A Runescape
RuneScape – Wikipedia
RuneScapeDeveloper(s)JagexPublisher(s)JagexDesigner(s)Andrew GowerPaul GowerComposer(s)Ian TaylorJames HanniganPlatform(s)Microsoft WindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOSRelease4 January 2001Genre(s)MMORPGMode(s)Multiplayer
RuneScape, sometimes referred to as RuneScape 3, [1] is a fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed and published by Jagex, first released in January 2001. RuneScape was originally a browser game built with the Java programming language, but was largely replaced by a standalone C++-coded client in 2016. The game has had over 200 million accounts created and is recognised by the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest and most-updated free MMORPG. [2]
RuneScape takes place in the world of Gielinor, a medieval fantasy realm divided into different kingdoms, regions, and cities. [3][4] Players can travel throughout Gielinor via a number of methods including on foot, magical spells, or charter ships. [5] Each region offers different types of monsters, resources, and quests to challenge players. The game’s fictional universe has also been explored through a tie-in video game on another of its maker’s websites, FunOrb, Armies of Gielinor, [6] and the novels Betrayal at Falador, [7] Return to Canifis, [8] and Legacy of Blood. [9]
Players are represented in the game with customisable avatars. RuneScape does not follow a linear storyline; rather, players set their own goals and objectives. Players can choose to fight non-player character (NPC) monsters, complete quests, or increase their experience in the available skills. Players interact with each other through trading, chatting, or by participating in mini-games and activities, some of which are competitive or combative in nature, while others require cooperative or collaborative play.
The first public version of RuneScape was released in January 2001 in beta form, with Jagex as its copyright holder being formed later that year. As the game’s popularity grew, the game engine was rewritten and released as RuneScape 2, [10] with the original version of the game being renamed RuneScape Classic. The third iteration of the game, known as RuneScape 3, was released in July 2013. [11] Old School RuneScape, a separate, older version of the game dating from August 2007 was released in February 2013, and is maintained alongside the original client. It was announced that mobile ports of both versions of RuneScape would be released for Android and iOS devices in 2018. [12][13] RuneScape was released on Steam on 14 October 2020. [14]
Gameplay
A screenshot of the game interface from RuneScape
Players begin in a secluded area, where they are taken through a tutorial, a set path where they learn the most basic skills in RuneScape. [15] After the tutorial, players have access to tutors and advisors located in the towns they explore, who can give players appropriate information about their respective skills. [16]
Players set their own goals and objectives as they play the game. They can train their in-game skills, engage non-player character (NPC) monsters and other players in combat and complete quests at their discretion. [17] Players interact with each other through trading, chatting or by participating in mini-games.
Skills
There are 28 skills in RuneScape, 17 skills available to free-to-play players and an additional 11 for members, which enable players to perform various activities allowing for interaction with NPCs, the environment and other players. Players gain experience points in a skill when they use it. For example, mining an ore trains the mining skill, and when the player accumulates enough experience points in the skill, their character will “level up”. [18] As a skill level rises, the ability to retrieve better raw materials and produce better products increases, as does the experience awarded if the player uses new abilities. The total skill level of a player partly symbolises the player’s status in the game and subscribers with a high total level can appear on the high scores. [19] Upon reaching the highest available level in a skill, members may buy a special cape to symbolise their achievement. [20]
Some skills, such as woodcutting and fishing, enable the player to collect raw materials that can be processed into usable items for other skills, such as fletching and cooking respectively. The items created can be used by the player or sold to shops and other players. Other skills allow players to kill certain NPCs, build their own houses, move around the map with greater ease, steal from various NPCs, market stalls and chests located in-game, light fires, cook their own food, create their own potions, craft runestones and weapons, plant their own plants, hunt NPC animals, raid dungeons, and summon familiars to assist in combat and training skills. [21]
Combat
RuneScape features a semi-real-time combat system. Combat is an important aspect of the game, allowing players to defeat monsters to obtain dropped items or to complete quests. A combat level is an indicator of how powerful a player or NPC is in combat. For players, it is determined by applying a mathematical formula to their combat skills. [22] Players engage in combat by clicking on the enemy they want their character to attack and will automatically continue fighting until they kill their opponent, die, or retreat from the fight. Most of the game’s weapons are medieval or fantastical in nature, and feature different strengths and weaknesses. Players may also summon a familiar to assist with combat, [23] use special attacks called “abilities” to deal additional damage, [24] and use potions and the Prayer skill to boost their combat prowess.
