Tag: Transformers Universe

Transformers Universe Q&A with David Nicholson


transformers

Jagex has released a new question and answer session on Transformers Universe with Vice President David Nicholson. Check it out in its entirety below.

• How have you found the fan response to the Transformers you’ve created for the game?

(Laughs) Well, being able to design and implement our own TRANSFORMERS could have been a double edged sword, especially when it comes to the fans and their respect and love for the TRANSFORMERS brand. We’re really pleased, the fan response has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s obviously a huge honor, privilege and responsibility to introduce new characters into the TRANSFORMERS universe. Throughout development we’ve worked very closely with Hasbro, sharing our initial thoughts and ideas, taking on board their feedback and working within the existing Transformers canon.

• Can you talk about the process of creating new Transformers, and why you felt it was important to generate new ones for the game?

The actual task of introducing new characters starts with research. Hundreds of Transformers already exist across movies, TV shows and books, so we want to make sure we’re not overlapping with something that’s already in place. After that, it becomes a collaborative process between the creative team and the concept team as they start working up concepts, and develop initial thoughts on names biographies and backstories for the characters. It’s an exhilarating process! We’re really excited about the characters that we’ve created, and can’t wait for players to get their hands on them.

• Where did you take inspiration for the type of game Transformers Universe is?

MMOs have been a growing genre for many years now and it’s been interesting to watch the transition from traditional MMORPGs through to MOBAs and on to war games like World of Tanks. We don’t like being pigeon-holed and feel that Transformers Universe, as a blend of strategic, tactical and collaborative game play is best described as a multiplayer online tactical action (MOTA) game. There’s huge competition out there for people’s attention, from games, films, TV, books and more, and we think Transformers Universe can really stand out because not only is it Transformers, and millions of people around the world have grown up with this brand for 30 years, but we’ve got a game that, irrelevant of the brand attached to it, stands on its own merits. The game plays to many strengths. It offers players the chance to collect these great Transformers warriors and lead them into battle; it lets you go head to head against players from around the world; and it features game modes that suit your style of play. Ultimately, who doesn’t like huge robot warriors that can kick ass and who also have fantastic and growing back stories. It’s the perfect mechanical storm!

• Can you talk a bit about the background of the story and how that was created?

We’ve been able to build on established lore and really take Transformers Universe off in a unique direction. Narrative will be an important part of Transformers Universe and the way gamers play it will impact on how the story develops. We’ve worked very hard with Hasbro on building out the storyline for Transformers Universe, and as part of that we’ve added award-winning music video and feature film director, Alex De Rakoff, to the team to help establish tone and narrative for the game too.

• What are your future plans for rolling out content?

Obviously our current focus is on delivering a great product for launch. We are using the beta period to get feedback from real players and understand what’s working for people and what isn’t. After that we’ll be more open about our future plans. We’ve got plans for content updates, significant narrative events that are really going to steer the story and a pipeline of numerous bots that players are going to meet post-launch. But, at the moment, the focus is all about the here and the now, and that means releasing a product that is worthy of the TRANSFORMERS brand as well as being worthy of the fans loyalty and patience.

• How does the pricing structure work for the game?

Transformers Universe will be free-to-play and content will not be gated by a subscription. If you’ve got the time then you’ll be able to get everything you want without spending a penny. We want players to experience the best of what we’re offering, while allowing those that are a little more time constrained the option of getting into the experience a little quicker.

• Are you hoping to pick up fans of the movies with the release coming this summer?

Firstly, and I say this from the perspective of being a TRANSFOMERS fan, it’s going to be a bumper summer for people like me! It’s completely serendipitous that the film and Transformers Universe are released within the same time frame. There is very little content or story overlap between the film and the game. That said, the fact that there is another movie hitting the screens at a similar time as Transformers Universe is being played, can only bode well for both the hardcore fans and the more casual observers. You can enjoy the movie experience and then come home, log on and continue the adventure in the comfort of your own home

Transformers Rolls Out Founders Packs


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Transformers Universe has finally unveiled its founders packs for gamers who want to hop on pre-launch, and the prices are rather expensive. All bundles include a title and inclusion in the “founders honor roll,” likely another term for credits on the website. The cheapest bundle starts at $45 and includes $30 worth of cash shop money and 60 days of the season pass which includes a new warrior and consumable each month, 25% increased experience, and 10% discount on the store.

The most expensive package includes 18 launch warriors, $250 in cash shop currency, one year of season pass content, a number of in-game items, and a limited run figurine, and will run you $450.

