Runescapes End?

[Youmu]

This Tuesday. They'll release some content that will surely cause "everyone" to realize that "runescape is dead".

The dead ones live longer, don't they say that often?

 

And about the topic at hand. Runescape is bound to be here for another 10 years at the very least, so don't expect it to "die" soon.

[langer]

This Tuesday. They'll release some content that will surely cause "everyone" to realize that "runescape is dead".

The dead ones live longer, don't they say that often?

 

And about the topic at hand. Runescape is bound to be here for another 10 years at the very least, so don't expect it to "die" soon.

 

 

Bladewing is probably just making fun of all the people claiming RS is now dead because of a weekly update... You will see claims like this almost every week.

[Youmu]

Bladewing is probably just making fun of all the people claiming RS is now dead because of a weekly update... You will see claims like this almost every week.

Oh riiiight... Runescape cycle, anyone?

1. Update is announced.

2. RSers bring up their hopes saying that RS will be "alive" again.

3. Update is released.

4. RSers' hopes fall rock bottom.

5. Rants come in mass in the rants forum, saying that RS is "dead" again.

6. Cycle repeats for following updates.

7. ???

8. PROFIT!!!

[langer]

Bladewing is probably just making fun of all the people claiming RS is now dead because of a weekly update... You will see claims like this almost every week.

Oh riiiight... Runescape cycle, anyone?

1. Update is announced.

2. RSers bring up their hopes saying that RS will be "alive" again.

3. Update is released.

4. RSers' hopes fall rock bottom.

5. Rants come in mass in the rants forum, saying that RS is "dead" again.

6. Cycle repeats for following updates.

7. ???

8. PROFIT!!!

 

Yeah something like that, but that gnome underpants meme is starting to get old...

[Fresi]

rs2 will die when rs3 comes (3d world that you can walk in, smell and feel for real)

and even then its still runescape ;)

face it, rs is a different and big game with lots of content, already out on the market, its hard to compete against it with new games ;)

[CheapMark]

I've played since 2004 (maybe 2005) and have seen RuneScape in many forms. The big wildy/pvp change was a big problem when it first occurred, and there were hundreds of topics across all fansite forums about the end of RuneScape. Look where it is now, 5 skills later, a very different game with a generation of newer players. Whilst this may have made the game worse in some peoples' eyes, it has also made it more enjoyable for some. The seemingly flexible game that RuneScape is means that it will be around for a lot longer, and will probably be condensed into a smaller, easier game somewhen near the end of it's useful life. But due to it being constantly updated, it makes it very hard for RuneScape to just stop completely very quickly.

 

I predict another good 5-10 years tbh, JaGeX will probably update it into a different game by that time though.

 

Well i'm off to go run around a dungeon now :)

[Asmodeous4]

In my opinion of recent updates etc., I'd say it will go "up" for 1 or 2 years and then decline over 3 or 4 years. I'm doubting another 10 years.

[Hajutze]

It can go up for a short period of time and then go down and die IF it's a hype-type of a game (Like Diablo 3 will be for example) but IMHO RS is more of a stable type so it might survive effortlessly for another 7-10 years.

[Carl]

I never see an end to RuneScape, in some way, shape or form it will always be around. I don't think it could ever get to the stage when everyone is "bored" of developing RuneScape, because there will always be plenty of fresh minds coming straight into the gaming business who will always have more to add.

 

Geoff Iddison said that it was their main focus for the next 5 years back in '08, that 5-year plan was scrapped when Mark Gerhard took over as CEO and there is no end that I can forsee as everything is simply positive that's coming from Jagex. They're working on other games, they're not removing staff from the RuneScape department to do that, they're employing new ones. I think that makes it clear that it won't "Die". Also, the OP said that currently they see it as "Skyrocketing", so have many others seen this, for several years now. A constant "Skyrocket", even in December of '07 -- people are still playing that "Quit" back then. :thumbup:

[qeltar]

"The report of my death is an exaggeration"

 

-- Mark Twain

[Slayer_Jesse]

 

"The report of my death is an exaggeration"

 

-- Mark Twain

QFT.

