Jagex Transformers: Universe Closing in January 2015
Tuesday, December 16th, 2014 12:00PM CST
Categories: Game News, Company NewsPosted by: Va'al Views: 61,060
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After the news last month that Jagex employees were being laid off, we now have confirmation from the Transformers: Universe website that the game is effectively shutting down - despite never really exiting the beta phase - as of the end of January 2015. You can read more about this below, including how to recover anything you may have spent on Founder packs.
Today Jagex and Hasbro can confirm that Transformers Universe will close. This decision comes at an important time for both companies as they both realign their plans and focuses for 2015.
What does this mean for our players?
We’re hugely disappointed, but the game will be closing over the coming weeks before its full closure at 10am GMT on 31st January 2015.
As a team, we can’t thank players enough for the support that they have shown us over the last few years of development, and even more so during our BETA period.
What’s next?
The shutdown period will begin from today. As part of the winding down we will be refunding all those that have purchased a Founders Pack, as well as anyone that has purchased relic bundles and starter packs. These refunds should be all processed in the next 30 days. In addition we will be closing the ability for new players to make accounts, those of you that already have accounts will continue to be able to use them until the closure date.
If you haven’t received a refund after 16th January 2015 and believe you should have, then please contact the Jagex customer services team (tu_refunds@support.jagex.com). We will also be pushing an update live today that will switch off the ability for players to buy any more relic packs, or starter bundles.
As mentioned, on 31st Jan 2015 @ 10am GMT we will be shutting down all servers and forums and will freeze all Transformers Universe related accounts. These accounts will then be live for another 60 days (approx.) for any final queries before deletion on 31st March 2015.
Between now and the date of closure the Jagex CM team will continue to operate on the forums and we will provide relevant updates on the website as necessary.
If you have any queries about your account or refunds please contact our customer support team on tu_refunds@support.jagex.com. Please understand that they may be very busy during this time but they will respond as quickly as possible.
Thank You
Once again we want to thank all of the players that have played Transformers Universe and all those that have worked on the project. We’re sure you have thoughts and feelings that you’d like to share on this, so please do so on our forums. Please bear in mind that this is obviously a challenging time for all involved, especially the CM team. There will be plenty of things we can’t comment on, so please respect their position.
Sincerely
Transformers Universe Development Team
Credit(s): Transformers: Universe
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Re: Jagex Transformers: Universe Closing in January 2015 (1630475)
Posted by Sabrblade on December 16th, 2014 @ 12:24pm CST
Posted by Sabrblade on December 16th, 2014 @ 12:24pm CST
Welp, so much for possibly filling in a massive, needing-to-be-filled, yet-to-be-explored hole in the Aligned timeline.
Re: Jagex Transformers: Universe Closing in January 2015 (1630480)
Posted by Mindmaster on December 16th, 2014 @ 12:27pm CST
Posted by Mindmaster on December 16th, 2014 @ 12:27pm CST
What a shame... I was excited at the prospect of a Transformers MMO, too. By the makers of RuneScape, no less! Hopefully another company will take a whack at it in the future.
Though I never really cared for it, either.. When I first tried to play it, it was practically unplayable for me: ridiculous amounts of lag and the controls were slightly confusing to me.
Though I never really cared for it, either.. When I first tried to play it, it was practically unplayable for me: ridiculous amounts of lag and the controls were slightly confusing to me.
Re: Jagex Transformers: Universe Closing in January 2015 (1630483)
Posted by Grahf_ on December 16th, 2014 @ 12:33pm CST
Posted by Grahf_ on December 16th, 2014 @ 12:33pm CST
I guess that rumor of them making figures out of some of the new characters will remain just a rumor. It's a shame too as they had some really good designs that, theoretically, would have made good toys.
Re: Jagex Transformers: Universe Closing in January 2015 (1630487)
Posted by mooncake623 on December 16th, 2014 @ 12:38pm CST
Posted by mooncake623 on December 16th, 2014 @ 12:38pm CST
Wow... that's sad..., but not unexpected
Re: Jagex Transformers: Universe Closing in January 2015 (1630488)
Posted by Evil Eye on December 16th, 2014 @ 12:38pm CST
Posted by Evil Eye on December 16th, 2014 @ 12:38pm CST
Aww shucks. I made an account for this but never really got into it (although I will echo that the designs are just plain awesome). A shame to see it go, it looked promising.
Re: Jagex Transformers: Universe Closing in January 2015 (1630489)
Posted by Fires_Of_Inferno on December 16th, 2014 @ 12:38pm CST
Posted by Fires_Of_Inferno on December 16th, 2014 @ 12:38pm CST
Can't say I'm sad to see it go. Hopefully if Hasbro tries an MMO again, they won't tell us that it'll be an open wold RPG where you can make your own characters and interact with classic transformer characters, and play with hundreds of people on line who've all customized their own characters. Then turn it into a MOBA where you can't do any of those things.
