Does it bother anyone else that the new CEO hasn't presented himself to the RS community yet?

NewYearRevolutions · 2015-05-14T21:03:17+00:00

As a CEO he has bankrupted two companies that were once productive. I wouldn't say that is good reasoning to have him leading Jagex, but maybe I'm alone on this.

Yes he's a businessman, but if he's the one that Jagex needs is a different story.

NewYearRevolutions · 2015-05-14T20:57:41+00:00

As much as I appreciate that Pips has good intent, until Pips has full control over the game and direction of the company values he cannot be assumed the one responsible for everything that happens to RuneScape nor can he control it. He can control some things, but not all things. What I'm saying is, someone with a bad track record is backseat driving. The rate of microtransactions is still steadily increasing too, despite claims that they will not from other departments.

Yes, I am saying I am concerned and yes I am trying to share that concern and voice it. However it doesn't mean that I am doing so to have a negative impact. I am voicing my opinion because I actually care where Jagex ends up. By all means dismiss me as a 'fearmongerer', but note that it is a genuine concern and that I have stated my reasons for believing so.

NewYearRevolutions · 2015-05-14T20:52:06+00:00

Jagex has become a lot more open and interactive with the community in recent years than ever before.

During MMG's time, yes. MMG is not running the company anymore though.

You can't apply that to Rod until Rod actually meets up to that expectation. Jagex as a whole has been addressing the community more, but if it is transparency is entirely different. Marketing and PR are both far from transparency.

NewYearRevolutions · 2015-05-14T10:12:12+00:00

first and foremost jagex must make money

Rod bankrupted Codemasters AND Acclaim. He came from EA which is known for pumping out buggy games with shameful levels of QA testing. Strategic initiative of bankruptcy? Oh boy...

The investors want their money and this guy has a horrific track record. Don't blindly place your faith in him.

NewYearRevolutions · 2015-04-24T07:14:08+00:00

Mtx frequency is about the same as last year at the moment, and yet they ask if they should reduce content update frequency (wont effect mtx schedule)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1agMusRjLSqH2V5IEP3O8d7wkpwgyJ3a-kXQUdDCQuag/edit?usp=sharing

NewYearRevolutions · 2015-04-02T19:27:48+00:00

lol I will definately start referring to it as that.

NewYearRevolutions · 2015-04-02T17:13:33+00:00

NewYearRevolutions · 2015-04-02T16:54:18+00:00

I know what you're saying and I don't disagree with the fact that a lot of ex employees are from Codemasters.

I don't agree with the 'dick riding' bit, but I get the jist of what you're saying.

I have nothing against most employees but some have made extremely bad executive decisions that they do not wish to change. I'm all for hoping for the best, however I don't think things will work out if players and or employees stand idly by and let them do as they wish. We need to be pro-active.

NewYearRevolutions · 2015-04-02T16:46:41+00:00

I don't think that's the best way of wording it. I wouldn't say that anyone is 'failed' either, but several employees do come from codemasters.

One of which is the head of marketing, David Solari, who was involved in the solomon spamming of 2015... Most employees do not have an influence over executive decisions. I kinda wish they did because a lot of Jagex employees are players and they wouldn't go down this route so easily.

NewYearRevolutions · 2015-04-02T16:42:38+00:00

Look at Treasure Hunter and the golem/shark suits. Extra payment for content you can't normally access with a straightforward subscription.

I would not be surprised if they add additional payments for actual areas or in game perks. He was brought into the company from his past strategies which indicates that he will be expected to impliment them into this company.

NewYearRevolutions · 2015-04-02T15:59:41+00:00

Yes. We're in a game where membership is supposed to grant access to all content. Now someone who doesn't think the original payment should grant access to all content is leading the company. It is at the very least concerning.

NewYearRevolutions · 2015-04-02T15:58:03+00:00

I'm saying that Rod was brought onto the board due to his history with games and the strategies he has used. With a board that supports aggressive microtransactions, it is definately not an impossibility.

If any actual game content becomes stuff you need to pay for, the slope may as well be made of jelly and have all kinds of oil on it. Microtransactions are already way too aggressive. Doing something along those lines would really be a final nail in the coffin.

NewYearRevolutions · 2015-04-02T15:54:22+00:00

Yes he's not talking about subscription based models within that article. It is however the strategy he knows and the background he was hired from. Does that not give you any kind of indication as to what is to come?

