n Cambridge, the city where the studio is based, the tasks aren't quite as mystical, but as Jagex head of IT Barry Zubel told Computing, their completion will reap rewards for both developers and players as the studio prepares to launch its next blockbuster title: Transformers Universe.
"Our biggest project is virtualisation and that's going to be a big winner for us," he said, describing how "we've historically not virtualised anything operationally" due to the limits it would put on game performance – but that's changing.
[...]
"The closer we can push the game servers to our customers, the better the connectivity," said Zubel, who added that while RuneScape is able to function on high latency connections, the upcoming Transformers Universe isn't so tolerant, so Jagex has been attempting to install servers nearer to players.
"Transformers is a little less forgiving because of the game that it is, so we've been looking at placing servers in places where players will be," he said.
Transformers: Universe - Interview with Barry Zubel of Jagex
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Aug 20, 2014 at 6:30am CDT
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Re: Transformers: Universe - Interview with Barry Zubel of Jagex
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Comment by Va'al
Sep 1, 2014
A couple of Transformers: Universe MOBA updates, courtesy of their official Facebook page, and it's both for the purple corner of the arena. Check out below the first teaser for the Jagex design for Megatron, inspired by the War for Cybertron character design; also, an additional character teaser complete with potential name reveal: Pandemic. What do you think on these two? Let us know in the Energon Pub!
Decepticons of Transformers Universe! We thought we'd share a little advanced teaser with you of a new warrior that's on the horizon. Keep your crazy excitement to a minimum though, we don't want a Pandemic on our hands...
"Peace through tyranny!" #Decepticons #AllHailMegatron
Re: Transformers: Universe - Interview with Barry Zubel of Jagex
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Comment by Nemesis Maximo
Sep 1, 2014
The title of this news post should have been "Jagex is still workong on this". Amiright? Lolololol
Re: Transformers: Universe - Interview with Barry Zubel of Jagex
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Maybe it would be funny if the game was not coming out soon and it was not in open beta.
But since thats not the case your joke is crap.
Not funny
Comment by Deadput
Sep 1, 2014
Nemesis Maximo wrote:The title of this news post should have been "Jagex is still workong on this". Amiright? Lolololol
Maybe it would be funny if the game was not coming out soon and it was not in open beta.
But since thats not the case your joke is crap.
Not funny
Re: Transformers: Universe - Interview with Barry Zubel of Jagex
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Comment by Gallifreyan Autobot
Sep 1, 2014
trying to think of what Pandemic's alt mode is his. chest design says at least a chrysler sebring or a jaguar though his body design says triple changer and a possible toyline to go with the game 
i don't know anymore
i don't know anymore
Re: Transformers: Universe - Interview with Barry Zubel of Jagex
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Comment by TulioDude
Sep 1, 2014
Megatron looks he has a form in between his Fall for Cybertron and Prime versions.
Re: Transformers: Universe - Interview with Barry Zubel of Jagex
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Comment by megatronus
Sep 1, 2014
Definitely want that Megatron as a figure. Or upgraded-FOC Megatron. Or really, ANY decent voyager Megatron.
Re: Transformers: Universe - Interview with Barry Zubel of Jagex
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Jeez, rough crowd.
My point is: I almost feel as though this should have come out before TF: Prime had ended. And I know that decent video games aren't made overnight, but come on - this has been in the works since at 2012, and it changed genres several times. Forgive me if I have become disillusioned with Jagex's vision.
Comment by Nemesis Maximo
Sep 1, 2014
mirageandjazz1197 wrote:Nemesis Maximo wrote:The title of this news post should have been "Jagex is still workong on this". Amiright? Lolololol
Maybe it would be funny if the game was not coming out soon and it was not in open beta. But since thats not the case your joke is crap.
Jeez, rough crowd.
My point is: I almost feel as though this should have come out before TF: Prime had ended. And I know that decent video games aren't made overnight, but come on - this has been in the works since at 2012, and it changed genres several times. Forgive me if I have become disillusioned with Jagex's vision.
Re: Transformers: Universe - Interview with Barry Zubel of Jagex
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Comment by Gallifreyan Autobot
Sep 2, 2014
trying to think of what Pandemic's alt mode is his. chest design says at least a chrysler sebring or a jaguar though his body design says triple changer and a possible toyline to go with the game the color scheme on Pandemic strongly looks like sideways/doubleface but that could be mt thought on it
the color scheme on Pandemic strongly looks like sideways/doubleface but that could be mt thought on it
Re: Transformers: Universe - Interview with Barry Zubel of Jagex
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I think the point was for it to come out around the time Prime ended... but, delays and such. I'm sure there are a few people at Hasbro who are none too pleased at Jagex's performance here.