Re: Jagex Transformers: Universe Closing in January 2015 (1630493)
Posted by craggy on December 16th, 2014 @ 12:52pm CST
Posted by craggy on December 16th, 2014 @ 12:52pm CST
so did the time between the initial announcement and any kind of update on what the game was actually going to be end up being longer than the time between launch and closure announcement?
Re: Jagex Transformers: Universe Closing in January 2015 (1630495)
Posted by TFfan92 on December 16th, 2014 @ 12:56pm CST
Posted by TFfan92 on December 16th, 2014 @ 12:56pm CST
This is how you do not do an mmo game. Do not advertise features that you can't deliver. It turned from something that could have been cool into a disappointment. I won't miss it one bit.
Re: Jagex Transformers: Universe Closing in January 2015 (1630498)
Posted by Shockwave7 on December 16th, 2014 @ 1:05pm CST
Posted by Shockwave7 on December 16th, 2014 @ 1:05pm CST
Always sad to see a business, or a game, close down for whatever reason. (Unless of course, they just stink)
Re: Jagex Transformers: Universe Closing in January 2015 (1630508)
Posted by Blackstreak on December 16th, 2014 @ 1:52pm CST
Posted by Blackstreak on December 16th, 2014 @ 1:52pm CST
That game was never what players wanted anyways. If it had been a true MMO instead of 3 versions of pvp I would have supported it.
Re: Jagex Transformers: Universe Closing in January 2015 (1630553)
Posted by Metroplexsmash on December 16th, 2014 @ 5:01pm CST
Posted by Metroplexsmash on December 16th, 2014 @ 5:01pm CST
I am so sad I believed that that game would last for a while and what about the chARECTERS THEY PROMISED US 
Re: Jagex Transformers: Universe Closing in January 2015 (1630613)
Posted by Ultra Markus on December 16th, 2014 @ 8:07pm CST
Posted by Ultra Markus on December 16th, 2014 @ 8:07pm CST
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
actually i don't really care, play-ability sucked graphics where okay but it needed to be more flexible with controls so i had no interest to play it very much
actually i don't really care, play-ability sucked graphics where okay but it needed to be more flexible with controls so i had no interest to play it very much
Re: Jagex Transformers: Universe Closing in January 2015 (1630621)
Posted by Megatron Wolf on December 16th, 2014 @ 9:08pm CST
Posted by Megatron Wolf on December 16th, 2014 @ 9:08pm CST
well that didnt last long, not surprised really the game wasnt that great plus im sure a bunch of people had problems running it like i did. Should've put it on consoles and used a better company, would've hit a bigger audience and had better production value. Oh well just another missed opportunity by hasbro.
Re: Jagex Transformers: Universe Closing in January 2015 (1630622)
Posted by Ultra Markus on December 16th, 2014 @ 9:22pm CST
Posted by Ultra Markus on December 16th, 2014 @ 9:22pm CST
i also feel sorry for those who might have spent any money for the extras in that game
Re: Jagex Transformers: Universe Closing in January 2015 (1630655)
Posted by BERSEKAEL on December 16th, 2014 @ 11:43pm CST
Posted by BERSEKAEL on December 16th, 2014 @ 11:43pm CST
are they canceling it to open something bigger/better or is a FAIL in all its glory? 
Re: Jagex Transformers: Universe Closing in January 2015 (1630751)
Posted by Madeus Prime on December 17th, 2014 @ 9:26am CST
Posted by Madeus Prime on December 17th, 2014 @ 9:26am CST
Hmph! Saw this coming from a mile away after I saw the graphics and playability.
Re: Jagex Transformers: Universe Closing in January 2015 (1630763)
Posted by PrymeStriker on December 17th, 2014 @ 9:50am CST
Posted by PrymeStriker on December 17th, 2014 @ 9:50am CST
I haven't played TFU in a couple of months due to personal obligations. Now I really don't have a reason to go back.
Re: Jagex Transformers: Universe Closing in January 2015 (1631178)
Posted by Pot Bot on December 18th, 2014 @ 8:08am CST
Posted by Pot Bot on December 18th, 2014 @ 8:08am CST
lets hope they start again and make it what it should have been ( a true MMO) or worst case a Destiny/Dragon age style mp game.
Re: Jagex Transformers: Universe Closing in January 2015 (1631188)
Posted by funklizard on December 18th, 2014 @ 8:46am CST
Posted by funklizard on December 18th, 2014 @ 8:46am CST
This is sad; because, conceptually, there was a lot of promise here.
Unfortunately, it was mostly just promise and concept. The sad fact is that the experience underdelivered significantly.
I'm sure that the constraints of the browser-based platform were part of the problem; but let's look back at the timeline:
There are probably multiple levels of execution failure within Jagex to account for this; but it should have been readily apparent to project management that things were going pretty far sideways sometime in 2013. No one likes to see a project they've poured their heart and soul into fail; but the merciful thing to do would probably have been to pull the plug back then along with an announcement that the title had been "indefinitely postponed".
On the bright side, I'm sure this has been a valuable learning experience for many of the people involved. And I hope they have better luck next time.