Combat is subdivided into three main categories: melee, magic and ranged. Melee attacks are close range, [25] magic attacks focus on using runestones to cast spells, [26] and ranged attacks use projectile weapons like arrows, darts or throwing knives. [27] These combat types make up a “Combat Triangle”, which governs effectiveness of styles in a rock-paper-scissors fashion; melee beats ranged, ranged beats magic, magic beats melee, and each style is neutral to itself. [28] The advantages and disadvantages of the combat triangle apply to both NPCs and player opponents. Players are not required to choose a character class nor are they bound to a specific category of combat. They may freely change between or combine the three styles of combat by switching weapons and armour.
Combat is governed by a life points system. Every combatant has a maximum capacity of life points, and dies when their health is depleted to 0. Lost life points can be recovered by consuming certain food or drinks, or casting abilities. Players who die reappear at a respawn point of their choice with their life and skill points restored; however, they drop all but three chosen items, as well as certain common items. [22][29] Dying spawns a gravestone that will hold all of the player’s items and will last for an allotted time; however, there are situations in which all items will be lost upon death. If the player does not return in time, the grave will collapse and their items will disappear. [22][29]
In June 2012 players were invited to beta-test a new combat system named “Evolution of Combat”, [30] which included fundamental changes such as re-balancing the Combat Triangle to avoid favouring melee attacks, [31] and replacing special weapon attacks with abilities that produce a range of effects when activated. The system was released on the live game on 20 November 2012. [24] Various polls were also added for players to vote on in game that would determine the result of future content development, [32] some of which would dictate the development of the improved combat system. [33][34] A beta for a separate combat system dubbed “Legacy Mode” was opened to players on 16 June 2014, [35] before being introduced to the live game on 14 July. Legacy Mode allows players to switch to the combat system and interface from prior to June 2012 instead of the Evolution of Combat system. [36]
Player versus player combat
Player versus player combat (PvP) can be performed in specific controlled mini-games and in an area known as the Wilderness. The Duel Arena allows players to stake money and items, [37] while other PvP games offer their own rewards. In the Wilderness, players can engage in combat provided that their combat levels fall within a certain range of each other, and if a player kills their opponent they will be able to claim their opponent’s items as a reward. [38]
Before December 2007, players went to the Wilderness to fight other players within a certain combat level range, hoping to kill them and gain their items. [39] In December 2007, the Wilderness was altered to prevent players from transferring in-game items for real-world currency. [40] PvP combat was removed from the Wilderness and temporarily restricted to new mini-games named Bounty Hunter and Clan Wars. [41] Bounty Hunter was replaced by special Bounty Worlds on 6 May 2009 in which players were confined to the Wilderness and could be assigned specific targets to kill. [42] “PvP Worlds” were introduced on 15 October 2008 where players could fight almost anywhere in Gielinor, [43] but these and “Bounty Worlds” were removed when PvP combat in the Wilderness was restored on 1 February 2011. [44]
Non-player interaction
NPCs populate the realm of Gielinor. Some NPCs, such as shopkeepers and some characters in quests, are unavailable for combat. However, most NPCs can be attacked and these are generally referred to as monsters. Monsters range from common, low-level creatures, such as chickens and goblins, to unique and often much more powerful monsters, such as the Queen Black Dragon, Telos, and Vorago. [45]
Most monsters have their own strengths and weaknesses, notable exceptions being certain bosses, which have no specific weaknesses. Demons, for example, have a weak defence against ranged attacks, while metal dragons have extremely high defence against ranged. The weakness of an individual monster is displayed in an interface above its model, along with its combat level and lifepoints.
