Will the new graphics be "Acceptable?"

[Who]

This question has been bugging at me for several days now. Will RuneScape's new graphics become "Acceptable" in terms of those that judge games by how they look? I'll be honest, RuneScape isn't a game your going to play for some nice scenery, and it pales in comparison to many other MMO's. I even keep playing this game a secret, as I know that whenever I mention it, the responses will be "Why do you play that game? It has such bad graphics."

 

 

 

I'm not one to judge a book by it's cover, but many other people are. They look at a game, see how well the graphics are, then decide if it's worthy for them to play. If you remember a time when graphics weren't that big of a deal (SNES time period anyone?), then you'll know what I'm talking about. Some games look so good now it makes you think that your playing in real life.

 

 

 

I know it's inevidable that as time progresses, our interpretation of things in life changes to coincide with it. Graphics are no exception. Isn't Jagex a bit late to be updating graphics that still might not be considered "Acceptable" to those that solely depend on graphics before deciding what to play? I started playing RuneScape because it was unique. The graphics might have "sucked" but that doesn't mean the gameplay does as well. Will new graphics mean new players? And will these new players finally find the graphics good enough to actually try this game?

[Wheels]

I think they'll be more accepted before, but as always, there's only so much you can do with a game ran on Java. In my opinion they look amazing for being run off of such a "simple" program. Not sure if all those WoW junkies and other graphics obsessors will be pleased, though.

 

 

 

I never understood why people were so into graphics for games in the first place. I've never judged a game on that. If it's fun, I'll play it. That's just like judging a book by it's cover. :-#

[Phr33st00fpl0x]

I believe that they might attract a few that were disappointed by old graphics, but still many will continue playing other MMO's with better graphics. Even when I showed my friend some of the new screenshots, he still thought Runescape graphics were terrible.

[Singh]

its going to be good but for some weird there is dumb noobs that wanna find glitchs instead of just going with it

[xxshady]

I think the graphics look pretty impressive honestly (and I play high-graphics games such as Crysis and COD4)

 

 

 

The textures are sharp, the 4x anti-aliasing will get rid of all the rough jaggies, the lighting and shadows make the game look really advanced for a Java game, and the water looks gorgeous.

 

 

 

I think that Runescape will be much more marketable now, to new players and other-mmo players as well. Plus, Jagex will always update the graphics of Runescape (compare RS2 when it came out with today's RS2, theres a pretty big difference in graphics quality)

[What980]

Amazing graphics will sell the game, but the gameplay and community will make the review.

 

 

 

That seems to be the old arguement for the Runescape graphics but seeing as the graphics arent the greatest, and the gameplay and community are going downhill, Updating graphics are probably Jagex's last hope for grabbing some better gamers.

 

 

 

This is my first and only MMO so I can't say much with compairing, but i'm sure there will be plenty word of mouth advertising to keep Runescape going for quite sometime.

[InkofDeath]

There's two groups of people who are or aren't going to be pleased.

 

 

 

The first group is the game raters, or those MMO sites, or game sites for console games like 'GameSpot'. Those people will rate the game on graphics, gameplay, game content, PvP...etc. Since they know that it's platform is Java, they will probably be moderately impressed with the graphics. Basically from a technical view, the game wins in graphics, comparing to how WoW, or AoC, aren't pushing their graphics to the limits, but Jagex is, the outcome is different yes, but the scale is the same.

 

 

 

The second group is the customers, or gamers. I'm going to say 15% of gamers have knowledge of at least some programming, and know not to rate it on graphics alone. Then there's 70% who play for graphics, and decide to play based on graphics, we call these the virgins of gaming in my opinion. The last 15% really aren't classified, and I have no comment on them. So basically the graphics to those who previously knew what the graphics looked like, and now when they see them, they will be impressed, but only about 2/3s may consider playing at all. While those who had no previous knowledge of the graphics will still say they suck.

