Why Do People Judge RS So Much Differently Than Other Video Games?

[SnuGGzZ]

I have been playing RS for I want to say 6 years now, at first on maybe 3-4 different accounts until sticking with the account I currently play, on which I now have a Completionist Cape, over 750M overall xp, and about 315 Alog Days. Throughout this time, the people who I have talked to about my preferred type of game, Runescape, or other games similar to that of Runescape, have all reacted differently. While a few might also enjoy these types of games and some might not agree, but not be too judge mental about it and respect my opinion, if I had to guess I would say 80% of friends or whoever I am talking to about the subject, immediately comment on what either a waste of time a Computer Game like Runescape is, or how "Nerdy" they think it is, which in my opinion, is a pretty ignorant thing to say which I will elaborate on.

 

Now while Runescape is certainly not the most popular MMORPG and MMORPG's might not be the most popular genre of gaming, the amount of time someone can waste playing RS compared to Call Of Duty or Xbox or whatever is the exact same considering that unless you were to violate Runescape's rules of Real World Trading there is honestly no physical gain to playing either game, XBOX or RS, other than maybe content the game developers have put into their respective games that might educate the player on certain small things that, while can be educational, wouldn't be considered or cause others to accept the game as legitimate educational tool that may be worth investing time into.

 

Of course there are those who could try and argue that XBOX can be a worthwhile way to spend your time seeing as how if you think you are good enough you might be able to become an "MLG PRO" (Major League Gaming), or someone who is paid to perform in gaming competitions, etc.. However, it is common knowledge that this is a very unlikely profession that anybody could actually consider to try and live off of as their actual job, which is why the amount of people who have a job in this field is so scarce.

 

Personally I would agree with the argument that sure there are much better ways all of us could invest our free time (Volunteering, Community Service, Habitat for Humanity type activities), But seeing as I am bonfiring on RS as I type this I have no right to judge others on how they spend their free time.

 

But the problem is that people who say RS is a pointless waste of time are typically, but not necessarily, those who go home after school or whatever and spend their afternoon arguing with younger kids over XBOX Live, which, let's be honest, is what a fair few of us do most days when we have the chance to aswell, just on a computer while playing a different game.

 

I would like to think I am not alone when I say while sure, the level ups and countless hours spent finishing quests and other content within Runescape is physically worthless and provides nothing more than simple entertainment to those who enjoy the game as Call Of Duty does to those who enjoy those types of games. However, with technology becoming more and more relevant in the real world with things like Computers and not so much XBOX 360's, Runescape is realistically a much more worthwhile product to spend your time on seeing as to communicate with other players you are required to type your thoughts instead of just talking into a microphone. This has probably been the most valuable lesson I have learned primarily from RS, since I can now type 105 words per minute which is "Quite Sensational" according to several online typing test programs and it's actually pretty hard nowadays to name a couple of popular jobs where being a strong typer couldn't boost your performance or increase your productivity.

 

I guess this whole post was to kind of express my opinions as to why Runescape and XBOX are just as pointless as each other but at the same time how each can in their own way also benefit you in a useful way aswell that not everybody who jumps to the quick conclusion of games like Runescape being just an absolute waste of time while not really noticing how their preferred game is often just as much of a waste of time and how like I explain throughout this wall of text, Runescape can actually benefit it's players just in the way you simply communicate with the rest of the community.

 

I'm looking forward to other's thoughts on this topic aswell seeing as it is probably an experience you all have observed one time or another.

 

Also it probably doesn't hurt to note that we should all try and be considerate of others opinions and views on anything and everything, even if you disagree and think they are the dumbest person who ever lived. Especially because we are all only human and often may not realize things that others might have. Which, had you realized, could completely change your view on the subject.

 

I'd appreciate that before posting your thoughts and commenting on mine that you try and be sure to understand what I'm trying to say throughout the post as I tried my best to make my views clear and understandable.