Monsters may either be aggressive or non-aggressive. Non-aggressive monsters ignore players unless attacked, while aggressive monsters may attack all players or may only attack players with combat levels below a specified level, depending on the circumstances or location. This can make certain areas throughout Gielinor dangerous or inconvenient to players with lower combat levels. [45]
Player interaction
Players can interact with each other through trading, chatting, or by participating in mini-games and activities, some of which are competitive or combative in nature, while others require cooperative or collaborative play. Players can trade items and gold coins with each other, either through a face-to-face trade, [46] or by using a large automated marketplace known as the Grand Exchange. [47]
The chat system enables players to communicate with each other. Public Chat broadcasts text to players in the local area on one server, both by text appearing above the speaker’s head and in the message box. Friends Chat broadcasts text in the message box only to certain players tuned into a specific channel, who can be available on any RuneScape world. Each Friends Chat channel has an owner, who can assign different ranks to individual players; players’ ranks dictate their ability to perform administrative tasks within the channel. Clan Chat allows members of a clan to communicate with each other through a separate channel. [48] Quick Chat allows players to choose from a list of predetermined messages to send as Public Chat, Clan Chat, or Friends Chat. [49]
RuneScape also features independent mini-games, although most are only available to paying members. Mini-games take place in certain areas and normally involve specific in-game skills, and usually require players to cooperate or to compete with each other. Examples of these mini-games include Castle Wars, which is similar to the real-life game Capture the Flag, Pest Control, a highly combat-focused mini-game, and Fist of Guthix, where one player (the hunter) tries to stop another player (the hunted) from collecting charges into a magical stone. [50]
Quests
Quests are series of tasks with a storyline that players can choose to complete. These often have requirements including minimum levels in certain skills, combat levels, quest points and/or the completion of other quests. Players receive various rewards for completion of quests, including money, unique items, access to new areas, quest points and/or increases in skill experience. Some quests require players to work together, and many require players to engage in challenging combat. Quests are grouped into categories based on requirements and difficulty. [51] Once a player completes all quests in the game, an achievement item known as the “Quest Point Cape” can be claimed. [20] New quests are released periodically.
Development
Andrew Gower developed RuneScape with the assistance of his brother Paul Gower. [52] It was originally conceived as a text-based MUD, but graphics were incorporated early in development, adding it to the ranks of what were then known as “graphical MUDs”. [53][54] The first public version of the game used a mixture of three-dimensional and two-dimensional sprites. It was released as a beta version on 4 January 2001, and originally operated out of their parents’ house in Nottingham. [52] In December 2001, the Gower brothers, along with Constant Tedder, formed Jagex to take over the business aspects of running RuneScape. [55] Among its early innovations Jagex developed an interpreted domain-specific scripting language called RuneScript, which is used by RuneScape’s server for event handling. [56] In February 2002, a monthly membership service was introduced, allowing access to additional features including new areas, quests, and items not available to free users. [57]
Ranged combat in RuneScape Classic
As the game gained more users, Jagex began planning major changes. [58] The developers rewrote the game engine, producing a new version of the game with entirely three-dimensional graphics called RuneScape 2. A beta version of RuneScape 2 was released to paying members for a testing period beginning on 1 December 2003, and ending in March 2004. [57] Upon its official release, RuneScape 2 was renamed simply RuneScape, while the older version of the game was kept online under the name RuneScape Classic. On 12 January 2006, Jagex banned more than 5, 000 Classic accounts for cheating. To prevent further cheating, Classic was closed to new accounts and access was restricted to accounts who had played it at least once between 3 August 2005 and 12 January 2006. [59] Additional reopenings took place in November 2009, June 2010 and September 2011. [60][61][62]
To support RuneScape’s free content, advertisements appear on a banner above the playing screen on the free-to-play servers. Since computer users may use advertisement blockers, which may discourage advertisers, Jagex introduced a rule that prohibits players from blocking these advertisements. [63] On 13 July 2006, Jagex signed an exclusive marketing and distribution contract with WildTangent Games, [64] which granted WildTangent the right to handle advertising in and around RuneScape in the United States, and to distribute RuneScape through the WildTangent Games Network, [64] reaching over 20 million consumer PCs. [65]
On 16 May 2006, Jagex upgraded RuneScape’s game engine, improving the game’s loading times and reducing its memory requirements. [66] On 1 July 2008, Jagex released a beta of their “High Detail” mode for members, which was extended to free players two weeks later. [67] Before the launch, Jagex stated that it would be revealed at the 2008 E3 trade show. [68]
