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How to Make Sandbox MMORPG more popular? RUNESCAPE<----
tro44_1
Member Posts: 1,819
RUNESCAPE done something right to hold on to its player base for so long.
Its Free 2 Play, I understand that, but Still I found it fun for a Sandbox game. So something they are doing must be right.
So what could RUNESCAPE be doing so well to hold its player base?
I remember being addicted to Runescape a long time ago. It was my first MMO. When I brought Guild Wars I quickly became bored because of the lack of character development. So I went back. And later joined up with a friend in WoW. (he doesnt like WoW now though. I stayed.) I expected MMOs that you pay box price for, and monthly fees for, would/should be way more better in the RPG elements then RuneScape and other browser rpg games.
but back on topic. What is Runescape doing/Did in the past, that could keep it's major population enjoyed in this SANDBOX MMO? Since we know now days, most Sandbox MMO's fail or have low poopulations unless it is not fantasy based. But Runescape is Fantasy based.
Comments
The popularity of a FREE game discounts it. How popular would it be if you had to pay $15 a month to play it? Only then does its merits matter.
You first MMO is the bestus MMO evar.
This is almost universally true. Doesn't matter if it's runescape, wow, eq, or uo.
Well shave my back and call me an elf! -- Oghren
Well they do have an alarmingly high amount of people subscribed as a Member.
Polished games are a huge positive.
Unpolished games are a negative.
Sandbox games are a positive.
Linear games are a negative.
The most popular game right now, WOW, combines "Polished", with a mix between "Sandbox" and "Linear", so overall it nets out as a positive.
AOC was "unpolished" and "linear". FAIL
WAR was "unpolished" and "linear". FAIL
LOTRO is "polished" and "linear", hence only moderate success, despite the gigantic IP presence.
Vanguard is "unpolished" and "sandbox", but the lack of polish killed it pretty much. FAIL
Everquest I was partly "unpolished" and "sandbox", and netted out as a success initially, but it is dated now.
Ultima Online is "unpolished" or at least prehistoric in terms of graphics, yet was "sandbox" and has/had the most loyal following of any game I have ever seen. Go figure.
The next future blockbuster game could be "sandbox" and "polished", a true immersive world. Let's hope.
Not exactly. My first mmorpg was Anarchy. It was so buggy I almost gave up playing online games.
Well they do have an alarmingly high amount of people subscribed as a Member.
Pricing is actually a key for the success of rs. They charged $6-$9 a month depending on subscription methods comparing to the $12-$15 the other games charged. With 1 million sub @ the mean of $7.5 a month Jagex pockets $90 mil a year. On the other hand if they charge the standard $12-$15 monthly then they may only get 300-400k sub which computes to only $50-60 mil. So sometimes lower pricing actually means more profits.
Let's also look at LoTRO. When I played it on my friend's account a few months ago it was quite a dead game but since they offered the $10 a month for 3 months deal the game came alive lately.
I think low sub fee is 1 of the reasons for the success of runescape.
Then you have to look their major features which other games don't have - kickass storyline and unique quests.
They also have a very lively community thanks to the various kinds of in game activities.
I think these are the good things they have. Otherwise with the limitation of being a browser game (e.g. small map and average graphics) and its crappy combat system RS would have gone dead like and EQ long ago.