Although Jagex will never see this message, I have to do my part.
Jagex, you're going the wrong way. You've put so much energy into trying to recruit new members that you've completely neglected the old ones. It's a basic fact of business that you should do your very best to keep your old ones so you don't have to rely on getting new ones, yet that notion is completely thrown into the trash. The old members are the ones you know have purchased membership in the past, so you know that they're a reliable source of income. When you offend veteran players with the insulting updates that have popped up over the past half year, they quit and income drops - and your solution? Don't get them back. Don't listen to them. Instead, boost income by adding features that players need to buy, further alienating the veterans, and further depleting the player base.
The Gowers made this game successful by listening to their players and making them happy. No doubt you've heard of the game League of Legends. That game has become wildly popular over the past couple of years, and - surprise surprise - they make a phenomenal effort to listen and respect their players. The stench of greed in this game is driving away players, and your solution is to be more greedy in an attempt to make up the lost amount. Runescape is quickly on its way to becoming a thing of the past if that continues.
Frankly, I've been a player of this game longer than most of the developers have been a part of Jagex (2003). I know what makes this game successful - and it isn't fancy graphics or microtransactions. There are two roads to take from here: one leaders to success, the other failure. Make your choice.
18-Jul-2012 16:48:12