[Cow]

I agree that a similar amount of time is spent on rs/league/running a mc server/call of duty/whatever. I'm at 200ish days which is pretty embarrassingly low xp/hour, but I console myself with the fact that I was 45m xp at 100 days played and 200m at 200.

On the other hand I disagree that rs has provided me the benefit of typing. I can type decently enough (nothing exceptional, but I've never been in a typing class or learned any strategy) but most of the time I type infrequently into the game. For most circumstances typing out the same acronyms and combinations of letters hasn't really helped me speed up typing were I to type quick-brown-fox type stuff.

 

Games are equally pointless (if that's your view about them.) but most people will associate mmo's and rs as either nerd nolife games or 12-year-old's games.

[muggiwhplar]

This is just one of those opinions that people hold which make no logical sense, and will probably admit to it if you question their opinions enough. In other words, your thoughts are valid.

 

Hell, one of my best friends teases me about playing RS (he played it when he was younger), and he plays WoW all day lol.

[SnuGGzZ]

I agree that a similar amount of time is spent on rs/league/running a mc server/call of duty/whatever. I'm at 200ish days which is pretty embarrassingly low xp/hour, but I console myself with the fact that I was 45m xp at 100 days played and 200m at 200.

On the other hand I disagree that rs has provided me the benefit of typing. I can type decently enough (nothing exceptional, but I've never been in a typing class or learned any strategy) but most of the time I type infrequently into the game. For most circumstances typing out the same acronyms and combinations of letters hasn't really helped me speed up typing were I to type quick-brown-fox type stuff.

 

Games are equally pointless (if that's your view about them.) but most people will associate mmo's and rs as either nerd nolife games or 12-year-old's games.

I guess how much you get out of RS within the typing aspect I mentioned would really depend on how, like you said, frequently you use lol, etc and how social you are in general, which I didn't really consider when typing this thought. It's helped me I think, while you say otherwise so yea, this is more of a personal thing that really depends on how you decide to socialize with other players and I understand not everyone may feel the same way.

 

And yea MMO's have always been generalized as a Fairy Pixie type game which with just this bias can be a big factor on someone's opinion even without having actually played the game.

[Tui]

RS is pretty awful. Yes, mindlessly playing any mmo or a shooter isn't really any better, but at least there's a higher level of difficulty. I know I'm someone who doesn't like difficult games much, but I sure as hell wouldn't brag about beating the elite 4. But in this community, that's what you do. The social aspect on this community is horrendous. I guess birds of a feather shouldn't concern me, but don't fool yourself.

 

Everyone has an escape from reality, whether it's tv, books, games, or other media, but some are better than others. At least if you watch old movies you can talk to people who share the same interest about it. And how much time you spend matters too. Most of my time here was a pathetic waste of time. Maybe lots of people aren't facing reality much better than you, but that's no excuse.

[Lose No Hope]

This is just one of those opinions that people hold which make no logical sense, and will probably admit to it if you question their opinions enough. In other words, your thoughts are valid.

 

Hell, one of my best friends teases me about playing RS (he played it when he was younger), and he plays WoW all day lol.

Pretty much this. I used to never say specifically that I played Runescape because I didn't want to hear people's negative comments about it. In my personal experience in the past few years though, most people who know I play don't care or don't criticize it for being a bad game and waste of time. I've gotten to the point where I don't care who knows as most people have been accepting in my recent experiences.

[Deletion]

I share similar sentiments to you. The reasons I believe Runescape is judged negatively is as follows: Firstly, and before I get into why it is worse than other games; As viewed by the general non-videogame playing population, playing videogames in general are seen to be a waste of time. Shamelessly stealing the top answer from a recent Reddit thread; Videogames are seen as more of a time-waste than other entertainment activities as they don't have any physical, or educational (They have some; time-management, typing, efficiency, team-work, etc but it is minimal compared to time input) benefits and then further still they are seen as worse than activities such as watching television because videogames, rather than as a purely non-input form of entertainment, require mental skill, effort, energy and concentration. Hence, non-gamers will see these inputs, and figure that they could be put to better use doing something more productive. I don't agree with this, I game for the exact reason I watch tv, for fun, to pass time and to relax, but to non-gamers since I am actually putting in effort, instead of a non-input form of entertainment, I could be doing something more productive.

