17th February 2009 - Wilderness and Real-World Trading Q&A

[Fudgy999]

Following on from Mark Gerhards responses to some of your questions, Andrew has written his answers to questions about the Wilderness and real-world trading.

 

 

 

Q) 10 Mill 4 Why did you remove the wilderness?

 

A) I didnt want to change the Wilderness, but unfortunately there really was no choice. It was a case of either doing that or suffering even worse consequences down the line. Theres a very detailed explanation of the events and reasoning that led to the changes here.

 

 

 

Q) Andr987 - Would you classify removing the wilderness as a mistake?

 

A) This is a question I have asked myself over and over again over the last year.

 

 

 

But even after a whole year of thinking about it, and asking: Should I have done it differently? we still havent come up with a better remedy.

 

 

 

It really was the only solution. I genuinely believe that if we hadnt acted when we did that RuneScape wouldnt exist anymore. The botting, RWT and credit card fraud problem was growing rapidly. If we hadnt taken action, then it would have gone beyond any possible remedy. Given a further year without action, RuneScape today would be in far worse state than at the height of the RWT problem. There would be bots everywhere you looked, and thats assuming we hadnt gone bankrupt from credit card fines and our hard working players leaving because the game lost integrity and they couldnt access resources. If I could go back in time a year, I would make the same decision again. (Although I certainly would have implemented PvP worlds BEFORE making the other changes, I do think that we launched the PvP worlds far too late.)

 

 

 

Q) Vader7666 - Any chance you guys can admit to ruining the game by removing the wilderness and adding the trade limit?

 

A) See answer above. I dont believe we ruined the game, I believe we saved the game and ensured a future for RuneScape.

 

 

 

Q) Fishaddock - are you going to bring back the wild?

 

A) The wild still exists. If you head north from Edgeville you will find it is still there :), I assume what you really mean to ask is are you going to bring back PvP?. In which case I would say: We already have! Over the last year we have released a huge amount of PvP content in response to this request. Updates like: Bounty Hunter, Duel Tournaments, Fist of Guthix, Stealing Creation, PvP worlds and Soul Wars. There is more PvP than ever. Even then we dont consider it done. Lots of the games can (and will) be further improved.

 

 

 

Of course having said that, we DO need to make content for our non-PvP players as well! Over the last year a huge percentage of our development effort has gone into PvP content, and its not fair to neglect our non-PvP players. We are going to keep working on PvP, but the future focus will be on improving and tweaking the PvP games we have already made. We really appreciate the feedback you have been giving us on how to improve these games and make them feel like a good upgrade. Weve noticed some pretty good suggestions already coming through in the recent questions threads, and are seriously considering these now. Personally, Im particularly keen to make the Duel tournaments work better as they have been a bit disappointing.

 

 

 

Q) Heavenlyevil - Do you intend to remain 'strong' and prevent RWTers from ruining the game despite people constantly requesting the Wilderness to be 'returned'?

 

A) Absolutely.

 

 

 

Q) Kiper1 - What else will be done to combat Real World Trading (such as using junk to transfer gold between accounts, or people using bounty hunter to transfer money)?

 

A) I dont consider junk trading a problem. I am actually quite happy that it is making those junk items perceived as more valuable. It doesnt allow real-world trading, but does let people do the trades they want. I see it as a good thing! Bounty Hunter is going to be further tweaked.

 

 

 

Q) Xxx R4ng3d - Bring Wildy back, it hasn't stopped RWT at all has it!?

 

A) Whilst there is still some RWT going on (and probably always will be), RWT is now MASSIVELY reduced. In terms of stopping RWT, what we did was a huge undeniable success - botting, RWT, and credit card fraud are all at some of the lowest levels I have ever seen. Indeed, it was even more successful at reducing the problem than I had hoped for. There is still some, of course, and we have ongoing work to do to keep closing loopholes. We still ban people for botting and RWT, and are going to be upping the action we take against the few remaining culprits shortly.