On 14 February 2007, a German translation of RuneScape was introduced, [69] followed by a French translation on 11 December 2008, [70] Brazilian Portuguese on 24 July 2009, [71] and Latin American Spanish on 25 April 2013. [72] In an interview in May 2008, former Jagex CEO Geoff Iddison stated that, “We do plan to go East with it [RuneScape] to the Asian market and the Eastern European market too” [… ] “RuneScape is not for Japan, but it could work well in Malaysia for example. And where’s India in all this? I think RuneScape is a game that would be adopted in the English-speaking Indian world and the local-speaking Indian world. We’re looking at all those markets individually. “[73] RuneScape later launched in India through the gaming portal Zapak on 8 October 2009, [74] and in France and Germany through Bigpoint Games on 27 May 2010. [75]
On 28 February 2012, an in-game feature was introduced called the “Squeal of Fortune” that allowed players to win items on a daily basis by spinning the wheel. [76] On 2 April 2012, it became possible for players to spend real-world currency in exchange for additional spins, introducing a form of microtransaction to the game. [77] Jagex CEO Mark Gerhard had previously described microtransactions as “a stealth tax”, and the update provoked complaints from players who believed they had been “betrayed” by the change. [78] In July 2012, Jagex released Solomon’s General Store, making it possible to spend real currency in exchange for “RuneCoins” that could be spent on cosmetic rewards in the game. [79] On 29 August 2012, Gerhard released a response to this controversy, describing these microtransactions as “[having] a significant role in ensuring that we can continue to support, develop and grow the game for many more years to come. ” He states that while these decisions are “not necessarily popular”, they are made with the future of RuneScape in mind. [80] On 4 February 2014, the Squeal of Fortune was replaced with Treasure Hunter. Rather than spinning a wheel for prizes, players are given keys which are used to open a chest of their choosing. [81] On 26 March 2014, Gerhard reiterated his stance on microtransactions and their importance in updating RuneScape, and announced a partnership with Supersonic ads, allowing players to earn RuneCoins by watching advertisements or sampling products. [82]
On 30 August 2012, Gerhard announced that an HTML5 version of RuneScape was in development that would allow the game to be played on “your favourite tablets, platforms and even smart TVs. “[83] A video released on 22 March 2013 stated that the new version would be called RuneScape 3 and would use WebGL, and would include a fully customisable user interface and improved audio. [84][85] A closed beta of the HTML5 version went live on 17 April 2013, followed by a separate alpha version of the new interface on 24 April. [86] RuneScape 3 was released on 22 July 2013. [11]
At RuneFest 2014 Jagex announced that they were developing a new client to replace the HTML5 version, which had never been released from beta due to performance issues. The new client, named NXT, would include improvements to loading times, new graphical effects and better performance. [87] Closed betas took place on 19–22 February[88] and 18–21 March 2016, [89] followed by a public release on 18 April 2016. [90]
On 23 May 2018, it was announced that due to constantly accumulating bugs and a game engine that has become incompatible with modern support tools of the company, RuneScape Classic servers would be permanently closed on 6 August 2018. [91][92] RuneScape was released on Steam on 14 October 2020. [14]
Graphics and audio
RuneScape can be run with varying levels of graphical detail. High-detail graphics enhance texture and design, while low-detail graphics provide a cleaner look and can reduce lag on less powerful computers. RuneScape uses a graphics engine called “RuneTek 5”, which provides support for multiple graphics platforms such as DirectX, OpenGL and video game consoles, as well as graphical effects such as sky boxes, bloom lighting[93][94] and Z-buffering. [95] The high-detail version incorporates hardware acceleration and can be rendered using either Java OpenGL or DirectX. [96][97]
RuneScape features a character-customisation system. Player characters are human; however, players may choose the gender, hairstyle, facial hair, skin colour, and clothing options. [15] Appearance is further complemented by wearing or wielding items. Players can express emotions through the use of specialised animations called emotes, some of which are standard and others earned through gameplay or released during holiday events. [98] Standard weapons of the same class, such as swords, use the same set of animations in combat, while special weapons have their own, distinctive animations. [citation needed]
RuneScape has original music and ambient soundscapes. The music was designed to define the underlying cultures of the various locations accessible, and ambient sounds, such as the cry of seagulls flying over the ocean, occur in logical places. [99] The game also incorporates voice acting in certain areas and situations. [57] The RuneScape 3 update included orchestral music recorded in Bratislava, Slovakia, and was scored by James Hannigan. [85]
Servers
As of November 2011, there were 139 English RuneScape servers located throughout the world, which are numbered and referred to as “worlds” by players and by Jagex. [100] They are located in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Ireland, Norway, Denmark, New Zealand, Mexico, France, Lithuania, and India. [101][102] Servers are moved or added as the need arises. [103]
Each RuneScape server allows up to 2, 000 players to log in simultaneously, [104] allowing a maximum capacity of more than 278, 000 players. The servers are divided into free servers which are available for all players, and servers which are reserved for paying members. Some servers are given activity labels, allowing players performing tasks that require or desire group participation to group together. [105]
