Jagex CEO says Runescape will be cross-console, free-to-play (or else)

by Jessica Conditt on Aug 28th 2011 4:30PM

Developer Jagex is positioned to ship Runescape across all consoles, free-to-play and with complete cross-platform capabilities, if CEO Mark Gerhard has anything to say about it. Which, as CEO, he does. Gerhard told Develop that some console owners wanted to charge for Runescape, which he sees as absolute lunacy. "People get this for free. You're shooting yourself in the foot," Gerhard said. "But Sony was ahead of the game; they said they get it. They understand free. But all three said, 'okay, but we won't let our console play online with any other.'"

Gerhard is waiting for the console market to realize cross-play is a universally beneficial strategy, at least with Runescape, as it doesn't have any graphical aspects that favor one console over another. "I think they [Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo] will open up their platforms a bit more, liberate them a bit more. It's just a matter of time," he said. "But we're well placed to be on all devices soon so we can have a global community."

Source: Develop

Tags: cross-platform, jagex, microsoft, nintendo, pc, playstation, ps3, runescape, wii, xbox

Reader Comments (57)

People still play Runescape?

@Xcrucio
Quite a lot of people.

@Xcrucio yes....only about 500k+

@Xcrucio yes there are still people who don't have a life.

@(Unverified) I don't play Runescape, but do you really think that playing console video games (as I assume most of us reading this blog do) is somehow more of a life than playing MMORPGs on your computer?

"some console owners wanted to charge for Runescape, which he sees as absolute lunacy."

We can at least agree on this.

If they bring back old school "wild" I'm down.

@Thiscuddlybear
Pretty sure that they already did this. Haven't played in a long while so I can't say this as a matter of fact.

@Thiscuddlybear

Logged on for the hell of it last month.
There is no trade limit again, the wilderness is back, and there are quite a few new quests. The Grand Exchange got a redesign and looks way different.

I'll let you decide if it's worth it.

@Thiscuddlybear

It's back.

@Thiscuddlybear
It's been back for awhile.. And I believe if they haven't already .. They are letting you buy back banned accounts soon.. Which is great news.. I got quite a few banned accounts lol

oh god... nostalgia rush.

@xyloPhipps
When did it go 3D? I only played it when it was 2D.

Honestly i'd play it as a time killer during summers.

Summers can be brutal game-wise.

I've been waiting for this for years!

God... Just looking at that image hurts me as I know I used to play that game...

Of course it hurts me even more to know that I know (from playing extensively at one point) the exact location of the place that image is taken...

@Red Deer

That's a really old image, that's as old as when I used to still play bout 5/6 years ago.

Or maybe they are just using the Lo-Fi version.

i used to play the shit out of this years ago

Dang Runescape is still going on? I still have my lvl 78 account from like 6 years ago! speaking of which I will sell it for $$$$ I will take any offers :)

@ANOTHERE

So many people started selling RS accounts that the most I've ever seen on go for was $10.

"Thy cause was false, thy skills did lack; see you in Lumbridge when you get back!"

Microsoft being open?

lol

@A Burger Final Fantasy XI is open. cross platform on PS2/PS3, XBox360, and PC

...... but but but, cross platform play?

What about obsessive brand loyalty? What if you love your PS3 and you meet someone in the game that is an Xboxer or a *shudders* PC, your head would simply implode from shock!

I guess they could just include a health warning at the start of the game "Online play may trigger nerdrage head implosion syndrome"

Or they could just admit that consoles of today are what the proprietary PCs of yesteryear were, bite the bullet and just go into the PC market.

@Aguiluz

Hard not to be. We can freely update our rigs, we can freely mod and update our systems accordingly, choose our software and media without it being forced down our throats at extreme charges, and for online play we have dedicated servers, lagfree servers where no one ping rules them all.

Honestly though, I'd rather it be Cross Console. Every game that's released on other consoles and PC. It'd finally breath some freaking life into the market, IE, take away their sharty monopoly and make them HAVE TO COMPETE, constant updates, upgrades, more savings and sales. As it stands now, Microsoft and Sony control all of your multimedia, you either by one or the other, or save for both and try to be "cool".

As it stands though, it's a simple monopoly. Nothing more, nothing less. PC users and MAC users can game together, why can't X-Box and PS3? Are they scared they might have to WORK to bring in customers? Yes, yes they are. Because work actually takes time, rather than shoveling halfbaked consoles that break down (X-Box 360), or 20 different versions with 20 different ways to screw you, and even REMOVING features used to sell the console (PS3).

@Aguiluz

......... first thing, when if ever did I say anything about any platform being superior to another?

I seem to recall pointing out that Console developers/gamers seem to have an irrational phobia of cross platform play. Something that should be the STANDARD not the exception.

At least the gamers part of that has been quite adequately demonstrated via the downvote. Frankly I don't care what you play but all the bickering and infighting between console developers (and by brand loyalty the gamers) only hurts the gamers in the end.

I also stand firmly behind my stance that console gaming is dying (the last true consoles being those from the previous generation XboX PS2 & Gcube), not because of poor games/sales. But because every generation of console the line is further blurred as they move closer to being PCs.