 

 

 

Q) Stonepiloit3 - Doesn't RWT even help profits of RuneScape? This is a theoretical assumption, but I'd guess about 75% of all good items worth RWTrading would be members, making money for Jagex in members subscriptions. And really, less then half of the people in RuneScape can afford/want to buy items like that.

 

A) Unfortunately not. The fact that many of the gold sellers used stolen credit cards means it had the exact opposite effect. Sadly, they didnt just stop at breaking the game rules, they also broke real-world laws.

 

 

 

Q) Eb737 - what propositions for change have you got for the trading system?

 

A) There is nothing huge planned at the moment. We will of course be keeping an eye out for ideas on how to make it even better, (but never such that it allows RWT.)

 

 

 

Q) Samrulz432 - You have bought a type of pking back called pvp, but many people would like pvp to just be in the wild. you could also have worlds where it is worldwide pking, and a couple with just wild pking?

 

A) I like this idea :) Ill discuss this with the content team in more detail.

 

 

 

Q) Examine Nut - Is there a way to swap money from one account to another and not break rules?

 

A) No.

 

 

 

Q) S0ul 0n Fire - Why is the 10%+5 included in the wildy,on pvp servers?

 

A) We wanted to keep the mechanic where the wilderness is a more dangerous place, and where the deeper into the wildy you go the more dangerous it gets. So whilst it is 10%+5 on most the map, as you go into the wildy it gets more dangerous still.

 

 

 

Q) Pure Ftw Kai - Can you bring back the old Staking rules?

 

A) We cant bring back the *exact* old staking rules without reintroducing all the problems we originally set out to remedy. However we can hopefully still improve duelling a bit. Im particularly keen on improving the Duel Tournaments, which are supposed to give the high excitement, high reward that staking gave, but I admit they arent working quite right at the moment and need revisiting.

 

 

 

Q) Crycket - will we ever be able to give our friends presents again?

 

A) Well, you can already give your friends small presents, but not huge ones. The assist system was also intended to be a way people can help their friends. Im also looking for more ways that people can help (and surprise) each other as long it as cant be abused. One idea Im currently mulling over is a way that we can let our players who organise in-game events give prizes to the winners. Ive got a few ideas on how we might do that, but it needs more thought yet.

 

 

 

Q) B4w13 - Will you be improving PvP, full drops and more wilderness features!

 

A) Yes we will be improving PvP.

[Mil]

More questions and answers! Should be good...

[evil_mumm_ra]

Q) Crycket - will we ever be able to give our friends presents again?

 

A) Well, you can already give your friends small presents, but not huge ones. The assist system was also intended to be a way people can help their friends. Im also looking for more ways that people can help (and surprise) each other as long it as cant be abused. One idea Im currently mulling over is a way that we can let our players who organise in-game events give prizes to the winners. Ive got a few ideas on how we might do that, but it needs more thought yet.

 

 

 

i'm still excited about what they do. i hope andrew does a good job with it.

[Mil]

Hmm, it didn't seem to be very interesting. Stating the obvious again.

 

I think they're just doing this to look as if they're acting more personal.

[Fudgy999]

Maybe the bringing back of player-organised events means we could give Spoils of War another shot, now I am 99 construction I could make a even more challenging dungeon >: )

[Kimberly]

Just read through it all...

 

 

 

All of it is rehashed stuff from countless comments over the years jam-packed into one news post that, once again, no one will ever reference in the future.

 

 

 

Q) Kiper1 - What else will be done to combat Real World Trading (such as using junk to transfer gold between accounts, or people using bounty hunter to transfer money)?

 

A) I dont consider junk trading a problem. I am actually quite happy that it is making those junk items perceived as more valuable. It doesnt allow real-world trading, but does let people do the trades they want. I see it as a good thing! Bounty Hunter is going to be further tweaked.

 

 

 

I [bleep]ing knew it. I KNEW that's why no one got rid of junk trading. Well there you have it guys, they're happy with a broken GE system because it allows players to circumvent the trading limits. What I've--and others--have been saying for ages.

[obfuscator]

Good to know they are answering more questions. I can't say I was particularly surprised by any of the answers though.

