Jagex, the powers that be? Not necessarily.

[ixfd64]

Being the company that develops the game, Jagex has more influence through anything, whether it be Zezima, a major fan site, or the gods of RuneScape themselves. Jagex can make any changes it wants, and it can create and destroy worlds at will. Since Jagex is a private company and not a government, it doesn't have to listen to players.

 

 

 

But here's the thing: as long as we follow Jagex's rules, we don't have to listen to what Jagex says. Unfortunately, most players are like sheep and eventually submit.

 

 

 

Here are some examples:

 

 

 

1. Whe Jagex launched the assist system, people were upset because it ruined work ethics. However, rants quieted down after Jagex removed some skills frmo the assist system. But here's the thing: no-one has to assist; there is no rule saying that a high-level player must assist a lower-leveled player. For all we care, the player may refuse the service or charge for it.

 

 

 

2. Jagex purposely tried to lower the price of rune essence with the pure essence update. Again, most players were like sheep. They simply lowered their prices, thinking that no-one would buy from them. The same goes for the Achievement Diary and the price of furies.

 

 

 

3. Jagex "killed" dueling, but there are trust stakes. With enough organization and leadership skills, it is something that can be pulled off.

 

 

 

However, suppose that sellers decided to band together and agree to not sell lower than a certain price. While price manipulation is against forum rules, it is not banned in-game. Theoretically, players could still keep prices high this way. In real-life, this is illegal in many jurisdictions, but it is often conceptually easier. In the real world, there are usually only a few major firms involved (an oligopoly), so it's easy for the firms to agree on a price. In RuneScape, it's going to take a lot of work to convince the tens of thousands of sellers to do the same.

 

 

 

Unfortunately, there are some things that players can't overcome. For example, with the infinite stock update, players will not be able to prevent others from buying from shops instead, so they will be forced to lower their own price.

 

 

 

Finally, Jagex's income depends on paying members. Theoretically, a boycott would force Jagex to change, but it would be nearly impossible unless Jagex did something that ticks off 99% of the players.

 

 

 

But on changes of small scales, such as prices and dueling, players can have the game work their way.

 

 

 

Finally, you might want to read the Tip.It Times article on emergent gameplay.

[JordanGM]

I understand what you're saying, but I don't really think that almost ignoring the updates would change much. Jagex would release newer updates which would attempt at bringing down prices or changing things. Eventually, most players would give in, and the very few left that would keep selling at a high price would be called 'idiots' and 'noobs'.

 

 

 

In my eyes, if Jagex doesn't get what they want, watch out.

[shotdown12]

I understand what you're saying, but I don't really think that almost ignoring the updates would change much. Jagex would release newer updates which would attempt at bringing down prices or changing things. Eventually, most players would give in, and the very few left that would keep selling at a high price would be called 'idiots' and 'noobs'.

 

 

 

In my eyes, if Jagex doesn't get what they want, watch out.

 

 

 

 

 

All of that is very true, but that Jagex WANTS change in runescape. Most of these changes have come from players. So the people that complain at some point shouldn't complain to Jagex, but to the players that suggests these ideas. Jagex wants the players to have a say in it, this is why they have update idea threads and polls in the fourm and on the website page, so that is what i see in my eyes, some players getting what they want, some that really.. just.. dont. Runescape isnt a mess, but you see, different people have different views on ideas.

[warren211]

Of course. If you can get every player in runescape to agree, of course we're more powerful. But is it an easy task? nope. trust stakes are basically having a flashing neon sign saying "scam here!"

 

 

 

Band together to manipulate prices ingame? might work for a while, then gets messed up when someone who cant get sales simply lowers their price by a tiny bit. everyone else is keeping their price higher, so who's gonna get the sale?

 

 

 

Getting the entire runescape community together is as hard as it is in real life. I'd say its a bit too ambitious.

[Huta]

Trust stakes are NOT going to happen.

 

 

 

If you can't trust somebody enough to stick around in a DM in edgeville, when they're risking maybe 100k, you are NOT going to get them to hand over that fury after they lose a duel.

 

 

 

Uh uh. Sorry, but no.

[Moonshadow]

Trying to get all the players in runescape to work together would be about as easy as stealing candy from a baby when the mom has a grenade launcher.