Tip.It Times - 4th March 2012

[tripsis]

Time for a new release of the: >>>Tip.It Times!<<<

 

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Enjoy the articles!

[Thus]

"Just a word of warning: if you're sick of F2P discussions, you might want to skip this one"

 

ok.

[deskjethp]

Such boredom may just as well spill into the gaming world-one can imagine players saying "Oh, Player X has been at the top of the hiscores for five years,

 

What exactly does the second part of this have to do with the first part?

[muska007]

I started playing circa 2002/2003, got banned a few years later. I started playing again last weekend with a new account, and boy have things changed. As someone who leveled up on RSC and is now leveling up on RS2 (or RS, as it's now called but it will always be RS2 to me), I cannot believe how easy things are now. Within the space of 8 days I've reached level 37, have 750k in the bank and 400+ skill total. I think back in the day it would have taken me around a year to reach level 37 and I don't think I reached 750k until after atleast 2 years of playing time. I have a career change coming up which means I will soon have zero playing time, but aside from that, part of me is wondering if it's even worth continuing to play. Certain things were inevitabley going to get easier, such as "merching" with the introduction of the official RS forums and more recently with the Grand Exchange. Another thing that original RS members will certainly agree with, the removal of certificates and introduction of notes is something that was absolutely necessary but again, made things alot easier.

 

One thing I cannot agree with is this one click fishing/mining/whatever. That was the beauty of the game, having to repeatedly click "mine ore" or, God forbid *right click* "harpoon fish". The new way isn't cheating in the literal sense of the word, but Jagex have given up the keys to the kingdom with the change. It is something you could only dream of back in the day, but that's what it should have stayed as - a dream. It's akin to the ;rosebud cheat on the Sims or being Bruce Almighty - what's the point of carrying on if the challenge is gone? How can you maintain such motivation when it's this easy?

 

As for the toolkit... hmmmph. Yeah it's is handy, definitely, but what was wrong with having a pickaxe (note - just a pickaxe, not a "bronze" pickaxe, there was no such thing in days gone by) take up one of your inventory slots and having to alternate between mining 13 copper & 14 tin ore, and 14 copper & 13 tin ore e.t.c.

 

From what I've read there has been some problems with bots and it just seems that Jagex has given in to make things easier to stop people turning to botting. They'd be damned if they didn't do something and damned if they did... but yeah... damn them!

[Arceus]

Such boredom may just as well spill into the gaming world-one can imagine players saying "Oh, Player X has been at the top of the hiscores for five years,

 

What exactly does the second part of this have to do with the first part?

 

The point is the prospect of a leader with no real competition is boring.

 

From what I've read there has been some problems with bots and it just seems that Jagex has given in to make things easier to stop people turning to botting.

I hadn't actually considered Jagex's "convenience" updates as agent to fight the incentive to bot, but that's an interesting point. Thanks for bringing it up.

[Tim]

Jason didn't answer my question about cookies :<

 

Nice insight into the new TMHT.

[Pinata]

I never thought of f2p has a demo. I always thought of it as the same as p2p but more restrictions. I don't think people should be pushed into membership. I was actually f2p for the first 3 years of my rs career. I know when I was playing I never saw these advertisements to become a member. The most I remember was, "this area is a members only area" or something like that. To me it makes Jagex look desperate, but maybe from a business view point it makes sense.

 

I would suggest Jagex add more p2p to f2p interaction. As us the players should be the "advertisement" for p2p.

One solution would be

 

House parties in f2p. ofcourse remove the member benefits like the gilded alter/certain teleports

 

Just give us a reason to join a f2p world every now and then and interact with them.

 

 

 

For the 2nd article.

 

I don't mind things getting easier/faster. Making the environment left click, is just fixing things imo. There's a difference of making an entirely new skilling method and making older skilling methods more user friendly. In today's age, skills and money making should be getting faster. Especially with level 80 armors costing close to 1b. Also, it would be hard for a new player to get on our level, something that took us five years to do. Not many people like to join a game and find out they have to spend 7 years to get a high level. That's probably why Jagex is making things easier at lower/med levels.

[tripsis]

Regarding XP: Worth Less, Not Worthless -

 

I can understand where some people are coming from when they complain about things getting too easy. And sometimes it is just annoying when you get 99 in a skill the "hard"/original way and then suddenly it gets loads easier. Like I got 99 herblore before "mix x" and then literally a week later they released it. I was kind of like.... ugh.

 

But, I do think it's necessary. The massive amount of clicking in this game can lead to insanity so I appreciate the "mix x," "fletch x," "cut x," etc. Like, getting to ~92 prayer actually made me quit the game for a while. The insane amounts of clicking just drove me... insane. Now I guess you could argue that it's too easy with "pray x" but I do think it was a change for the better.

 

The toolbelt doesn't bother me at all. I like that we now have one (or more) less inventory space to worry about when doing certain skills, and I really like that a lot of actions are now left click. I don't see it as devaluing XP, I see it as a welcome convenience.

[The_Fray]

Regarding XP: Worth Less, Not Worthless -

 

I can understand where some people are coming from when they complain about things getting too easy. And sometimes it is just annoying when you get 99 in a skill the "hard"/original way and then suddenly it gets loads easier. Like I got 99 herblore before "mix x" and then literally a week later they released it. I was kind of like.... ugh.

