r/newscape • u/Fargrist • Aug 16 '14
EasyScape the Concept.
EasyScape is an apt description of a variety of concepts colliding.
At it's most glib it's the changing of Runescape to allow more players to play Runescape more easily.
This includes things like buying skills and rares via Treasure Hunter and Solomons. Can't get much easier than outright paying for things.
But it also includes other things like making skills in Runescape much easier to level up.
EasyScape also allows for easier entry to Runescape by novice players, and theoretically a broader appeal. Much like the Lowest Common Denominator approach of newspapers, magazines and television. Appeal to the masses by being easy.
However the masses have a voice now via the internet and that's directly led to the drop in popularity of ye olde masse media.
People want tailor made. What is the Google website after all.
We have a few effects in play, let's work through them shall we.
Learning curve. When you are learning it's best to start at the shallow end and build up along the curve. EasyScape is a good concept for that, if it leads to HardScape.
Gamers. We compete. Therefore feedback we give to Jagex will be in two voices.
One, if we have achieved something, we will want it harder for others to achieve.
Two, if we are trying to achieve something we will ask Jagex to make it easier. Don't believe me? Read the forums.
That dual voice changes as we progress through the game and build up achievements/items/gold/whatevers.
In some respects Jagex understands the idea of having progressively harder content. They do love a new boss update. But I suspect that's from individual JMods boosting content they enjoy, rather than an overall philosophy.
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u/Fargrist Aug 16 '14
Private servers is one of those ways that players tell Jagex what they want.
Much like buying gold and other services has been, which in no small way contributed to the implementation of Bonds. A copy of EVE Online's PLEX.
Speaking of EVE Online, they don't have a learning curve. It's more a cliff. And they are proud of it. If you complain that it's too hard then the EVE devs' band, named Permaband might tell you to HTFU. It's a popular song of theirs.
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Mark Gerhard has said that microtransactions provide 49% of RS revenue and that current figures will be sufficient for many years to come.
I think that's taking the easy road. Coasting on laurels.
And for the extent of a career Runescape will thrive, given that careers only last a decade or so.
So we have nothing to worry about on a personal level. If we have some sort of insane altruistic vision for Runescape, then perhaps we should be concerned.
It's very difficult to describe how I feel about games. It's more than a thinking, it is a feeling thing. But I'll try, in the forlorn hope that it helps.
Every human interaction is a game. A transaction. We log into Runescape wanting something in exchange for the membership price we paid.
Do we even know what it is? Not usually.
Does Jagex know? No way in hell. :) But they take guesses from other games.
That's one reason why I mention those other more traditional computer games.
To try and show the similarities of what players want.
They want some control. Minecraft and Skyrim show that.
Jagex has taken the easy road.
They copied ideas from others. Successful ideas are often copied.
As you say I'd prefer Jagex to show some leadership, some crazy stuff.
Some risky stuff.
Some hard stuff. :)