Tag: Runescape

Companies House Proposes Striking Off Jagex Ltd.


jagex-games-studio

Update: I made a mistake in calling the fines “heavy.” The fine is actually about 750 pounds, which a company with Jagex’s income wouldn’t even notice.

The drama continues. Last week we talked about how Jagex is currently three months late on filing its annual financial statements. According to Companies House, Jagex was supposed to file its returns by September 30th, something which the UK developer has still yet to do going into the new year. I noted that while Companies House handles late filings on a case by case basis, and that companies like Jagex generally file late due to issues with third party accounting firms, that there are some potentially heavy consequences if the statements are not filed soon, including fines and charges against the executives and, in more serious situations, complete liquidation of the company. We can speculate all we like, however, but only one thing is clear: with the reason behind the delay shrouded in secrecy, all we know is that Jagex has still yet to file its reports.

Companies House has updated Jagex’s company status to “Active – Proposal to strike off.” What this means is that the registrar no longer views Jagex as actively doing business, given that the company is more than three months behind on sending in proper papers. The Companies House website notes that the proper procedure in dealing with an involuntary strike off is as follows:

Before striking a company off the register, the registrar is required to write two formal letters and send notice to the company’s registered office to inquire whether it is still carrying on business or in operation. If he is satisfied that it is not, he will publish a notice in the relevant Gazette stating his intention to strike the company off the register unless he is shown reason not to do so.

So is Jagex going to be shut down? All public signs point to no chance that Companies House would view one of the largest UK developers as no longer in operation, and that no one at Jagex is insane enough to ignore two letters from Companies House. What is more likely is that, should they still fail to turn in the proper documents, Jagex will likely be on the receiving end of some light fines. That is, before the wrath of very angry investors falls down upon their shoulders.

Thank you to the folks at Stellar Dawn Central for keeping a watch on the situation.

(Source: Companies House)

Jagex Still Yet To File Yearly Financial Statements


jagex-games-studio

Jagex is behind on their financial statements: Over two months. The UK based developer was required to submit its annual filing on September 30th, according to Companies House, something that they have yet to do heading into late December. Stellar Dawn Central, a fan website for Jagex’s recently indefinitely delayed MMO Stellar Dawn, posted a response from Companies House on what could result if Jagex does not file their annual income within a reasonable date:

“If a company files its accounts late they may be subject to a late filing penalty. However if a company fails to file an annual return (AR01), depending on the communication received from the company (or lack of it) the company can be removed by the Registrar (loses its limited liability status) or the directors could be prosecuted. This is a general response and each situation (company) is dealt with separately.”

This shouldn’t be taken as some sort of ulterior motive on Jagex’s part. Commonly the reason why annual filings would be delayed is due to an issue with the company and their third party accounting firms.

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)

RuneScape Reveals Festive Aura: 50% Bonus Exp Throughout December


Christmas is here in RuneScape, and that means another odd month of bonus experience. Jagex has been testing various forms of bonus experience over the past year or so, from lump sums to objects that double your experience (to an extent) but still require working on the skill. In August and September, Jagex offered a promissory note that offered over a million experience to players who remained members for the entirety of both months. The company has also dabbled in double experience weekends, perhaps the closest to industry standard.

Starting in December, players will receive an aura that will grant 50% bonus experience throughout the month. The restrictions are pretty complicated: The bonus experience goes into effect for the first 30 minutes you are logged in each day, or for the first 50k bonus experience you receive, whichever comes first. Additionally, there are all kinds of events happening in December that offer double loot.

Check out the announcement below for more details.

(Source: RuneScape)

This Week In Launches: Dual Wielding Shotguns


Happy days are here! November 20th has come and gone, and left us with a little early Christmas present. Over on the browser side, Jagex has finally unleashed the Evolution of Combat. After five months of strenuous beta testing, the update went live on servers Tuesday to some mixed but mostly positive reactions by the community. Along with the new ability bar (and abilities), Evolution of Combat overhauls the combat formula, changing the way everything from weapons, armor, and NPCs work. Players are now able to dual wield weapons as well.

Over on the Sony Online front, Planetside 2 is live and running. Players are fighting on three factions over three continents in an endless tug of war over territory control. You can download Planetside 2 on Steam for easier access, the game is free to play with a cash shop and optional subscription. Planetside 2 brings three factions and thousands of players together to fight in massive, multi-hour battles over large portions of land and resources. The game does require a decent computer to play, so make sure you check out the requirements if your rig is dated.