Old School RuneScape
In February 2013, a poll was opened allowing players to decide whether Jagex should open a separate incarnation of RuneScape from August 2007. [106] Old School RuneScape was opened to paying subscribers on 22 February 2013 after the poll received 50, 000 votes, [107] and a free-to-play version was later released on 19 February 2015. [108] It was originally created as an exact copy of RuneScape from August 2007 and receives regular content additions. Old School RuneScape is entirely community based; for any proposed update or idea to pass into the game, it needs at least 75% of the community to vote ‘Yes’ for it, and if it does not pass it will either be dropped or reconstructed and re-polled so that the players may find the update more acceptable. [109] On 17 July 2017, Jagex announced a mobile port of Old School RuneScape, which was released in 2018. [110]
DarkScape
On 16 September 2015 Jagex released DarkScape, a separate version of RuneScape which featured open-world player versus player combat. DarkScape was originally released with most of RuneScape’s content, but received separate content updates. DarkScape was completely free to play, with some additional benefits reserved for paying subscribers. [111] On 29 February 2016 it was announced that DarkScape would close on 28 March due to lack of interest. [112]
A set of forums are provided by Jagex on the RuneScape website. On the forums, players are able to participate in game discussions, arrange to buy or sell items, post suggestions for game improvements, vote in polls, and otherwise interact with the community. A user can set an avatar, have a separate display name[113][114] and set an automatic signature. User profiles display the recent posts a user has made along with the option to disable smileys. The privilege of posting on the forums is limited to paying members, as well as free players with a total level exceeding 350. [115]
Between 24 September 2002 and 9 December 2004, players could submit questions via e-mail to the RuneScape gods, which were published in the form of letters. [116] On 26 September 2005, a new feature known as Postbag from the Hedge was introduced, where players can submit questions via e-mail to a non-player character in the game. [117] Players can also submit original RuneScape related artwork (such as sculptures, comics, drawings and paintings), some of which is displayed in a gallery on the RuneScape website. [118]
During various holidays, including Easter, Halloween and Christmas, Jagex hosts a holiday event in a specific location in Gielinor. Players who successfully complete the required tasks during the event receive a reward such as an item or an emote, allowing the player character to perform a gesture conveying an emotion. [119] Holiday items released prior to 2002 are tradeable among players, and due to their rarity are worth significant amounts of money on the player market. [120] Holiday items after Christmas 2002 are untradeable and limited to one per player and can be retrieved if lost. [119]
Various RuneScape fansites have been established by players, which are a source of information about the game. [121] For account security reasons, Jagex discourages the discussion of fansites within the game or the forums – and a rule specifically prohibits sharing web addresses. [122] A major fansite has criticised Jagex for not recognising fansites’ contributions to the development of its game. [123] However, as a result of announcements made in 2009, Jagex promised to increase communication with fansites. [124]
On 28 July 2014, Twitch functionality was integrated into the game, allowing players to stream their gameplay or view other streams from within the game. [125]
Rules and cheating
Jagex has employed rules for player conduct, such as rules against offensive language, scamming, and bug abuse. [126] To enforce the rules, an in-game feature exists that allows a player to send a report to Jagex if they notice another player breaking a rule. [127] RuneScape also uses four types of moderators: Jagex Moderators, who are Jagex employees; Local Moderators, who are employees of Jagex’s partners in certain territories; Player Moderators, who are trusted players that enforce the rules within the game; and Forum Moderators, who are trusted players who monitor the game forums. [128] Players who repeatedly break the rules may be temporarily or permanently banned from playing the game. [127]
There are also rules prohibiting the use of third-party software to play the game, known as “macroing” or “botting”, and the sale of game items for real money through real-world trading. In an attempt to stop cheating, Jagex made direct interaction with the client difficult, established rules against the practice, [129] and introduced random events that required player input to complete. [130] In response to continued gold farming, Jagex issued a statement condemning real-world trading, stating that they were seizing billions of gold and banning thousands of accounts every week for cheating, and promising to increase their efforts to prevent real-world trading in the game. [131]
From October 2007 to December 2007, Jagex began releasing a series of updates to restrict unbalanced trades. The updates limited the value of items staked in duels, removed player-versus-player combat from the Wilderness, made valuable player drops invisible to other players, introduced gravestones for the items of dead players, instituted systems for assisting players with skills and sharing loot among groups of players, and established the Grand Exchange, a sharemarket-like trade system for RuneScape goods. Collectively, these changes were designed to make it extremely difficult for real-world traders to distribute gold and items to players. [40] These features were restored on 1 February 2011 following a referendum among players in December 2010 on whether or not to do so. [44][132]