 

But, I do think it's necessary. The massive amount of clicking in this game can lead to insanity so I appreciate the "mix x," "fletch x," "cut x," etc. Like, getting to ~92 prayer actually made me quit the game for a while. The insane amounts of clicking just drove me... insane. Now I guess you could argue that it's too easy with "pray x" but I do think it was a change for the better.

 

The toolbelt doesn't bother me at all. I like that we now have one (or more) less inventory space to worry about when doing certain skills, and I really like that a lot of actions are now left click. I don't see it as devaluing XP, I see it as a welcome convenience.

I agree, the game became a lot better when they removed unnecessary clicking. It has made a lot more skills tolerable now than they used to before.

 

The best example of inconveniences that people had to undergo in the past was the way the pouches worked which made banking while Runecrafting a downright pain. It is a lot easier for players now with the way pouches work now, and I am not at all unhappy even though I had to go through all those painful banking trips while getting 99 Runecrafting. Such inconveniences should never have existed in the first place and I am glad they changed it for the people Runecrafting now.

[deskjethp]

But, I do think it's necessary. The massive amount of clicking in this game can lead to insanity so I appreciate the "mix x," "fletch x," "cut x," etc. Like, getting to ~92 prayer actually made me quit the game for a while. The insane amounts of clicking just drove me... insane. Now I guess you could argue that it's too easy with "pray x" but I do think it was a change for the better.

 

Yes sure cool and all. But why does it have to be mandatory? Why isn't there an option to turn off any or all the x stuff or configure customized click menus and whatnot? Why does it have to be only one way?

 

[Maybe, anyway, regarding customized click menus...]

But the x thing really should have the option of turning it off...[and letting you do things at your own speed!]

 

 

Content addition vs. content replacement: options are good!

[Fresi]

But, I do think it's necessary. The massive amount of clicking in this game can lead to insanity so I appreciate the "mix x," "fletch x," "cut x," etc. Like, getting to ~92 prayer actually made me quit the game for a while. The insane amounts of clicking just drove me... insane. Now I guess you could argue that it's too easy with "pray x" but I do think it was a change for the better.

 

Yes sure cool and all. But why does it have to be mandatory? Why isn't there an option to turn off any or all the x stuff or configure customized click menus and whatnot? Why does it have to be only one way?

 

[Maybe, anyway, regarding customized click menus...]

But the x thing really should have the option of turning it off...[and letting you do things at your own speed!]

 

 

Content addition vs. content replacement: options are good!

 

having options for every small thing would really make this game even harder to update, more code to test and go over. And i don't see why anyone would want to toggle it off, if you like grinding, there is plenty of stuff u can still do, go out there and pick flax :P

[Aiel]

And i don't see why anyone would want to toggle it off, if you like grinding, there is plenty of stuff u can still do, go out there and pick flax :P

because for many skills making things 1 at a time was faster then make X.

[Star.]

The TMHT article shed some light on some stuff I was wondering about :thumbup:

[ssamriga]

As an oldschool player I am of course a bit upset that game is getting so easy now. I wonder what would Zezima say looking at 3billion+ exp TOP achieved mostly in the last few years :)

It is of course still insanely hard to get that much exp, but it was a lot harder to get all 99s several years ago.

Although maybe I am not the one to argue about exp, playing since 2003 my highest level is 90 :) I don't get how people manage to even click to 13mill exp in one skill :)

[Quyneax]

But, I do think it's necessary. The massive amount of clicking in this game can lead to insanity so I appreciate the "mix x," "fletch x," "cut x," etc. Like, getting to ~92 prayer actually made me quit the game for a while. The insane amounts of clicking just drove me... insane. Now I guess you could argue that it's too easy with "pray x" but I do think it was a change for the better.

 

Yes sure cool and all. But why does it have to be mandatory? Why isn't there an option to turn off any or all the x stuff or configure customized click menus and whatnot? Why does it have to be only one way?

 

[Maybe, anyway, regarding customized click menus...]

But the x thing really should have the option of turning it off...[and letting you do things at your own speed!]

 

 

Content addition vs. content replacement: options are good!

Personally I think in games like these, where you'll be playing a lot compared to your random flash games, the interface should be as convenient as possible. Customization options are key in this because no two players are alike. I think a lot more people would be using high xp+apm methods like superheat-mining if they didn't have to do bursts of 4+ clicks in .6 seconds every few seconds while also moving the mouse. Some of that input should be moved to the keyboard for example, but the make-x pitfall should be avoided (things becoming slower or more annoying or more clicking, e.g. making 1 potion takes more effort than 2 potions used to take pre-make-x).

[Platinum_Myr]

I do wish that they would auto make 1 potion if that's all you can make. (Don't bother showing us the make-x screen for only 1 item). Also, I'm of the opinion that the display shouldn't even show if there is only one choice. Just go ahead and cut all the gems, really... No reason to make us move the mouse and click again.

[Vezon Dash]

I do wish that they would auto make 1 potion if that's all you can make. (Don't bother showing us the make-x screen for only 1 item). Also, I'm of the opinion that the display shouldn't even show if there is only one choice. Just go ahead and cut all the gems, really... No reason to make us move the mouse and click again.

They do this just in case you accidentally mix something together.