[SwreeTak]

It's great to hear that Andrew think there has been very much focus on the PvP part of the game and that he and Jagex will now focus on more non-PvP things in the game. I have never been much of a PvP and I still most likes the PvE and skilling parts of RS. Also, a bit out of the topic, I think it's great that Andrew answers some questions. I, and many other RS players, never hear like anything from him, so it's great that he shows himself a bit. After all, he's the creator of this huge game. And he pwns \ :thumbsup: .

[obidiah]

Hmm, it didn't seem to be very interesting. Stating the obvious again.

 

I think they're just doing this to look as if they're acting more personal.

 

 

 

 

 

Obvious to you and I maybe, quite clearly not obvious to the hordes of RSOF users who keep asking such questions over and over again ;)

[@Dan3HitU]

Poor Mark having to answer practically the same questions over and over :(

 

 

 

They should just make a news post saying "PvP is staying like this, if you don't like it play another game" to be honest.

 

 

 

Edit: or even better, just ban all the rioters and moaners.

[das]

Junk trading is legal.

 

 

 

Guess I will go back to merchanting without feeling I am breaking rules now.

 

 

 

 

 

Great post.

[T. Skill]

Poor Mark having to answer practically the same questions over and over :(

 

 

 

They should just make a news post saying "PvP is staying like this, if you don't like it play another game" to be honest.

 

 

 

Edit: or even better, just ban all the rioters and moaners.

 

 

 

It was actually Andrew answering the questions not Mark.

 

 

 

I [bleep] knew it. I KNEW that's why no one got rid of junk trading. Well there you have it guys, they're happy with a broken GE system because it allows players to circumvent the trading limits. What I've--and others--have been saying for ages.

 

 

 

Hopefully this will at least cut down on the number of "Is junk trading good or bad?" topics. :pray:

[Racheya]

I've heard it all before really, predictable answers but nice that Andrew is taking the time to answer the questions at least :)

[la la la]

I've always wondered why, if credit card fraud seems to be the main problem for RWT, they haven't taken out credit card payments and switched to prepaid cards, paypal, etc. This would take care of the credit card fraud issues, and while it may be slightly more difficult or expensive to pay, I am sure it is a much better alternative to the RWT measure taken today.

[Racheya]

I've always wondered why, if credit card fraud seems to be the main problem for RWT, they haven't taken out credit card payments and switched to prepaid cards, paypal, etc. This would take care of the credit card fraud issues, and while it may be slightly more difficult or expensive to pay, I am sure it is a much better alternative to the RWT measure taken today.

 

 

 

I expect some parents wouldn't be as willing to use something like Paypal and Prepaid cards are hard to distribute. I know my mum wouldn't use paypal (not that she pays for my RS anyway) and I wouldn't be able to have a membership if it was Paypal only since I sort of... screwed up... my paypal... thing... and I can't use it :wall:

[Golvellius]

"Kiper1 - What else will be done to combat Real World Trading (such as using junk to transfer gold between accounts, or people using bounty hunter to transfer money)?

 

A) I dont consider junk trading a problem. I am actually quite happy that it is making those junk items perceived as more valuable. It doesnt allow real-world trading, but does let people do the trades they want. I see it as a good thing! Bounty Hunter is going to be further tweaked."

 

 

 

Disappointing and short sighted.

 

Real world trading was always about imbalanced trading.

 

Now, you can buy from any GP site a 3rd age item, spirit shield, or other frozen item at trade price.

 

Junk up at 1mil+/hr easy, and get your gold.

 

Sadly the solution is so simple, its ridiculous.

 

Never release rare items again.

 

Too bad they are blind to the fact that they have done just that with 3rd age and spirit shields.

[Makoto_the_Phoenix]

So junk trading isn't perceived as a problem then. They know more about the inner workings of the GE/economy moreso than I do, so I suppose I'll have to accept it...grudgingly...

[Artemis1330]

Q) Kiper1 - What else will be done to combat Real World Trading (such as using junk to transfer gold between accounts, or people using bounty hunter to transfer money)?

