Tip.It Times - 11th September 2011

[tripsis]

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

 

I'd like to remind people of the rules pertaining to Times threads:

 

[hide=Read these rules before posting in this thread]

Rampant flame wars have taken control of virtually every week's times discussion topics. The following guidelines must be followed when posting on this topic. Posts that ignore these guidelines will be removed.

 

1. You are invited and welcome to express like or dislike on articles and a particular author's writing style. It is not acceptable, however, to flame or personally insult an author. Posts that aren't anything but an attack will be removed from the topic.

 

2. Spelling and grammar errors can be reported to Racheya by PMing her and they will be fixed promptly. It is not necessary to post them on the discussion topic.

 

3. Off topic posts that do not discuss the content of that week's articles will be removed. This is not the place to discuss the direction of the times, how much you love or hate the times, etc. Off topic posts will be removed.

 

By keeping within these guidelines, Times discussion topics will mean more for the Panel and Administration than just a place for flame wars. Flame wars do not provide any useful feedback to the Times, which is mainly what we're aiming for with these topics: feedback.

 

This policy is effective as of now, November 17, 2010. Any posts prior to the creation of this policy may or may not be removed according to the new guidelines.

[/hide]

 

When replying please make sure to clarify the article you are replying to! Thanks!

 

If you spot any typos or mistakes in the article then please PM them to me :)

 

Enjoy the articles!

[Earthman]

So... basically just [bleep]ing about how bad Runescape has become?

[Lose No Hope]

So... basically just [bleep]ing about how bad Runescape has become?

Neither of the articles did that.

[Alg]

So... basically just [bleep]ing about how bad Runescape has become?

Neither of the articles did that.

Why not? WE HAVE A REPUTATION TO UPHOLD!

[Makoto_the_Phoenix]

Interesting articles this week.

 

The first one, Quitting, does touch on a bit of a nerve. Not a bad nerve in particular, but a nerve nonetheless - long-time players who threatened to quit are finally carrying out what they said they would. Many of them do come back, as was mentioned, but for the most part, there's no feeling of enjoyment when they leave.

 

I remember seeing Racheya's signature after MMG came to be the CEO, and subsequently remember reading remarks from her after the so-called "honeymoon" ended, and I realize that, for the most part, Jagex's loyal fanbase is crumbling. I've always stated that for every one player leaving, two take its place, but now I'm not confident I could make such a statement.

 

The second article, Earn Your Keep, seems to have an ulterior tone to it, despite the author not having one intentionally. The game's content has shifted to more end-game levels, but it seems that the remedy is to stock up on resources for six months and use them when the multiplier is in effect. That's not to say that this applies to every skill, namely Summoning and Prayer, but most people I knew wouldn't bother training tedious or expensive skills unless the multiplier was in effect.

 

The ulterior motive is, is leveling these expensive skills over the course of this weekend the wisest course of action? Many that subscribe to the metagame logic would flame me if I didn't say "yes", and I think I'd flame myself, too. However, it highlights the very grind-oriented and very tedious nature of gameplay itself, and also brings to light something else - wouldn't it be better to simply fix the skills so they were rewarding without being painful to level up, without just handing over gobs of free experience?

 

Again, interesting articles. The latter one made me think. :P

 

EDIT:

 

Leaving by Racheya comment

 

I think this "rant" is basically just a disguise for the fact that the author has become grown and has discovered that there are other things in life besides Runescape which are much more important - for example: to study at a university among other things.

 

Well, we all grow. But does that mean, by virtue, we stop playing games? No. It also doesn't mean you'll always stick to just one game, unless that game is an ageless classic (I'm looking at you, Star Fox 64). If all you do is work in an office day-in to day-out and don't try to take your mind off of that damned red stapler every now and again, those 20-40 hours will be like a death sentence to you. :|

Edited September 11, 2011 by Makoto_the_Phoenix

[Neohero1972]

Leaving by Racheya comment

 

I think this "rant" is basically just a disguise for the fact that the author has become grown and has discovered that there are other things in life besides Runescape which are much more important - for example: to study at a university among other things.

[Blutters]

Saw the title and first few lines and didn't bother reading the first article.

 

2nd article was alright but... Well, there's rarely an article that makes me think, gives me a new perspective, or that I really agree with.

I don't agree with this much, at least as far as the shift from luck-based advancement. Sure Hybrid armors may be gotten at nearly the same rate for most people, but alongside them were released like 3 other typical frustrating luck-based sets. Otherwise it didn't really say anything anyone here didn't already know. Maybe I missed the point...

[Crocefisso]

Leaving by Racheya comment

 

I think this "rant" is basically just a disguise for the fact that the author has become grown and has discovered that there are other things in life besides Runescape which are much more important - for example: to study at a university among other things.

 

The point of the discussion thread is not to guess at what an article may or may not be disguising. A worrying number of people seem to enjoy over-analysis in this vein.