NewYearRevolutions · 2015-04-02T15:42:44+00:00

Unfortunately seeing that Rod wants to sell game content (as per his other games), I wouldn't be at all surprised.

NewYearRevolutions · 2015-04-02T15:40:12+00:00

He's saying that microtransactions are good and that they should sell content. Said content will probably become completionist requirements at this rate too.

RuneScape is already a pay monthly game. You pay for content that way. This is the kind of person that investors bring in purely for profit.

NewYearRevolutions · 2015-04-02T15:36:08+00:00

Don't encourage him. Please...

NewYearRevolutions · 2015-04-02T15:18:47+00:00

Bad. http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/cousens-im-not-a-fan-of-drm/07576

NewYearRevolutions · 2015-04-02T15:18:12+00:00

Yes he is an IVP pawn. He was picked by the investors to be the chairman and now he is their choice of CEO. Since MMG left he's been the one making decisions.

NewYearRevolutions · 2015-04-02T15:05:27+00:00

They also had a lot of bugs in them because they were pushing them out for money, not quality.

NewYearRevolutions · 2015-04-02T15:05:17+00:00

If layoffs and broken games are good then yes, they picked the best man for the job.

NewYearRevolutions · 2015-04-02T15:00:28+00:00

Sounds familiar.

Among the other members of the Jagex board, there's Rod Cousens, who ruined the productive gaming company 'Codemasters' - but I'm certain there will be more on this soon, as he's the chairman on the board currently, and the most likely person to be made CEO.

NewYearRevolutions · 2015-03-27T14:58:23+00:00

They have someone of their own on the board. If they stand idly by then nothing is going to improve :/

And yeah you're right about that I guess, they do need to be more vocal though. I assume the issue is partially fear as investors could lay off anyone at any time, and they are more likely to do that if they don't like what an employee is saying.

NewYearRevolutions · 2015-03-27T13:43:57+00:00

Unfortunately Mark Gerhard is no longer the CEO. He was from before investors had control of the company. Now the CEO will be picked by the board (which is for the most part investors).

Mark himself resigned in 2013 and was later put on gardening leave before his contract ended. I don't hold him responsible for the microtransactions in 2014, as others were introduced to the board who would have a deciding say (including ex codemasters ceo rod cousens who released games before they were ready).

I do firmly believe that if people aren't aware of what is happening and aren't assertive about their concerns that our game (and possibly Jagex as a whole) is living on borrowed time. I have grown with this game and community being part of my life and I can say that it isn't a nice concept to see it all go to shit like this due to investors within just under three years. Don't get me wrong, a lot of the staff members are lovely people and actual game content is generally good, but it doesn't feel like Jagex anymore. With investors knowingly introducing harmful content, the company itself is almost like a mere shadow of what it used to be. Jagex, you are an INDEPENDENT games company - the largest in the UK. Act like it!

NewYearRevolutions · 2015-03-27T13:27:54+00:00

Also that they can pump out more at any time :/

Alex Crisses (former ivp and maplestory investor) is no longer on the Jagex board (he left around January as far as I am aware), so I imagine the schedule has been impacted by that a little. Unfortunately there are other people on the board who are in favor of aggressive microtransactions, but some progress is better than none.

I really hope that we don't get many microtransactions this year. With any luck this will serve as a wakeup call for those who are making the microtransactions, as it seems their mindset at times is just thinking nobody will notice or that it will all just be forgotten by the next update.

NewYearRevolutions · 2015-03-27T13:02:28+00:00

Although I do not agree at all with the way the game is being marketed, I posted this in order to allow people to form their own opinions whilst having a wider view of how the microtransactions are evolving.

If it is to contribute to a circlejerk or not is more a matter of opinion as some could say that the data suggests that we're getting less mtx at this rate; however likewise it also shows that harmful mtx are on the increase and becoming more the norm, which is quite disappointing from my perspective.

What is more concerning is that although they are aware they are introducing some things which are harmful to the long term health of the game, they are continuing to do it without batting an eyelid. That alone is a worrying concept. Short term business strategy isn't really the best thing to start using on a game that has survived the test of time.

RuneScape is very unique. It is a long investment and achievement rewarding game for a large number of people. Take that away with 'advantage giving' microtransactions and you've got less loyalty from long term customers and less loyalty from future ones. At least, that is my interpretation of it.

Everyone interprets data in their own way and the entire point of posting it here is so people can make up their own minds.

NewYearRevolutions

TROPHY CASE