I don't frequent Runescape. I'm only coming back because they're finally doing some things to make the game worth checking out again. I haven't played this since I was like 12-13ish.
Also, I really don't consider the games you listed to be competition to Runescape. Sure, they're MMOs, but there are large differences in the players who like WoW-style gameplay and those who like RS-style gameplay. It's like comparing Battlefield to Call of Duty. Yeah, they're both FPS games, but there are certain aspects in the gameplay that differ greatly and most die-hard CoD fans claim BF3 is worse and vice versa. Like I said before, there are MMORPG alternatives, but there is no Runescape alternative because no RPG out there plays like it does.
And plus you always have the age factor to deal with as well. Like WoW, a lot of players don't leave because:
1. It's a game they've invested tons of time into so they're reluctant to just up and quit.
2. It's the game all their friends play - no one is going to hop over to RotMG for instance when all their buddies are still back at Runescape.
I don't think the quality of Runescape is necessarily an issue here. It's the style of the game and how it plays. Remember, people were hardcore Runescape fans even when it had graphics that looked like a 10 year old whipped them up in Anim8or. The characters in Runescape are just now getting hands with fingers for crying out loud! No matter how much a game like WoW has superior graphics, animations, music, storyline etc., a person who doesn't like WoW gameplay will never play WoW.
#41 Jun 29 2012, 7:48 am
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#42 Jun 29 2012, 9:09 am (Edited on Jun 30 2012, 11:40 am)
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Just like you Cyberhoud, I started from the beginning as well probably slightly late 2001 or early 2002 when the game was still very new, rune was godlike and you had little to no guidance and were left to adventure this huge world which was free, full of quests and things to do.
None of the things that got me interested in RS have really changed such as adventure, merchanting, questing and collecting! It's a 50/50 free/pay game, requires no download, has no real game of similarity, very easy to jump in and out of whenever you feel, there really is such a variety to do in it and you can just focus on one aspect that you enjoy. Also one thing i always liked about Runescape was, like the elder scrolls games you are not class fixed, you can freely be the type of fighter you want to be, changing back and fourth between combat styles I've not played Runescape for around 2 years now and before that i hadn't played for about a year i seem to visit the game every other year, but with this update, i'm holding high hopes for the once lacking combative system which could prove to make the game slightly that much more interesting for people who do focus on combat.  | |
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#43 Jun 29 2012, 2:13 pm
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lol... you guys are all noobs...
the new update is going to ruien it.. | |
SwanB wrote:
lol... you guys are all noobs... Why do you think this, then? | |
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#45 Jun 29 2012, 6:26 pm
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it ruiens pking and around half the players like pking and it is just ruiening combat all together there is going to be no special bar to complicated....
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SwanB wrote:
it ruiens pking and around half the players like pking and it is just ruiening combat all together there is going to be no special bar to complicated.... How exactly do you think it ruins PKing and combat? | |
Teka123 wrote:
Just like you Cyberhoud, I started from the beginning as well probably slightly late 2001 or early 2002 when the game was still very new, rune was godlike and you had little to no guidance and were left to adventure this huge world which was free, full of quests and things to do. I'd also like to point out that memberships are a LOT cheaper than most pay2play MMOs. | |
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#48 Jun 29 2012, 11:21 pm (Edited on Jun 29 2012, 11:29 pm)
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Wtf happened to Runescape? Last time I seen anything or played it was around 2001 when it looked like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzN5KyguX1Y
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#49 Jun 29 2012, 11:26 pm
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Pretty sure that was a rsps and the beta came out and my friend got into it and its terrible plus i've seen some videos combat is 10000x longer and just ugly as hell. well let me rephrase that it looks better but just not as smoothe and good as old combat
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Branks wrote:
Wtf happened to Runescape? Last time I seen anything or played it was around 2001 when it looked like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzN5KyguX1Y Lol I remember that place. That's right outside the flax field. One of the best ways to make money in the game. Good times. | |
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#51 Jun 30 2012, 11:27 am
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I used to play Runescape. Then BYOND came along. ( Joking ) Skyrim happened.
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#52 Jun 30 2012, 1:02 pm
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@Swan old combat = pokemon battle.
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#53 Jun 30 2012, 2:13 pm (Edited by moderator on Jun 30 2012, 2:34 pm)
In response to ImmeasurableHate (#52)
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ImmeasurableHate wrote:
@Swan old combat = pokemon battle. Untrue. Pokemon battles are fun, unique, and strategic. Old Runescape fighting was whoever had better stats and such. | |
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#54 Jun 30 2012, 2:17 pm
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Pokemon battles are a step or two above rock-paper-scissors. A lot of strategy games are like that, actually.
Runescape, if I recall correctly, has combat stances. I'm not sure what they did, but they must have had a reason for existing, even though combat is real-time. | |
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#55 Jun 30 2012, 3:14 pm
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By comparing it to pokemon battles I ment it was more of a turn based system which really doesnt fit a game like runescape.
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The limited bank space for non members always kills. Every time I comeback to check out stuff or mess around in the F2P world I remember my banks full. I can't do anything because my character has dragon legs and all my good armor on and have no room in my bank.
Have any of you guys bought a membership recently? Is it worth getting one and checking out all the new stuff? Are there still awesome mini games like Castle Wars and Pest Control? | |
Fast forward to now however and while it is obvious the game has advanced graphically and made progress in gameplay mechanics, it still lags behind compared to most MMORPGS. While I can appreciate that most MMORPGs are developed or funded by sizable companies compared to Runescape's meager beginnings, its still bothersome to me personally that despite two graphical overhauls, it still lags behind the likes of Shadowbane and DAoC.
Then there's the issue of its unique qualities, first its free to play model. Back in early 2002, Runescape introduced its membership program and began to structure the game into a two tier system with expansive areas/equipment/etc. exclusive only to members (If this has changed and these areas are open to all now, let me know). Despite this, it still remained a unique free MMORPG but that was before the recent change in pay models in mainstream mmorpgs in the last few years. This recent trend has completely shredded one of Runescape's unique qualities as numerous P2P MMORPGs have swapped to either trial versions of their games (kinda comparable to Runescape's system except shorter and with more restrictions) or have gone either further with cash shops to support total access to all facets of the game to all players. With the likes of LOTRO and Aion changing sides and joining dozens of out of the box F2P games that have come out in recent years, this aspect of Runescape has been crowded out.
Secondly, the browser gameplay of Runescape admittedly remains largely unchallenged by a true MMORPG of caliber but with the likes of Minecraft and Realm of the Mad God testing these waters lately, how many more years will this remain true? I guess my point is, I look at Runescape back then and saw its viability since it served a niche for folks not looking to pay for their online gaming. Nowadays however there are countless alternatives to compete with and the only thing I see that separates Runescape still is its true MMORPG experience in a web browser and the accompanying need to not spend a few hours downloading and installing it.
Besides that, what are the other reasons you all still frequent Runescape on occasion? TL;DR, I'm curious.