[Each day, Worlds in Motion will be taking a closer look at individual virtual worlds. We'll start with a nuts-and-bolts overview, then move on to an in-depth tour, to be followed up with a conclusion-- all with the aim of bringing you all the essential info and details on each world in the rapidly-developing virtual landscape.]
We've spent some time this week playing RuneScape, where we learned survival skills, traded with other adventurers, and battled monsters in the fantasy realm of Gielinor. So what're the over-arching facts about Jagex's MMO?.
First and foremost, RuneScape is a fantasy game. It's difficult to estimate the average age of a RuneScape player, but one could assume it's primarily-- but not entirely-- young teens. This is because it's a simplified version of the genre gaming experience that an older audience generally enjoys, and in terms of sophistication, it can't really compare. And that isn't surprising, given the wide range of gameplay experiences and opportunities available to free players, and the low price of a still-more-elaborate membership.
With that in mind, you can't really fault RuneScape for its shortcomings-- a little bit of a jerky navigation, rough graphics and stereotypical conventions. You get a lot for nothing, and a lot more for very little. The menu system is comparatively slick, though, and organizing your stuff and managing your character is pretty easy, thanks to clearly-marked icon buttons.
As a fantasy game, RuneScape's role as a social utility is minimized-- most of the conversation takes place to facilitate trading and questing. And there's quite a lot to do in these environments, with tasks that often make the game feel like a farming, cooking or building sim. None of these tasks are absolutely necessary; with a variety of ways to accomplish the same end, players have pretty much free reign over the way they go about developing their characters.
It's easy to observe that those who play RuneScape spend a lot of time doing so-- most characters had earned observably better equipment than the basic. Alternatively, they pay for it-- judging by the constant warnings in the world's peripheral info and advertising, gold and property sales in the RuneScape community are as much a problem for it as they are in similar-format worlds.
One of the most charming things about RuneScape is its overt wholesomeness. It's a world ruled by kindly NPC wizards and friendly milliners, with sheep that say "Baa!" and resources you can pick freely. It's a supportive community, too-- for example, soon after my entry into the world I was approached by a seasoned warrior who seemed keen on giving me brand new weapons in exchange for a few sheaves of nearly worthless, relatively-available wheat. Then we went to the bank, to see if he had an extra sword in his lockbox that might be better than my initial equipment. As it turned out, he didn't, but it's the thought that counts.
Right before you leave the game's Tutorial Island starting point to join the society proper, you're advised by a wizard on proper conduct. "Remember, the people in the game are real people with real feelings," he says, and it seems as if the RuneScape community as a whole keeps that in mind.
Comments (19)
Hmm yeah Runescape, not the best MMO really...
Do a feature about Eve Online, it's great. Also makes a change from the preponderance of fantasy MMOs. SF has a lot more originality available to it than fantasy imo.
Posted by Dan A | July 6, 2007 7:08 AM
Posted on July 6, 2007 07:08
hi all, there isent meany.. people in this chat..
Posted by jimmy | October 15, 2007 6:28 AM
Posted on October 15, 2007 06:28
dude nice pics but hav u got i can hav
i mean an account just lost a lvl 116
Posted by josh | November 5, 2007 6:53 AM
Posted on November 5, 2007 06:53
err soz about that it must be sly on ya and i have a lv 93 its not mint but i aright...
Posted by jimmy | November 5, 2007 6:57 AM
Posted on November 5, 2007 06:57
name jimmya_P
pass blueanbrown
Posted by i have an account for you | November 6, 2007 4:51 AM
Posted on November 6, 2007 04:51
hello
Posted by peter zezima | January 22, 2008 6:00 PM
Posted on January 22, 2008 18:00
i'm not rank 1 anymore ]= im= miss being number 1
Posted by peter zezima | January 22, 2008 6:02 PM
Posted on January 22, 2008 18:02
my acc is away :( it´s stolen
from a nederlander my acc lvl 51 was lafee-lafee1 :'(
Posted by Misse | February 16, 2008 5:09 PM
Posted on February 16, 2008 17:09
noobs!
Posted by flojoe | March 19, 2008 12:27 PM
Posted on March 19, 2008 12:27
my mum has four vaginas and is zezima
Posted by the wise one | April 2, 2008 9:05 AM
Posted on April 2, 2008 09:05
the wise one, ur a fat lier
Posted by cody | May 2, 2008 1:02 PM
Posted on May 2, 2008 13:02
i feel so bad for ya guys
Posted by zorloc | May 2, 2008 4:44 PM
Posted on May 2, 2008 16:44
just got lvl 50...i'm amazing like that..and got over 5k worth of pure ess....
Posted by Xafal | May 8, 2008 8:59 AM
Posted on May 8, 2008 08:59
correction.. 5k pur ess...as in 5,000 pure ess....
Posted by Xafal | May 8, 2008 9:00 AM
Posted on May 8, 2008 09:00
how come no one answers my question huh? dont call no one fat! =)
Posted by zorloc | May 8, 2008 4:28 PM
Posted on May 8, 2008 16:28
thank you
Posted by janat | June 8, 2008 6:58 AM
Posted on June 8, 2008 06:58
Wow. You really said the real things about runescape. Be sure to update this page soon, when the AWESOME graphical update comes! In WOW, I never received any gifts, not even by my WOW friends. So i guess their not friends anymore. Also, WOW lacks language filter, for those who play WOW. You just report them if they cuss? Right? What if WOW
Pixelates, as usual? Then that person who spoken the foul langage runs away and you forget their username? Isn't that right? And in WOW, you have to pay likw 19 stinkin dollars for a rpg that has good graphics. When the AWESOME graphical updates come to runescape, Then you wont have to pay for an rpg with good graphics
Posted by Sankuro | June 22, 2008 11:07 AM
Posted on June 22, 2008 11:07
I lick farts
Posted by Zezima | June 22, 2008 11:11 AM
Posted on June 22, 2008 11:11
hi i got a low level account maybe one of you liked to level it up and have fun with it, just don't change the password!
account name: Bewarecutie
password: cutiepoo95
don't ask about the passwors ok
Posted by bewarecutie | August 17, 2008 12:04 PM
Posted on August 17, 2008 12:04