Tag: Jagex

Chronicle: RuneScape Legends Launches Single Player Campaign


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Jagex has unveiled the latest major update to Chronicle: RuneScape Legends, a single player campaign that tasks players with overcoming the Trials of Radimus. The update comes alongside the addition of new dynamic chapter environments as well as global/friend chat systems.

“We’ve been planning on giving players a solo campaign mode for quite some time, so we’re really excited to see how they perform in the Trials,” said James Sweatman, lead designer, Chronicle: RuneScape Legends. “The addition of Mac support is something we’ve been asked for since our summer launch, so it’s great to be able to open the Chronicle to more players. We’ve worked hard to ensure that Chronicle: RuneScape Legends is the complete CCG package.”

Chronicle: RuneScape Legends is a card game based in the same world as RuneScape, where players build decks of powerful monsters and equipment and set their adventurers loose to tell their own stories. The game is free to play, however those of you looking to get a bit of a start can grab a free foundation pack below courtesy of Jagex. The Foundation Pack normally costs $10 and includes 10 booster packs (50 cards total), 500 platinum ingots (premium currency), 1 exclusive card back, and 500 gem shards.

The Foundation Pack can only be applied once and our keys are limited, so we politely ask that our readers do not try to trick the system to take multiple packs.

[keys id=18032]

 

Jagex Plays Pivotal Role In New Publicly Listed Games Company


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Back in July, I reported that Jagex had been acquired by Chinese investors, and that the deal would mean the formation of a new company. Today, Jagex has finally unveiled that the acquisition is moving forward and that the new publicly listed company will be called Zhongji Holding. Rod Cousens, who took over as CEO after the departure of Mark Gerhard, will continue his role as CEO, Chairman, and member of the Board of Directors for the foreseeable future.

“Zhongji Holding has great ambition in the gaming space and Jagex is at the forefront of its charge. China is the biggest gaming market in the world and Zhongji Holding’s motivation in the sector will prove a compelling proposition for other gaming businesses seeking access to the region. While an integral part of Zhongji Holding’s plans, Jagex’s operations remain unchanged and its business as usual for our games, players and our employees.”

Also revealed in this statement is that Jagex’s 2015 revenues hit an all time high of $88.4 million with $36.1 million in profits.

(Source: Jagex Press Release)

Storage Wars: Buying A Banned RuneScaper’s Bank


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When players are banned from RuneScape, what happens to their bank accounts? Does the bank seize the items? Donate the food to some charity to help the children of all the town guards that players murder every day? Does the armor get smelted down and turned into building materials for new content? Or am I simply overthinking what is an otherwise meta concept?

At Runefest, Jagex unveiled Bank Bidders, an upcoming feature that will allow players to bid on a bank (go figure). Here’s the catch: Players have no idea what is in the account other than its age, what the account was banned for, and the current highest bid. That woodcutting bot might have very well been a legitimate player for twelve years and simply made the mistake of botting, his treasure trove might be yours to keep if the price is right.

It’s an interesting idea for a money sink, since no doubt most of the accounts banned will have very little value compared to what players might bid for them. We’ll have to see just what the more adventurous are willing to pony up when Bank Bidders goes live.

(Source: Runefest)

RuneScape Celebrates 250 Million Accounts


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As Runefest draws to a close, Jagex has announced a new milestone for their popular MMORPG RuneScape. Since its release fifteen years ago, more than 250 million accounts have been created.

In its 15th anniversary year, this month RuneScape hit a new and massively impressive milestone with its 250 millionth account created. Over its lifetime, RuneScape has seen real-life player weddings, united families that are spread across the world, and been an escape for discovery seekers. The 250 millionth account joins the ever-growing band of adventurers in Gielinor, which means it must be time to expand the game world significantly…

At Runefest, Jagex revealed upcoming plans for content release over the next couple years including massive expansions to be released every three months.

RuneScape Expansions will deliver a new sense of discovery and exploration more frequently with each expansion as big as 2014’s Lost City of the Elves, arriving on a single day, four times a year. It’s like Christmas coming every three months and it begins in June 2017 as the city gates of Menaphos are finally opened.”

Big plans are in store for the world of Gielinor over the next year, from gameplay-affecting dynamic weather to the release of the second part of the eastern lands, raids in Old School and campaign mode coming to collectible card game Chronicle: RuneScape Legends.

(Source: Jagex Press Release)

RuneScape: Embrace What You Know, Forget What You Don’t


There is more to the world, and Jagex is asking its players to embrace what they know and forget what they don’t with the unveiling of the Eastern Lands, a massive update coming to the long standing MMO. Players already have access to the islands at the western edge of the Eastern lands, and have been working for the past few weeks building a reputation in a land where no one knows their deeds. More zones will become available as players discover them.

The addition of the Eastern Lands was a key player-driven content decision; voted on by over 100,000 RuneScape players. Every year, RuneScape players are given the power to decide which content concepts are taken forward and realised in-game. The decisions made by the player collective can see characters die and geography reshaped as player-driven consequences alter RuneScape’s future.

RuneScape is currently at the tail end month of its Summer of Adventure.

