After spending the 12 months speaking about the necessity to overhaul RuneScape’s much-maligned microtransaction system, Jagex is placing the matter within the arms of the folks: The corporate has opened a ballot on the RuneScape web site and if a minimum of 100,000 gamers vote to scrap Treasure Hunter, the sport’s “main microtransaction layer,” it’s going to be eliminated.
“Since Squeal of Fortune was launched in 2012, and subsequently Treasure Hunter in 2014, our strategy to monetisation has, over time, eroded among the integrity on the coronary heart of RuneScape,” Jagex CEO John Bellamy mentioned in at the moment’s ballot announcement.
“Essentially the most regarding parts of our MTX methods have been people who allowed gamers to bypass core gameplay, skipping over the depth, problem, and sense of discovery that make RuneScape actually particular. Whereas these methods have helped fund the sport, they’ve executed so at a price to one thing far higher: the integrity of our worlds. This vote is about correcting that, and taking a step towards designing experiences which are truthful, rewarding, and constructed to final.”
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The deliberate adjustments aren’t nearly microtransactions. Bellamy mentioned a “sure” vote will result in “a large roster of integrity-driven updates, from the decluttering of Gielinor to tackling the worst Dailiyscape [RuneScape’s daily challenges] offenders and revisiting the fight establishment.”
“This can be a time to be daring, and to make probably the most essential selections in RuneScape’s historical past collectively. This determination means dramatic change. Due to our experiments, we consider greater than ever that that is the street to a vibrant and thriving future for RuneScape.”
Given how keen Jagex clearly is to ditch Treasure Hunt, I’ve to marvel why it does not simply go forward and do it. My guess can be that after alienating gamers by mountain climbing costs and cancelling in-game Satisfaction occasions, the corporate is aware of it is acquired actual work to do to get them again onside. This ballot could also be largely theatrical, however it’s additionally a fairly good approach to make gamers really feel like they’re being heard.
Not that it actually issues: Just some hours after the vote went dwell, it is already greater than midway to its goal, so that is clearly going to occur. Even as soon as the purpose is surpassed, Jagex is encouraging gamers to pile it on: “Each single vote past this level acts as a transparent sign of how far you suppose we should always take these plans, growing our funding and give attention to delivering stronger integrity in our roadmap.”
