Blizzard "probably very arrogant" - Jagex

By Robert Purchese Published 27 July, 2010

"Perhaps even over-self-assured."

Jagex chief Mark Gerhard believes success has brought arrogance to Blizzard. He told Eurogamer that the World of Warcraft and StarCraft II maker now appears to be giving "two fingers up" to a democratised community.

"They've become very successful and, as a result, probably very arrogant - perhaps even over-self-assured," Gerhard said.

Publishing players' real names as part of the controversial Real ID Battle.net feature would have been "shameful", he added.

"People want and need online games as an escape. You don't want more real-life, because for most people that's quite dull. Making everyone in your community real all of a sudden, exposing them... 18 year-old Billy and 19 year-old Susie and whatever else... It certainly wouldn't resonate with our community.

"The strength of online games when done well," Gerhard offered," is that you democratise the whole service, the whole game. And Blizzard seems to be giving two fingers up to that. This is their implementation."

Jagex has, since 2001, run free-to-play browser-based MMO RuneScape. That game now holds a Guinness World Record for the most registered users, over 140 million, and claims to have around 10 million active players. Gerhard believes RuneScape is second only to World of Warcraft.

Jagex has also started work on a new MMO called Stellar Dawn, runs casual gaming portal FunOrb and has begun publishing third-party free-to-play MMOs ("helping to market" is a phrase Gerhard perfers). Believe it or not, Jagex is the UK's biggest publisher and developer, employing around 250 staff. Gerhard said his company was "certainly" on Blizzard's map.

"I know we are," said Gerhard with a wink. "I know they have a huge amount of respect for what Jagex does.

"They certainly looked to Jagex in the early days. There's no doubt that they set a higher bar and played very, very aggressively and commercially about their product [World of Warcraft]. That's cool; it's not our modus operandi.

"Equally, I respect them hugely. It's very good to have a serious competitor," he added. "You've always got to be careful when you're number one because the only way is down. It's a great place for Jagex to be, at number two if you will, because we've always got someone to sharpen our eye on."

"We're someone they should be worried about in the future."

Not wanting to give Gerhard carte blanche to ride roughshod over Blizzard, we accused Jagex of being arrogant themselves.

"Jagex isn't about RuneScape and just RuneScape," Gerhard replied.

"We're a multi-product company. I can assure you that there's no arrogance anywhere within Jagex's fabric. I suppose with success comes a certain confidence. Very often it's in the early days of any studio where you doubt yourself a lot: it's fun for me but will it resonate, will other people want this?

"We've had years and years and years of trying things, and some work and some don't. Our precision when we make a decision on content, gameplay, mechanics, aesthetics, is more assured. But I certainly don't think there's any arrogance.

"While I certainly have a great deal of confidence and great expectations for what RuneScape will do in the future, at the same time we're innovating by making massive investments in products and things like that."

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (64) Latest comment 6 months ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • neilka #1 2 years ago

    Tell me more of this "19-year old Susie"

  • MiniAmin #2 2 years ago

    One man's confidence is another man's arrogance. Tomatoes, Tomatoes.

  • ratmaggot #3 2 years ago

    Slag of Blizz BLAH BLAH BLAH

    Same ol.

  • Bigglesworth #4 2 years ago

    18-year-old Billy and 46-year-old Dennis, more like.

  • darkmorgado #5 2 years ago

    "Jagex isn't about RuneScape and just RuneScape," Gerhard replied.

    "We're a multi-product company. I can assure you that there's no arrogance anywhere within Jagex's fabric."

    So you can't be arrogant if you have more than one product? Apply that logic to Blizzard then, who have WoW, Warcraft, Starcraft, Diablo, that new IP they keep hinting at, and their older back catalogue. So, Blizzard can't be arrogant.

    His logic falls at the very first hurdle.
    Also, is it me or does he seem to spend more time talking about Blizzard in interviews than he does his own company? Seems very insecure...

    EDIT - I'm not saying that Blizzard are/aren't arrogant, just that this guys reasoning is flawed.
    Edited by 1 at 27/07/10 @ 15:40

  • geeza2020 #6 2 years ago

    Might be because Runescape is just a bit rubbish.

  • Timbercottage #7 2 years ago

    I can't think of anything more arrogant than thinking "If I slag off Blizzard enough, everyone will love Jagex! The World will be MINE! MWAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!"
    Edited by 1 at 27/07/10 @ 15:45

  • Diogo_Ribeiro #8 2 years ago

    Yes, people want to escape from the reality when they're held responsible for their actions. They got it back. Case closed.

    I hear Activision is pretty arrogant these days, Jagex.
    Edited by 1 at 27/07/10 @ 15:46

  • LetsGo #9 2 years ago

    So, Jagex, you really think Blizzard are worried about you and Runescape?

    Seriously...

  • Eraysor #10 2 years ago

    It's cool to hate! Or so this idiot thinks.

  • TheBoyChris #11 2 years ago

    1. Blizzard propose solution to problem online in forums
    2. Forums say "good GOD NO SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN..."
    3. Blizzard retract solution and apologise.

    How is this arrogant again? Surely if they were that arrogant they'd have just done it anyway, as we've seen many many times before?

  • sneetch #12 2 years ago

    @MiniAmin
    One man's confidence is another man's arrogance.

    Just thinking that very same thing MiniAmin, I would suggest that he looks up the definition of the word arrogant:

    "We're someone they should be worried about in the future."

    ar·ro·gant

    1 : exaggerating or disposed to exaggerate one's own worth or importance often by an overbearing manner

  • M4RV #13 2 years ago

    @TheBoyChris:

    Blizzard did retract, but apologies...?!?! Where...?! There's a considerable difference between an "apology" and "sweeping under the rug", in a less than a discret fashion truth be told.

  • superfurry #14 2 years ago

    Jagix sounds pretty arrogant himself, criticising a company for rowing back on an unpopular decision.

  • Hypercube #15 2 years ago

    @darkmorgado - I think those two comments aren't necessarily connected. I don't think he's saying that because they have more than one game they're not arrogant. I think (and I'll be the first to admit it's not clear) that he's saying one thing about Jagex's portfolio and then something about how they're not getting arrogant.

    However, this is a very obvious PR exercise on their part. It's the equivalent of "I have an opinion on (insert large and successful company name here) and by the way did I mention we have a game?"

    Edit: I used angle brackets and it all went tits up :(
    Edited by 1 at 27/07/10 @ 16:11

  • ChthonicEcho #16 2 years ago

    I find it hilarious how he goes on about how he finds Blizzard to be a worthy competitor. Runescape? A competitor to World of Warcraft? Mark, the janitor at Blizzard HQ is probably paid more than you.

  • Grom #17 2 years ago

    Jagix is a pretty cool guy, eh makes MMOs and doesn't afraid of Blizzard

  • darkmorgado #18 2 years ago

    @Hypercube,

    Ah I see now. Cheers for that.

    Asperger's strikes again!

    EDIT - I still think he has no solid foundation on which to accuse Blizzard of being arrogant though, especially when - as someone else has said - his own comments in that interview show blatant arrogance.
    Edited by 1 at 27/07/10 @ 16:12

  • Jackface #19 2 years ago

    This entire diatribe of his is predicated on the fact that Blizzard now insists on knowing everyone's real names.

    Except, of course, Blizzard proposed it and was shouted down so they abandoned the idea.

    QED, this entire diatribe is just bullshit posturing.

  • Hypercube #20 2 years ago

    @darkmorgado - You've got no argument from me on that. He does come across as "excessively assured of his own confidence"...

  • FWB #21 2 years ago

    "They've become very successful and, as a result, probably very arrogant - perhaps even over-self-assured," Gerhard said.

    Do they know a dirty word?






    I'll get my coat.

  • Spekingur #22 2 years ago

    People are defending Blizzard... they don't need you to defend them. That's why they employ lawyers for :p

    I have this strange like/dislike for Blizzard.
    Dislike: They joined with Activision - what a bafoony decision. They make more money that Scrooge McDuck and they don't seem to churn out expansions in accordance. And you have to pay for these expansions. (And to a lesser extent, no lifetime subs.)
    Like: They created Diablo. And Starcraft. And Warcraft 1&2. And The Lost Vikings.

  • DanForinton #23 2 years ago

    I think this has more to do with the acres of press coverage Blizzard has been getting of late due to one thing and another and he just wants in on some of the free publicity.

  • UncleLou #24 2 years ago

    I think this has more to do with the acres of press coverage Blizzard has been getting of late due to one thing and another and he just wants in on some of the free publicity.

    Could be, or maybe they just asked him about Blizzard.

  • Hypercube #25 2 years ago

    Could be, or maybe they just asked him about Blizzard.

    There you go, being all sensible and stuff.

    Good point, we don't know what the rest of the conversation was.

  • heflys #26 2 years ago

    So, Blizzard proposes an idea, quickly rescinds it when they realize it doesn't sit well with fans, and that makes them arrogant? So......What do we label companies like Ubisoft, who force intrusive and unstable copy protection on their fans, and proclaim it to be in the user's "best interest?" Being antagonistic?

    "We're someone they should be worried about in the future."

    Yes, Jagex, you certainly don't sound "arrogant."
    Edited by 1 at 27/07/10 @ 17:01

  • Abscido #27 2 years ago

    Nice article Rob ... good to see a substantial interview in the news section, it read well.

  • urbanrider #28 2 years ago

    Jagex now appear deluded and arrogant to me, not Blizzard lol.

    Epic backfire

  • Jackface #29 2 years ago

    I must say it was a good move getting a dedicated news editor. Wesley has been pretty fast at getting new developments in the industry into the EG news column, much faster than it used to be.

    I realise this wasn't a Wesley post, but I just felt moved to comment in general. :)
    Edited by 1 at 27/07/10 @ 16:53

  • TheBoyChris #30 2 years ago

    @M4RV

    Fair point - they didn't actually apologise. They instead thanked their community for the feedback and wrote an open and frank post about what they wanted to achieve, and how they were going to achieve it:
    [link url=http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread. html?topicId=25968987278&sid=1
    ]http://fo rums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread...[/link]

    Blizzard are pretty good at this and they're very communicative with their fanbase (as the world leading MMORPG developer needs to be...) - I don't see where people get off calling them arrogant.

  • ircaddicts #31 2 years ago

    Theres no probley about it. Blizzard ARE and have ALLWAYS been arrogant thier fanbois are even worse. As will be shown by the massive amount of - vote I will get for this post. and any other thats dares to say that any blizzard game is not the best thing EVAR.

  • McBradders #32 2 years ago

    My one brush with Jagex was the very definition of 'arrogance'. Nice try though lawlz.

  • TruSmiles #33 2 years ago

    Seems to be a lot of Jagex related news lately.. Free advertising for their new game, maybe?

  • makeamazing #34 2 years ago

    Considering the success of their games, i think Blizzard could be much much more arrogant (even though i cant say i've seen anything to that affect)...especially when you compare them to the rest of the industry.... while Jagex are starting to get on my nerves with this bigging themselves up.... seriously get a grip.

  • TravisTouchdown #35 2 years ago

    @ChthonicEcho: Regardless of whether or not what he's saying makes him a tool - in any of our opinions - it's probably best no one starts harping on about pay when it comes to Jagex: http://en .wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Gowe...

  • Nephirion #36 2 years ago

    Blizzard = Arrogant
    Manchester United = Arrogant
    Tony Hayward = Arrogant
    The French = Arrogant

  • Shikasama #37 2 years ago

    The people in this comments thread laughing at Runescape being a competitor to World of Warcraft clearly have very little knowledge of the MMO world in general. Warcraft is nowhere near the most played, even of paid MMOs.

  • paulf #38 2 years ago

    arrogant would have been not listening to the backlash and going ahead with the real names on forums anyway

  • MiniAmin #39 2 years ago

    @ Shikasama

    That information surprises me. Do you have a link or source?

  • Sharzam #40 2 years ago

    @Miniamin

    In terms of subscribers (paying sub fees) wow is indeed the biggest:
    [link url=http://www.brighthub.com/video-games/mmo/articles/35 992.aspx
    ]http://ww w.brighthub.com/video-games/mmo...[/link]

    However when you consider games that use microtransactions and free to pay the scale changes quite a bit however it is difficult to get numbers for this as a large part is andotal.
    <a href="http://www.mmodata.net/ ">http://www.mmodata.net/ </a>
    (see PCU in particular)


    As you can see there is actually a huge amount of MMOs out there.
    http://www.mmorpg. com/gamelist.cfm
    Edited by 3 at 27/07/10 @ 18:25

  • Sicho #41 2 years ago

    @MiniAmin
    as far as I know, WoW sold around +/- 12 Mio. copies ... Add-Ons not included (since they are only bought by people who already own the main game)

    LineAge II for example sold 18 Mio. copies.

    The main difference is that WoW has also around 12 Mio. active subscriptions while Lineage II only has a million subscriptions left ... but still, the game sold 18 million. And 18 million > 12 million ;)

    I'm sure you can google these numbers ... all I wrote here came right out of my memory ... so no guarantee for accuracy
    Edited by 1 at 27/07/10 @ 18:25

  • Perfecto #42 2 years ago

    +1 Jealousy goes to Jagex

  • a8a #43 2 years ago

    Jagex "make shit games" - Me

    Postulating how worried the most subscribed MMO developer in the world is about your company reeks of arrogance. But that's hardly surprising, I already knew Jagex were proper ****s.

  • Talk_Show_Host #44 2 years ago

    What an absolute ass. I was going to check RuneScape but after this I won't waste a minute on it.

    He seems so desperate to compete with Blizzard in order to... make noise that it's pathetic.

    Also, if he is serious that Blizzard should be afraid of them, then he also needs to be institutionalized.

    This man is worse than Kotick. Which means he is worse than shit.

  • curtlikesmeat #45 2 years ago

    This guy sounds like a bit of a nob in this interview, which probably wasn't his intent.

    To compare Runescape to WoW is laughable - Runescape is poor when compared to most mainstream games (I'd rather play the original Everquest). It's impressive to women who haven't played games before and children whose parents won't pay for their subscription to WoW.

    Since someone mentioned Man United this reminds me of the big flag they some times have hanging in the Stretford End; "Manchester United. Not arrogant, just better." - same thing with WoW.

  • tenofspades #46 2 years ago

    not so sure it was arrogance- but not thought through. The idea was good trying to make people accountable on forums and less likely to flame, but it was ill-thought through.

  • makeamazing #47 2 years ago

    My kids play runescape, and its great for kids, but its pretty much poor in the tech stakes, its like going back to the early 90's or something. Its impressive considering the money they make, but the game is certainly not better than something like Ultima and look how old that is.

    I dont know about anyone else, but i am kinda getting sick and tired of the "slating other companies to promote your own" type situation that is going on at the moment.

  • dirtysteve #48 2 years ago

    "We're someone they should be worried about in the future."

    Not now though eh?

    Also "I can assure you that there's no arrogance anywhere within Jagex's fabric." - plenty of snideness all the same.

    The industry is getting very publicly bitchy, or maybe it' jut slow news sesaon.

  • spudsbuckley #49 2 years ago

    So the creator of the most un-installed piece of software in history is taking a pop at a company he mistakenly believes to be his competition?