(Source: Transformers Universe)

Transformers MOTA Set For Summer Launch


transformers

Jagex’s Transformers Online, or “Not RuneScape” as I have referred to it in the past, has admittedly struggled in its development. Originally announced in 2011 for a 2012 release date, Jagex announced at the back end of 2012 that Transformers Online would be completely repurposed as a MOBA-style game and released in 2013. Why? Because Transformers don’t bake bread. As you might expect, this ground-up rebuild meant that the game would not make its 2013 release either.

In a news post released yesterday, Jagex announced that Transformers Online is primed and ready for a Summer 2014 release.

So here’s the big news. We are 100% set to launch Transformers Universe this Summer, and will be progressively inviting an ever-widening portion of the BETA community to enjoy the game before opening it to the rest of the world this summer!

The internal release date set for Transformers Universe is June, as stated by a Jagex employee on the official forums.

(Source: Transformers Universe)

Jagex Remaking Transformers Universe Within Six Months?


autobotnames

Back when Jagex announced that Transformers Universe was taking a full 180 degree spin and transforming itself from a traditional MMO into a League of Legends style MOBA, I removed it from our listings. After all, we don’t cover MOBA titles here and a recent poll showed that the majority of you have no interest in us changing that policy. I’ve talked a lot in the past about how Jagex has massive problems with their non-RuneScape titles, with literally every in-house project either dead in the water (Funorb) or never seeing release (8Realms, MechScape, Stellar Dawn), with the exception of a Facebook racing game called Carnage Racer released last year.

Enter Transformers Online, an MMO announced in 2011 for a 2012 release date, delayed for over a year, and the subject of a 100% makeover from MMO to MOBA because Transformers do not fish or bake bread. Eurogamer is reporting today that Jagex has confirmed that the Transformers Universe team has been scaled back, noting that most of those affected were moved over to RuneScape with thirteen being let go from the company entirely. The game will not be “adversely affected” from these changes, and the move comes from a recent decision to stray away from in-house technology in favor of an established engine. The article notes concerns from employees within the company as to the sudden change over to unfamiliar technology, and pressure from Hasbro to get the game out by the end of the year.

So where do we stand now? With the change in direction, and now a sudden tech swap barely six months before the intended release, what could possibly go wrong? My earlier predictions still stand: Either Transformers Universe will launch in a rushed and unfinished state, or Jagex will attempt to delay it further and risk incurring the wrath of Hasbro.

(Source: Eurogamer)

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"


In the Jagex family you really only fit into one of two categories: RuneScape and Not RuneScape. What is the difference, you ask? Well, the RuneScape category is successful and the “Not RuneScape” category is not.

1. FunOrb Was Abandoned And Left For Dead

As per numerous Jagex posts on the RuneScape forums, Funorb is discontinued and no longer supported. Not only did Jagex abandon Funorb when the service wasn’t as profitable as they had hoped, there was never an official announcement that development had ceased. Instead Jagex whisked the Funorb developers silently, without informing anyone that development had ceased, and moved the entire team over to 8Realms. To this day, the Funorb website still does not display any indication that the service has been discontinued, unless you count that the latest news post is dated 2010.

Funorb still runs today, likely because there are still a small number of people who still hold on to the service and the website probably costs very little to keep running, but it is fully discontinued and has no moderators working on it. To top things off…

2. 8Realms Never Launched…

A second blow to Funorb fans. 8Realms was supposed to be Jagex’s first in-house game developed on a platform other than Java, not to mention Jagex’s first developed game to feature a fully functioning cash shop that offered real advantages to throwing large sums of money. I gave a quick hands-on impression of 8Realms, and while the game was enjoyable, it carried a fatal caveat: regular server wipes. In all, the game was one giant race to the end, and whenever someone made it to the end, the entire server was wiped and everyone started again.

For a game attempting to coerce players into opening their wallets for those delicious gems, 8Realms was set to be a very expensive experience. One with little payout, considering only one player could actually win and then all of your money spent was for nothing. In the end, 8Realms gathered a whopping ten percent of the income needed to stay afloat, and was trashed in beta.

3. Stellar Dawn/MechScape Show Woefully Substandard Community Relations

Having written this website for as long as I have, I am well acquainted with how MMOs are marketed: years ahead of time. Not only are these games in development for years before they are even announced, the announcement can take place two, often three or more years before the game ever hits store shelves. I even had a term for this: hype fatigue, to describe a point after a game is announced where interest wanes due to long development cycles. In the case of the MMO industry, where titles can and have been delayed well over a year, this effect is rather widespread.

