after all of this time? Judging by the sudden change of pace, nothing. According to the article, work only began in “in earnest” on Transformers Universe in early 2011, meaning Jagex was selling yet another MMO in which very little content was likely actually completed despite a very ambitious and unrealistically set launch date. Now, as with MechScape, we find out at the last minute that the game “just wasn’t working out,” and would be recreated in another form.

Like I’ve been saying the whole time, Transformers Online has a far higher chance of seeing release than Jagex’s in-house properties, and for another simple reason: Hasbro. Contracts and deadlines, both of which I can assume exist for Transformers Universe. Hasbro is risking its own money and reputation on the launch of Transformers Universe, and you can bet that we will see one of two outcomes: Transformers Universe launches, or Hasbro pulls the IP.

Of course this is just my opinion, I could be wrong.

(Source: Polygon)

Jagex's Problem With "Not RuneScape" Continues On


By the time you read this, Transformers Online will have already been delisted from MMO Fallout. To find out why, continue reading. Back in July, Mark Gerhard wrote about how Jagex is done messing around with pet projects (read: massive financial disasters) like 8Realms and FunOrb, and that the company would only focus on serious developments from there on out.

“I think to other projects, like 8Realms and things like that, I think that was one of the last hobby projects that we carried through, and obviously that was evident. Now it’s just working on the projects that matter.”

In order to continue on to Transformers Universe, we must first take a stroll down Jagex memory lane. RuneScape launched in 2001 and is a massive success and continues to bring in mucho dinero. FunOrb launched and was subsequently abandoned without even as much as a goodbye to the community. The FunOrb team was whisked away to 8Realms, which was also an unmitigated disaster of marketing and was canned mid-beta. Meanwhile on the serious MMO side of things, Jagex’s first true MMO after RuneScape was shuttered, twice, because a few years and countless millions are what it took before someone said “this isn’t fun.” First as MechScape and then as Stellar Dawn. As for Transformers Online, I noted:

“Jagex’s previous projects are a fine example that, left to their own accord, the company will screw around for a few years, waste countless millions and the good faith of their community, and eventually scrap the game entirely because it didn’t turn out fun. Nobody wins, not the developers who are laid off, not the community, and not the investors who expect their money to be spent wisely.”

So why isn’t Transformers Universe listed on MMO Fallout anymore? Simple: It is no longer an MMORPG. Jagex has announced that the game will be re-envisioned as a MOBA more along the lines of League of Legends or World of Tanks than the traditional MMORPG that Jagex has been leading us along with over the past year or so. Who do you have to thank for this? One Alex Horton.

“Transformers are about war; they’re about action. They don’t carry gold, bake bread, catch fish, cut down trees. But for all they take away, they throw open so many more opportunities. Maybe there’s more in a selection of characters and abilities, and the strategy in that, than there is leveling a character endlessly and going through fuck loads of boss battles.”

Rather than creating a character through the robust creation system Jagex had been showing off at conventions, players will collect Jagex-created robots and battle them out in a story-driven arena.

What has Jagex learned after all of this time? Judging by the sudden change of pace, nothing. According to the article, work only began in “in earnest” on Transformers Universe in early 2011, meaning Jagex was selling yet another MMO in which very little content was likely actually completed despite a very ambitious and unrealistically set launch date. Now, as with MechScape, we find out at the last minute that the game “just wasn’t working out,” and would be recreated in another form.

Like I’ve been saying the whole time, Transformers Online has a far higher chance of seeing release than Jagex’s in-house properties, and for another simple reason: Hasbro. Contracts and deadlines, both of which I can assume exist for Transformers Universe. Hasbro is risking its own money and reputation on the launch of Transformers Universe, and you can bet that we will see one of two outcomes: Transformers Universe launches, or Hasbro pulls the IP.

Of course this is just my opinion, I could be wrong.

(Source: Polygon)

Reviewing 2011’s Predictions: 2012 Edition


Omali's_House_2012_12_09-22_48_34

Every year I run predictions for the following year, and at the end of that year I review them to see just how correct I was. Often times, not so much. Regardless, I am a man of my word, and let’s go down the list of predictions I made at the end of 2011 for 2012.