[Will H]

Somehow, it's further away from the end than it was two years ago. We're seeing the first real world Runescape developer public event, regular and sustained updates, the start of NPC voice acting (something that would take many years to complete alone), and general improvement. I'm happy for the game. :)

[Everyonedies]

Really with the way the internet and data storage has advanced i dont think runescape will ever "die" Only way i see Runescape ending is if many years down the line the player base has dwindled to under 10k world wide and Jagex(The Gowers) sells its brand name to another company to cash out their lifes work. And that company decides to pull the plug on the remaining servers. All this is at least 20+ years down the line at least. Plus i could see Andrew keeping Runescape running with his own money aslong as there were some people who still wanted to play it. And i just dont ever see a time when no one will want to play runescape.

[Creaphis]

There's a trajectory that MMORPGs typically follow. At first, the player base grows, as more players are attracted to a new and interesting game. During this phase, development is focused on attracting as many new players as possible, by giving them a vast and complex world to do stuff in. Eventually, however, population growth stops. From this point onward, development is focused on getting the people who are already playing the game to keep playing - the developers will release ever-more difficult bosses to fight, they will release better equipment for players to earn, they will increase level caps, etc. Nobody can stay interested in the same game forever, though, so the game's player population will shrink, as these old players get bored and leave, one by one. Finally, subscription fees no longer cover the costs of hosting and development, and the MMORPG is no more.

 

Runescape's population is no longer growing, and Jagex knows it, which is why they're making frantic maneuvers like putting "true skill mastery" for dungeoneering at level 120. This is an attempt to keep their old players grinding away at a near-impossible goal, and paying their subscription fees, for many months to come. However, that's not to say that Runescape is at death's door. Runescape actually enjoys several unique advantages that serve to extend its lifespan. For one, Runescape caters to a niche market by being, essentially, a highly advanced browser game. This game is very hardware-friendly, it can be played from just about anywhere, it's easy enough to learn, and you don't need to make any commitments to begin playing it. (To start playing WoW you need to buy the game data, and pay a hefty subscription fee; to play Runescape, you can just go to www.runescape.com.) These factors make Runescape attractive to the casual player - it's kind of like Habbo Hotel with monsters. Another thing that has helped to extend Runescape's life is how it has vastly changed in content, gameplay and style multiple times during its lifespan. (Compare the early forms of RS Classic to what we're playing now.) This has meant that, when one generation of players starts to get bored with this game, Runescape becomes another game, capable of attracting a new generation, or a different niche of players, allowing the cycle of growth to begin anew.

 

Runescape will eventually end, of course, because all things do, but I can guarantee that it won't end just because Jagex gets bored of developing it. The only sensible thing for them to do, business-wise, is to keep developing Runescape until it's finally no longer profitable, and it will only stop being profitable once the majority of the player base leaves. Note also that, if the majority of the player base has left by the time Runescape is ended, odds are that you'll have left as well, which means that the death of Runescape won't be something that concerns you. You'll probably be playing something else by then.

[rangeor]

Based purely on intuition, my belief is that it will diminish within the next five years. I could definitely be wrong though, and I kind of hope I am :P

[Will H]

There's a trajectory that MMORPGs typically follow. At first, the player base grows, as more players are attracted to a new and interesting game. During this phase, development is focused on attracting as many new players as possible, by giving them a vast and complex world to do stuff in. Eventually, however, population growth stops. From this point onward, development is focused on getting the people who are already playing the game to keep playing - the developers will release ever-more difficult bosses to fight, they will release better equipment for players to earn, they will increase level caps, etc. Nobody can stay interested in the same game forever, though, so the game's player population will shrink, as these old players get bored and leave, one by one. Finally, subscription fees no longer cover the costs of hosting and development, and the MMORPG is no more.

 

Runescape's population is no longer growing, and Jagex knows it, which is why they're making frantic maneuvers like putting "true skill mastery" for dungeoneering at level 120. This is an attempt to keep their old players grinding away at a near-impossible goal, and paying their subscription fees, for many months to come. However, that's not to say that Runescape is at death's door. Runescape actually enjoys several unique advantages that serve to extend its lifespan. For one, Runescape caters to a niche market by being, essentially, a highly advanced browser game. This game is very hardware-friendly, it can be played from just about anywhere, it's easy enough to learn, and you don't need to make any commitments to begin playing it. (To start playing WoW you need to buy the game data, and pay a hefty subscription fee; to play Runescape, you can just go to www.runescape.com.) These factors make Runescape attractive to the casual player - it's kind of like Habbo Hotel with monsters. Another thing that has helped to extend Runescape's life is how it has vastly changed in content, gameplay and style multiple times during its lifespan. (Compare the early forms of RS Classic to what we're playing now.) This has meant that, when one generation of players starts to get bored with this game, Runescape becomes another game, capable of attracting a new generation, or a different niche of players, allowing the cycle of growth to begin anew.

