Is Runescape a parallel universe? -- Or am I over analyzing?

[dannyb103]

Before I begin, I haven't memorized the spelling of Runescape areas, so sue me. :-#

 

 

 

I've started to do some extensive searching and have found some intriguing (and sometimes disturbing) connections between our world and races, and Runescape's world and races/caste system. Here are some of what I found. Read all of them before making any prejudices.

 

 

 

1. Sophanem - I don't take any credit for Jagex's obvious illusions to Egypt.

 

 

 

Let me start this section by saying that I do not expect anyone to be religious and am just using this as a comparison to locations in the real world. Sophanem IS Egypt. Okay, so this is fairly obvious that Runesecape is alluding to Egypt through the pyramids, but also all the 10 biblical plagues. Not to mention mummies, the Sphinx, and the cat storyline. Ictharlin also has the head of a Jackal. ;) AND scarabs both have mythological and hystorical places in Egyptian culture.

 

 

 

2. Pollnivneach

 

 

 

Pollnivneach is Arabia, as in Aladdin's Arabian adventures. The Ali, snake charming, camel, and kebab stereotypes. The mayor lives a lot like Arabian sultans do... might I add. :ugeek:

 

 

 

3. Al Kharid

 

 

 

Is India, the elaborate castle, hide tanner, and a couple of not so obvious stereotypes involved with the stores such as scimitars being sold here.

 

 

 

4. Ardougne

 

 

 

- Seperated by a wall.

 

- Divided into West and East.

 

- The plague being on the side that Fascism was prevalent on (albeit I believe the plague is fake, emulating the antisemististic nature of Fascism)

 

- The fact that the mourners ask you to make poison to use on the West. Which was one method used in the holocaust.

 

- East Ardougne seems to have a booming economy which directly reflects Stalin's communism 5 year plans.

 

 

 

5. Ardougne, Witchaven, and Mort'ton

 

 

 

This isn't a specific area connection, but more of a historical connection to all 3 of these cities. Their relative locations on the Runescape map align simularily to Germany, Italy, and Japan ~ which were the axis of power under Hitler's Nazi influence. Funny how they all seem to have an illness. :geek:

 

 

 

6. Moonclan Island and Rellekka

 

 

 

The Moon Clan is Norway. They seem to self sufficient without any specific private enterprise.

 

 

 

- They are an island nation.

 

- They seem to be 'mystical', which alludes to how well off Norwegians are. (free education, free healthcare, free land).

 

- They all seem to have that Socialist attitude toward working together to make each other better.

 

- Norway has a very strict immigration standard. Most of them actually are refugees. But I think this is reflected on their not liking outsiders.

 

 

 

7. Neiznot and Jatizso

 

 

 

I don't know how they work exactly because of my lack of knowledge of the particular countries but because of demographics and their geographical location, they are most likely Sweden and Finland.

 

 

 

8. Iceberg and Wilderness

 

 

 

The former U.S.S.R, I believe this because espionage (spy penguins alluding to Russian spies in tuxedos like James Bond). Not only I think the wilderness because of it's vast size and geographical location, but because a lot of WWII wars were fought on U.S.S.R soil, and the Mage Arena is fairly close to where Stalingrad would've been.

 

 

 

9. Karajima Jungle (Maybe Ape Atoll)

 

 

 

Obviously North Africa because of the jungles, huts, and tribal culture.

 

 

 

10. Oog'log

 

 

 

South Africa. I came to this conclusion because of the whole white supremist idea that the entrepreneaur shows in 'As a First Resort...' almost as if she is "civilizing them". A lot like during the attempt to imperialize Africa.

 

 

 

11. Mieyardcth (LOL ... spell check major...)

 

 

 

Communist almost total taxing (blood tithes) and sweat shops (mines slavery) or the mine slavery could also be referring to collectivization... but I have no doubt this is a reference to communist China.

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I don't condone the racial slur undertones in the races such as that of Ogres.

[Calzer101]

Ardy is somewhat like North Korea and South Korea lol one is communist one isn't :P

 

 

 

Other then that, its what I thought.

[JAMjE]

Wow

 

I read the title and thought, well duh

 

but you've explained well and have good backing for your ideas

 

I believe Varrock is USa (g.e is like wall street )

 

Oh im good at this =P~

[Commiesk]

 

 

 

East Ardougne seems to have a booming economy which directly reflects Stalin's communism 5 year plans.