Comment by megatronus
Sep 2, 2014
Nemesis Maximo wrote:mirageandjazz1197 wrote:Nemesis Maximo wrote:The title of this news post should have been "Jagex is still workong on this". Amiright? Lolololol
Maybe it would be funny if the game was not coming out soon and it was not in open beta. But since thats not the case your joke is crap.
Jeez, rough crowd.
My point is: I almost feel as though this should have come out before TF: Prime had ended. And I know that decent video games aren't made overnight, but come on - this has been in the works since at 2012, and it changed genres several times. Forgive me if I have become disillusioned with Jagex's vision.
I think the point was for it to come out around the time Prime ended... but, delays and such. I'm sure there are a few people at Hasbro who are none too pleased at Jagex's performance here.
Re: Transformers: Universe - Interview with Barry Zubel of Jagex
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Why? This game's backstory makes no sense continuity-wise anyway, so what's the point?
Development hell is not unheard of, and it certainly isn't that valid a criticism of a game. If Transformers Universe was an awful piece of crap, you could effectively call them out on this. However, the game has been well-received and is currently being enjoyed by many.
And yet, the semi-final product has found a happy medium between all the genres they've considered. Imagine that.
Have you played the game at all yet? If so, I'm not sure what your problem is.
Comment by PrymeStriker
Sep 2, 2014
Nemesis Maximo wrote:My point is: I almost feel as though this should have come out before TF: Prime had ended.
Why? This game's backstory makes no sense continuity-wise anyway, so what's the point?
And I know that decent video games aren't made overnight, but come on - this has been in the works since at 2012,
Development hell is not unheard of, and it certainly isn't that valid a criticism of a game. If Transformers Universe was an awful piece of crap, you could effectively call them out on this. However, the game has been well-received and is currently being enjoyed by many.
and it changed genres several times.
And yet, the semi-final product has found a happy medium between all the genres they've considered. Imagine that.
Forgive me if I have become disillusioned with Jagex's vision.
Have you played the game at all yet? If so, I'm not sure what your problem is.
Re: Transformers: Universe - Interview with Barry Zubel of Jagex
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Art direction; this game is pretty much the TF: Prime Online Game. And I know that the recently released artwork of Megatron is not his TFP body per se, but many of the design elements seem to be based on that continuity more than any others.
That is an excellent point, to which I will concede. It's my fault for not actually hearing what people have to say about the game; my immediate assumption with development hell is that the product rarely comes out pristine, if at all - Duke Nukem Forever, the Halo Motion Picture - I may be comparing apples to oranges, but that's just to illustrate my perspective.
Also a good point. I stand enlightened.
I think problem is a too strong a word in this case. My interest in the game has simply waned over the course of the production. Perhaps disillusioned was also too strong a word on my part.
Comment by Nemesis Maximo
Sep 2, 2014
PrymeStriker wrote:Nemesis Maximo wrote:My point is: I almost feel as though this should have come out before TF: Prime had ended.
Why? This game's backstory makes no sense continuity-wise anyway, so what's the point?
Art direction; this game is pretty much the TF: Prime Online Game. And I know that the recently released artwork of Megatron is not his TFP body per se, but many of the design elements seem to be based on that continuity more than any others.
And I know that decent video games aren't made overnight, but come on - this has been in the works since at 2012,
PrymeStriker wrote:Development hell is not unheard of, and it certainly isn't that valid a criticism of a game. If Transformers Universe was an awful piece of crap, you could effectively call them out on this. However, the game has been well-received and is currently being enjoyed by many.
That is an excellent point, to which I will concede. It's my fault for not actually hearing what people have to say about the game; my immediate assumption with development hell is that the product rarely comes out pristine, if at all - Duke Nukem Forever, the Halo Motion Picture - I may be comparing apples to oranges, but that's just to illustrate my perspective.
and it changed genres several times.
PrymeStriker wrote:And yet, the semi-final product has found a happy medium between all the genres they've considered. Imagine that.
Also a good point. I stand enlightened.
Forgive me if I have become disillusioned with Jagex's vision.
PrymeStriker wrote:Have you played the game at all yet? If so, I'm not sure what your problem is.
I think problem is a too strong a word in this case. My interest in the game has simply waned over the course of the production. Perhaps disillusioned was also too strong a word on my part.
