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MMOHub Interview: 'RuneScape' Past, Present, and Future

In the second part in the three part interview series with Jagex CEO Mark Gerhard at MMOHub, Gerhard talks about Jagex's flagship title, RuneScape.

He goes over Jagex's new position speaking out against people calling RuneScape a game for kids, a mystery game update possibly coming by the end of 2009 "that could be an entire game on its own," and his goal to turn RuneScape back into a game made for free players, not one that focuses on its paying membership.
ahnonamis - contributor
Published: 180 days 5 hours ago | Interview | PC
 
 

Showing: 1 - 21 of 21 Comments
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cain141 - 180 days ago
1 -
I've never been a runescape fan myself, but it's impressive what they have done with it...
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ahnonamis - 180 days ago
1.1 -
I'm in the same boat. I put RuneScape in the list of games I just never got into, but respect a lot for what they've done.
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Viewtiful - 179 days 17 hours ago
1.2 -
Runescape totally slipped under my radar and then all of the sudden I'm like "What? 2 billion player installed base? Really?"
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Ocelot3997 - 179 days 17 hours ago
1.3 -
That's because you have to be really cheap and not care about quality. If they did they'd just be playing WoW like everyone else.
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Ixon - 179 days 23 hours ago
2 -
Have to say I agree. While I may not enjoy Runescape myself, I approve of getting younger gamers into playing MMORPGs.
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ahnonamis - 179 days 23 hours ago
2.1 -
He DID say in the interview that they were trying to make people realize it's NOT a game for kids...
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Coyotegrey - 179 days 17 hours ago
2.2 - The kids are alright
Kiddie approved.....and I approve as well since it's not dumbed down.

Just because a kid can't reach the naughty magazines on the top shelf doesn't mean he or she can't get to 'em. Know what I'm sayin' dawgs?
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TheSmokingManX - 179 days 23 hours ago
3 -
RuneScape has perpetually been the game I make fun of people for playing, even though I know if I actually tried it and gave it a fair chance, I'd probably love it.
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italianbreadman - 179 days 23 hours ago
3.1 -
It seems there are a lot of games like that out there
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TheSmokingManX - 179 days 16 hours ago
3.2 -
Yeah, but Runescape I'd say is the epitome of that sort of thing, at least with online RPGs.
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forthegamergood - 179 days 23 hours ago
4 -
Runescape is addictive, and it's really improved over the past few years.
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iheartdestr0y - 179 days 18 hours ago
5 - Runescape?
Never a runescape guy. Still cool.
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ahnonamis - 179 days 17 hours ago
5.1 -
Yeah, it's always cool to see someone high up in the company talk candidly without dealing with PR or producers.
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Requiem - 179 days 17 hours ago
6 - nice interview
great invterview. I never was a runescape fan but i have more respect for them now. Its nice to see how much work they put into it.
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Coyotegrey - 179 days 17 hours ago
7 - Neat.
MMOs are neat, and so is this interview.
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Galados - 179 days 17 hours ago
8 - I've played
Great insight, I thought.

I played Runescape for a while, both free and pay, and I enjoyed it during that time. The biggest beef I had was the graphics, otherwise it had all of the other elements and even some innovative customer service options like the PIN on your bank :P
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ahnonamis - 179 days 16 hours ago
8.1 -
The graphics are the main reason I haven't honestly tried it out. There are other free games out there, and while graphics aren't the most important part, I do think they need to at least look like they came out within the last decade.
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GNJohn - 179 days 16 hours ago
9 -
Runescape's one of those games I tried when I was flat broke...not much has changed on that front, but as much as I'd love to love runescape, its just a tad...simplistic.

Good article though.
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ahnonamis - 179 days 4 hours ago
9.1 -
If you're still looking for a good game that's free give atlantica a shot.
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nlmikel - 179 days 12 hours ago
10 - Kids?
It's maybe not a game developed for kids but they do play it because they don't want to be a 'kid' anymore. Nice interview!
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Neramaar - 178 days 20 hours ago
11 -
Interesting stuff, great read.
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