[Ravenkana]

I think better, but not good enough. Compare this to not only other pc games, but to consoles as well. Plus, I've just downloaded the Spore Creature Creator, and, well, let's just say that a single musket man would be more capable of going head to head with a WWII tank then Runescape would be going against Spore.

[stevepole]

With this graphic improvement to the game, I believe it will start a whole new runescape generation.

 

 

 

The graphics of the SNES period were the best of the time unlike the current state of runescape.

[Will H]

I think better, but not good enough. Compare this to not only other pc games, but to consoles as well. Plus, I've just downloaded the Spore Creature Creator, and, well, let's just say that a single musket man would be more capable of going head to head with a WWII tank then Runescape would be going against Spore.

 

I don't think that Spore and Runescape can be compared in that way, they're different games. Spore is all about the graphics and imagery, as it helps with creativity. Runescape is about community and teamwork. Looking at the screenshots, comparing the updated Runescape graphics with Spore graphics (both of which haven't been fully released yet!), Spore isn't incredibly far ahead of Runescape.

 

 

 

Of course they haven't perfected the graphics yet, but that wasn't the aim. The aim was to bring it to this 'acceptable' level, despite the fact that Jagex has worked much harder than other gaming companies to get the same result, due to different platforms and their desire to keep Runescape widely accessible. And kudos to them.

 

 

 

As far as I'm concerned, when it comes to updating the graphics from what it was before, any news is good news.

[kdog2fast]

Lol what good are a few graphic updates now? I perfer making new different looking armors and weapons, I mean come on.....alot of the people that quit, quit because black armor looks like rune. They all look the same but have different colors (Thankfully Jagex is fixing these stuff by making new stuff but members only, ex...god wars, slayer items, barrows,etc) but if they added some to f2p which they shouldn't get, Im sure people would come back.

 

 

 

Regardless people are just saying how nice the graphics look.....Im worried about how they will impact daily activites like training, skilling etc. Mainly worried about the inv now. Will it slow down power training ? Will it make god wars harder? I really hope it doesn't!

[3hitm4g3u]

I have already used the new graphics as a justification of my playing the game. It has been hard of late to give a reason to my friends about why I play (before I could show them pking and they would just...understand) but this is a great way for a closet nerd to come out in the open and not feel like runescape is his dark little secret, lol.

 

 

 

The best thing about this is that I actually wholeheartedly believe these graphics are going to be awesome. Then I think of my excitement towards FOG before it was released...

 

 

 

The thing I am most looking forward to is the new look of combat, and if it will be more fluid then what it currently is (like how 2h's currently look like they are blocking an attack before attacking themselves). Also I wonder if special attacks have been boosted in looks.

[Millard]

I think that the graphics update is a bit late if Jagex are trying to compete with the other MMO's out there. Yes, WOW's graphics aren't amazing but Runescape still won't match them, and recently "Age of Conan" was released which has amazing graphics for an MMO and "Warhammer Online" is being released comes out soon which again as superb graphics. So i reckon even after the release most people will think Runescape is a rubbish game etc especially when its compared to the next genration of MMO's.

[Barihawk]

I don't know what you are on about. Graphics on the SNES were the BOMB back in 1994.

[highlanders]

It's ok, instead of "pathetic". :lol: But I don't think it'll get to the "acceptable" mark anytime soon. As time passes, the notch goes higher and higher, and jagex is just too late now.

 

 

 

Rofl I love excuses to pull out granado espada screenshots XD

 

 

 

 

 

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Amazing theme, graphics, and music. Too bad the game was filled with goldfarmers, and was basically only grind. >cry< It's the curse of all mmropgs with good graphics.

[3hitm4g3u]

It's ok, instead of "pathetic". :lol: But I don't think it'll get to the "acceptable" mark anytime soon. As time passes, the notch goes higher and higher, and jagex is just too late now.

 

 

 

Rofl I love excuses to pull out granado espada screenshots XD

 

 

 

 

 

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Amazing theme, graphics, and music. Too bad the game was filled with goldfarmers, and was basically only grind. >cry< It's the curse of all mmropgs with good graphics.