[i_trollz_u]

If i found myself not having the time to play RS or bored of it, I'd quit regardless of whether the game is going down-hill or not.

[Jonanananas]

The reason I have not yet quit runescape is basically that I still enjoy my niche of the game. I'm a rank in the w60 peng chats, a lot of my friends in there, and it's almost always a very friendly environment. I also do some question and yes occasionally I'm training a bit too, but all of that is nothing that could keep me here. I usually don't care much about levels which means that I won't put up with much grinding unless there's a specific reasons. That leaves me to playing minigames I enjoy(but which grow old quite soon too) and quests(which are awesome but it's simply not possible to make so many it would be anywhere near keeping me playing)

 

I'm not around that long yet so I can't really call myself a longterm player, but I think I can understand racheya pretty well. The magic just seems to be gone.

 

 

Regarding the second article...I was kind of missing a point to it. Everyone is training herblore(which is kinda sad tbh - nothing against bonus xp, but when everyone is just stocking up to train the skill on the next weekend, something is awry imo), and what about it? Both extremes and the new prayer potions are nice updates I guess although I like extremes more by far.

[RU_Insane]

Leaving by Racheya comment

 

I think this "rant" is basically just a disguise for the fact that the author has become grown and has discovered that there are other things in life besides Runescape which are much more important - for example: to study at a university among other things.

 

 

It seems you're oversimplifying based on the superficial aspects of the discussion. I think Racheya's always had higher priorities than RuneScape. The point is, the reasons that drew her to RS in the first place no longer exist for her, alongside the fact that she's quitting in favor of her studies. She never said anything about outgrowing the game; she commented on this by saying how hard it is for players to completely quit a game, in part because of the bonds you form over time with it. There's nothing wrong with playing a game to pass the time and meet new people; but the direction it's heading now makes it harder for her to enjoy this point, I think. I'll also note, Racheya said she'll gladly return when Jagex gets its act together. That, and considering her reasons for quitting, it seems she's had her priorities in place for a long time.

[CharlieBrown]

Really didn't like the times this week.

First article can be seen all over the first and second page of general forums right here on tip.it. Just felt like the author had to have a spotlight on her one last time before she left.

Second article kinda just stated a generalised observation.

 

Meh.

[cleoppa]

In answer to Leaving, I'm right there with you. While it wasn't a particularly enlightening article, I think it definitely gives a tap on how the Runescape players are going and where Runescape's going. Which is sad, sort of. Maybe.

 

Honestly, though, like the author of the article alluded to, MMOs are a major problem because they are so addicting. I had been trying to quit Runescape for years, recognizing it as a time waster. But it's just so easy to go back to after a long day. I was on the verge of asking someone (who didn't care about RS) to change my password for me so I could overcome it.

 

Then... I was scammed big time. Totally stupid on my part. I'd seen plenty of scammed stories and always scoffed that I was smarter than those dummies. lol. Anyway. I think I'm grateful that I lost those millions of gp. It was a wake-up call. On the one hand, I was kicking myself at my own stupidity. On the other... all that gp took hours and hours and hours to get. What a waste of a life!

 

So... that's my story. I log back in to get holiday or seasonal items. If I ever do come back (which I don't think I will), that's the only thing I would have missed out by quitting. But, honestly, I'm grateful that loser scammed me. It finally gave me the power to quit.

 

So... while I still like RS and wish the best for it, I bet there are a lot of people who are wasting a lot of time--many who don't really want to. So maybe things like this will allow them to spend their lives on better things...

[Sona]

First off, is it ironic that I can't tell bots apart from legitimate players who are grinding at a spot? Over the last three days I think the only thing I've gotten at any skilling spot was "[bleep] off noob", "bot??" and "sux".

 

People leave. Then they come back. Or they're forgotten. Such is the transient nature of the online world.

 

This game is probably one of the best examples of Skinnerian psychology coupled with some very insidious marketing techniques targeting a couple of very specific audiences. The instance people see through it, they become disillusioned and quit, or they become a casual player like myself. The SERIOUS BUSINESS!! nature of Runescape (e.g. the game design and the fundamental nature of grinding) clashes very well against its casual nature, which is what attracts a lot of non-gamers/casual gamers in the first place. If you think about it. Runescape has the potential to be very fun to a casual player base, but Jagex could never cater to the casual players because all the people who repetitively buried 7000000000 bones or what have you are going to rage.

 

People have different goals. For many, it's to be the very best. For me, I'm just trying to figure out how many people are willing to thank you once you've given them free stuff. ;)

[Aten]

Puzzle Pirates trolled Steam so hard l0l

[The_Fray]

I can very much relate to the first article except I stop subscribing about a year back and I expected to join back in the summer but saw no reason to. The recent updates that Jagex have come out with have provided me with a good enough to reason to never open my wallet for this game again.