Finally, RaiderZ has launched today (the 21st). I have a review coming soon, but to sum it up: RaiderZ is a lot like a free to play version of TERA, with a few alterations to flavor thrown in the mix. A free to play game with a cash shop, RaiderZ emphasizes on action-based combat, where you’ll have to be active in dodging your opponent’s attacks and coming back with your own. The game is supported by a cash shop and published by Perfect World Entertainment.

Combat Evolves In RuneScape On November 20th


RuneScape’s Evolution of Combat has been in beta for five months, and is about to turn the eleven year old MMO on its head. While Jagex has made some small tweaks over the years to their combat system, the company announced earlier this year that they would be going back and completely overhauling how players fight monsters and each other. The new system trades in weapon-specific special attacks for a more familiar approach, gaining adrenaline during combat and using level-specific abilities. Just about every aspect of RuneScape’s combat system is being changed in this update.

When the update does go live, players will see immediately see a number of changes, from alterations to the game’s combat-level system to a dramatic shift in how the game calculates maximum HP. Instead of clicking and waiting, combat is being made more entertaining with the addition of hotbars, allowing for quick access to combat abilities, potions, and food via simple presses of the keyboard. Off-hand versions of weapons will allow for another brand new feature: dual wielding. Finally, every single NPC in the game has been altered to follow the new combat rules, including specific strengths and weaknesses, balancing the monster’s level to its power, and more.

(Source: RuneScape)

RuneScape’s Infrastructure Needs Work, Jagex Admits


Consider this a serendipitous moment. Jagex’s latest bonus experience weekend has come and gone, and it was certainly an eye opening event for the developer. While previous weekends ran as members only events with the experience bonus degrading over time, this weekend the event was open to everyone, at a flat rate all weekend. In fact, as Jagex points out in the weekend wrap-up, over 4.4 million hours were played collectively. Unfortunately for the players, the weekend of fighting, looting, farming, fishing, and cooking was held back by an uninvited guest. Players experienced great difficulty logging in over the weekend, and those who were able to log in were hindered by severe lag which lasted the entire weekend.

This level of activity was unprecedented, and at peak times some worlds experienced notable lag. The log-in servers also felt the strain, meaning that some users had difficulty logging in or switching worlds. While we kept everything running over the course of the 48 hours, we’re aware that this was frustrating to those of you who were affected.

Luckily, Jagex is treating this as a learning experience. As a result, the team is working hard to upgrade the game’s infrastructure and optimize the engine. And hopefully the next event will not face the same issues.

(Source: RuneScape website)

RuneScape's Infrastructure Needs Work, Jagex Admits


Consider this a serendipitous moment. Jagex’s latest bonus experience weekend has come and gone, and it was certainly an eye opening event for the developer. While previous weekends ran as members only events with the experience bonus degrading over time, this weekend the event was open to everyone, at a flat rate all weekend. In fact, as Jagex points out in the weekend wrap-up, over 4.4 million hours were played collectively. Unfortunately for the players, the weekend of fighting, looting, farming, fishing, and cooking was held back by an uninvited guest. Players experienced great difficulty logging in over the weekend, and those who were able to log in were hindered by severe lag which lasted the entire weekend.

This level of activity was unprecedented, and at peak times some worlds experienced notable lag. The log-in servers also felt the strain, meaning that some users had difficulty logging in or switching worlds. While we kept everything running over the course of the 48 hours, we’re aware that this was frustrating to those of you who were affected.

Luckily, Jagex is treating this as a learning experience. As a result, the team is working hard to upgrade the game’s infrastructure and optimize the engine. And hopefully the next event will not face the same issues.

(Source: RuneScape website)

Jagex: Just Kidding, Double Experience Is Fine With Us


Back in July, Jagex announced that they were through with double experience weekends. According to Mod Mark, the bonus experience weekends carried a negative effect on the game’s overall economy by encouraging players to hoard large quantities of raw materials, and the subsequent dump of finished goods on the market that followed. Since then, Jagex has supplemented double experience with items from Squeal of Fortune and quest rewards that grant double experience. Still, holding Jagex’s long term corporate policy to the post of a staff member may not be the most trustworthy source, since Jagex has a long habit of moving in the opposite direction of their statements.

Beginning the 27th until the 29th, members in RuneScape will enjoy a double experience weekend, with some heavy alterations to the formula. Unlike previous weekends, where the multiplier began at 2.7x and would slowly tick down over ten hours to 1.1x, the bonus experience starts at 2x and does not tick down over time. Additionally, non-members will also be able to get into the action, but will only receive a 20% bonus to their experience gain.

Additional double experience weekends are likely to come in the future.

(Source: XP FAQ)