| With the phenomenal success of World of | | | | the environment. |
| Warcraft, massively multiplayer online role-playing | | | | Combat is the central aspect of Runescape, as it |
| games (or MMORPG for short) have become the | | | | is required to complete most quests, or to collect |
| hottest commodity among gamers. Among paid | | | | experience points, items and gold from fallen |
| games (users shell out anything from $1 to $15 | | | | monsters or other players. You can engage in |
| per month for access), World of Warcraft, Lord | | | | combat either at close quarters, from range, or |
| of the Rings Online, and Age of Conan rule the | | | | using spells. These three combat styles make up |
| roost. Among free MMORPGs, Runescape trumps | | | | the "Combat Triangle", and you can switch freely |
| all competition and in the past few months, has | | | | between these within the game. The combat |
| emerged as a serious threat to World of | | | | system is highly satisfying and you can easily get |
| Warcraft as the world's most popular multiplayer | | | | hooked on to it. |
| game. | | | | The Runescape economy works on gold coins. |
| Runescape is recognized by the Guinness Book of | | | | You can collect gold from fallen monsters or |
| World Records as the world's most popular free | | | | players, by completing quests, or by selling items. |
| MMO. Running right from your browser without | | | | Gold can be used to trade items with other |
| any installation or downloadable client, Runescape | | | | players, or buy things from various shops spread |
| boasts of over 150 quests, regular content | | | | throughout the virtual world. |
| updates, and a global community numbering | | | | The parental controls in Runescape are quite |
| millions of gamers. | | | | deficient. Users you admit to being under 13 are |
| The Runescape world is called "Gielinor" and | | | | not allowed to chat with other members unless |
| consists of several different regions and cities. | | | | they have exclusive parental consent. However, it |
| Just like the fictional fantasy worlds in games like | | | | is very easy to game the system and a lot of |
| World of Warcraft or Oblivion IV, Gielinor is | | | | crude language can pass through the chat filters. |
| inhabited by a wide variety of creatures, | | | | It is best to keep pre teen kids off Runescape. |
| monsters, and characters. Players can move | | | | Since it runs from the browser, Runescape lacks |
| through this world on foot, on different creatures, | | | | the fancy graphics of a World of Warcraft or |
| or through teleportation spells. As with most | | | | Lord of the Rings Online. Nonetheless, the game |
| role-playing games, the story of Runescape is | | | | looks pretty enough to make game play fun. The |
| revealed through quests. These quests can be | | | | graphics have been deliberately kept low quality to |
| completed alone, or by teaming up with other | | | | avoid lag. Users have an option of switching to a |
| members in the game. | | | | high quality graphics mode if they have a fast |
| The first thing you will be prompted to do upon | | | | internet connection. |
| registering for the game would be to create your | | | | The game runs smoothly on even low-end |
| avatar. Your avatar serves as your physical | | | | computers. The servers are quite fast and there |
| representation in the game. Setting up the avatar | | | | is very little lag or downtime. For a game of such |
| can be as easy as choosing the hair, clothing, and | | | | complexity, this is a remarkable achievement. |
| body. Unlike most other role-playing games, you | | | | As mentioned before, Runescape is free to play |
| are not required to pick a character class when | | | | and is ad supported. However, for a fixed |
| making your character. Once you have created | | | | monthly price, one can access the exclusive |
| your avatar, you can dive into the game and | | | | members-only area where one can find an array |
| experience Runescape first hand. | | | | of unique monsters, items, and playing |
| The key element of Runescape is "Skills". These | | | | environments. |
| 24 character traits allow players to perform | | | | Final Words |
| different activities in the game. The more you | | | | Runescape is a fascinating journey, a great |
| perform a skill, the better you become at it. For | | | | MMORPG, and a thriving virtual world that will not |
| instance, if you try to catch fish with the Fishing | | | | disappoint you. Brimming with features, Runescape |
| skill, it will gradually improve over time. Skills can | | | | is a continuously evolving world that ought to be |
| then be used in combat, to interact with | | | | on any gamer's "must-play" list. |
| non-playing characters (NPCs), or to manipulate | | | | |