| Codemasters' RF Online Shutting Down
Codemasters announced this week that their first free-to-play MMO, RF Online, will be shutdown on November 10th, 2008. Codemasters cited failed talks with the original Korean developers as the reason behind the discontinued title, after 3 years of operation.
RF Online European Game Servers To Close
It is with much sadness that today we announce our intention to close the European and North American RF Online game servers operated by Codemasters.
Our licence for RF Online is due to expire shortly and unfortunately, despite several weeks of negotiations with CCR, the Korean developers of the title, we have not been able to reach an agreement to renew the contract.
This means that Codemasters will no longer have the right to operate the service in the Western territories it currently provides service in and therefore we are obliged to shut down all associated game services before the licence expires.
The last full day of service will be 9th November, 2008. All RF Online world servers will shut down on the morning of Monday 10th November, UK time.
The purchase of credits is now no longer available to ensure all players have the opportunity to spend their remaining Novus credits in game. Likewise, the creation of new RF Online game accounts/subscriptions is now disabled. For further information, please see our RF Online Closing Down FAQ in the forums.
RF Online was Codemasters Online's first MMO service and we have been very proud of its development and success during its three years of existence. It was also one of the first Eastern-style MMORPGs to ever make it to Western market and do well and it's with much fondness that we look back and remember these achievements.
We'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who declared their allegiance and gave us their support with RF Online over the past few years and especially, to thank all the players who spent countless hours with us in Novus.
The Codemasters Online Team
www.codemasters.com
Seems like 2008 will be marked as the year of MMO shutdowns, which might mean that online gaming industry is sprinting closely towards maturity. Best luck to the entire RF Online team in their future prospects!
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| I played RF Online back when the game had a box and a monthly subscription fee. The game itself was alright, but there were some serious communication issues between the Codemasters staff and the subscribers. It seems that even after going free to play, the communication issues persisted, according to the rampant problems over on the official forums.
I can't say I'm impressed; after paying for a box and months upon months of subscription fees, I felt cheated knowing that other people would get the same experience for free, and I would receive no compensation for all my invested money. I'm sure there's some decent people over at Codemasters, and it's sad that they may be out of a job over this, however I do feel like Codemasters got what they deserve.
Let's just say, I don't feel secure in playing anything Codemasters releases in the future. |
| That's definitely a feeling shared with many other paying-to-free players, assuming that paying customers deserved to receive some form of compensation. I think Codemasters should've followed the Anarchy Online model and restricted some content to free players.
Still, it's always a hard swallow when your favorite toon and familiar world disappear. |
| Well, on top of the transition in business models from subscriptions to microtransactions, all five of the RF Online servers were merged into one, which personally upset me.
As for compensation, just some of their cash shop currency would have been a sufficient form of appeasement to keep players happy. It's almost like they were actively trying to lose players, judging by the way they treated people. They really need to consider rethinking their style of public relations. |
Codemasters' RF Online Shutting Down
Codemasters announced this week that their first free-to-play MMO, RF Online, will be shutdown on November 10th, 2008. Codemasters cited failed talks with the original Korean developers as the reason behind the discontinued title, after 3 years of operation.
Seems like 2008 will be marked as the year of MMO shutdowns, which might mean that online gaming industry is sprinting closely towards maturity. Best luck to the entire RF Online team in their future prospects!
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