Jagex, the developer of the popular free-to-play browser based MMO Runescape, is looking very good as they enter into 2009 with two of their best quarters behind them and a brand new game ahead. RuneScape has already been hailed as the largest free-to-play game in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records, featuring 1 million paying players and 5 million free players.

Besides giving Blizzard a run for "which company could fill a pool with money and swim in it," Jagex is also preparing a brand new MMO game, set in the confines of science-fiction and giant robots. MechScape, as the project is currently known, will feature deeper gameplay than its fantasy cousin to target a brand new audience. MechScape will be based from RuneScape's technology and will feature graphics of a higher caliber than RuneScape HD. You can look for much more information regarding this project in our GDC interview with Jagex, releasing tomorrow.

We've been hearing some new info this last week concerning Jagex and their latest MMO project. The company has enjoyed wild success so far with their free-to-play browser-based MMO RuneScape, and they hope to replicate that success with their sci-fi project entitled MechScape. We had the opportunity to sit down with a few members of the company's top development team for an interview during the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco to discuss this new project and the current state of the company.

So what is MechScape? Well, first off, it's important to note that MechScape is not the game's name, only the project's code name. It is a sci-fi MMO project that has been in development since 2006. Although it will be running on the RuneScape HD engine, Jagex is very determined to point out that this game will not simply be RuneScape in space. It will have its own mechanics, its own storyline and a planet-based, non-linear game experience unlike anything they've tackled before.

When the project was first conceived, the team started out by analyzing the current sci-fi MMOs and discovering why they weren't truly successful in the market. They discovered that these games were nothing more than fantasy mechanics dressed in a sci-fi wrapper. Having a set of skills that you level up through grinding is basically a fantasy mechanic. So from here they identified what game mechanics make a good sci-fi game, and they've developed most of these as completely unique features that have never been seen in any MMO before. Of course any real details on that are yet to be announced.

The game centers around the tension among four distinct species, each with their own look, abilities and back stories. Throughout the game, players can choose their alliances, which shape the path of their adventure. There are hints of cloning, player-built vehicles and even spaceship building eventually.

One of the greatest advantages Jagex has with this new project is the experience behind the team. With RuneScape boasting 150 millions users since their launch in 2001 (and the Guinness World Record for the largest free-to-play MMO in the world), they've had the chance to learn from their experiences, both good and bad. While each development team has their own core developers, the technical side of things are run by the same folks, allowing them to learn and grow together. In fact, RuneScape's newest HD launch was made possible by the advancements in MechScape.

In addition to MechScape, Jagex is enjoying what may turn out to be a great year for the company. RuneScape is still played by over 5 million players a month and their gaming hub FunOrb is constantly gaining new hosted games.

We look forward to hearing more details on MechScape and what Jagex has up its sleeve to keep the largest free-to-play MMO so wildly popular.

Yep! I'm absolutely positive that MechScape is the code name for the project, not the game's name itself. There has been some speculation on forums that this is some kind of April Fool's joke by us, or something like that. I assure you it's not :)

Nach RuneScape in die Zukunft

Science Fiction, riesige Roboter und ein anspruchsvolleres Gameplay als beim hauseigenen Fantasy-Kollegen Runescape versprechen die Jungs von Jagex mit ihrem neuen Titel MechScape. Bei der Technologie will man allerdings im Wesentlichen auf den Vorgänger zurückgreifen.

Der wird immerhin als erfolgreichster free to play Titel gefeiert und steht mit einer Million bezahlender und fünf Millionen kostenfrei Spielender sogar im Guinnes Buch der Rekorde. Ein Termin für MechScape steht noch nicht fest.

After RuneScape in the future

Science fiction, giant robots and a more ambitious game than in our own fantasy colleagues promise Runescape Jagex of the guys with their new title MechScape. The technology will, however, essentially based on the previous draw.

The is still the most successful free to play title and is celebrated with pay of one million and five million free game finished even in the Guinness Book of Records. A date for MechScape has not yet been fixed.

After Runescape in the future
The boys behind Jagex promise science fiction, giant robots and a more challenging Gameplay than (don't know) Runescape with their latest title; Mechscape. (Something about using the 'predecessor's' (runescape's) Technology)

It is, after all, celebrated as the most successful free to play game and has it's place in the Guinnes book of world records with 1 million paying members and 5 million free-to-play members. A release date for Mechscape is not yet known.

So what is MechScape? Well, first off, it's important to note that MechScape is not the game's name, only the project's code name

We've been hearing some new info this last week concerning Jagex and their latest MMO project. The company has enjoyed wild success so far with their free-to-play browser-based MMO RuneScape, and they hope to replicate that success with their sci-fi project entitled MechScape. We had the opportunity to sit down with a few members of the company's top development team for an interview during the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco to discuss this new project and the current state of the company.

