Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[God save the green: Deal makes Jagex a US company]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/god-save-the-green-deal-makes-jagex-a-us-company/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/god-save-the-green-deal-makes-jagex-a-us-company/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/god-save-the-green-deal-makes-jagex-a-us-company/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Jagex
Jagex is trading up the Union Jack for the Stars and Stripes, as controlling interest in the studio has changed hands to a US firm.

Insight Venture Partners, a venture capital firm from the US, completed a deal last year to increase its ownership to 55% of the UK-based company. Previously, the firm had 35% interest in Jagex. Now that the scales have tipped to the new ownership, this technically makes Jagex a US-controlled company and has US investors leading its board of directors.

While revenues were up 2% for Jagex in 2011, both operating and net profits were significantly down from the previous financial year. Jagex is a major player in the MMO free-to-play market, with RuneScape, Transformers Universe, and 8Realms as part of its project portfilio.

Develop reports that the controlling interest was made possible by Jagex co-founder Andrew Gower selling off his ownership claims to the firm for $115.65 million. As part of the deal, Jagex paid $3.85 million in expenses. The studio will remain in Cambridge while its controlling firm is in NYC.

MassivelyGod save the green: Deal makes Jagex a US company originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8realmsandrew-gowerboard-of-directorsbreakingcontrolling-interestdealinsight-venture-brothersinvestorsjagexjagex-game-studiosprofitprofitsrevenuerevenuesrunescapetakeovertransformers-universeukusMon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the Forbidden RuneScape: The highlights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/30/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-forbidden-runescape-the-highligh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/30/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-forbidden-runescape-the-highligh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/30/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-forbidden-runescape-the-highligh/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Game Archaeologist is a lazy adventurer-slash-professor who dons his trademark cap for a weekly expedition through some of the most famous MMOs of the past few decades. Each month he chooses a different title to examine its highlights, talk with its developers, and invite its fans to share their experiences.

I don't know about you, but when I first heard of RuneScape a few years back, it was sold to me as "the poor person's World of Warcraft." In fact, I knew several teens who couldn't afford a monthly WoW subscription and had to "make do" with RuneScape as an alternative, and so I mentally filtered the title as being outside of my sphere of interest and moved on with my life.

That was when I started to crochet. All adventurers should know how to crochet as a survival trait.

In retrospect, I should've ignored the stigma and checked it out for myself, because while the above may be true for some, RuneScape deserved a lot better than to be blown off by a dismissive comment. No matter how some have pigeon-holed it as being less than worthy of proper MMO status, RuneScape is a behemoth of a game in both size, features and playerbase. In fact, as of right now, RuneScape holds the #2 spot for players, boasting a population well into the eight digits.

So as of this month, we shall endeavor to put away any ignorant stances as we explore one of the most popular and longest-running MMOs of our time. Join me after the jump as I share RuneScape's greatest highlights -- and exactly why none of us should underestimate this game again.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Forbidden RuneScape: The highlights

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the Forbidden RuneScape: The highlights originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accountsactive-playersandrew-gowerbandwidthbest-buybrowserbusiness-modelsdellf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumgameboyguinness-world-recordshighlightshistoryhousingi-miss-farscapejagexpaul-gowerplayer-owned-housingpohrunescaperunescape-2runescape-classicskill-basedskill-based-mmosskillsthe-game-archaeologistWorld-of-WarcraftwowTue, 30 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jagex Founders join Sunday Times Rich List]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/26/jagex-founders-join-sunday-times-rich-list/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/26/jagex-founders-join-sunday-times-rich-list/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/26/jagex-founders-join-sunday-times-rich-list/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Earlier this month, we talked a bit about the impressive revenue and profits that Jagex have seen over the past few years, mostly thanks to the long-running success of Runescape. The company began small but saw steadily increasing success over the years, eventually pulling in record profits.

The revenue numbers gave Jagex another feather in their cap as founders Andrew and Paul Gower joined the Sunday Times Rich List with their £138 million fortune. The brothers earned another £39 million in 2009, making them the "483rd richest in the UK, ahead of the likes of David Bowie (£100m), Sir Tom Jones (£135m) and Phil Collins (£108m)." Solely from a game industry standpoint, the runner-up for the richest developer title goes to Jon Burton, the developer of Traveller's Tales. He netted a respectable £75 million when his company was purchased by Time Warner.

Check out the full story at Develop Online.

[via Gamasutra]

MassivelyJagex Founders join Sunday Times Rich List originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andrew-gowerdevelop-onlinegamasutrajagexjon-burtonpaul-gowerrunescapetravellers-talesMon, 26 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A chat with Runescape's Andrew Gower]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/15/a-chat-with-runescapes-andrew-gower/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/15/a-chat-with-runescapes-andrew-gower/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/15/a-chat-with-runescapes-andrew-gower/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Recently, Runescape sent along a chat with their Lead Developer and Co-founder Andrew Gower. In this chat, Gower explains the history of the game, what he does for the team and what he sees for the future.

One of the major highlights of this chat is the fact that Runescape is said to be right on target with their initial plan with the game. Gower says that it was always meant to be a graphically-advanced social game, and it has not only exceeded in achieving this, but their plans for the future of Runescape HD is even greater. Check out the complete chat just after the jump.

Continue reading A chat with Runescape's Andrew Gower

MassivelyA chat with Runescape's Andrew Gower originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andrew-gowere3-2008e308interviewjagexrunescaperunescape-hdTue, 15 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST