Runescape header

Note: Runescape announced they broke 1 million subscribers in early May, 2007.
Runescape is now reportedly at 800,000 subscribers (with, they claim, 5 million unique users/month), and recently broke 200,000 simultaneous players. Will it be the second Western game to break a million subscribers? Here’s the Google Trend data for search volume. As you can see, the growth rate is declining, though growth continues.

Google trend data

I’m guessing it’s going to make it to a million subscribers, but I don’t think it’s going to go much higher than that. Poor Jagex!

I’m fascinated by Runescape. The Gower brothers, who are now tied with Prince William at 10th place in the list of the richest people 30 and under in the UK, are the ultimate bedroom-developers-make-good story. I believe that Runescape is the most successful indie game ever made and is quickly moving up the list of the most successful games ever made, period (though it’s not going to be taking down Goliaths like the Sims or WoW anytime soon). Of course, I can’t stand playing the game. I have a subscription there and I log in occasionally to check out new stuff, but I find the entire experience of Runescape to be painful. It makes me feel a little old and out of touch, actually, since clearly a huge audience loves it.