People recently asked me how I found out about MechScape in the first place, so I thought I'd share my story.
On the 25th of September 2007 I was looking at the profiles of Jagex employees on a business networking site and noticed one belonging to Oscar G which referred to "developing content for a new MMORPG, from the makers of http://www.runescape.com". It didn't provide me with the MechScape name, but piqued my interest enough to get me to look into it further. I mentioned this to a few friends on MSN at the time, but didn't feel I had enough verifiable evidence to be believed.
As well as looking at the profiles of other employees, I searched Google long and hard to find as many former and past employees of Jagex as I could to see if any mentioned working on a new MMORPG. Through this process I found John S and Thoams W, who both also claimed to have worked on some new Jagex MMORPG project (this led to the information that it was a space MMORPG and involved vehicles). But alas, none of these employees gave a specific name for the game.
The other part of my research revolved around trademarks, and through looking at the UK, EU and US trademark sites I managed to get a name (MechScape) and, later, a logo. By searching for this name on the Internet I found two old posts about it from different sources, both claiming that they'd heard from a Jagex employee (directly or indirectly) that they were making a futuristic RuneScape-like game called MechScape, but the responses they got were mostly dismissive due to lack of evidence.
As far I can tell the first public post regarding MechScape was made in May 2007. The user claimed that a J Mod had told them that a game called MechScape would be "a whole new RPG, as a sister RPG to Runescape", and the poster provided domain names and trademark information to support their claim. The second post was made in June from a different user who apparantly stumbled upon the trademark and didn't know anything about what the game was. The third post was from early September and claimed that they had heard from a Jagex accountant that Jagex were "making a futuristic version of rs", but provided no proof to back up their assertion. Apparently there was also some website which mentioned MechScape and this was taken down by Jagex, but I have no evidence or information regarding this - it does not appear to have been a fansite.
The final thread of my research involved going through a majority of Jagex's old and current job vacancies to find references to a space MMOPRG. This revealed they were advertising for people to work on an "undisclosed project", that they wanted people who had a general interest in sci-fi and anime (a lot of anime features big robots / mechs).
By the 22nd of October 2007 I decided I had enough information to prove it was real, and so posted a thread about it on my old forum. The following day I started the first MechScape fansite and wrote about it on Wikipedia. Since then, the results of my research has been posted all over the Internet, often unattributed.
Full Version: How I got my initial information
and the fansite would be this?
or a different one?
or a different one?
The fansite was MechScape Central which was used as the basis of MechScape World.
Thank you that explains a whole lot on how you the know the game so well. =)
how is the wikipedia page going along?
how is the wikipedia page going along?
Well, seeing as the MechScape article was deleted on Wikipedia its only the MechScape heading on the Jagex article at the moment. And since they don't like original research its generally a case of waiting until it is announced by Jagex or covered by the mainstream media.
Oh I see .
Isnt there another major site like that you can post stuff like that?
Isnt there another major site like that you can post stuff like that?
Yes, MechScapeWorld.com ;)
Oh haha. Touche.
So you were one of the first people who found out about mechscape?
whoa it looks like you found out about mechscape a lot earlier than all of us
QUOTE (Arain @ Mar 26 2008, 08:38 PM) 
So you were one of the first people who found out about mechscape?
QUOTE (Arain @ Mar 26 2008, 08:39 PM)
whoa it looks like you found out about mechscape a lot earlier than all of us
Of course some Jagex employees knew way before me. A few other people posted about MechScape prior to me posting about it (mostly claiming to have heard about it from a Jagex connection), but as they didn't do the research and provide convincing evidence to back up their claims people basically discounted their assertions and it didn't for far.
Thats very interesting. But I have a question ren. About how long did it take you to find this info? I mean its crazy how much you figure out within a couple months.
QUOTE (supakilla @ Mar 27 2008, 12:12 AM)
Thats very interesting. But I have a question ren. About how long did it take you to find this info? I mean its crazy how much you figure out within a couple months.
Dunno, at least 10 hours. I literally had to identify every Jagex employee with an online presence (which is tricky as Jagex don't even list employee names and Jagex employees are advised not to advertise that they are staff) and check out everything they'd said to see if it mentioned MechScape. Although I never posted it anywhere (IIRC), I did manage to also find a person who referred to a friend who worked as a concept artist for Jagex drawing robots during my research.
ren is a very clever person =)
I've always wondered but never took time to ask you, Ren.
