What Happened to the Game I Love

Summary

The speaker, a long-time RuneScape player, reflects on nearly two decades of playing the game and the recent changes introduced by Jagex. They express deep frustration over proposed membership tiers that include ads, mobile-only access, and pay-to-win features, arguing these changes are driven by greed and would ruin the player experience. While they share personal milestones, like maxing their account and earning the quiver, they feel that the game’s direction has shifted away from what made it special. The speaker concludes that, despite these issues, they plan to return to the game, though with a sense of disappointment over its current state.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker has been playing *RuneScape* for nearly 20 years, dedicating thousands of hours to the game across multiple accounts.
• 😀 They recently maxed one of their accounts for the first time ever and estimate having played between 8,000-9,000 hours across all accounts.
• 😀 The speaker is frustrated with Jagex's recent plans to change subscription tiers, which they feel are driven by greed and will harm the player experience.
• 😀 One proposed change is the addition of ads for paying members, which the speaker strongly opposes as a game-killing move.
• 😀 Another controversial change includes restricting certain membership tiers to only mobile gameplay, limiting players to a less optimal platform.
• 😀 The idea of 'pay-to-win' is introduced, with the suggestion that additional account security features could be locked behind paywalls, which the speaker finds outrageous.
• 😀 The speaker criticizes Jagex's survey to players about these changes, feeling it was more about gauging how much they could get away with rather than genuinely seeking feedback.
• 😀 The addition of enhanced player support, advanced stats data, and tools locked behind higher membership tiers is another aspect the speaker deems exploitative.
• 😀 Despite player backlash, Jagex still indicates that they are exploring ways to introduce ads and other monetization strategies, which the speaker views negatively.
• 😀 The speaker believes that *RuneScape* has now become more about maximizing profit rather than providing the best possible game experience.
• 😀 The speaker remains disappointed with Jagex's philosophy, feeling that their actions show a focus on money rather than the long-term health of *RuneScape*, even if some players accept the apology.

Q & A

What is the main issue the speaker has with the recent changes to RuneScape?

The speaker is concerned about Jagex's recent monetization strategies, which include potentially adding ads in the game, restricting gameplay to mobile devices for certain membership tiers, and introducing pay-to-win elements like enhanced account security features behind a paywall. These changes are seen as detrimental to the player experience.

What is the speaker's personal connection to RuneScape?

The speaker has been playing RuneScape for nearly 20 years and has invested thousands of hours into the game. They've maxed out an account and love the game deeply, despite taking occasional breaks. RuneScape is described as a loyal companion in their gaming life.

How does the speaker feel about the idea of adding ads to RuneScape?

The speaker strongly opposes the idea of adding ads to RuneScape, especially in membership tiers, as it is seen as a negative change that could ruin the player experience. Ads are seen as a money grab that detracts from the immersive nature of the game.

What does the speaker think about the potential introduction of AFK timers for paid memberships?

The speaker is critical of the idea, particularly the notion that only free-to-play players would experience longer AFK timers. The speaker finds it frustrating and believes it's another way for Jagex to restrict player freedom in order to monetize the game further.

Why does the speaker believe the changes to membership tiers will drive players away?

The speaker argues that these changes, especially ads and restricted mobile-only memberships, will alienate the player base. They suggest that players will feel wronged and may quit the game due to these monetization tactics, which are seen as greedy and exploitative.

How does the speaker view Jagex's recent apology and statement regarding the changes?

The speaker is skeptical of Jagex's apology, viewing it as a corporate backpedal with little genuine intent to improve. While Jagex has walked back some of the ideas, the speaker believes they are still focused on finding ways to extract more money from players at the cost of the game's quality.

What does the speaker think about the concept of paying for enhanced player support or additional account security?

The speaker is outraged by the idea of locking basic account security behind a paywall, as security is a fundamental concern for RuneScape players. The notion that paying members would receive personalized support or advanced security features is seen as exploitative and unnecessary.

How does the speaker feel about the idea of a mobile-only membership tier?

The speaker is strongly against this idea, describing it as a 'terrible' option. Being locked to mobile-only gameplay for a paid membership is considered a major step back for the game and a restrictive move that would harm the player experience.

What is the speaker's view on the idea that players 'never really quit RuneScape'?

The speaker humorously suggests that players rarely truly quit RuneScape, even if they take long breaks. They imply that the game's addictive nature makes it hard for players to leave completely, though they may step away for periods of time.

Why does the speaker mention their personal journey with the Inferno and the quiver?

The speaker references their experience with the Inferno and their achievement of obtaining the quiver to emphasize the level of dedication they have to the game. Despite frustrations, like dying to volatility in the Coliseum, the speaker showcases their resilience and ongoing commitment to RuneScape.