Runescape


 * Runescape** is a browser-based MMORPG owned by Jagex Ltd. Set in a normal fantasy world common in RPG's, players are able to create a player, customize them, and play the game however they so choose. It features monsters to fight, skills to train, resources to collect, minigames to be played, loot to be uncovered, and much more as players interact within the game, playing in a way which suits them. While often considered simplistic compared to other MMO's, Runescape offers accessible gameplay, a lot of material with regular updates, and even offers a substantial amount of gameplay for free accounts. [|The introduction to Runescape].

__What makes it popular__ Runescape offers a game requiring low-end technology to run compared to other computer games in today's market. Being Java based, having hardware requirements which seem to come from a past generation game, and being playable with nothing more than a keyboard and mouse (or even a single mouse if an on-screen keyboard is available), technical requirements are virtually never an issue for the player. Compared to other MMO's, Runescape also features a robust amount of gameplay material, which is updated and expanded every week on average, compared to other games doing monthly, yearly, or even longer patches which offer minor amounts of updates and changes. Another feature is that being an MMO, Runescape is open in terms of gameplay. While many MMORPG's set a class the player must always use (or create multiple accounts to try them all) Runescape simply has the character grow based on the player's actions. They can use magic, use projectiles, or simply battle as a warrior, or opt out of combat entirely training non-combat abilities such as smithing and fishing to gain profit. Any mixture of gameplay is accessible, and hundreds of quests allow the player to make decisions and behave as they see fit. Finally, the game lacks the incredibly complex menus and keyboard shortcuts that many other games require, making it simpler to play. With so much raw gameplay material in terms of creativity, open-endedness, patience, puzzles, and combat, the game has a lot to offer to almost anyone who wants to find it.

[|An example of a quest in Runescape]

__What detracts from the game__ When game players reference something bad about Runescape, the first thing that comes up is the community. As the game is often cited as "younger" (despite being referenced as 13+ by Jagex), it often draws crowds of younger players. The result is that many players are social inept, with anger issues, vanity, selfishness, and outright inappropriate behavior. In particular, PK'ers (Player-Killers, who attack and target other players to rob and loot them, which is only allowed in certain scenarios) are well-known for exhibiting downright "evil" behaviors, given their goals to destroy others within the game. While not the majority, this crowd of players is often portrayed as the normal player, and also invade and ruin the game for others. Also, due to its simplicity and reputation, other gamers treat the game as a "Baby" MMORPG, compared to games such as World of Warcraft. They point out how combat is semi-automatic (selecting targets and reacting accordingly, rather than manually striking and dodging constantly) and often based on gear and luck, and how many high goals in the game can be reached through patience rather than skill. Finally, many players remember the game in it early "Classic" form, which was INCREDIBLY primitive in gameplay and graphics, and player base. In general, players will treat it as a failure game, whether they've played it or not, and will cite old/faulty reasons, and often behave more immaturely about it than the players they mock.

[|A typical reaction to "Runescape" (Note that the screenshot the poll presents is multiple years old)]