Issue #30 - 26th September 2009
Surgery: A Change of Heart
Written by Ren
Location: October 2007 in the deepest darkest most dastardly and devious dungeon of the Jagex castle.
Present: Then Jagex CEO Geoff Iddison and a nameless minion called Frank.
Iddison: Greetings Jagex minion, I want to make a name for myself.
Minion: Don't you already have the name Geoff Iddison?
Iddison: Fool! I mean I want to make my mark on this company. Quick, give me some buzzwords!
Minion: Digital distribution?
Iddison: Brilliant idea, lots of synergies and plenty of buzz! Let's do it!
Minion: Um, we've been doing that since 2001. What about "Content is King"?
Iddison: That doesn't buzz enough. I need more buzz!
Minion: Err.. Micro-transactions?
Iddison: No! Wait... I think I've heard that term...
Minion: It's one of the core services of PayPal Europe where you were in charge.
Iddison: Ah yes! I'm going to be a visionary... let's do at Jagex what I did at PayPal!!!
Minion: Won't giving stuff to people in exchange for small payments undermine our anti-RWT message for RuneScape?
Iddison: Quiet minion! We'll just make it a different game and hope nobody notices.
Minion: Err, you're the boss... boss...
Iddison: Excellent, I can't wait to tell everyone at the business conferences about my flawless plan for world domination... I mean computer game revenue models. Frank... I mean nameless minion... you are dismissed - go back to doing whatever it is people do at Jagex. Just remember to go for the synergies, optimise the workflow, get content out every week regardless of whether it is ready and buzz the buzzwords. I can't stress that last point enough, in fact make a company wide memo to that effect.
Location: January 2009 in the beautiful green grounds which surround the Jagex castle with birds tweeting and people on their laptops (also tweeting)
Present: Jagex CEO Mark "Awesome" Gerhard and a nameless colleague (also called Frank)
Gerhard: Good morning! I want to make this company awesome! I'd appreciate your input and and then I'll consult the community.
Colleague: Well, I am actually a bit concerned about that micro-transaction project....
Gerhard: Stop right there. One question: Will it be awesome?
Colleague: Not really.
Gerhard: Then it's out. Unless of course we could integrate the best gameplay elements into RuneScape in a way which *would* be awesome and wouldn't involve micro-transactions.
Colleague: That could work. In fact, I think it could work quite well.
Gerhard: Awesome! *Plays air guitar*
Now, on with the show...
Hey y'all, Ren here. Yes, I acknowledge that the above is completely fictitious. The truth is that we don't know what happened behind the scenes in regards to Jagex's plans for ThirdScape, but I can tell you what we do know based on the few public statements and then wax lyrical about micro-transactions. In fact, that's the main focus of this editorial. So sit back and be at the edge of your seat as you enjoy a trip back in time as well as a glimpse into the future as I expect it to be and how it might have been.
Micro-transactions in MMOs are when you make a small but real payment (e.g. a "micropayment" through PayPal) in exchange for something virtual in the game (sometimes via the intermediary of microcurrency). This is typically either in the form of aesthetic enhancements (e.g. new costume, an item which isn't particularly useful, etc) which doesn't affect the gameplay dynamic or in the form of "boosts" which help you out by giving you GP, faster XP gain, useful items, etc. The idea is that you play a game for free but then pay a lot of money in little extras to improve your own gameplay experience (see Wikipedia for more information).
The first we heard publicly of ThirdScape was a June 2008 news item regarding remarks made by Iddison. They recalled that "At the GameHorizon conference in Newcastle last week, Geoff Iddison... was part of a panel about the future of games - things like user-generated content, and different billing systems such as micro-transactions. He spoke about the technology behind Runescape, and also revealed that the company, who have recently launched a casual games portal [FunOrb], are also working on a new MMO [MechScape] jokingly (we assume) called 'NextScape' which will launch in 2009. They also have plans for a third MMO [ThirdScape] sometime in 2010" (source).
It later turned out that Jagex internally referred to this project merely by its year (2010). I didn't know this at the time so tried to give it a name by which I could refer to this project which Iddison was talking about. My first thought was that as he had called MechScape "NextScape" (it being their next project) that the game after that should be "NextNextScape". Turned out everyone thought that was a terrible idea (including me the next day) so I came up with "ThirdScape" as the thing to call it as it was their third MMO brand.
Anyway, at the conference the report also said that: "The forthcoming MMO [MechScape] will likely use a subscription based model, similar to Runescape with some free to play features and others that you need to pay to get access to. The 2010 one [ThirdScape] may use micro-transactions. Iddison was quick to stress that they will not introduce micro-transactions in Runescape, as they feel it would un-balance the game and alienate their existing players".
In July 2008 they were posting job vacancies for the position of "Head of 2010" and were having brainstorming sessions involving both senior content developers and more junior staff. In August 2008 they placed the following advert in Develop magazine (source):
By December 2008 it seems like they hadn't filled the Head of 2010 role but they were still pressing ahead and advertising for content developers for the project and said they'd look favourably at applicants with "experience of designing games for a young audience" (source). Then in January 2009 Geoff Iddison resigned and Mark Gerhard became CEO. After this it seems that Jagex had soured on the idea as no further job vacancies were posted. The first sign that it just wouldn't happen was a comment made by Gerhard to The Guardian in April 2009 (source).