On 25 October 2011, Jagex released an anti-bot system[133] code-named the ‘ClusterFlutterer’, as part of a game update intended to permanently prevent “reflection” bots from working. The release of this was nicknamed the “Bot Nuke”, and was estimated to have banned 98% of the accounts that were using bots, eventually resulting in 7. 7 million account bans. [57] From 26 September 2012 until its removal on 20 August 2018, [134] accounts that were banned for using bots were sent to an isolated area named “Botany Bay” to be given an ultimate punishment as decided by players. [135]
On 25 September 2013, Jagex introduced bonds to the game, in-game items that can be purchased using real currency then traded with other players or exchanged for membership, RuneCoins or additional spins on the game’s Squeal of Fortune. Bonds were introduced to allow players to exchange real currency for in-game benefits legitimately, a move described by CEO Mark Gerhard as “essential for the future of RuneScape”. [136] One week later, Jagex reported that the amount of in-game coins brought in by gold farmers was down by 81%; real-world trading was down by 61% and the wealth of those trades was down by 63%. [137]
Reception
PC Gamer UK stated in December 2003, that while the “traditional [role-playing game] values of questing, slaying monsters and developing your character in a familiar medieval setting” will not “have the big boys trembling in their +2 Boots of Subscriber Gathering, ” this is offset by the game’s accessibility through a web browser, “compounded by a version of the game that allows free adventuring player the opportunity to upgrade to a members’ account”, describing the game as “an unsurprising success”. [138]
The Yahoo! 2006 Buzz Log stated that, “while it may not be as easy on the eyes as some other popular [MMORPGs], like World of Warcraft, City of Heroes, or EverQuest, RuneScape is still a lot better way to kill time than pushing around cells in a spreadsheet”. [139] A 2007 JustRPG review summarised RuneScape as “a fun, addictive game, and while the graphics may not be perfect, for a game written in Java, they aren’t bad. The skills are varied, the community is alright, and it’ll eat up your time if you aren’t careful”, giving it a score of 83%. [140]
In its 2008 intellectual property profile of the game, stated that whilst Jagex’s changes to curtail real world trading resulted in “a wave of user criticism… growth is understood to have resumed since”. Its analysis stated that “RuneScape’s mass-market appeal lies in its simplicity and accessibility (both financial and technical). It has tapped into the vast market of games players unwilling or unable to spend premium prices on PCs capable of playing the latest, expensive, processor-intensive games. Its core gameplay concepts are very similar to its retail-distributed RPG and MMORPG analogues. “[141] In August 2008, RuneScape was recognised by the Guinness World Records as the world’s most popular free MMORPG. Jagex was presented with a certificate to commemorate the achievement at the 2008 Leipzig Games Convention. [142] A 2009 Eurogamer article criticised RuneScape’s in-game community for being unfriendly to newcomers, although they have stated that the fan-forum community is more approachable. [143]
An April 2011 review by was complimentary of RuneScape, stating that “For anyone looking for that “old-school” experience but with also tons of progression, refinement, and unique ideas, RuneScape is easily recommendable”, but criticised the game’s combat system and emphasis on grinding. “.. genre feels slightly passed clicking an enemy and watching two swords clunk mercilessly into opposing body neScape has grind in abundance and while this is not entirely a bad thing, it will put some players off looking for a slightly easier and more casual experience”. [144] The game received the “Role-Playing Game” award at The Independent Game Developers’ Association Awards 2018. [145]
On 10 December 2007, updates by Jagex removed free player-versus-player combat and unbalanced trading in order to rid the game of activities involving real currency being traded for virtual goods. [41][146] The updates also affected legitimate players, resulting in many of them actively complaining on the forums. [147] Jagex issued a Customer Support News article admitting the updates may not have been an ideal replacement for what was removed, requesting patience and promising to remedy potential problems with updates in the future. [148] During the changes, subscription numbers fell by 60, 000. [149] No figures were given as to how many
got that scam email from: [email protected] – Reddit
So, I got this scam email from: twice, telling me that I was monitored for real world trading blah blah. I think it’s fake because when I click the link in the email, my security stopped me. Also, the fact that they didn’t refer me by my ingame name. Also the fact that I didn’t play for a ever, what’s weird is that when I search in my email box, it seems like Jagex actually used this email in the past. So, I don’t know what’s going on. Jagex changed their email and some scammers now own this email? Or some trick I don’t know of? Someone got inputs?
runescape – Urban Dictionary
An online adventure game that turns normal aspiring human beings into brainwashed robots.
I myself know from experience; i played this game for over 4 years starting in 2002. Let me tell you, in my 19 years of life, those 4 years were the darkest, most desolate years ever. I quit soccer two years ago to make more time to play. I ditched guitar. At this time two years ago, (1:37AM), my “rune night” would have begun and continued well into the afternoon of the next day.