How is that software updating, game patching and full installs to the consoles hard drive working out for ya? I guess you could take that as elitist or simply a welcome to the club.

@Aguiluz

So the issue was mainly you felt I was singling out the PS3, in fairness I had to start somewhere and not having a dart board I simply selected the first console that came to mind and followed with the remaining platforms.

With the notable exception of the Wii, tho I love it to death I don't think its much of a cross platform contender tho it could pull off some games. The Wii-U will likely have the ponies to pull off general cross platforming.

I will attempt in the spirit of fairness to use
( Xbox | PS3 | Wii | PC)
in the future when ever the need arises for a fill in the blank.

Wait, hold on, back up.

Nintendo?

Is this for the Wii U...?

If not, and it's for the Wii, I might have to be interested.

oh man... my childhood ;___;

They should just bring it to the PS3, I'm sure Sony would let them have cross platform play between the PC & PS3 like steam. Sony probably just doesn't want cross platform play with the other consoles considering how MS acts toward PSN. You might as well bring it to the most open console rather than not bring it at all.

Haven't played in a while, but wouldn't mind playing every now and then on my PS3...

@CoolBreeze221
Microsoft acts towards PSN? What? Microsoft has nothing but respect for them, Last time I checked on whatever Micorosft brand podcast they are always cheering the PS3 on.
Ever listen to the Major Nelson Podcast around the time of the PSN Crisis? take a listen and you will see what their true thoughts are.

@killer rin

True that. Just because Microsoft makes one online platform doesn't mean they can't enjoy the other.

What benefit do you get other than a large screen? Runescape can play on almost any CPU, it's not really a pull factor.

@Yothe

Some people just prefer to play on a console compared to a PC...

@CoolBreeze221

It'll probably be only a matter of time before they bring the game to tablets and handhelds as well. Though I don't play the game, it would be quite compelling to "take" the game with me from my PC to my console for when the spouse needs the desktop, and from the console to a tablet for the occasion that nature calls.

Dear Microsoft. I will begin by saying I am a bit of a 360 fanboy. However, FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT US NOSTALGIC, REMOVE THE STICK FROM YOUR RECTUM PLZ.

@Maunder

Considering Microsoft already announced months ago that they are planning to bring free to play games to the 360, I don't see how there could be much of a stick up there ass.

Cross-platform multiplayer? Hell yeah! Oh wait, did that article say Runescape?

Noooooooooooooooo...

"But all three said, 'okay, but we won't let our console play online with any other.'"

Actually, two said we won't, one said what is Internet, how does it work.

7th grade flashback.

Well...If they stop adding more random crap to the game..I wouldnt have quitted

I definitely respect this guy's postion. OTOH...I can also see it from the console companie's side, in the form of 'Okay, so what's in it for me?'. Jagex is demanding the client be free, and Runescape is yet another 'Free to Pay' game (free play is a tiny little patch of land, while 7/8 of the game world requires you to pay), which means *any* money going into the game goes straight to Jagex anyway, not to MS, Sony, and Nintendo. So...there's no benefit whatsoever for the console companies for doing this. :-/

The only hold out seems to be MS. They'll likely be more so with F2P.

Why did you use such an ancient screenshot?

I've been joking about Runescape on PS3 for the longest time and how I'd be interested. I actually am. Any way you look at it, Runescape is impressive to have lasted this long. Heck, I played this game back in elementary school..

I prefer Sherwood Dungeon

http://www.sherwooddungeon.com/

Damn, that's an old picture guys.

Any of these would be better:

http://i.imgur.com/w50zT.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/WgoQs.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/RgV1f.jpg

@Assassin

http://i.imgur.com/gWt9i.jpg

@Assassin

Oh, and I've been looking forward to this for a while.

What? Nintendo actually knew how the Internet worked? NOWAI!!

(Disclaimer: I am quite the Nintendo fan, my first game was on an NES, I have pretty much every console, even the Virtual Boy (which is broken :(), I just don't understand why Nintendo can't do online right.)

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Jagex CEO says Runescape will be cross-console, free-to-play (or else)

Reader Comments (57)

Posted: Aug 28th 2011 4:35PM Xcrucio said

Posted: Aug 28th 2011 5:38PM arucious said

Posted: Aug 28th 2011 7:15PM Janitor said

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Posted: Aug 28th 2011 4:35PM Once known as Shadsy said

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Posted: Aug 28th 2011 4:37PM Faenix said

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Posted: Aug 28th 2011 6:24PM ComedyInK said

Posted: Aug 28th 2011 4:45PM adr916 said

Posted: Aug 28th 2011 4:48PM ANOTHERE said

Posted: Aug 28th 2011 5:01PM Captaindrek1 said

Posted: Aug 28th 2011 4:49PM MentalityOfA said

Posted: Aug 28th 2011 4:51PM A Burger said

Posted: Aug 29th 2011 1:02AM milliniar said

Posted: Aug 28th 2011 4:59PM Scuffles said

Posted: Aug 28th 2011 6:48PM ShivanSwordsman said

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Posted: Aug 28th 2011 8:05PM Scuffles said

Posted: Aug 28th 2011 5:10PM Gooblechev said

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Posted: Aug 28th 2011 5:13PM CoolBreeze221 said

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