  • Chazmeister #50 2 years ago

    Well it's inevitable that at some point an MMO will come along and turn WoW into a fading memory much like has happend to UO and EQ, but I don't think that a Jagex game will be the one to do it.

  • MiniAmin #51 2 years ago

    Thanks Sicho and Sharzam

  • Mark1412 #52 2 years ago

    I think if I'd made games like World of Warcraft, Diablo and Starcraft I'd probably feel a little confident in myself. If they were full on complacently arrogant they'd have gone ahead with the ID thing. This just sounds like masked envy.

  • urban #53 2 years ago

    umm, all this told me is that jagex are over-confident.

  • mingster #54 2 years ago

    Too right Blizzard are cocky i've been playing Starcraft 2 all night it's absolutely amazing.
    They are the best PC developer by a country mile!

  • Fozzie_bear #55 2 years ago

    Breaking News: Man from games company nobody cares about has a pop at successful developer on the day that their big new game is released in desperate bid for some free publicity.

    Eurogamer falls for it.

    More later... if anyone else gives him the chance.

  • Eraysor #56 2 years ago

    Perhaps this guy should play some SC2 and realise that it blows 99.9% of all other videogames out of the water.

  • darkmorgado #57 2 years ago

    Agreed...

    After spending all nigt playing SC2 (having just managed to tear myself away), I am calling shenanigans if I see a score lower than 8/10. It really is that good.

    People will say "oh it's just another RTS game where you build bases" but they need to see just how varied the SP campaign is, how every mission requires very specific tactics and unit selection, how the narrative is relayed, the RPG-style upgrade mechanics between missions, the awesome multiplayer options, the gorgeous art style, the (rather 80s but still awesome) music...

    And who would have thought that SC2 would fully embrace being a Western? For god's sake, you can play Suspicious Minds by elvis on the in-game jukebox!

    And then there's that extremely addictive bullet-hell shooter hidden in the cafetiria...

  • Goodfella #58 2 years ago

    And then there's that extremely addictive bullet-hell shooter hidden in the cafetiria...

    Not exactly hidden is it. :p

    Anyway, yeah I agree with all you said, it took some effort to tear myself away from the game last night having spent most of the day on it...yes I know, sad.

  • 5h1nj1 #59 2 years ago

    What the hell is this guy even saying? What was the point? What exactly is the base for "probably arrogant"? :D
    Either is this terribly out of context, or he is talking some serious nonsense.

  • RealityCheque #60 2 years ago

    This from the company that tells prospective recruits that they've got zero staff turnover... when there are websites out there listing reasons why they are horrible to work for.

  • actionfitz #61 2 years ago

    "Not wanting to give Gerhard carte blanche to ride roughshod over Blizzard, we accused Jagex of being arrogant themselves.

    "Jagex isn't about RuneScape and just RuneScape," Gerhard replied."


    Touché!

  • Beltsu #62 2 years ago

    Excuse me, but you are?... Oh, nvm. Let me just go back to play a real game, like WoW or SC2...

  • Sanz #63 1 year ago

    "We're someone they should be worried about in the future."

    -----

    Not with your practically non-existent customer service, ageing graphics and terrible updates. Did I also mention your mission to try and control fansites? You're only pushing what little left of your customers you have away.

    Stop kidding yourself please.

  • chaotic396 #64 6 months ago

    ROFL, you serious? Jagex is a piss poor company that can't make a decent game for shit. Let's face it, Runeshit is really the only game keeping the lights on in their building, and even thats dying out thanks to the free trade which brought in goldsellers, bots, farmers, etc. They have their gay little flashgames also, but let's face it, not alot of people actually play them lmao. Sorry jagex that Real ID bothers you because Blizz has a mature community and its not always a "whoever has the biggest dick all compitition" all the time. This post seriously made my day, made an account just to post this BAAAAHAHAH, thanks for the laugh, mark gayhard.