  1. Free to play: Who couldn’t see this coming? More titles went free to play in 2012.
  2. WAR Will Die Like Galaxies: Hasn’t happened in 2012, technically still possible.
  3. Mists of Pandaria Sells Millions, Still Trashed: Correct on this one.
  4. Neverwinter Will Sell A Lot of Lifetime Subscriptions: This is when we still assumed Neverwinter would release this year. Save this one for next year.
  5. I’m Going To Get Sued: I called it, and once again I wish I hadn’t.
  6. The Number of MMOs Shutting Down Will Spike: I wouldn’t really call it a spike, although perhaps a spike in terms of notoriety of said MMOs.
  7. TERA Will Have A Similar Launch In The West: Lacking end-game content, filled with bots and abusive players, poor customer service, and merging servers within a year. Check.
  8. Guild Wars 2 Will Not Be The Messiah: See #1.
  9. Planetside 2 Will Not Spur Competition: I guess this is too recent to tell.
  10. Action MMOs Will Be Slammed As Clickfests: I claim correct on this one, given the feedback I’ve seen on TERA and RaiderZ as “true action combat” games.

Reviewing 2011's Predictions: 2012 Edition


Omali's_House_2012_12_09-22_48_34

Every year I run predictions for the following year, and at the end of that year I review them to see just how correct I was. Often times, not so much. Regardless, I am a man of my word, and let’s go down the list of predictions I made at the end of 2011 for 2012.

  1. Free to play: Who couldn’t see this coming? More titles went free to play in 2012.
  2. WAR Will Die Like Galaxies: Hasn’t happened in 2012, technically still possible.
  3. Mists of Pandaria Sells Millions, Still Trashed: Correct on this one.
  4. Neverwinter Will Sell A Lot of Lifetime Subscriptions: This is when we still assumed Neverwinter would release this year. Save this one for next year.
  5. I’m Going To Get Sued: I called it, and once again I wish I hadn’t.
  6. The Number of MMOs Shutting Down Will Spike: I wouldn’t really call it a spike, although perhaps a spike in terms of notoriety of said MMOs.
  7. TERA Will Have A Similar Launch In The West: Lacking end-game content, filled with bots and abusive players, poor customer service, and merging servers within a year. Check.
  8. Guild Wars 2 Will Not Be The Messiah: See #1.
  9. Planetside 2 Will Not Spur Competition: I guess this is too recent to tell.
  10. Action MMOs Will Be Slammed As Clickfests: I claim correct on this one, given the feedback I’ve seen on TERA and RaiderZ as “true action combat” games.

Age of Conan: Double The Free, Double The Play


RGA_conanbarbarian460

Were you excited when Age of Conan went free to play, and then dismayed when you found out the restrictions on classes and dungeons? Boy do I have good news for you. Apparently Funcom has rehired into the “give everything for free” department, as following the announcement of The Secret World becoming buy to play, Age of Conan has been updated to remove some of the restrictions from free players. Players will find that all classes have been unlocked, regardless of subscription status, and that free players can now accumulate up to ten gold. Additionally, all classic dungeons up to level 80 have been unlocked for free players.

(Source: Age of Conan)

Surprise! Asheron’s Call 2 Is Back Online


Asherons-Call-2-Legions-6-AEX3Y6EMW2-800x600

Here is one headline that I never thought I would see. Asheron’s Call 2 is back from the dead. In a post on the Asheron’s Call forums, Turbine has announced that the game is freely accessible (in beta) to current subscribers of Asheron’s Call.

Asheron’s Call 2 has returned! We have opened up a new server for anyone who has an active Asheron’s Call subscription to play Asheron’s Call 2 for free! Although we would have loved to revisit some of our old characters with you, we were not able to bring over any of your old characters. We do, however, present this new Asheron’s Call 2 server, Dawnsong, to all active Asheron’s Call players with a paid subscription or who purchase an ACTD retail key and subscribe.

Asheron’s Call 2 released in 2002 and was met with a lack of interest by the fan base and outside customers. As a result, Asheron’s Call 2 became something of the sequel that never happened, and shut down in 2005 despite Asheron’s Call still running (and doing so quite healthy) to this day. The resurrection is likely to gauge possible interest in bringing the game back entirely.

