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Person fighting highwayman in Runescape |
Runescape (or RuneScape) is an isometric Java based online multiplayer fantasy game, launched by Jagex in January 2001. It is free-to-use for certain areas of the game. The paying members area contains more features. The game is not quest driven and players have the option of not completing any of the in-game quests if they so desire. There are usually over seven thousand players online at once, spread across its twenty three available worlds. There is a wide range of players in the game. They are most commonly in their early teens however there are many cases of adults over the age of forty.
The game is set in a fantasy world, in which you control a character representing you. There is no particular goal or objective to the game, and no way to finish it. However, a lot of things that can be done within the game, for instance you can interact with other players, by talking with them, trading with them, and even killing them. There are serveral instances in which a one found his/her soulmate in the game. Quests can also be undertaken, for instance a Dragon slaying quest, and many activities such as fishing, crafting, mining and smithing can be performed. As these activities are performed your character will become more skilled at the activity. It is not uncommon for a dedicated player to spend in excess of four hours a day training his characer; there are even a few rare cases of players spending over ten hours, most days, playing RuneScape.
Runescape begins on a tutorial island. Although this may seem boring, it is imperative to understanding future gameplay. For those stuck, moving around is executed by left-clicking on a piece of land. While on tutorial island, fighting, communication, cooking, banking, doing quests, and other skills are learned. The player goes to the beginning city, Lumbridge, once they have completed the tutorial. From then on, where they upgrade their character is up to them. It is recommended to at least get your combat level up reasonably high, so that you are not constantly killed by NPCs (computer characters).
RuneScape has many communities within it. Many players have grouped together to form groups known as 'clans'. These clans often have alliances, and occasionally go to war with each other; meeting in bloody clashes often exceeding a hundred participants.
There is also the Wilderness area, in the northern RuneScape land, in which player characters can fight one another. This is known throughout the game as PKing(Player Killing). When one gets deeper into the Wilderness, they can combat with players farther and farther from their combat level. Close combat can only be performed in groups of two, however it is possible for people to join in using archery and magic. There are many available weapons, spells, and potions available to assist fighting in the wilderness.
Over the past three years, RuneScape has been hampered by cheaters. These people create programs to gain an unfair advantage over other players in the game. An example of a RuneScape cheat is AutoRune. One can start it, go to sleep, and wake up with a bank full of steel bars. When Runescape first opened, cheating was at all-time highs, and rarely was dented until Runescape introduced the member service. With additional cash revenue, Jagex Inc. has been stricter than ever about security and has implemented many macro dectection routines and protections to ensure that an actual human is playing. It is also nearly impossible to be hacking it in any method.
In 2003 a beta version of the improved 3D engine and revisions to gameplay began. Jagex have claimed that this will make RuneScape the most advanced Java based game in the world. RS2 will be available sometime in March, 2004.