MMORPG: RUNESCAPE

Digital Era. It is our today’s generation. Our world is powered by different

modern technology that we believe makes our life way better than before
in all aspect of life such as personal, emotional, intellectual, and social. We
cannot also deny the fact that through the use of technology, globalization
arose. Technology become the medium for industrialization and
communication. Today, entertainment and leisure can also be found in
technology world. The most accurate evidence for this is the online video
games. Playing this kind of game can be a way to beat boredom, pass time,
entertainment, and an escaped from the real life challenges. It allows
people to try on different things and try out different ideal characteristics
in fantasy virtual world through playing online video games.

Massively multiplayer online role-playing game known as MMORPG is a

genre of video game that allow players to cross over online and interact to
the vast virtual world. This often happen in a fantasy or science-fiction
world that employs fantasy elements such those of fictitious era, sword and
sorcery, or crime and fiction through creating an own customizable avatars
or heroes that the players will be using to interact all throughout the game.
The mentioned elements are often develop with regards to the related
tasks, situations, and scenarios of the quests, monsters, loot, raid, grind,
war, and adventure.

The term MMORPG was coined by Richard Garriott, and shown up in 1996.
These genre was traced back the MUD genre for this was generally called
graphical MUDs. MUD or Multi-User Dungeon is a multiplayer real-time
virtual word that usually contains text-based form. Just like the MMORPG,
MUD is a combination elements of role-playing, hack and slash, player
versus player, interactive fiction, and online chat. The difference with the
two is that the MUD is are only created to be played in a text mode on text-
only terminals initially while MMORPG is also a text-based genre only that
the player can set graphics to their avatars to make it more appealing,
interesting, and looks like a real-one. And now, MMORPG genre became
popular for its innovation in scope as well as the first-person 3D graphics.
As the genre of games today changes rapidly, no one could tell where it is
heading or directed, but MMORPG development is also rapid. As genre
changes, its raid quest became group which is an adventure designed for
large group of players ranging from twenty person or more. This
development creates more interesting and creative environment for the
players for they can interact in more wide and innovative online world.
MMORPG can be console-based, browser-based, and smartphone-based.
Console-based MMORPG is most likely to be difficult to produce since this
was based on a flat surface that contains controls for a machine and
electrical equipment. The platform here gains more attention. A browser-
based MMORPG usually played using the browser of a certain gadget.
Downloading outside the browser is not even require on this area. This
assimilates social media sharing features. And the last one is the
smartphone-based MMORPG. It is now the most popular among the three
because of today’s technological genre. Features of MMORPG that belongs
to this area are based on the features of smartphone that will be used. The
games are improved through tracking the location and distance, bench
marking goals or facilitating trade between players.

Communication, social interaction, collaboration, coordination and critical

thinking while having an online video games interaction are the primary
purpose of MMORPG. All games belong to this genre always have tools used
to facilitate communication among players. The producers of the games
that belong to this genre thinks of more upgraded way on how the
communication between different players around the world could possibly
happen. It requires some degree of teamwork in parts of the game. Each
player has different tasks or roles to play in the group, and the primary
objective of this is to protect the group from being damage by the
opponents or enemies. Just like the relationships that the players have in
real life, MMORPGs can also formed an intense relationship in online world.
This is because it also involves collaboration and trust between the players.
The idea of attaching the real-world to virtual items have a profound effect
on players and game industry.

According to some studies made by psychologists and sociologists. The

interactions happened in MMORPG players are real even if it is in virtual
environment. Turkle revealed in her study that players of this genre have
expanded their emotional range by exploring many different roles that
MMORPG allows a person to explore. Other researchers found out that the
enjoyment on this is directly related to the social organization of a game,
ranging from brief encounters between players to highly organized play in
structured groups.