The feeling while playing this game is ironically satisfactory. While playing, you think of nothing but the game. Personal and worldy affairs don’t mean a thing. In fact, the most important thing on your mind is when and how you’re going to get that next combat level. A news report about a bridge collapsing in Minnesota and plunging 50 cars hundereds of feet into the Mississippi river won’t phase you. If you’re away from runescape, i. e. in school, you find yourself thinking and fantasizing about the game, as if you’re going to have sex with an incredibly gorgeous woman when you get home. Oddly enough, after playing, you feel a a feeling of resentment, from yourself and the declining number of people you know, regardless if those people you know play Runescape or not.
The addictive quailities in this game are stifling, as simple movements of the finger are ONLY required to play this game. Yet the game is a drug. The fact that goals in runescape are extremely infatuating to achieve and are much more convinient to achieve than real life goals are what make this game addicting.
Luckily, the players are in Runescape are starting to decline in terms of maturity and decency, which is helping to draw some players away. But this is not enough. If you want to quit playing, it has to hit you. I sat on my rooftop on a cold Decemeber night at 3AM after playing for hours and reflected on what Runescape does for me. The answer is it doesn’t mean a god damn thing, even though those skill goals are drawing you back to the game. The thought of wasting hours to fuel a ridiculous addiction plagued me, and finally i said fuck it. I wanted to go back inside and play the game so badly, and I did. This time i took EVERY item and owned and dropped it. Made a bogus and lengthy password and recovery questions by typing in the answers while closing my eyes and my addiction was cured.
That was four months ago. I have not been back, and never will be back. My account is locked by my own doing and will forever be lost. This game came close to ruining my life, had i not taken action. Bottom line: if you are addicted and know you have to quit, do it now while the thought is fresh and before you are thrusted back into the lies of Runescape. Act now, destroy your account, and you will be udies show that runescape has increased suicide rates by 20% since the release of RS2this game reminds me of people playing snkae on cell phones. once youve played it and you get bored later, its the first thing you think of doing. you know its a waste of time but you cant stop. i advise you to NEVER play this unless you want it to consume your soul… i wish i hadnt gotten into game has affected my life since i was 14 and still haunts me to this day. this game takes you over inside i tryed to get ride of it in many ways but it keeps coming back. never start playing this game. never. it consums you and makes you crave to get more money its so so sad that this can happen to humans by a video game. this game is very similar to cigs, drinking, and crack. when you try runescape its nearly immpossible to get it out of your life it still haunts me till this day and i have been runescape free for a yearMy friend (when i first moved to a new area): lets go on runescape
Me: ok
My friend 1 year later: What level are you?
Me: OMG dude i cant stop playing i threw my life out the window and i cant stop i have no friends because i moved to a new area and cant stop thinking about runescape fuck you!
My friend: Me too! im so sorry for ruining our lives! by fyou January 31, 2009I have read several of these comments posted on here and I found the site by searching “runescape ruins your life” in a search engine. Why? Because it has ruined my life and I wanted to know why.
I was introduced to it by my now “Ex-Girlfriend’s” little brother. Why is she now my ex? A large proportion is to due to this game and the amount of time I spent playing it even when I didn’t want to.
I am 23 yrs old, I had been playing it for 13 months, first it was little flutters, couple of hours here and there, and then it got serious. For example I would go out for a drink on a Saturday or Sunday night, get in at 3am, my girlfriend would go bed then I’d turn my computer on, select a busy world, relentlessly type “Buying Unids” through to 9am, get less than two hours sleep, then get up, do a couple of hours visiting people (whilst thinking about the game) then get home and log back on. That had turned into my normal routine (not necessarily the drinking).
The arguments that this caused between my girlfriend at the time were terrible and my attitude towards her was even worse, all because I wanted to creep up the high scores list….. Which is going to get me where? In this position, left ignoring my life gradually falling apart around me and having to deal the side affects it has on you and your relationships with the others around you.
I feel ashamed that it got this serious, and even more ashamed that I used to defend it to my family members. I didn’t even admit I played it to my friends, because I knew that it was a pointless non-rewarding “activity” that I had difficulty in controlling.
There is no answer for my obsession with this game. Others have commented on this site about “Subliminal Messaging”. My inclination is that Jagex is owned and managed by yet another individual who has mastered the art brainwashing/product selling. It has a way of taking over your own thoughts, making you think about runescape on a daily basis, and urges you to log in whenever it is possible. I don’t have a PHD or know enough about Brain Washing to fully understand the concepts that it involves, but I do know that day by day my thinking patterns, my routine, my eating and sleeping habits were all affected by playing this game. It is not to say that I have a weak character and I am in no way implying that you/your child or friend does if you/they play.