(Source: Jagex press release)

Runefest 2016 Tickets Selling In Record Time


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Runefest, the convention of all things Jagex hosting in London, is coming fast: September 17th. As Jagex prepares to discuss upcoming updates to RuneScape, Chronicles, and their other products, the Cambridge-based developer wants players to be aware that tickets are selling out in record time. Events at Runefest include cosplay parades, challenges, Q&A sessions, a meet and greet, and more.

“We can’t wait to meet up with our fellow ‘Scapers at RuneFest 2016 as they join us for an intrepid celebration as RuneScape pushes new horizons. We’ll be showcasing the new frontiers of the Eastern Isles and announce some of new content heading to RuneScape in the year ahead,” said David Osborne, lead designer, RuneScape. “We’ll also be unveiling our plans for other games in the family, including Old School RuneScape and its ever growing popularity in the eSports sector, mobile versions ofChronicle: RuneScape Legends, and the upcoming 0.5-player game, RuneScape: Idle Adventures.”

More information about Runefest can be found here.

Jagex Acquired By Chinese Investors


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Jagex, the Cambridge-headquartered creator of RuneScape and Chronicle: RuneScape Legends finally announced their acquisition by Chinese investors, with a new Board of Directors being constituted immediately upon their purchase. The acquisition was first hinted at months ago after news broke that the developer was considering offers from Chinese iron mining company Shandong Hongda.

CEO Rod Cousens praised the acquisition for its offer of “visibility in China, which is now the biggest gaming market in the world.”

“Jagex will continue to be operated by the existing management team, which has overseen an impressive trading performance in recent times and has driven its iconic franchise, RuneScape to continued to growth. It will be business as usual for the Company, its players, and its employees post-acquisition.”

The news of the acquisition comes on the heels of what Jagex refers to as “best ever performance.” In addition to RuneScape and its Old School spinoff, Jagex is currently working on card game Chronicle: RuneScape Legends and an idle game based on the same series.

(Source: Jagex press release)

RuneScape Founders Return For Quest


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Fifteen years after they created RuneScape, the original trio of brothers – Andrew, Paul, and Ian Gower – have returned to the world of Gielinor with a new quest as part of the game’s year-long anniversary celebrations. Dubbed, somewhat inevitably, ‘Gower Quest’, the new mission sees players uncover the mystery of the disappearing cabbages for three familiar looking cabbage mages. Packed with nods and winks to vintage RuneScape memes and jokes, Gower Quest is a fond love letter from the game’s creators.

A free-to-play quest that enables the broadest range of players to experience the adventure and celebrate the game’s past and future successes, Gower Quest will take players through cabbage fields and beyond as they experience a tale that will warm the very cockles of their hearts. Featuring new rewards, including a brand new god sword forged in the name of the cabbage god, Brassica Prime, Gower Quest is like no other RuneScape quest!

“Bringing back the three brothers to help design a celebratory quest was simply fantastic, and we’re already seeing players contact us saying how nostalgic and wonderful Gower Quest is for them,” said David Osborne, lead designer, RuneScape. “We’re grateful to Andrew, Paul, and Ian for returning to RuneScape for one more occasion and being guest designers on the quest. Fifteen years is a phenomenal milestone to reach, so few MMORPGs have ever reached it, and fewer still while experiencing a resurgence in player numbers!”

“Without the Gowers, we would not have RuneScape and there would be no Jagex, so we were thrilled when they agreed to return to Jagex as guest quest designers for this celebratory adventure,” said Mark Ogilvie, design director, RuneScape. “I’ve been working on RuneScape for 14 years now, and I have many, many fond memories of working at the near-dawn of Gielinor and its lore. This quest harks back and pays homage to some key events and characters from across the history of RuneScape, and is the perfect way to celebrate its milestone anniversary.”

Chronicle: RuneScape Legends Hits Steam


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Free to play card game Chronicle: RuneScape Legends is now available on Steam. From the makers of RuneScape, Chronicle is a card game in which players build decks to create adventures for their characters to embark on, powering up their heroes over several chapters before finally taking on their enemy in one on one combat.

Initial reviews seem positive, with about an 87% approval rating.

Having spent the last six months in beta, Chronicle’s full launch on Steam brings with it new ranked sessions (the first of which is now live until 31st June) more than 400 cards, support for seven languages, over 40 Steam Achievements, Steam Trading Cards, and dozens of additional enhancements and improvements for the game’s full launch.

Interested gamers can check out Chronicle on Steam free.

(Source: Jagex Press Release)

Snapshots: Unsurprising Racism Edition


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If you caught our coverage of RuneScape’s latest ban controversy, you probably made a mental note of Jagex’s statement that a player was permanently banned for dressing up as a KKK member. Some of you may have wondered how it is possible to dress up like a klan member on RuneScape. Well, here’s your answer.

The outfit is apparently a combination of desert robes, a gnome hat, and a noose wand. Why does RuneScape have an equippable noose? For catching Kebbits, a part of the game’s hunter skill. Jagex, for their part, are generally quick to ban players for wearing such attire.

Less surprising is that players actively seek out these outfits, look in any corner of the internet and you’ll find a legion of desperate attention-seekers acting out and being as edgy as possible to get their fifteen minutes, with the genuinely racist members sprinkled somewhere in the crowd. Even less so the people who brazenly, and unconvincingly, attempt to play the ignorant card like they don’t understand why such conduct is looked down on.

(Credit for the image: NPC_2006 on Reddit)