It is true that playing MMORPGs are quietly addictive, given the fact that
not only thousands but millions of players are developing their characters
in a role-playing environment. Due to the natural human urge, a person
only became addicted to a certain game for they are weak-minded enough
to convince themselves that there are more important social lives to engage
with rather than playing online video games.
RUNESCAPE

Runescape is an evergreen MMORPG that is one of the most updated and

popular games on the planet. It was developed and published by Jagex,
released way back 2001. Originally, it is a browser game that was built with
Java programming language but during 2016, since MMORPG is never
static, it was largely replaced standalone C++-coded client. It has over 250
million accounts created and became recognized by Guinness World Record
as the world’s largest and updated free MMORPG.

Andrew Gower together with his brother Paul Gower developed the
runescape. It was originally a text-based MUD, but throughout the
development and innovation, graphics were added and became known as
graphical MUD. The graphics made the game more lively and realty. The
first public version of this game were the mixture of the two and three-
dimensional graphic. On Junuary 4, 2001, it was released as a beta version.
The two Gower brothers decided to take over and run the runscape. From
2001 up to January 2002, this game was played for free but during
February 2001, monthly membership was introduced to the aspiring
players. This happens because it is the way to be more upgraded through
accessing in additional features such as new areas, quests and items that
are excluded to the free players or users. Several years had passed and
more development are viewed until May 23, 2018. But sadly, this time it
became trends among the online world. The runescape was permanently
closed on August 6, 2018, the reason is that due to constant accumulation
of bugs and game engine, the modern support company tools became
incompatible with the current feature.

Runescape is sometimes refer to as Runscape 3, set in fantasy world of

Gielinor – a medieval fantasy realm that is divided into different kingdoms,
regions, and cities. Players travel to Gielinor using number of methods
including foot, magical spells, or charter ships. Upon the adventure in
Gielinor, each region employs different types of monsters, resources, and
quests to challenge the players and move to the next level. This game
doesn’t have any direct story, instead the players set their own goals and
objectives as they play the game. The objective system was an interfaced
released on September 2009. Players are free to choose random objective
provided from the list based on their quest.

The interaction between players can be through trading, chatting, or

participating in mini-games and activities that is sometimes competitive or
combative in nature. On the other side, its prerequisite is the cooperative
and collaborative play. In terms of combative play, two methods are known
as legacy or regular. In legacy mode, the combat mechanic has something
to do with using physical body such as hitting, punching, and the likes. It
can be repeatedly done until the end of the game. While in regular mode,
fighting styles can be through various forms depending on what weapons,
items, and armors they have at their disposal so that those will be the tools
to be used to defeat the enemies. The quests usually end in a large
experience boost, ability to obtain and item in disposal, or sometimes just
to enjoy the play. Over years, many says that they have worked or played
this game like a story of “Romeo and Juliet” using the franchise’s beloved
characters named Guthix, Zamorak, and Saradomin.

Mode of communication in this game can be personal or non-personal

depending on the player. An involved person can switch the conversation
in way they can control what is being displayed in the box in accordance to
their chosen type. It can be Friends Chat, Private Messages, Clan Chat or
Guest Clan Chat. The Emotes interface is through chat. Just like in
messenger, runescape has a toggle for displaying online status to all,
friends or no one, and always-on mode and chat badges. In Friends Chat,
any player is allow to create their own chat channel and assign ranks to the
other players of channel. It looks like sending a message in group chat, it
can be seen by all players in that particular channel. While the Private
Messages, chats are exclusive only to the sender and receiver. Only two
players can have the discussion. The last one is the Clan Chat or Guest Clan
Chat. There can be random sender and everyone on the group is the
receiver. This is intended for a channel consists of twenty or more players.
The runescape has 27 skills; 17 that are for free-to-play players and other
10 for members. It allows players to perform activities to interact with
others and its environment. Some skills includes woodcutting and fishing,
which makes a player resourceful in collecting raw materials that they can
be used for other skills fletching or firing and cooking. Skills are killing
enemies, building own houses, moving around the map, steal from various
opponents, market stalls and chests, light fires, cooked their own food,
making own potions, craft runestones, plant own plants, hunt animals, raid
dungeons, and summon familiars to assist combat. Items can be used by
the player or they can sold it to shops and other players to earn gold and
money. When a player used his skill, he will gain experience points. As the
skill level rises, the ability to retrieve better raw materials and products
increases. The total skill of the player refers to his status in the game and
players with high total level can appear on the high scores. When the player
reaches the highest level in skill, members can buy special cape that
symbolizes his achievement.