Re: Transformers: Universe - Interview with Barry Zubel of Jagex
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Comment by Mindmaster
Sep 6, 2014
From the Transformers: Universe front, we've new info on some upcoming updates! They are:
* Challenges will be introduced this Wednesday. Players will be able to challenge one another for rewards. As time progresses, challenges will be given more depth and rewards.
* Drummond Gorge, a new map for the Elimination gametype, is due for release on 17 September. Concurrently released with Drummond Gorge are vidual upgrades for the outer base maps.
* 24 September will see an upgrade for the map "Santa Vega" to rectify some glitches seen on the map, as well as a change to the center of the map to be more vehicle friendly.
* The new gametype "Recon" will be introduced to the game on 1 October. Recon is similar to how Capture the Flag works in Transformers: War for Cybertron and Fall of Cybertron, in that once a player has a flag, they are unable to transform. With its introduction, a new map will also be introduced designed specifically for Recon, with new maps following suit over time.
* New characters in-coming! Jagex-original characters Autobot Outsider and Decepticon Pandemic are coming sometime in September. Two other characters are slated for release in October, but in a neat surprise, they are plucked from Transformers lore... Chromia and Flamewar are joining the Universe fray! No images at this time, though. Not only are they slated to be playable, but two other characters have been leaked to be playable: Autobot inventor and mechanic Wheeljack and the Decepticon with a Ph. D. in narcissism and dismantling, Knock Out! They were leaked along with Outsider, Pandemic, Pitstop, and Contagion not too long ago.
* Challenges will be introduced this Wednesday. Players will be able to challenge one another for rewards. As time progresses, challenges will be given more depth and rewards.
* Drummond Gorge, a new map for the Elimination gametype, is due for release on 17 September. Concurrently released with Drummond Gorge are vidual upgrades for the outer base maps.
* 24 September will see an upgrade for the map "Santa Vega" to rectify some glitches seen on the map, as well as a change to the center of the map to be more vehicle friendly.
* The new gametype "Recon" will be introduced to the game on 1 October. Recon is similar to how Capture the Flag works in Transformers: War for Cybertron and Fall of Cybertron, in that once a player has a flag, they are unable to transform. With its introduction, a new map will also be introduced designed specifically for Recon, with new maps following suit over time.
* New characters in-coming! Jagex-original characters Autobot Outsider and Decepticon Pandemic are coming sometime in September. Two other characters are slated for release in October, but in a neat surprise, they are plucked from Transformers lore... Chromia and Flamewar are joining the Universe fray! No images at this time, though. Not only are they slated to be playable, but two other characters have been leaked to be playable: Autobot inventor and mechanic Wheeljack and the Decepticon with a Ph. D. in narcissism and dismantling, Knock Out! They were leaked along with Outsider, Pandemic, Pitstop, and Contagion not too long ago.
Re: Transformers: Universe - Interview with Barry Zubel of Jagex
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Comment by Peridot
Sep 6, 2014
I've been playing this game for a couple of months now, and I still don't get it. If this game is supposedly in a new continuity, then why is everything so Prime-ish? Bumblebee is literally just the Aligned version with G1 horns, Optimus almost looks like a more detailed version of his Rescue Bots form, and Megatron looks like a weird fusion of his WFC, G1 and Prime bodies. Everyone else is just a more greebled, slightly altered version of their TF:Prime equivalents.
Re: Transformers: Universe - Interview with Barry Zubel of Jagex
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Because it was supposed to be part of the Aligned continuity, which makes matters worse considering this story fits nowhere in it.
Comment by PrymeStriker
Sep 6, 2014
Metro Prime wrote:I've been playing this game for a couple of months now, and I still don't get it. If this game is supposedly in a new continuity, then why is everything so Prime-ish? Bumblebee is literally just the Aligned version with G1 horns, Optimus almost looks like a more detailed version of his Rescue Bots form, and Megatron looks like a weird fusion of his WFC, G1 and Prime bodies. Everyone else is just a more greebled, slightly altered version of their TF:Prime equivalents.
Because it was supposed to be part of the Aligned continuity, which makes matters worse considering this story fits nowhere in it.
Re: Transformers: Universe - Interview with Barry Zubel of Jagex
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That's wrong
It could take place as a prequel to Prime and by the end of the game the only ones left alive are the cast of Prime and RID (the new one) and maybe a few others but besides that all of the other Bots and Cons are dead
Triage: Dead
Drive-By: Dead (he was dying anyways)
Monsoon: Dead
Prowl: Probably dead unless he shows up in Rid.
that's just a few.