(Source: Asheron’s Call Forums)

Surprise! Asheron's Call 2 Is Back Online


Asherons-Call-2-Legions-6-AEX3Y6EMW2-800x600

Here is one headline that I never thought I would see. Asheron’s Call 2 is back from the dead. In a post on the Asheron’s Call forums, Turbine has announced that the game is freely accessible (in beta) to current subscribers of Asheron’s Call.

Asheron’s Call 2 has returned! We have opened up a new server for anyone who has an active Asheron’s Call subscription to play Asheron’s Call 2 for free! Although we would have loved to revisit some of our old characters with you, we were not able to bring over any of your old characters. We do, however, present this new Asheron’s Call 2 server, Dawnsong, to all active Asheron’s Call players with a paid subscription or who purchase an ACTD retail key and subscribe.

Asheron’s Call 2 released in 2002 and was met with a lack of interest by the fan base and outside customers. As a result, Asheron’s Call 2 became something of the sequel that never happened, and shut down in 2005 despite Asheron’s Call still running (and doing so quite healthy) to this day. The resurrection is likely to gauge possible interest in bringing the game back entirely.

(Source: Asheron’s Call Forums)

NCSoft Selling Off NC Interactive


ncsoft

Things are afoot over at NCSoft. According to Reuters today, the Korean publisher has announced that it will be selling off NC Interactive Inc, its online gaming branch. Is NCSoft going away in the west? Absolutely not. A follow up article on Reuters states that NCSoft has announced a wholly owned subsidiary that will handle business in the United States and Europe. The transaction will be taken care of on December 24th, to the cost of $50 million KRW. It appears that this is a simple business move by NCSoft to avoid paying some taxes in the US and Europe. Note I said avoid, not evade. One is legal, the other is not.

Otherwise, nothing major is set to come out of this, apart from a little rebranding. It occurs often in business, and as I pointed out, it is a tax trick.

City Of Steam Coming To Steam Greenlight


cityofsteam3

Name one thing City of Steam needs. If you said, I need City of Steam to be on Steam so I can play Steam while I’m on Steam, then may Cthulhu have mercy upon your soul. Announced today, City of Steam is making a bid to be on steam, with the goal of expanding its community, reaching a wider audience, and a general misunderstanding of what constitutes irony. As we’ve pointed out here on MMO Fallout, Steam Greenlight works pretty simply. A developer slips their game, along with a $100 bribe, under the doors at Valve Headquarters, and the game is listed for the community to vote on. Once the game becomes trending, Valve takes it into consideration as a possible release title.

Following the contemplation period, and a lengthy ritual involving the sacrifice of a Moogle to the great god Newell, a list of titles are announced as greenlit. To give players more reason to play through Steam, the folks at Mechanist Games are offering 7 extra pets, 3 new steambikes, 8 new dungeon types, many new hats, jetpacks, and extra customization options.

And just because:

(Source: City of Steam)

Funcom Follows Arenanet: The Secret World Is Buy To Play


jomali

Good news, bears. As of…now, The Secret World is buy to play for all. Like Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2, this means that all you have to do is purchase the client and you have full access to the game for as long as you desire (or as long as the game is up and running anyhow). This means all content in the original game, plus that in the first four DLC packs.

“Buy the game before December the 31st and all the content in Issue #5, which will be released shortly, will also be included and you will receive the Initiate Pack, which includes strong starter weapons, a Blood Raven pet and extra social clothing.”

Being a subscriber now offers extra bonuses, from a bonus experience item to $10 worth of Bonus Points monthly for the cosmetic cash shop, an item-of-the-month gift, and a 10% discount to everything in the store. Lifetime subscribers will receive a bonus 10% discount to everything in the store.

Since this is a transition to a new payment model, that means new items being added to the cash shop. Players will now be able to buy bonus AP potions which double ability point gain, as well as a run speed upgrade which works the same as the item that can be bought through the secret society. The first paid DLC will release in January for $5, but anyone who has purchased The Secret World before December 31st will receive it for free.

(Source: The Secret World)