So what is MechScape? Well, first off, it's important to note that MechScape is not the game's name, only the project's code name. It is a sci-fi MMO project that has been in development since 2006. Although it will be running on the RuneScape HD engine, Jagex is very determined to point out that this game will not simply be RuneScape in space. It will have its own mechanics, its own storyline and a planet-based, non-linear game experience unlike anything they've tackled before.

When the project was first conceived, the team started out by analyzing the current sci-fi MMOs and discovering why they weren't truly successful in the market. They discovered that these games were nothing more than fantasy mechanics dressed in a sci-fi wrapper. Having a set of skills that you level up through grinding is basically a fantasy mechanic. So from here they identified what game mechanics make a good sci-fi game, and they've developed most of these as completely unique features that have never been seen in any MMO before. Of course any real details on that are yet to be announced.

The game centers around the tension among four distinct species, each with their own look, abilities and back stories. Throughout the game, players can choose their alliances, which shape the path of their adventure. There are hints of cloning, player-built vehicles and even spaceship building eventually.

One of the greatest advantages Jagex has with this new project is the experience behind the team. With RuneScape boasting 150 millions users since their launch in 2001 (and the Guinness World Record for the largest free-to-play MMO in the world), they've had the chance to learn from their experiences, both good and bad. While each development team has their own core developers, the technical side of things are run by the same folks, allowing them to learn and grow together. In fact, RuneScape's newest HD launch was made possible by the advancements in MechScape.

In addition to MechScape, Jagex is enjoying what may turn out to be a great year for the company. RuneScape is still played by over 5 million players a month and their gaming hub FunOrb is constantly gaining new hosted games.

We look forward to hearing more details on MechScape and what Jagex has up its sleeve to keep the largest free-to-play MMO so wildly popular.

This confirms that MechScape is just a codename!

So what is MechScape? Well, first off, it's important to note that MechScape is not the game's name, only the project's code name.

Fuck.

This confirms that MechScape is just a codename!

Also cant wait till tomorrow see what else they have

Fuck.

Maybe Jagex will help you prepare by telling you the real name.

Nach RuneScape in die Zukunft

Science Fiction, riesige Roboter und ein anspruchsvolleres Gameplay als beim hauseigenen Fantasy-Kollegen Runescape versprechen die Jungs von Jagex mit ihrem neuen Titel MechScape. Bei der Technologie will man allerdings im Wesentlichen auf den Vorg�nger zur�ckgreifen.

Der wird immerhin als erfolgreichster free to play Titel gefeiert und steht mit einer Million bezahlender und f�nf Millionen kostenfrei Spielender sogar im Guinnes Buch der Rekorde. Ein Termin f�r MechScape steht noch nicht fest.

Hmm, well, if it is only a codename, that's 2 years of a strong Google SEO position down the drain. Not good. It's going to be an all-arms race against the fan sites!


Couldn't have said it better myself.

I hope this is not the name, and certainly hope this is not the logo.... hate the logo!

Fuck.

If it's true that MechScape is a code name, I'll be saying some not-so-nice things. Sure MechScape is cheesy, but you want people to actually play your game? You give them the damn name or at least TELL them it's a code name before they go spending several hundred dollars, several hundred hours, investing in a fansite and building your userbase for a game that doesn't even exist.

Yes, it's going to be an arm's race once the real name is released.

I think a little part of me died.

I think a big prt of me is dead. Well, I'm sure someone esle will find the name first and make it a domain. So let's do it togther when someone finds the codename post it on the forums A.S.A.P! We need to get it (Thename)world.com still.

I'm more kind of starting to think this is all just some sort of bad April fool's prank, a day early O_o.

This doesn't sound like Jagex at all and would, as poultry said just be some bad marketing decision...

-K

If it does turn out to be the case that MechScape isn't the real name I'll be quite disappointed. Not because I thought MechScape was the best name ever (although I did like it) but because of how we found out. In one and a half years you'd think they could of told us, "by the way MechScape is just a codename so don't get too invested in it"? For them not to mention it after every opportunity, then ultimately to just say it to a third party with no sort of explanation? Sorry, but that kinda hurts.

Well the article's cool, but uh, kinda sucky i think for MSW and any other similar Mechscape fansite dedicated to Mechscape. This is the second article that is about what Jagex has stated confirming Mechscape to be merely a "Codename" not the rael name of the game.

Ren will you be..updating the forums and website for the apparently real name when the real name is released?

That would be great but I don't think they will.

If we have the money we can register all of Jagex's new trademarks plus world.com at the end. I reckon it'd be Stellar Dawn, though.

If it does turn out to be the case that MechScape isn't the real name I'll be quite disappointed. Not because I thought MechScape was the best name ever (although I did like it) but because of how we found out. In one and a half years you'd think they could of told us, "by the way MechScape is just a codename so don't get too invested in it"? For them not to mention it after every opportunity, then ultimately to just say it to a third party as if everyone should of known it was just a code name? Sorry, but that kinda hurts.

I hope they do that..otherwise, we are fucked.

I think that would be a wasit of money they have tons.

I hope they do that..otherwise, we are fucked.