There are 12 general ways in playing runescape:

 Get to know the map.

 Make friends.
 Make some gold.
 Once you have a good amount of money, buy cooked lobsters for
200-220 gp.
 Train hard.
 Get to know your surroundings.
 Get your character to higher levels through training.
 If you have question about an item or how to get something, ask
someone.
 Work for high level stuff that other people acquired.
 Get your other things up beside combat.
 Play fair, don’t break rules, and don’t act in an offensive or insulting
manner with other players.
 If you are having trouble finding information from your friends, visit
the Knowledge Base, or the Forums.

Runescape become the root of socializing and creating enjoyable

experience with other players. Most friendships end up like living outside
and gaining their own life in the form of chats over Skype, Discord, and
other voice over IP services.
 SUMMARY
MMORPG is a genre of video game that is a text-based with graphics that
allows players to connect and interact in virtual world. Runescape is a free
MMORPG that takes place in Gielinor – a fantasy realm divided into
kingdoms, regions, and cities. Each of this divisions employs monsters,
loot, adventures, quests, training, and war in order to move onto the next
level and defeat the opponent. There is no certain direct story to be followed
on this game. The player are free to create his own flow or strategy to make
the game. There are two modes in playing the runescape. First is the legacy
mode which deals with hitting in repeated way to complete the tasks or
quests. And the second is the regular mode, a style that allows player to
use his abilities through depending on weapons, items, and armors at his
disposal (storage). This game has 27 skills. 17 for free-to-play players and
10 for the members. When any of the skills were used, the player will gain
experience points. The highest point in skill can be used by the player or
sold to the shop or other in order to get gold or gp that can be used to buy
special cape as a sign of achievement.
The interaction happened to this game can be categorized into three: Friend
Chats wherein any player are allowed to create chat for a specific person
on the channel but can be seen by everyone. The Private Messages that
only consolidated by the sender and receiver, exclusive only for them. And
the last is Clan Chat or Guest Clan Chat, there can be random sender and
everyone on the group is the receiver, intended for large channel.
The social phenomena in this MMORPG that couldn’t happen in face-to-face
setting is being violently punished when you didn’t accomplished the task.
A punishment is also given in real life but not as severe as in this game.
The great thing that embedded to us upon playing this is that the most
important aspect of this is the interaction with people around you. A
positive interaction between others can produce a more productive and
positive environment. Even at the start of the game, it is said the first thing
that you must do when you saw a person is to greet or talk to him. This
make sense in a way that MMORPG really improve communication,
coordination and collaboration when dealing in a virtual world. We connect
with other player, communicates with them and eventually talking to them
like a friend in a real world. Through having a one clear objective of the
multiplayer game, players develops their collaboration and coordination
whenever they critically think of ways connected to his co-players’ attack
to won against the opponent.
 REFERENCES

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massively_multiplayer_online_role-
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 ST. VINCENT COLLEGE OF CABUYAO
Bgy. Mamatid, City of Cabuyao, Laguna

MASSIVELY MULTIPLAYER ONLINE

ROLE-PLAYING GAME:
RUNESCAPE

A Research Paper
Presented to
MR. ROY DICAYANAN
of St. Vincent College of Cabuyao
Cabuyao, Laguna

In Partial Fulfilment
of the Requirements for
LIVING IN THE IT ERA

By:

MAY ANN C. HERNANDEZ

PRINCESS REYES
BSED-II

August 3, 2019