Gerhard said that: "A lot of the free offerings are sadly misleading because they're not. Most of them rely on the microtransaction system, which is really a stealth tax; I prefer to call it death by a thousand cuts... It's the psychology of it. You can better monetise a person taking 20 cents off them for every item, than to ask someone for $10 up front. Commercially you can say it's a great opportunity, the way of the future. Ethically you can say it devalues the product". This indicates to me that ThirdScape as a microtransactional venture was concocted during the more profit-driven Iddison era, presumably driven heavily by Iddison himself if not his idea, and that Gerhard put a stop to it seemingly because he cares more about players and their reputation than maximising profits.
It was finally confirmed in late May 2009 that ThirdScape was cancelled and was to be integrated into RuneScape when Gerhard revealed that: "We are actually working on a whole new game mechanic [for RuneScape]. I can't give much away, but it could be an entire game in its own right, or just a skill, or both, who knows [laughs]. That will be for free and members. But, yeah, that should be this year hopefully, needs to be awesome though. I don't want to give it away though because it's really exciting and no one has done it so we're kind of keeping that one close to our chest. Basically, this was going to be our 2010 game -- we were going to create another game -- but we said, this just ties in so nicely with "RuneScape" and it's cool, the community would love this, so let's not make it another game, let's just put this in the game" (source). This means they have the task of integrating a gameplay element devised for a microtransactional game into an existing subscription-based title.
And so that's the tale of ThirdScape. Personally I share Gerhard's unease regarding microtransactions and much prefer the subscription based system of RuneScape. Firstly it is more fair since it doesn't keep trying to get more out of you and doesn't favour the rich. Secondly if I paid for something I'd have overly high expectations which would mean if something wasn't how I would have liked or wasn't tested sufficiently then I'd get really annoyed. When a game has a low subscription price then I can just enjoy the game instead of consciously trying to get "value for money". I like that Jagex are sticking to their "low price, high quality" style and believe that it has served them well and provides a stark contrast to the majority of the other MMORPGs on the market.
Could ThirdScape's integration be the skill Gerhard was talking about when he said in early August that "We are working hard on a new skill, which will be available to free-to-play and members and which shows our continued commitment to the free game." (source) - a skill which Mod Fetzki said "...is far better than sailing" (source). Is it anything to do with Jagex's trademarks for Infinite Dungeon and Never Ending Dungeon which the Mod Fetzki didn't think was anything to do with FunOrb (source)? I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
So, what's your views on microtransactions? Any ideas on what the gameplay element is and how it would be integrated in RuneScape? Sad that Thirdscape isn't going ahead as originally planned or relieved either because you don't like the idea of it, because you don't want them to focus on too many brands at once or because you want RuneScape to have a new gameplay element?
Thank you for your time and I'd love to hear your views,
-Ren
MechScape and Community News
Another MechScape/Stellar Dawn teaser in the RuneScape/FunOrb CSS
Jagex's billing page has been updated and it now contains references to "Stellar Dawn" in the CSS. (Read more)
Caption This! Competition
Caption This! is back and being hosted by Darth Irule. The competition involves members to submit captions, and the best caption will be chosen by the community. Entries are due on Monday, and even if you don't want to participate come on by to check out the entertaining entries! (Read more)
MechScape World Party 5!
Hosts, Darth Irule and Pliigi, are at it again! Join them in their crazy shenanigans and party with other MSW members! Planning is in progress, so visit the official thread and help choose what MSW will be up to this time. (Read more)
Bachelor Fridge Development Diary has been released (FunOrb)
Jagex have released the first DD for their upcoming FunOrb game, Bachelor Fridge! (Read more)
Regarding the now former Head of MechScape Mod Poppy has stated "I can confirm that Henrique no longer works here, but MechScape is still being worked on". (Read more)
Jagex have made it onto The Sunday Times Microsoft Tech Track 100 list where they are ranked as the 22nd fastest growing technology company in the UK. (Read more)
Previous Issues:
MechScape Post #29: Competitiveness in MMORPGs and Real Life
MechScape Post #28: Jagex's Technology Capabilities
MechScape Post #27: A Mech Called Murrie
MechScape Post #26: Solo Play Versus Team Play In MechScape
MechScape Post #25: MechScape and the 4X Genre
MechScape Post #24: MechScape and its future competition
MechScape Post #23: Jagex's use of Social Networking Sites
MechScape Post #22: Basics of the Four Playable Species
MechScape Post #21: The Mecherican Dream
MechScape Post #20: Desert City Art Review and New Beginnings Review
MechScape Post #19: Cultural Differences: How they might affect MechScape
Footnotes
Contributors: Ed5, Ren (Content Research Team); Dizzy, Max, Xela, Zepherusbane (Writing & Editing Team).
Disclaimer: The views expressed by members of staff do not necessarily represent the view of MechScape World.
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