When MechScape was under development, Jagex refused to talk about the game at all. Then-CEO Geoff Iddison would give an interview every now and then to reassure the community that the game would be out in 2008, and that the product they were creating was so great, it might even surpass RuneScape. For the length of its development up until the game was finally cancelled months after its intended launch date, not a single screenshot or video capture of the game was released to the public. Jagex refused to talk about more than concepts and vague promises, and ultimately the game was canned (and possibly so was Geoff Iddison) for not living up to expectations.

MechScape was cancelled to the tune of tens of millions of dollars, and in its place Stellar Dawn was born. In their announcement in 2009, Jagex stated that not only would Stellar Dawn succeed where MechScape failed, it was ready for release in 2010. I hope you see where I’m going with this. Following in the tradition of its predecessor, and proving that Jagex had learned nothing from the lack of communication with its community (or the press) about MechScape, Jagex silently worked away on Stellar Dawn throughout 2010, pausing in July to launch the official website with a “coming 2011” banner. At this point, Jagex had already announced Transformers Universe for a 2012 launch date, leaving me asking: Does Jagex even care about Stellar Dawn?

Well, 2011 came and went without a single video clip, screenshot, or the kind of details you might expect from an upcoming MMO (or any other release), and in March 2012 we finally learned that Stellar Dawn has been put on developmental hold so Jagex can focus on their other products. In fact, Jagex’s communication over Stellar Dawn was so poor that the official website displayed a “coming 2011” banner well into 2012 before the game was put on pause.

4. Transformers Universe Is Following The Same Path

I have to say, I have more optimism for Transformers Universe, and I will explain why: Third party IP holders. This isn’t Stellar Dawn or MechScape or Funorb, or 8Realms where Jagex owns everything surrounding the game and can develop and release to their heart’s content. Oh no, Transformers Universe means contractual obligations. Hasbro is the master and Jagex is the humble servant, making sure that the game is developed in a manner that is approved, on a timeline that is approved, and ready for launch by a date that is approved.

I said the same thing with the company being run by investors: 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.

Mark Gerhard recently interviewed with Develop Online, where he mentioned that the company was abandoning its “hobby” projects and giving serious focus to its current and future titles. Good. All it took to reach this conclusion was two failed MMOs, one failed MMORTS, one failed games portal, and one CEO.

Jagex’s Problem With “Not RuneScape”


In the Jagex family you really only fit into one of two categories: RuneScape and Not RuneScape. What is the difference, you ask? Well, the RuneScape category is successful and the “Not RuneScape” category is not.

1. FunOrb Was Abandoned And Left For Dead

As per numerous Jagex posts on the RuneScape forums, Funorb is discontinued and no longer supported. Not only did Jagex abandon Funorb when the service wasn’t as profitable as they had hoped, there was never an official announcement that development had ceased. Instead Jagex whisked the Funorb developers silently, without informing anyone that development had ceased, and moved the entire team over to 8Realms. To this day, the Funorb website still does not display any indication that the service has been discontinued, unless you count that the latest news post is dated 2010.

Funorb still runs today, likely because there are still a small number of people who still hold on to the service and the website probably costs very little to keep running, but it is fully discontinued and has no moderators working on it. To top things off…

2. 8Realms Never Launched…

A second blow to Funorb fans. 8Realms was supposed to be Jagex’s first in-house game developed on a platform other than Java, not to mention Jagex’s first developed game to feature a fully functioning cash shop that offered real advantages to throwing large sums of money. I gave a quick hands-on impression of 8Realms, and while the game was enjoyable, it carried a fatal caveat: regular server wipes. In all, the game was one giant race to the end, and whenever someone made it to the end, the entire server was wiped and everyone started again.

For a game attempting to coerce players into opening their wallets for those delicious gems, 8Realms was set to be a very expensive experience. One with little payout, considering only one player could actually win and then all of your money spent was for nothing. In the end, 8Realms gathered a whopping ten percent of the income needed to stay afloat, and was trashed in beta.

3. Stellar Dawn/MechScape Show Woefully Substandard Community Relations

Having written this website for as long as I have, I am well acquainted with how MMOs are marketed: years ahead of time. Not only are these games in development for years before they are even announced, the announcement can take place two, often three or more years before the game ever hits store shelves. I even had a term for this: hype fatigue, to describe a point after a game is announced where interest wanes due to long development cycles. In the case of the MMO industry, where titles can and have been delayed well over a year, this effect is rather widespread.