Comment by Deadput
Sep 7, 2014
PrymeStriker wrote:Metro Prime wrote:I've been playing this game for a couple of months now, and I still don't get it. If this game is supposedly in a new continuity, then why is everything so Prime-ish? Bumblebee is literally just the Aligned version with G1 horns, Optimus almost looks like a more detailed version of his Rescue Bots form, and Megatron looks like a weird fusion of his WFC, G1 and Prime bodies. Everyone else is just a more greebled, slightly altered version of their TF:Prime equivalents.
Because it was supposed to be part of the Aligned continuity, which makes matters worse considering this story fits nowhere in it.
That's wrong
It could take place as a prequel to Prime and by the end of the game the only ones left alive are the cast of Prime and RID (the new one) and maybe a few others but besides that all of the other Bots and Cons are dead
Triage: Dead
Drive-By: Dead (he was dying anyways)
Monsoon: Dead
Prowl: Probably dead unless he shows up in Rid.
that's just a few.
Re: Transformers: Universe - Interview with Barry Zubel of Jagex
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Comment by noctorro
Sep 7, 2014
I wanted to ask if it is actually playable but I read that it is!
Going to try it out today.
There was way to much information about this game over the past months and it wasn't even finished yet with no clear launch date.
Is there a date for the normal final version? I read it's still in some sort of pre-version?
Going to try it out today.
There was way to much information about this game over the past months and it wasn't even finished yet with no clear launch date.
Is there a date for the normal final version? I read it's still in some sort of pre-version?
Re: Transformers: Universe - Interview with Barry Zubel of Jagex
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No date besides summer
i assume it will either be at the end of summer or shortly after
Jagex does not know themselves but they believe it will be this year.
The game is a little buggy at this moment due to errors with their latest patch but besides that the game is good.
Comment by Deadput
Sep 7, 2014
noctorro wrote:I wanted to ask if it is actually playable but I read that it is!
Going to try it out today.
There was way to much information about this game over the past months and it wasn't even finished yet with no clear launch date.
Is there a date for the normal final version? I read it's still in some sort of pre-version?
No date besides summer
i assume it will either be at the end of summer or shortly after
Jagex does not know themselves but they believe it will be this year.
The game is a little buggy at this moment due to errors with their latest patch but besides that the game is good.
Re: Transformers: Universe - Interview with Barry Zubel of Jagex
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Yeah, some sort of "pre-version". Also known as the Beta, which is the stage in which many of the fundamental basic features of the game are functional (read working, but not always...). In Beta, the focus is refining, polishing, and tuning what is already there, while adding some extra, new features. The game right now is honestly very Alpha-ish (the stage right before Beta, in which many of the game's features are incomplete work-in-progress and some of the fundamental mechanics have not been implemented yet.). It's got most stuff okay, but the game still needs some polishing, and it's having a player problem (which is explained in the recent dev report, which is an interesting story....older players tend to shift towards the Decepticon side, while younger ones to the Autobots. This caused the Autobot player numbers to be significantly higher then Decipticons, however, since TFUniverse is a complex MOBAish game, the decepticons are winning the war due to most players being older and have better reaction time/understanding/speed/more developed brain then the younger Autobot players. It's also been noted that %23 of the Decepticon players have switched sides to Autobots just to try to fix that skill gap. But, it still isn't working..)
Comment by Rex Prime
Sep 7, 2014
noctorro wrote:I wanted to ask if it is actually playable but I read that it is!
Going to try it out today.
There was way to much information about this game over the past months and it wasn't even finished yet with no clear launch date.
Is there a date for the normal final version? I read it's still in some sort of pre-version?
Yeah, some sort of "pre-version". Also known as the Beta, which is the stage in which many of the fundamental basic features of the game are functional (read working, but not always...). In Beta, the focus is refining, polishing, and tuning what is already there, while adding some extra, new features. The game right now is honestly very Alpha-ish (the stage right before Beta, in which many of the game's features are incomplete work-in-progress and some of the fundamental mechanics have not been implemented yet.). It's got most stuff okay, but the game still needs some polishing, and it's having a player problem (which is explained in the recent dev report, which is an interesting story....older players tend to shift towards the Decepticon side, while younger ones to the Autobots. This caused the Autobot player numbers to be significantly higher then Decipticons, however, since TFUniverse is a complex MOBAish game, the decepticons are winning the war due to most players being older and have better reaction time/understanding/speed/more developed brain then the younger Autobot players. It's also been noted that %23 of the Decepticon players have switched sides to Autobots just to try to fix that skill gap. But, it still isn't working..)