Jagex are masterminds. They have to be to have over 1m paying members, and around 10m free members (the last time I heard). How can a simple game control so many individuals from so many backgrounds?
I’m not a fat recluse aged 7-12, I’m not living in my mums basement, I am self employed and work hard in a competitive environment, and I have a strong social circle, It got me… And it certainly got my relationship. I usually proud myself in being a strong minded individual but on this occasion I have been beaten.
I did the whole “I’m quitting” thing the other day that everyone seems to think on here is sad, it’s not. It’s actually a very liberating experience, I kept it low key and I just told one person on my friend list. I gave them every tradable item I could, everything. What did they say to me? “Omg! Ty! u dnt knw how much dis means 2me! u rlly dnt!!! “.
Disaster.
I am now as bad as Jagex. I have fed this young lad’s addiction (My Ex’s brothers friend). I have given him enough resources to potentially waste about 8 months of his life, and provide Jagex with £25. 60 GBP, I know because I worked it out. Guilt is not the word.
If you play runescape, your child plays runescape or your friends do and you have read the definitions on this site then open your eyes and understand what everyone is trying to communicate to you. Runescape is a serious health hazard. If you don’t play it then don’t start. If you do, then stop. If you can see it affecting somebody you know direct them to this site.
Do not just take my advice, read other definitions left here by other people. People just don’t write these things to pass time, like me they have become trapped in a world that does you no favours at all, and they feel they need to tell others to get out it while they can, as I am doing.
I alone can’t advise you, I’m not special, and I can’t “tele” you to “cammy”, but what I can do is advise you to keep reading the advice left on this site, get a grip back on your life and stop sellin “Duel Rings” for 5k a piece….. It will get you no where, and will only cause you problems.
Who knows, people may be able to limit there playing time to a few hours a week or just when they are bored, if they can then they are fortunate.
Take a good look at this site and re-gain control.
The ridiculous amounts of time people (and I have done it) spend on a PC/Laptop could be much better spent. There is more to life than obsessivly pointing and clicking a contraption formerly reffered to as a “Mouse” to reach illusional goals that will not change a thing in your life.
Start living again you example is under every Defination of “Runescape” on this site. Stop playing. If you are a parent, stop your child from playing. NEVER START PLAYING THIS DAM GAME OR YOU’LL GET HOOKED!
There are the 3 steps to beating your runescape addiction:
1. Wield all your good armour and money etc.
2. Go to the wilderness.
3. Die.
It honestly works – you lose all your will to play the game and can resume with a little thing *finally switches off the computer after dying in the runescape wildy (meep)*:
“argh the light – it burns!! “an online mmorpg, my experience of runescape is generally good, it was quite satisfying to have these goals that you set yourself on it, but i only recommend you play this if you having nothing else to do, dont ever let it get in the way of real life goings on like school and social life, it is never too late to quit and it is easy to stop being a hermit an live life, my excuse was “hey what else would i be doing” but on reflection it was a waste of 4 years. YOU MUST KNOW WHEN TO STOP! runescapeThe single most addictive thing that exists or ever will mehow, despite being so incompetent that they have a worse support team than EA (which goes against the laws of physics). JaGex have managed to make a game in which swinging an ugly-ass axe at an ugly-ass tree releases enough dopamine into the human brain to turn a healthy, happy human being with friends into a mindless zombie that only wants to play Runescape. The effect is even more devastating on young children. Chuck Norris himself, if exposed to runescape would struggle to resist it’s mind destroying, soul crushing requires at least 562 Nonillion times more willpower to quit runescape than it does to quit cigarretes, and at least 789 Quattuortrigintillion times as much as that to quit it forever. Someone who can quit runescape and not play it ever again could go through an eternity of the most brutal torture, and upon it ending they would go home and carry on as only way someone can stop playing runescape (aside from having an inconceivable amount of willpower) is if their computer breaks down for an extended period, or anything else that will completely prevent them from playing runescape, like a coma, or someone who plays runescape passes into a coma they will never wake up, as they will just dream of playing runescape, drowing out any attempt to revive them with the monotonous sound of a rune pickaxe striking a short, don’t play 1: Hey wanna play Runescape?
Person 2: Wait, you play Runescape?
Person 1: Yeah, so what?
Person 2: Umm…. wanna go play outside instead?
Person 1: What is outside?