 

 

 

I can't imagine runescape ever having those types of graphics.

 

 

 

Just wouldn't suit runescape imo.

[highlanders]

I can't imagine runescape ever having those types of graphics.

 

 

 

Just wouldn't suit runescape imo.

 

 

 

Well obviously, GE is renaissance-ish. :lol:

[Will H]

It's ok, instead of "pathetic". :lol: But I don't think it'll get to the "acceptable" mark anytime soon. As time passes, the notch goes higher and higher, and jagex is just too late now.

 

 

 

Rofl I love excuses to pull out granado espada screenshots XD

 

 

 

 

 

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Amazing theme, graphics, and music. Too bad the game was filled with goldfarmers, and was basically only grind. >cry< It's the curse of all mmropgs with good graphics.

 

 

 

Wouldn't suit Runescape, ever. There's a certain style about those kind of MMO's which I actually find a bit tacky. It's probably the fact that everybody wears ridiculous clothes that look like paper. And the ground is never textured properly (the grass is actually a solid floor with no sticky-uppy tufts like grass should be). Jagex actually does much better ground textures than that.

 

Sorry, I'm nitpicking, but you know what I mean.

[Who]

I don't know what you are on about. Graphics on the SNES were the BOMB back in 1994.

 

 

 

But if you look at the SNES now, you'll still have people playing the games because the games were awesome, not because of how it looks.

[Makoto_the_Phoenix]

I don't know what you are on about. Graphics on the SNES were the BOMB back in 1994.

 

 

 

But if you look at the SNES now, you'll still have people playing the games because the games were awesome, not because of how it looks.

 

That's exactly right. It's the reason that I'll still whip out my Dreamcast or Gameboy Color/Advance every now and then -- the games were enjoyable, and looks were only the fluff.

 

 

 

It's the exact same rub with RuneScape. Sure, the graphics might be acceptable to a new crowd, but if they can't find the game to be fun/appealing to them, then they won't stick around for long.

[hellbellz]

I think Jagex based their new graphics on Disney's hit "ToonTown."

[The Observer]

I hate graphic huggers. They like the graphics only. It's quite annoying... #-o

 

 

 

Anyway, the graphics aren't "acceptable" by others standards. But after all, Jagex was aiming for the majority of people.

[Zaaps1]

Some people just won't care no matter what. Runescape will never have as good graphics as other games, sure a few people will jump back on board, but in general, it won't do much.

 

 

 

I should hope no newer players come either, f2p is crowded as it is.

[Marduk_God]

These days, most people seem to be all about the package and not really about the concent. At least, that's how many games are advertised these days: mind-boggling graphics, but the gameplay is a bit lacking compared to "older games" (generally speaking, of course. There are also games which provide both excellent graphics and innovative gameplay).

 

 

 

This question has been bugging at me for several days now. Will RuneScape's new graphics become "Acceptable" in terms of those that judge games by how they look?

 

 

 

To answer to your question: no, it will not become acceptable for those that judge games by their graphics, as those players will be very hard to satisfy anyway (you'd have to have graphics close to Oblivion to come even close, and that's not even a next-gen game anymore).

 

 

 

The current graphics are 2001-ish, the new graphics will be 2005-ish. They remind me an awful lot of Stronghold 2, which came out in 2005 and had very similar graphics.

 

 

 

~Mardvk

[checkviller]

there are tons of games they advertise for on tv, you see the gfx and you think: "WoW, looks nice". Couple of days later you get to play it but the gameplay smells. You realise a good game isn't a good game without good gameplay. what's the use of a game in HD quality when the gameplay sucks.

 

 

 

As the topic starter says, jagex might be late with updating their graphics, maybe too late. But I think that isn't correct. Those people at jagex focussed at the gameplay for years, and they made a great game you can play for months (years?) without getting bored. New content every month. Now the gameplay is perfect, they're updating the graphics. That's the way it's supposed to be. Gameplay comes first, not the graphics.

 

 

 

Oh and i just noticed Marduk_God just said almost exactly the same thing :oops: :-#