Re: Transformers: Universe - Interview with Barry Zubel of Jagex
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How did Brawl end up on Earth when the Combaticons were on Cybertron during the events of the Prime cartoon?
Why are the Decepticons using the Leviathan? Where the hell's the Nemesis?
If Arcee's a part of Team Prime, why isn't Cliffjumper? He shouldn't be dead if it's a prequel.
The cartoon made it pretty clear that members of the Ark were scattered across the galaxy. Under what logical circumstances would the Autobots (both established Transformers characters and the new Jagex characters) have to scatter across the cosmos, and how would they achieve this in the first place?
The Autobot and Decepticons' battles are supposed to be kept under wraps. I highly doubt Agent Fowler, or anyone of governmental authority, would let any of the maps in the game take place without any resistance.
What's up with all the Terrorcons? Megatron shouldn't have even found his "army" if it's a prequel, and why would zombies have access to space bridges in the first place?
Speaking of Terrorcons, why would Megatron order his men to destroy them? He wanted to use Terrorcons as an army, and this stance isn't exactly the kind you acquire overtime when you're a tyrannical warlord.
If you could explain all of this, I'll adopt your theory about Transformers Universe being a prequel to Prime. Otherwise, the concept is absolute farcicality.
Comment by PrymeStriker
Sep 7, 2014
mirageandjazz1197 wrote:It could take place as a prequel to Prime
How did Brawl end up on Earth when the Combaticons were on Cybertron during the events of the Prime cartoon?
Why are the Decepticons using the Leviathan? Where the hell's the Nemesis?
If Arcee's a part of Team Prime, why isn't Cliffjumper? He shouldn't be dead if it's a prequel.
The cartoon made it pretty clear that members of the Ark were scattered across the galaxy. Under what logical circumstances would the Autobots (both established Transformers characters and the new Jagex characters) have to scatter across the cosmos, and how would they achieve this in the first place?
The Autobot and Decepticons' battles are supposed to be kept under wraps. I highly doubt Agent Fowler, or anyone of governmental authority, would let any of the maps in the game take place without any resistance.
What's up with all the Terrorcons? Megatron shouldn't have even found his "army" if it's a prequel, and why would zombies have access to space bridges in the first place?
Speaking of Terrorcons, why would Megatron order his men to destroy them? He wanted to use Terrorcons as an army, and this stance isn't exactly the kind you acquire overtime when you're a tyrannical warlord.
If you could explain all of this, I'll adopt your theory about Transformers Universe being a prequel to Prime. Otherwise, the concept is absolute farcicality.
Re: Transformers: Universe - Interview with Barry Zubel of Jagex
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Comment by Va'al
Sep 9, 2014
Not long after the latest Transformers: Universe update, Jagex have published a press released confirming the arrival of two canonical characters into their game as signature bots: Autobot Wheeljack and Decepticon Knock Out! The two are tweaked designs of the Transformers: Prime incarnations, and can be seen in the mirrored images below. Check out the press release too.
9th September 2014: Jagex has confirmed today that both Wheeljack and Knock Out, known to fans worldwide as characters from the Transformers TV series, will appear as playable warriors within TRANSFORMERS UNIVERSE.
Premature news of their inclusion reached media overnight. While Jagex is willing to confirm their plans to include these, and many other, signature bots, further details of their weapons, equipment, and special attacks will not be forthcoming at this time.
Mark Gerhard, Jagex CEO, said of the unscheduled reveal, “It’s regrettable that such recognisable faces from Transformers lore should prematurely appear in the public domain without the rightful fanfare they deserve. On a positive note we’re delighted that they’re already resonating strongly with both our existing players and the wider Transformers fan-base. It’s immensely encouraging to see this level of interest, especially as we look at our existing road map and the plans we have for the inclusion of many other signature favourites within the game later this year.”
Further details about both Wheeljack and Knock Out will be scheduled for release soon, as will additional information about Chromia and Flamewar – other lore-based warriors who were mentioned in the latest community update of 5 th September: https://www.transformersuniverse.com/en ... rse-050914
Anyone brave enough to experience killer team combat in TRANFORMERS UNIVERSE can play now by downloading the Windows or Mac thin client at http://www.transformersuniverse.com.
TRANSFORMERS and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro and are used with permission. ©2014 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.
