Jagex released a press release today, officially announcing MechScape to the press. Even though the press release doesn’t really carry any release date for MechScape. It does contain one very interesting line.
The game — under the code name MechScape — has already generated significant buzz among gaming enthusiasts
They are referring to MechScape as a codename and not as the actual game name. Which is something that is possible since Jagex also owns a trademark for Stellar Dawn. I think the name is a lot better than MechScape to be honest, MechScape sounds too much like RuneScape in space. Jagex doesn’t want that, so they might have decided to change the name. Since the trademark application Stellar Dawn has always been discarded as a FunOrb game. But not every FunOrb game has been trademarked or had their domain registered. If it will be Stellar Dawn or just MechScape is something we will see in the future.
Read the full article for the complete press release.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Mar 25 (MARKET WIRE) –
2009 Game Developer’s Conference — Jagex, Ltd., the largest independent
game developer in United Kingdom, has achieved rapid acceleration in its
business as 2009 progresses, emerging from the two most profitable
quarters in company history and growth among its existing game
properties, RuneScape and FunOrb. On the heels of this momentum, Jagex
will be launching its second, highly anticipated massively multiplayer
online game (MMOG) later this year. The game — under the code name
MechScape — has already generated significant buzz among gaming
enthusiasts, and will appeal to both existing RuneScape players and an
entirely new audience of online gamers.
In addition to strong profits, Jagex has grown in size with three UK-based
offices and nearly 400 employees — 150 of which are dedicated to player
support. Under the guidance of CEO Mark Gerhard, the company continues to
focus on research and development across all games and is emphasizing
player engagement and satisfaction for the coming year.“Jagex’s many achievements throughout 2008 are a direct result of our
long-term commitment to improving all aspects of our games and delivering
continued excellence to our players,” Gerhard said. “From the content,
graphic enhancements and updated game-play mechanisms in RuneScape HD
through the addition of more original games in the FunOrb catalog, Jagex
has remained on the cutting edge of game development. And this is just the
beginning — 2008 was a record-breaking year for Jagex, but we’re most
passionate about raising the bar even higher in 2009.”Maintaining its stronghold as the most popular MMOG worldwide, RuneScape
has five million active players, with one million paying members.
Following the release of RuneScape HD in mid-2008, the vast majority of
RuneScape members have adopted the new version with enthusiasm and
excitement. Even after more than seven years since its original launch,
RuneScape is still evolving: this month Jagex is adding the 150th Quest
to the game, and a Brazilian localization of the game will be released in
Q2.In its ongoing effort to provide players with fresh content and innovate
in the online games space, Jagex is investing development in additional
game properties. Its FunOrb portal for a more time-pressured audience has
grown in only one year to more than one million unique user accounts, in
addition to the RuneScape players who can also access the portal through
existing accounts. As FunOrb continues to generate wide adoption among
online gamers, Jagex will focus on releasing blockbuster titles on the
network in 2009. Additional titles of the same caliber as Arcanist,
Zombie Dawn and Kickabout Leagues will be launched throughout the year.To explore Jagex’s games, visit www.runescape.com, or www.funorb.com.
About Jagex, Ltd.
Jagex, Ltd. is an independent games developer and publisher based in
Cambridge, England, with over 350 employees. With proprietary graphics
compression, game engine and network communication technologies, Jagex
creates online games that are enjoyed by millions of players around the
world. Jagex is online at www.jagex.com.
I don’t think StellarDawn is the new name of Mechscape. They can’t hide something this big from us!
Check out the discussion on:
http://www.mechscapeworld.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=5800
Mechscape will be completely different from Stellar Dawn I think. I can’t wait =]
[...] also proof that it’s actually going to be called MechScape and not Stellar Dawn. Ofcourse it’s still possible that MechScape is just there as the name of the test server to protect the actual name of the game. Then the question [...]
Some people come with the argument that Stellar Dawn in a FunOrb game because it redirects to FunOrb but also other domains from Jagex redirect there like:
http://www.alienscape.com
[...] a recent article I speculated that Stellar Dawn might be the actual name of the game, since in a press release MechScape was referred to as a code [...]
[...] they’re not sure yet what name they will use it might be MechScape, Stellar Dawn or even a different name. The amount of commotion created by the possible change of the name might [...]
Mechscape is gonna be called Stellardawn they trying to keep it secret and not many people know
(but it may be changed to mechscape they haven’t fully decided :P)
There is no such thing as Mechscape beta dont fall for it!
[...] that we discussed the possibility that MechScape’s real name was Stellar Dawn? It seems that more support for this is coming from Ren at MechScape world who [...]
I suspect that Andrew Gower purchased a private copy of the real website domain name under his own name, using private registry data. When the time comes, he’ll sell it to Jagex for 50 cents. That way nothing registered by Jagex shows up anywhere.
Thoughts?
~V
I think it’s unlikely because they want to have the name trademarked and I don’t think you can do that with private registry data.
Hmmm. I am guessing that there are 3 equal options. A) It shall be mechscape after all. B) It shall be Stellar Dawn. or C) They have fooled us all. And equal chance of em all.
Have you heard the news? Jagex is referring to MechScape as Stellar Dawn.
http://www.mechtower.com/news/255/stellar-dawn-postponed/