RuneScape

Screenshot of RuneScape.

RuneScape is a popular web-based MMORPG. It was developed and supported by Jagex, Inc., and based in Cambridge, England. RuneScape is offered in a free version or a subscription version. Paying the $5.95 (US) per month subscription gives players access to a vast array of new items, quests, and areas to explore. Members also have superior access to the website, forums, and customer support.

The game is popular for a number of reasons, not least of which is that players can chat with each other in a way viewed by everyone in the immediate game area, or privately to selected friends. Control of one's character in the game is mostly done by mouse, including character movement in the game world, purchasing items, selling, picking up or dropping items and changing a character's attire. The graphics interface is intuitive to most players.

Character development is another strong element of the game. A character begins with low skill levels and raises a skill by performing it. Several skills with weapons, armor and magic are used in combat and are raised by performing them. Monsters (dragons, demons, skeletons, etc.) are found in various game locations and respawn a few seconds after they are killed. Player characters can fight each other in designated game's areas. A further strong point the game has is the players ability to create and personalize their own account.

Non-combat skills are also a major aspect of the game. Players use skills such as fishing, mining, and woodcutting to collect raw materials. Secondary skills like cooking or crafting are used to convert these materials into useful items. Again, paying members have an upper hand as they have access to skills unavailable to non-paying members. Some examples of player-produced items are lobsters for restoring hitpoints and "runes" for casting spells.

In addition to skills, there are a variety of quests and minigames which offer useful rewards like skill experience or new items. RuneScape is updated frequently with new content, often on a weekly basis. Tips about playing Runescape can be found at this RuneScape wiki.

Membership

RuneScape has two types of players, free and members. Membership costs $5.95 (US) and has many advantages. With membership, you get more quests, more abilities/skills, more monsters to battle, more minigames, more items, and more locations to go to. In the past year, the price for membership went up from $5.00 (US) to $5.95 (US). RuneScape now offers a "membership" card in stores if you cannot use a credit card to purchase online.

Criticism

General criticism

The most common criticisms of RuneScape's gameplay are its repetitive nature and relatively low quality of graphics (compared to other MMORPGs). However Jagex recently did an extreme overhaul of the graphics, and introduced "RuneScape HD," which quieted the majority of complaints about its graphics. Common positive criticisms are that it is browser-based (enabling it to be played from anywhere) and that it is free to play indefinitely.

Along with other RPGs, Runescape has come under criticism over its addictive nature with players sometimes using the game for days on end.

Evolution and the environment

Runescape has been criticized on its fan sites and its own sites forums concerning the games shameless socialist and evolutionary bias. One example of this is the message one gets when examining a monkey: "Possibly one of our oldest living relatives?" Even more notably, a gnome in the quest Money Madness explicitly states that Humans are descended from primates.

There is also the quest Perils of Ice Mountain, which is in its essence a heavily liberal-biased commentary on global warming, environmental activism, lobbying and use of fossil fuel.

Religion

The game has also been criticized by some for its portrayal of religion. Various deities, cults and organized religions are heavily involved in both RuneScape lore and in-game. The three most well-known and popular ones are Guthix, Zamorak and Saradomin,

Guthix, the god of balance, is portrayed as an being beyond human understanding. He has no definite form, appearance or gender. His followers include druids and other kinds of pagans. Like most of the game's gods, he is very uncaring, ignoring his worshippers.

Zamorak, the god of chaos, is an obvious parody of Satan. He enjoys bloodshed, violence and death. His followers are mostly deluded sects, such as the Dagon'hai, as well as a multitude of demons and other forms of beasts. Game content involving him often includes variants of demonic rituals and witchcraft. Strangely enough, he is very popular among the game's players.

Saradomin, the god of order is portrayed in a way very similar to that of to God the Father, both in appearance and characteristics. He is worshipped by a majority of the game's humans, primarily in a pseudo-Catholic way. However, all is not well - He is arrogant, uncaring and deceitful. His followers include H.A.M., an extremist group very similar to the Ku Klux Klan.

Among other deities are mysterious jungle deities closely linked to an in-game version of voodoo, a desert pantheon loosely based on Egyptian mythology, as well as many others. Idolatry in various forms are also prominent.