 

Runescape will eventually end, of course, because all things do, but I can guarantee that it won't end just because Jagex gets bored of developing it. The only sensible thing for them to do, business-wise, is to keep developing Runescape until it's finally no longer profitable, and it will only stop being profitable once the majority of the player base leaves. Note also that, if the majority of the player base has left by the time Runescape is ended, odds are that you'll have left as well, which means that the death of Runescape won't be something that concerns you. You'll probably be playing something else by then.

 

Although I agree with most of what you're saying, I don't entirely agree with you concerning the updates to keep people playing. It's simply the case that there are now very few possibilities for additional updates that Jagex could add to the 'newbie phase' of the game (Iddeson made sure of that), bar the generalised ones which potentially cover the entire game and will take many months/years to develop. They've just added NPC voiceovers to the Unstable Foundations quest a few days ago, and it's going to logically follow that they add NPC voiceovers to more beginner quests and areas and beyond. Graphical updates are also of a similar vein, but I don't think we are going to see another RSHD for a long time yet.

 

I believe that if Jagex keeps on working on getting rid of the misconception that RS is a game for children (RuneFest is a good breakthrough here), they might find a bigger, more mature audience and Runescape will continue to grow.

[Google90]

Runescape died when the trade limit was set in.

 

-Your friendly lurker

[Erichermit]

It's worth noting that Runescape likely has a special place for Andrew. This MMO is more than a game concocted for profit and success, it was originally made as a non-profit game for Andrew to play with his friends. Granted, it has changed drastically since those days, but I feel that Andrew will try to keep it online and running for as long as he possibly can.

[Star_Fox]

IF i recall from the previous Q&As, Jagex stated that they will try their best on making Runescape a "legacy". One of the questions was

if Runescape was capable of lasting up to a decade, 2 decades, or w/e and Jagex sounded confident that Runescape will last more

than 50 years (not likely to happen but who knows. :XD: ) so Im guessing that Runescape will not die off any time soon unless they

managed to tick their costomers even more like the constitution update.

 

You guys gotta admit that Runescape is a big success. we've gone from deviousMUD all the

way to hosting real life events. seriously.

[zotto]

I noticed how all the 7 and 8 year olds were introduced to runescape by friends in our immediate meighbourhood, including my own 7 year old son. A new generation of players is constantly created.

 

I guess the problems will start when the recruitment of new players ends up below the critical mass.

[everhappy111]

i love these charactors in the game .

[langer]

Runescape died when the trade limit was set in.

 

-Your friendly lurker

 

Sooo true... It died for many chinese players...

[Everyonedies]

IF i recall from the previous Q&As, Jagex stated that they will try their best on making Runescape a "legacy". One of the questions was

if Runescape was capable of lasting up to a decade, 2 decades, or w/e and Jagex sounded confident that Runescape will last more

than 50 years (not likely to happen but who knows. :XD: ) so Im guessing that Runescape will not die off any time soon unless they

managed to tick their costomers even more like the constitution update.

 

You guys gotta admit that Runescape is a big success. we've gone from deviousMUD all the

way to hosting real life events. seriously.

 

Yes but Runescape still has challenges to overcome that very few games can do forever.

 

Like someone prieviously said, weve left the massive growth stage, and have entered the keep the old players stage. Hence why the average total lvls get higher and higher now and there are much more 99's.

 

Jagex is going to have to get creative to create new growth or to keep the old players playing. Theyve been successful at doing this, the old players like you and me have acheivment diaries to do, new quests, and lvl 120 skill to get now.

 

If jagex stopped making updates today it would take years for most of us to get bored and quit.

 

However its an ongoing proccess and were sucked into it for a long time too.

Next year will be 1 decade and im sure 5 years from that Runescape will still be popular but add another 5 years to that and im not so sure. How does we as a player base know Runescape is no longer growing? Is this a fact someone has seen runescapes membership list ?? Or last years numbers vs. the previous numbers? Or is this just speculation?

[langer]

@ Ring

 

3 years ago there were loads more bots and gold farmers than you can witness today. The player base from 3 years ago was inflated and cannot really be compared truly.

[Obtaurian]

Runescape died when the trade limit was set in.

 

-Your friendly lurker

 

Sooo true... It died for many chinese players...

 

I lol'd.