 

 

 

 

 

The Moon Clan is Norway. They seem to self sufficient without any specific private enterprise.

 

 

 

- They are an island nation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part 1 - COMMIE. GET HIM. DISREGARD MY NAME. I always thought East Berlin was the part in the USSR. Seems geographically sound. Unless the free world and USSR did a ghetto yin-yang with Berlin.

 

 

 

Part 2 - I'll forgive you for spelling. But not for geography! Norway is shaped like my [cabbage] and my [cabbage] isn't an island. It's a peninsula? Maybe?

 

Are you thinking Iceland for that one?

[Oathkeeper]

 

4. Ardougne

 

 

 

- Seperated by a wall.

 

- Divided into West and East.

 

- The plague being on the side that Fascism was prevalent on (albeit I believe the plague is fake, emulating the antisemististic nature of Fascism)

 

- The fact that the mourners ask you to make poison to use on the West. Which was one method used in the holocaust.

 

- East Ardougne seems to have a booming economy which directly reflects Stalin's communism 5 year plans.

 

 

You've forgot to actually mention that it was germany, but it's a nice comparison

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. Oog'log

 

 

 

South Africa. I came to this conclusion because of the whole white supremist idea that the entrepreneaur shows in 'As a First Resort...' almost as if she is "civilizing them". A lot like during the attempt to imperialize Africa.

 

 

Actually i was understanding that It was meant to be Australia, due to both the fauna and flora, and as you've mentioned to western figure attempting to 'civilize' the culture, which is actually the Aboriginal Australians not Africans.

 

Also keeping with the 'geographically correct' statement "australia" is still below the rest of the world, but moved over to better suit the ogre plot.

[3hitm4g3u]

Alot of places in runescape are based on real life.

[FooK-A-Ji]

I seriously doubt that Jagex has had in mind to draw direct parallels between political views/issues/states, and their computer game.

 

Given further thought, almost anything in RS can be compared to something from real life. Anything from ANY game can be compared to real life.

 

 

 

On the other hand it is real life, and only real life from whence one can create ideas for a game unless you have direct contact with aliens :D

 

 

 

But no. Runescape is not a parallel universe but and is at most an alternative reality. :geek:

[Riemis]

 

Part 1 - COMMIE. GET HIM. DISREGARD MY NAME. I always thought East Berlin was the part in the USSR. Seems geographically sound. Unless the free world and USSR did a ghetto yin-yang with Berlin.

 

 

He said East Ardougne, didn't he? :|

 

 

 

It is fun to see how there are some similarities, but it is just co-incidence ;)

[me]

In addition to Lord of the Rings and D&D the game was very much influenced by Discworld, which loves to have parallels with the "real world".

[Omali]

Runescape may have parallels with the real world, but it is not a parallel universe. What you see in the game now is just drawing inspiration from real world locations, stories, books, and plays.

 

 

 

The fishing platform and Witchaven are more out of Call of Cthulu than anything.

[Teeg]

Runescape may have parallels with the real world, but it is not a parallel universe. What you see in the game now is just drawing inspiration from real world locations, stories, books, and plays.

 

 

 

The fishing platform and Witchaven are more out of Call of Cthulu than anything.

 

 

 

qft

 

 

 

What about the Elf lands? Many Welsh references there. Even the capital Prifddinas is Welsh for "capital city".

 

 

 

Anyway, Omali is correct. The developers are just using what they see/hear/read IRL and adapting ideas into the RS storyline.

 

 

 

 

 

Teeg

[Pilipod]

well duh most fanstasy has some links to the real world. you could draw many conclusions about runescape, but at the end of the day its all interpretation.

[Omali]

A man once said "There is no such thing as originality. Every idea worth having has been had thousands of times already".

 

 

 

Give a good story, one that you came up with in your head, and I can guarantee you could find an existing parallel somewhere in literature, media, real world locations/events, etc.

[DarkDude]

I'm going to lock this before bad things start happening.

 

 

 

Political/Religious discussion is not allowed in General Discussion, the similarities you have picked out in your post between Runescape and the real world are most likely coincidences. (Of course, things such as the Pyramids aren't but that's blatantly obvious and there's nothing to discuss in relation to it).

 

 

 

Thanks.