Unfortunately, it was mostly just promise and concept. The sad fact is that the experience underdelivered significantly.
I'm sure that the constraints of the browser-based platform were part of the problem; but let's look back at the timeline:
- Announced summer of 2011
- Registration available a full year later, summer of 2012
- Open beta nearly two more years later, summer of 2014
There are probably multiple levels of execution failure within Jagex to account for this; but it should have been readily apparent to project management that things were going pretty far sideways sometime in 2013. No one likes to see a project they've poured their heart and soul into fail; but the merciful thing to do would probably have been to pull the plug back then along with an announcement that the title had been "indefinitely postponed".
On the bright side, I'm sure this has been a valuable learning experience for many of the people involved. And I hope they have better luck next time.
Re: Jagex Transformers: Universe Closing in January 2015 (1631634)
Posted by Cthulhunicron on December 19th, 2014 @ 3:11pm CST
Posted by Cthulhunicron on December 19th, 2014 @ 3:11pm CST
not at all surprised. I tried playing this game but I just got bored. No classic characters and really confusing/boring combat.
Re: Jagex Transformers: Universe Closing in January 2015 (1657794)
Posted by Kyleor on March 2nd, 2015 @ 9:54am CST
Posted by Kyleor on March 2nd, 2015 @ 9:54am CST
Jagex lied a lot about what the game was and wasn't going to be, then came out with just another MOBA game, because making the promised MMO was going to be 'too hard'. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't awesome. It wasn't too different an experience from the other existing Transformers and other MOBAs, and other 'free-to-play-but-pay-to-win' games. I enjoyed the game, but Jagex got what they deserved for continually lying to the fans then coming out with a sub-par game. Hopefully Hasbo will find someone that is willing to do the work to make a genuine Transformers MMO.
Re: Jagex Transformers: Universe Closing in January 2015 (1661934)
Posted by Va'al on March 11th, 2015 @ 7:18pm CDT
Posted by Va'al on March 11th, 2015 @ 7:18pm CDT
After the closing down of the Hasbro and Jagex collaboration on Transformers: Universe, the MOBA game that never really came to fruition, there are still multiple corollary projects that also never saw the light. One of these is a series of motion comics using artwork from the game, orchestrated by UK based company Mi. These were meant to accompany the game as promotional material, and some work in progress pieces do exist - and can be found here. Read more on the whole project below, and check out the embedded videos!
Transformers… Robots in Disguise – Jagex Promotional Pieces
Transformers... Robots in Disguise
“Transformers..Robots in disguise” Echoes through every child of the 90’s ears (despite the blockbusting Michael Bay efforts). We were asked to look at a solution for a extended creative to introduce Transformers Universe to the world and its characters. Commissioned by Jagex and Hasbro we set about our work. We quickly decided it was much better to have 10 Episodes rather than 1 trailer which didn’t really speak to the demographic. We have all been disappointed watching MMO trailers and then actually playing the game!This also allowed us to use what would usually be the budget for one trailer across episodic release.
A lot of R and D work went into the project and we looked at even rendering it all in real-time in unity making the solution we came up with interactive also.(Which did give us some inspiration when we worked on the WW1 interactive piece for the BBC).
Unfortunately the ill fated game Transformers Universe was re-booted several times and our work was consigned to the archives(As they decided to go with in game captures for a trailer).The game has been fully decommissioned now unfortunately and a lot of really talented people re-assigned within Jagex or moved on to great things. (Nick cooper, Steve Huckle, Gerrard, Andy.. all great chaps).All audio was by Jagex internal, (Legend that is Ste Lord and his team), we “up rezzed” pretty low game models, created environments from concepts and then went about our usual business and came up with a motion comic treatment we really loved. Mixing some CGI sequences with motion graphics manipulated stills and some super sharp editing from our team. Script and content direction came from Jagex’s Alex De Rakoff and Alexander Horton.
Initial meetings were in person and then we used cinesync daily to keep us on track. (Which worked great with so many stakeholders on the franchise).
We hope you enjoy our 2 episodes that were still WIP, We have another half done we may finish of as a labor of love. (you may see some similarities in the transformers prime series also as some of the characters are shared). We really fell in love with them and sooo wanted to complete the set!
ah well….
Like Optimus we lived to fight another day.
Autobots…..roll out!
videos
Re: Jagex Transformers: Universe Closing in January 2015 (1661969)
Posted by Black Bumblebee on March 11th, 2015 @ 9:06pm CDT
Posted by Black Bumblebee on March 11th, 2015 @ 9:06pm CDT
Awwwe... so sad when a labor of love like that has to be cut short. I would no nothing of that, of course *cough, cough*
Re: Jagex Transformers: Universe Closing in January 2015 (1661973)
Posted by PrymeStriker on March 11th, 2015 @ 9:15pm CDT
Posted by PrymeStriker on March 11th, 2015 @ 9:15pm CDT
Wow...
...Megatron sounds like total shit.
...Megatron sounds like total shit.