There's been a few times when I would spend days, or even weeks, on a project for someone and then they'd turn around and say "Sorry I don't want it after all." The first reaction is "you're joking, right?", then anger. Angry at the fact you just wasted tons of hours when you could have been doing something else, and on top of that, you don't even get paid. The next reaction is your ego is bruised and you feel incompetent. Finally you realize this is just business and you go on with your life, write off your losses and forget it.

Now should it be an April Fool's joke, then that's very low, especially to have it passed to such a nice site as Massively and passed off as fact. If it's not an April Fools joke and MechScape isn't the name, which seems most likely, refer to paragraph one.

This community will stick together but I am going to dread the headache of getting "stellardawnworld.com" AS IT'S ALREADY BEEN REGISTERED BY SOMEONE ELSE.

This community will stick together but I am going to dread the headache of getting "stellardawnworld.com" AS IT'S ALREADY BEEN REGISTERED BY SOMEONE ELSE.

Wow, this is very shocking. Well if I was Ren or PC I would be getting on the phones and e-mailing like crazy Jagex and trying to figure out what in the world is going on. Not telling u all your jobs but u have spent along time on this site and money, if it was me i would be pissed.

This community will stick together but I am going to dread the headache of getting "stellardawnworld.com" AS IT'S ALREADY BEEN REGISTERED BY SOMEONE ELSE.

StellarDawnWorld.com redirects here, so it could be registered by someone on our side.

Daniel has that site Registered and it redirects to Mechscapeworld.com

Wow,
I didn't notice that! Did Ren just do it? Well, that's good!

Jagex released a press release today, officially announcing MechScape to the press. Even though the press release doesn’t really carry any release date for MechScape. It does contain one very interesting line.

The game — under the code name MechScape — has already generated significant buzz among gaming enthusiasts

They are referring to MechScape as a codename and not as the actual game name. Which is something that is possible since Jagex also owns a trademark for Stellar Dawn. I think the name is a lot better than MechScape to be honest, MechScape sounds too much like RuneScape in space. Jagex doesn’t want that, so they might have decided to change the name. Since the trademark application Stellar Dawn has always been discarded as a FunOrb game. But not every FunOrb game has been trademarked or had their domain registered. If it will be Stellar Dawn or just MechScape is something we will see in the future.

Read the full article for the complete press release.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Mar 25 (MARKET WIRE) –
2009 Game Developer’s Conference — Jagex, Ltd., the largest independent
game developer in United Kingdom, has achieved rapid acceleration in its
business as 2009 progresses, emerging from the two most profitable
quarters in company history and growth among its existing game
properties, RuneScape and FunOrb. On the heels of this momentum, Jagex
will be launching its second, highly anticipated massively multiplayer
online game (MMOG) later this year. The game — under the code name
MechScape — has already generated significant buzz among gaming
enthusiasts, and will appeal to both existing RuneScape players and an
entirely new audience of online gamers.

In addition to strong profits, Jagex has grown in size with three UK-based
offices and nearly 400 employees — 150 of which are dedicated to player
support. Under the guidance of CEO Mark Gerhard, the company continues to
focus on research and development across all games and is emphasizing
player engagement and satisfaction for the coming year.

“Jagex’s many achievements throughout 2008 are a direct result of our
long-term commitment to improving all aspects of our games and delivering
continued excellence to our players,� Gerhard said. “From the content,
graphic enhancements and updated game-play mechanisms in RuneScape HD
through the addition of more original games in the FunOrb catalog, Jagex
has remained on the cutting edge of game development. And this is just the
beginning — 2008 was a record-breaking year for Jagex, but we’re most
passionate about raising the bar even higher in 2009.�

Maintaining its stronghold as the most popular MMOG worldwide, RuneScape
has five million active players, with one million paying members.
Following the release of RuneScape HD in mid-2008, the vast majority of
RuneScape members have adopted the new version with enthusiasm and
excitement. Even after more than seven years since its original launch,
RuneScape is still evolving: this month Jagex is adding the 150th Quest
to the game, and a Brazilian localization of the game will be released in
Q2.

In its ongoing effort to provide players with fresh content and innovate
in the online games space, Jagex is investing development in additional
game properties. Its FunOrb portal for a more time-pressured audience has
grown in only one year to more than one million unique user accounts, in
addition to the RuneScape players who can also access the portal through
existing accounts. As FunOrb continues to generate wide adoption among
online gamers, Jagex will focus on releasing blockbuster titles on the
network in 2009. Additional titles of the same caliber as Arcanist,
Zombie Dawn and Kickabout Leagues will be launched throughout the year.

To explore Jagex’s games, visit www.runescape.com, or www.funorb.com.

About Jagex, Ltd.

Jagex, Ltd. is an independent games developer and publisher based in
Cambridge, England, with over 350 employees. With proprietary graphics
compression, game engine and network communication technologies, Jagex
creates online games that are enjoyed by millions of players around the
world. Jagex is online at www.jagex.com.

Bad news :/
I seriously hope Massively are kidding..