On Mechscape Central (http://mechscape.googlepages.com/) under the "Will Mechscape be set in a Runescape Universe?" you mention the Gielinor Tribune - how'd you find that?
On Mechscape Central (http://mechscape.googlepages.com/) under the "Will Mechscape be set in a Runescape Universe?" you mention the Gielinor Tribune - how'd you find that?
QUOTE (unorclan @ Mar 26 2008, 05:50 PM)
I've always wondered but never took time to ask you, Ren.
On Mechscape Central (http://mechscape.googlepages.com/) under the "Will Mechscape be set in a Runescape Universe?" you mention the Gielinor Tribune - how'd you find that?
On Mechscape Central (http://mechscape.googlepages.com/) under the "Will Mechscape be set in a Runescape Universe?" you mention the Gielinor Tribune - how'd you find that?
Thats the same thing I wanted to know I posted a thread asking about what the story line should be.=)
QUOTE (unorclan @ Mar 27 2008, 01:50 AM)
I've always wondered but never took time to ask you, Ren.
On Mechscape Central (http://mechscape.googlepages.com/) under the "Will Mechscape be set in a Runescape Universe?" you mention the Gielinor Tribune - how'd you find that?
On Mechscape Central (http://mechscape.googlepages.com/) under the "Will Mechscape be set in a Runescape Universe?" you mention the Gielinor Tribune - how'd you find that?
I read the article prior to discovering MechScape and remembered it (not sure where I found it, tip.it perhaps). When I thought it could be relevant I Googled neoscape runescape and found it again.
so what does that mean?
QUOTE (Ren @ Mar 26 2008, 06:04 PM)
I read the article prior to discovering MechScape and remembered it (not sure where I found it, tip.it perhaps). When I thought it could be relevant I Googled neoscape runescape and found it again.
Oh I see, just wondering since I'm the Manager of the Gielinor Tribune.
Just thought I'd point out that it is now over a year since I discovered MechScape. MechScape Central's birthday is less than a month away.
QUOTE (Ren @ Sep 28 2008, 10:53 PM)
Just thought I'd point out that it is now over a year since I discovered RuneScape. MechScape Central's birthday is less than a month away.
Since you discovered MechScape, you mean.
Happy 1st birthday on finding that information and happy almost 1st birthday on the site. 
QUOTE (Psioptics @ Sep 28 2008, 11:07 PM)
Since you discovered MechScape, you mean. Happy 1st birthday on finding that information and happy almost 1st birthday on the site.
Happy 1st birthday on finding that information and happy almost 1st birthday on the site. True, I started playing RuneScape in early 2001.
QUOTE (Ren @ Sep 28 2008, 05:09 PM)
True, I started playing RuneScape in early 2001.
Whoa, I always thought I was "Old" when I claim I started in 2002 (at age 10). Ren, you're probably one of the most dedicated RS/MS players/Forum members I have ever had the pleasure to meet. This is a very nice example of your work.
Just remember, this is the forum that Ren created. He created this forum because he wanted to inform the world of his finds, and to compare resources with all who so care. Good Job Ren, and Happy 1st!
Cheers!
QUOTE (Ren @ Sep 28 2008, 10:53 PM)
Just thought I'd point out that it is now over a year since I discovered MechScape. MechScape Central's birthday is less than a month away.
Well done Ren.
It's a shame you hardly get credit for the information you have found over this year.
QUOTE (mike470 @ Sep 29 2008, 02:41 AM)
Well done Ren.
It's a shame you hardly get credit for the information you have found over this year.
It's a shame you hardly get credit for the information you have found over this year.
Indeed. Well a big Cheers for you mate
Ren does get credit. He's the most respected staff member in the community, that's for sure. MSW wouldn't be here without Ren, and I'm absolutely delighted that with all the disappointing changes, Ren still remains an admin.
Lolol @ Andrew though. Spending time with the community in IRC, he should do that more often, but no, the poor guy is rolling around in the money nowadays, isn't he. Too busy for us little people now.
Lolol @ Andrew though. Spending time with the community in IRC, he should do that more often, but no, the poor guy is rolling around in the money nowadays, isn't he. Too busy for us little people now.
lol Dean, thats what happens to many people when given lots of money. Well done Ren, and MSW on (almost) making it to its first birthday.
QUOTE (Ren @ Mar 25 2008, 07:28 PM)
frostguy recently asked me how I found out about MechScape in the first place, so I thought I'd share my story.
