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by Arthur-N

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In 2001, Andrew and Paul Gower, created Jagex Ltd., a United Kingdom company which at the time was described by Paul as a "small software company based in England who specialize in producing top-quality Java-games for webpages" which has now grown into creating one of the greatest MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) with more than 10 million free accounts created by players around the world and over 1 million paid accounts for a more wider access of the game.
In the game RuneScape, players create characters and adventure the realm of Gielnor. RuneScape, which launched on January 4th, 2001 is one of the most popular online games in the world, as for it being free (players can pay for a wider gaming experience) and able to be opened by a web browser. However, the game has faced a great problem, since it's beginning. Many players deliberately break the rules, by macroing and scamming, which can lead to Real World Trading (RWT) where players sell items (or accounts) in the game for real money. Jagex for years have put ways in stopping macroing and scamming, but many players complained that it interfered with their gaming experience, and rule breakers always found new ways in cheating.

How Bad is RWT?
Andrew stated that "There has been a significant increase in the amount of real-world trading this year (2007). If we don't find a solution to RWT now, it will ruin RuneScape." In 2006, accounts that were banned by Jagex related to RWT was worth over 200 billion gp (gold pieces, the main currency in RuneScape). In 2007, They banned 525 billion gp which is said to have a value of $2.6 million. Jagex also stated that the majority of the RWT was being done in sweatshops in China and North Korea. They also stated that they wouldn't be able to profit from RWT as many of the accounts that were paid members were being paid by stolen credit cards.

Jagex Stops RWT, for good
Starting in November 2007, Jagex started drastically changing the games content by removing almost every possible way that 2 accounts could transfer a great deal of items and money which has ultimately destroyed the RWT economy. As a result however, they took out multiple popular parts of the game and either drastically limited their abilities or replaced them, usually being less rewarding, or fun. These include dueling, drop parties, wilderness (Player vs. Player), and merchanting.
The reaction by the players was astronomical. There were numerous protests in the game. On the RuneScape official forums (only to members), people on the Rants (a place where players rant about the faults of the game) jumped from an average of 30-130 people to more than 1500. There were many however who approved and understood Jagex's take so the Compliments (where players compliment Jagex and the game) jumped from averages of 0-5 people to up to 80 (the numbers on the Rants and Compliments started to decline around Christmas time). There were a huge amount of quitters as well. Though estimates are unknown, the amount of income received from player memberships in recent months is sure to have declined.

Conclusion
My belief, as a 2.5 year veteran of the game, is that Jagex did indeed make the right choice. Though I did quit the game because of these changes, without them, the game would surely become into a source made only for income, instead of the gaming experience it is known for. I respect Jagex for making the changes, as the game was taking a turn for the worse where it would meet its demise. Instead, Jagex altered the game drastically, regardless of what players thought, as Jagex's mentality is the game's entirety, while one player's mentality is his fun and challenge with the game.
While many players will quit eventually, because of boredom or the game is just not the same as it was during it's "golden ages" (2001-2006), new players will fill in their place. As it is a fact that 35% more accounts are created annually in the game, RuneScape will continue, and still be one of the greatest MMORPGs ever.

Learn more about this author, Arthur-N.

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