When MechScape was under development, Jagex refused to talk about the game at all. Then-CEO Geoff Iddison would give an interview every now and then to reassure the community that the game would be out in 2008, and that the product they were creating was so great, it might even surpass RuneScape. For the length of its development up until the game was finally cancelled months after its intended launch date, not a single screenshot or video capture of the game was released to the public. Jagex refused to talk about more than concepts and vague promises, and ultimately the game was canned (and possibly so was Geoff Iddison) for not living up to expectations.

MechScape was cancelled to the tune of tens of millions of dollars, and in its place Stellar Dawn was born. In their announcement in 2009, Jagex stated that not only would Stellar Dawn succeed where MechScape failed, it was ready for release in 2010. I hope you see where I’m going with this. Following in the tradition of its predecessor, and proving that Jagex had learned nothing from the lack of communication with its community (or the press) about MechScape, Jagex silently worked away on Stellar Dawn throughout 2010, pausing in July to launch the official website with a “coming 2011” banner. At this point, Jagex had already announced Transformers Universe for a 2012 launch date, leaving me asking: Does Jagex even care about Stellar Dawn?

Well, 2011 came and went without a single video clip, screenshot, or the kind of details you might expect from an upcoming MMO (or any other release), and in March 2012 we finally learned that Stellar Dawn has been put on developmental hold so Jagex can focus on their other products. In fact, Jagex’s communication over Stellar Dawn was so poor that the official website displayed a “coming 2011” banner well into 2012 before the game was put on pause.

4. Transformers Universe Is Following The Same Path

I have to say, I have more optimism for Transformers Universe, and I will explain why: Third party IP holders. This isn’t Stellar Dawn or MechScape or Funorb, or 8Realms where Jagex owns everything surrounding the game and can develop and release to their heart’s content. Oh no, Transformers Universe means contractual obligations. Hasbro is the master and Jagex is the humble servant, making sure that the game is developed in a manner that is approved, on a timeline that is approved, and ready for launch by a date that is approved.

I said the same thing with the company being run by investors: 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.

Mark Gerhard recently interviewed with Develop Online, where he mentioned that the company was abandoning its “hobby” projects and giving serious focus to its current and future titles. Good. All it took to reach this conclusion was two failed MMOs, one failed MMORTS, one failed games portal, and one CEO.

Jagex Opens New Studio: New Game In Development


Develop Online reports that Jagex has opened a new studio outside of Cambridge, according to CEO Mark Gerhard. There has been no information revealed about the project other than that it is a “very experimental game,” and that the UK developer remains committed to its focus on quality over quantity.

“We actually do already have a small studio outside of Cambridge, and that’s working on a very experimental game.”

More information will be coming within the next few weeks on the new studio and what they are working on.

(Source: Develop Online)

Does Jagex Have Any Enthusiasm For Stellar Dawn?


Stellar Dawn isn’t just an MMO that got me listed in Wikipedia, it is also the subject of a bit of controversy. Back in 2008-2009, then CEO Geoff Iddison stated that then-named MechScape was virtually complete and that we would see a public closed beta sometime in late 2009 with a release in 2010, following a previous announcement that the game would be done in 2009. In late 2009, new CEO Mark Gerhard announced that MechScape had been taken to the shed and shot, citing the company’s dissatisfaction with the game’s quality. Much of the game, including its engine, would be reused in Stellar Dawn, a similar yet different MMO set to release in 2011.

Jagex has been pretty adamant about the 2011 launch date, even up to swearing that the title will release this year. Despite that, we know extremely little about how Stellar Dawn will function, outside of knowledge that some features from the dead MechScape may or may not be pulled over. There also hasn’t been any in-game footage released, no screen shots aside from concept art, and the company has been very hush on features and gameplay aspects. Compare this to the press surrounding Guild Wars 2, The Old Republic, and really any other game coming out this year, and the silence is deafening.

On second thought, compare that to Jagex’s other title: Transformers Universe. Not set for release until an unnamed date in 2012, Transformers Universe has had far more exposure than Stellar Dawn. With multiple trailers, Jagex even appeared at BotCon and GamesCom to show off the character customization tool that players will use to create their Autobots/Decepticons.

Reportedly the game is in internal alpha, so the end result is still up in the air. I still can’t get past the idea that a game coming out later this year has had so very little revealed about it.