On the 25th of September 2007 I was looking at the profiles of Jagex employees on the LinkedIn business networking site and noticed one belonging to Oscar Gillespie which referred to "developing content for a new MMORPG, from the makers of http://www.runescape.com". It didn't provide me with the MechScape name, but piqued my interest enough to get me to look into it further. I mentioned this to a few friends on MSN at the time, but didn't feel I had enough verifiable evidence to be believed.
As well as looking at the LinkedIn accounts of other employees, I searched Google long and hard to find as many former and past employees of Jagex as I could to see if any mentioned working on a new MMORPG. Through this process I found John Seru and Thoams Woode, who both also claimed to have worked on some new Jagex MMORPG project (this led to the information that it was a space MMORPG and involved vehicles). But alas, none of these employees gave a specific name for the game.
The other part of my research revolved around trademarks, and through looking at the UK, EU and US trademark sites I managed to get a name (MechScape) and, later, a logo. By searching for this name on the Internet I found two old posts about it from different sources, both claiming that they'd heard from a Jagex employee (directly or indirectly) that they were making a futuristic RuneScape-like game called MechScape, but the responses they got were mostly dismissive due to lack of evidence.
As far I can tell the first public post regarding MechScape was made in May 2007. The user claimed that a J Mod had told them that a game called MechScape would be "a whole new RPG, as a sister RPG to Runescape", and the poster provided domain names and trademark information to support their claim. The second post was made in June from a different user who apparantly stumbled upon the trademark and didn't know anything about what the game was. The third post was from early September and claimed that they had heard from a Jagex accountant that Jagex were "making a futuristic version of rs", but provided no proof to back up their assertion. Apparently there was also some website which mentioned MechScape and this was taken down by Jagex, but I have no evidence or information regarding this - it does not appear to have been a fansite.
The final thread of my research involved going through a majority of Jagex's old and current job vacancies to find references to a space MMOPRG. This revealed they were advertising for people to work on an "undisclosed project", that they wanted people who had a general interest in sci-fi and anime (a lot of anime features big robots / mechs).
By the 22nd of October 2007 I decided I had enough information to prove it was real, and so posted a thread about it on my forum at the Unofficial Andrew Gower Archive. The following day I started the first MechScape fansite and wrote about it on Wikipedia. Since then, the results of my research has been posted all over the Inernet, often unattributed.
On the 25th of September 2007 I was looking at the profiles of Jagex employees on the LinkedIn business networking site and noticed one belonging to Oscar Gillespie which referred to "developing content for a new MMORPG, from the makers of http://www.runescape.com". It didn't provide me with the MechScape name, but piqued my interest enough to get me to look into it further. I mentioned this to a few friends on MSN at the time, but didn't feel I had enough verifiable evidence to be believed.
As well as looking at the LinkedIn accounts of other employees, I searched Google long and hard to find as many former and past employees of Jagex as I could to see if any mentioned working on a new MMORPG. Through this process I found John Seru and Thoams Woode, who both also claimed to have worked on some new Jagex MMORPG project (this led to the information that it was a space MMORPG and involved vehicles). But alas, none of these employees gave a specific name for the game.
The other part of my research revolved around trademarks, and through looking at the UK, EU and US trademark sites I managed to get a name (MechScape) and, later, a logo. By searching for this name on the Internet I found two old posts about it from different sources, both claiming that they'd heard from a Jagex employee (directly or indirectly) that they were making a futuristic RuneScape-like game called MechScape, but the responses they got were mostly dismissive due to lack of evidence.
As far I can tell the first public post regarding MechScape was made in May 2007. The user claimed that a J Mod had told them that a game called MechScape would be "a whole new RPG, as a sister RPG to Runescape", and the poster provided domain names and trademark information to support their claim. The second post was made in June from a different user who apparantly stumbled upon the trademark and didn't know anything about what the game was. The third post was from early September and claimed that they had heard from a Jagex accountant that Jagex were "making a futuristic version of rs", but provided no proof to back up their assertion. Apparently there was also some website which mentioned MechScape and this was taken down by Jagex, but I have no evidence or information regarding this - it does not appear to have been a fansite.
The final thread of my research involved going through a majority of Jagex's old and current job vacancies to find references to a space MMOPRG. This revealed they were advertising for people to work on an "undisclosed project", that they wanted people who had a general interest in sci-fi and anime (a lot of anime features big robots / mechs).