[Mirror]

In regards to the first article -

Racheya, you summed up your own argument in your last paragraph, so there is nothing left to discuss. "But right now." Yes, right now. You view things from your perspective currently. There is no going back to yesterday. Yes, we've put in time and money into this game, and it didn't go to waste. You enjoyed your time, so let it be. Don't try to dig up reasons to come back. No one forces you. That's the joy of this game, you can leave, come back and pick up right where you left off.

 

Yes, I came back to this game. It's not what I remember it to be, but that's because it's a different game with the same name. I got back into it because I found more time to play and I wanted to play. If I don't want to play, I don't play. No reason to fight or whine on the way out. Just enjoy it for what it is.

 

P.S. Best of luck in university! :)

[lordkafei]

Re: Article #1

 

You would be surprised at just how easy it is to walk away cold turkey. All it takes is a healthy level of disgust with the powers that be. Once you accept that (1) RuneScape is nothing more than an entertainment product and (2) it is senseless to habitually pay for a product you do not enjoy, the decision becomes a slam dunk.

 

The only way Jagex would ever see any of my money again would be to somehow find a way to use the Large Hadron Collider and send a message via Higgs singlet back to mid 2010. That message would detail the mess the game has become and advise on which missteps to avoid. This thread, and the manifold others like it would then become an alternate timeline and disappear and the continuum would be restored. ;-)

 

Unlikely, you say? That's the entire point. The only RuneScape activity I look forward to nowadays is on the 13th of every month, when I update the numbers in my sig.

[Vio]

When Killerred005 reads this, I sent you my article 2 months ago why has it not appeared yet? :P

[Alg]

When Killerred005 reads this, I sent you my article 2 months ago why has it not appeared yet? :P

Clan Chronicle is Here.

[NukeMarine]

First Article: I pretty much stopped playing RS when I transferred to Japan four years ago. During that time I did keep up with the game. After my return from a deployment to Africa dungeoneering came out so I played again for a month or two then stopped. Oddly enough, it was the member awards program that got me to re-up and keep membership since 6 bucks a month is nothing (the military pays well these days). That in turn got me to do small upkeep chores with the distractions and diversions and farming (since it's once daily, I can use the really cheap pineapple and casquat seeds). Instead of doing hours of grinding like I did way back when, I'm doing 30 minute tasks once a day with the odd skill leveling, achievement or quest on the week-end. To be honest, this BXPW was the only time I was grinding a skill (hunter and magic).

 

Not sure the point. Since I'm not grinding for a skill or getting gp, I'm not directly annoyed by the bots. All the updates of the last four years are fun to catch up on if you're not trying to finish them as fast as possible. Make it less a chore, and more an evening stress reliever.

 

Second Article: Have to agree that these updates breathed new life in how to approach the game. Instead of just needing combat to be good at combat, now a player needs to have multiple high levels to compete. I see that as only a good thing since how can you seperate guys that are 99 in all combat skills?

 

What I hope will happen in the future are items that require multiple high skill levels to make/use. In addition, they should up the level cap to 120 for all skills (not at once, perhaps one skill every month). Oh, and given their willingness to have specialized servers, create servers where overloads and other non-combat items that impact p2p combat can be used.

[justjuice]

when will people realize runescape is a game thats all . they [bleep] and moad about how the idealistic purity of the game has been corrupted by the imperalistic desire for moni , i mean frack its a gameee that Andrew Gower invented and made a ton of moni selling...sheesh everyone is acting like they have beev betrayd by Jagex and the developers of Runescape

[RU_Insane]

when will people realize runescape is a game thats all . they [bleep] and moad about how the idealistic purity of the game has been corrupted by the imperalistic desire for moni , i mean frack its a gameee that Andrew Gower invented and made a ton of moni selling...sheesh everyone is acting like they have beev betrayd by Jagex and the developers of Runescape

 

There's a difference between customer dissatisfaction and being unable to discern fantasy from reality. Yes, Jagex has betrayed their entire player-base. They sacrificed the principles that formed the core gaming experience of the game in favor of cheaters -- filling Jagex's wallet with cash -- while giving their loyal, legitimate players the royal shaft.

[Racheya]

Thanks everyone who read my article. It was originally going to touch on the more tangible aspects of why I'm leaving, like bots and Jagex's poor practices, but they're talked about so much I wanted to cover something a little broader. It's just saddening to me, really, that RuneScape is past it's hay day. FT/W was supposed to herald a new golden age but it's simply brought us back into a dark age.

 

Jagex is a business and RuneScape has to make money - but it's not having mine.

[Youmu]

Yeah, it's sad that Jagex is not trying hard enough to counter the bots. Yes, bots get banned, but more are getting created than they are banned, at this rate.

 

That doesn't stop me from enjoying the game though. I've made lots of good friends playing and I don't want to just leave like that. I've also got several long-term goals to attend to, and I don't plan on quitting until I get those goals over with.