 

A) I dont consider junk trading a problem. I am actually quite happy that it is making those junk items perceived as more valuable. It doesnt allow real-world trading, but does let people do the trades they want. I see it as a good thing! Bounty Hunter is going to be further tweaked.

 

 

 

For everyone that ranted about junk trading being wrong and illegal.

 

 

 

As for using bh to transfer, I see no reason why bh shouldnt get the same drops style as pvp worlds, only on a much looser scale. Meaning, if you pk someone with full dharoks, or a godsword, or ahrims/karils, you should get a fwe pieces of that set.

 

 

 

I can't wait for a fix for duel tourneys. I love how they are now, but sadly I am one of the few. When they do fix it, hopefully every single top 5 person gets taken off the list, all they did is cheat their way there anyeay. Same goes for the BH highscores.

 

 

 

Anyway, so far this has been the Q&A I enjoyed the most.

[Sam]

Junk trading isn't seen as a problem?

 

 

 

Where is the world going :wall:

[demby123]

I\\'ve always wondered why, if credit card fraud seems to be the main problem for RWT, they haven\\'t taken out credit card payments and switched to prepaid cards, paypal, etc. This would take care of the credit card fraud issues, and while it may be slightly more difficult or expensive to pay, I am sure it is a much better alternative to the RWT measure taken today.

 

I agree. #-o

 

I was going to make suggestion like this after finding out what happened after the updates were put in place,but i never got to it.It wouldn\\'t get much atention anyways. :|

[pryomancer]

Ha, brilliant. He's taken a load of stupid questions from stupid people and answered them properly, sure showed those idiots.

[Sindarin00]

I've always wondered why, if credit card fraud seems to be the main problem for RWT, they haven't taken out credit card payments and switched to prepaid cards, paypal, etc. This would take care of the credit card fraud issues, and while it may be slightly more difficult or expensive to pay, I am sure it is a much better alternative to the RWT measure taken today.

 

 

 

This won't work, you can just buy prepaid cards with stolen credit cards.....

[diib]

"Kiper1 - What else will be done to combat Real World Trading (such as using junk to transfer gold between accounts, or people using bounty hunter to transfer money)?

 

A) I dont consider junk trading a problem. I am actually quite happy that it is making those junk items perceived as more valuable. It doesnt allow real-world trading, but does let people do the trades they want. I see it as a good thing! Bounty Hunter is going to be further tweaked."

 

 

 

Disappointing and short sighted.

 

Real world trading was always about imbalanced trading.

 

Now, you can buy from any GP site a 3rd age item, spirit shield, or other frozen item at trade price.

 

Junk up at 1mil+/hr easy, and get your gold.

 

Sadly the solution is so simple, its ridiculous.

 

Never release rare items again.

 

Too bad they are blind to the fact that they have done just that with 3rd age and spirit shields.

 

All this accomplishes is swapping junk for gold. Well

 

Junk is a form of currency.

 

Junk = gold !

 

read this line closely

 

I am actually quite happy that it is making those junk items perceived as more valuable.

 

The very fact that junk trades happen gives the junk its value.

 

 

 

So all your hypothetical RWTer does is earn lots of coins (disguised as junk) and turn them into normal coins.

 

 

 

Your argument only makes sense if you can earn much more junk per hour than coins per hour. I am convinced this is not the case, though i'm open to hear counterexamples.

[miracleman58]

Q) Examine Nut - Is there a way to swap money from one account to another and not break rules?

 

A) No.

 

 

 

I lol'ed and i dont know why :-#

 

 

 

Andrew steppping up to the plate now MMG showed him up answering a million questions :lol:

[Sy_Accursed]

This postt was rather dull.

 

 

 

Simply because AALLLLLLLLL the questions that the RSOF noob asked on this topic are the same old questions that have never been directly answered but all have 100% obvious implied answers from the development diary on RWT.

 

 

 

Hopefully now they have been given direct answers people will let it go and accept what we have been told.

 

 

 

Personally I'm waiting with excitment for the other teams and quesitons on other content as they were alot more interesting