By the 22nd of October 2007 I decided I had enough information to prove it was real, and so posted a thread about it on my forum at the Unofficial Andrew Gower Archive. The following day I started the first MechScape fansite and wrote about it on Wikipedia. Since then, the results of my research has been posted all over the Inernet, often unattributed.
DUDE! you are a research god. Talk about following your intuition. WOW. Amazing story man. I feel honored to even be in contact with one of the first people to discover it. No doubt. I mean that.
-Content Writer/Editor
-Ace Clique 7
QUOTE (Ace Clique 7 @ Sep 30 2008, 05:04 PM)
DUDE! you are a research god. Talk about following your intuition. WOW. Amazing story man. I feel honored to even be in contact with one of the first people to discover it. No doubt. I mean that.
-Content Writer/Editor
-Ace Clique 7
-Content Writer/Editor
-Ace Clique 7
I think we all do Ace lol, it is true Ren has bought so much to this community, and without him I doubt we'd exist.
Wow, that was some story to read. Quite enjoyable to read aswell. Very interesting to see how something encourages others to work or create something out of that.
Thanks ren!
Thanks ren!
You have had alot of luck finding all that information...
I'm quite sure I wouldn't have been that patient you were!
Nice story!
I'm quite sure I wouldn't have been that patient you were!
Nice story!
Good to know that, I accually wanted to knwo how you got started with msw o.o
Wow it's like school... But more interesting
I enjoyed the story, all makes sense and well written.
You have went far doing all of this, Ren congratulations. Keep all the hard work up remember to have fun and put feeling into what you research.
Thank-You.
Your kind regards,
Glorification/Tupuc34
You have went far doing all of this, Ren congratulations. Keep all the hard work up remember to have fun and put feeling into what you research.
Thank-You.
Your kind regards,
Glorification/Tupuc34
Nice Ren, very interesting and it's good to see that you followed up on your brief findings to help bring this community here to us. There isn't many people who would go through all the work you did to find out about a future MMORPG like you did. Thanks Ren. :)
QUOTE
often unattributed
Feel sorry for you :( But hey, at least everyone here appreciates you!
QUOTE (Jess @ Apr 6 2009, 09:18 PM)
QUOTE
often unattributed
Feel sorry for you :( But hey, at least everyone here appreciates you!
Wow Ren you dug deep to find alot out about Jagex's upcoming game.
I doubt many people would know much about mechscape if it wasn't for you. You are a god :o
ah the origins = ]
Nice story and this shows that things cannot be secret lol.
And, this HAPPENED to occur 3 days after MyRune was hacked by Zybez? 
yes it really did. MSWorld, Ren, and everyone else here is in no way affiliated with any of those websites... except that we may use them as Runescape resources. And what does runescape have to do with rens MS research?
QUOTE (Aslancsc @ Nov 17 2009, 05:39 AM)
yes it really did. MSWorld, Ren, and everyone else here is in no way affiliated with any of those websites... except that we may use them as Runescape resources. And what does runescape have to do with rens MS research?
If I recall correctly, on October 28, 2007 MyRune was hacked by Zybez.com and Admin closed down the site, leaving a message linking us to the new Mechscapeworld.com
Why do you think I'm member #21? I googled this site?
lols, zybez, a runescape site, hacked a rival runescape site, and then linked to the veerrryy newly created and completely unafiliated website called Mechscapeworld?
I am not sure if I believe you, would need ren or someone else who was there to verify.
I am not sure if I believe you, would need ren or someone else who was there to verify.
QUOTE (Aslancsc @ Nov 17 2009, 06:44 PM)
lols, zybez, a runescape site, hacked a rival runescape site, and then linked to the veerrryy newly created and completely unafiliated website called Mechscapeworld?
I am not sure if I believe you, would need ren or someone else who was there to verify.
I am not sure if I believe you, would need ren or someone else who was there to verify.
This is when both MyRune and Mechscapeworld were owned by the same guy, Redfire. When Zybez hacked MyRune, Redfire left a link on MyRune telling all users to come here. Redfire wasn't very well liked...
wow, so the dark past is revealed? I suppose that ren was simply a co admin or something with redfire?
No, Ren owned MechscapeCentral, the predecessor to MechscapeWorld. Seeing as Ren had to concentrate on his studies at University (or something like that), he got someone else to be the admin. This person was Redfire. Redfire owned a multitude of other sites and he pretty much instructed all the users on each site to come here.
nice read. i figured they had just had the info and ren decided to make a site about it.
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