 

Secondly; the next tier is that MMORPG's are judged more by the average gaming population. While they are extremely popular, to the average and casual gamer they are looked down upon. I believe this is because of three reasons; 1) They don't have an end. You can't finish an MMO. Hence whether or not it is true, people believe those that play MMORPG's spend more time playing than a casual gamer. 2) They don't provide instant gratification. Unlike most games to be successful at an MMORPG it requires a large time input and extensive amounts of 'grind'. Hence, what I would call, the time to fun pay-off (amount of time invested vs fun) is much lower than a game such as COD where after a few hours playing you are able to compete with everybody and be successful. 3) I think that a lot of gamers see MMORPG's as about gaining recognition and praise for your efforts. While most people view an FPS as mindless fun, what's the point in putting in so much time for relatively little reward unless you want recognition for your achievements. Hence, MMORPG players are seen as attention seekers by other gamers. Also to be successful at an MMO merely requires time, and little skill.

 

Lastly; Runescape is looked down upon by other MMORPG players. The reason for this I would guess is due to the seemingly: out-dated graphics, unskilled and poor PvE and PvP, extreme levelling times, pointless and boring skills (last two points = larger 'grind' that other MMO's), and the low average age of its players and immature community. Most of this is due to how long it has been around, and the opinions that were generated without modern knowledge of the game.

 

I just want to say that I don't agree with most of the points I made above, but I'm guessing this is how it appears from the outside.

[Platinum_Myr]

I have had a lot of people say the game is stupid without seeing modern runescape. I think they still believe that the game is the same one from 10 years ago, which it is not.

[Ginger_Warrior]

OK, you want my honest opinion, then let me level with you. Two things:

 

1) RuneScape is not skill-based (which is ironic, given you spend your whole RS life training 'skills'). With the exception of some minigames and Dungeoneering, it's a time ∝ XP equation which applies to all people. Pretty much everyone can chop wood, burn logs and smelt gold as fast as everyone else. CoD, on the other hand, is most definitely skill-based. Before you accuse me of being a CoD fanboy, I can't stand CoD, but I can see it for what it is.

 

2) "Personally I would agree with the argument that sure there are much better ways all of us could invest our free time (Volunteering, Community Service, Habitat for Humanity type activities)"--my job and my voluntary commitments on top of that were pretty much the reason I had no time for RS any more. I saw what I could putting my real skills towards in the real world and what change I could make with them, and thought 'What a great shame I wasted these skills on RuneScape for all those years.' Now that I've gone to university, and I'm still doing those voluntary commitments, and my situation's pretty much the same.

[Sylpheed]

Pretty much what Deletion said.

 

In the world of videogames, certain genres of games, just like films, are considered by both the public and general media (in the UK at least) to be more nerdy than others.

 

Also, because Runescape is really, really old for an MMO people assume it is the exact same game as they left it and don't realise the changes that have occurred.

[SnuGGzZ]

OK, you want my honest opinion, then let me level with you. Two things:

 

1) RuneScape is not skill-based (which is ironic, given you spend your whole RS life training 'skills'). With the exception of some minigames and Dungeoneering, it's a time ∝ XP equation which applies to all people. Pretty much everyone can chop wood, burn logs and smelt gold as fast as everyone else. CoD, on the other hand, is most definitely skill-based. Before you accuse me of being a CoD fanboy, I can't stand CoD, but I can see it for what it is.

 

2) "Personally I would agree with the argument that sure there are much better ways all of us could invest our free time (Volunteering, Community Service, Habitat for Humanity type activities)"--my job and my voluntary commitments on top of that were pretty much the reason I had no time for RS any more. I saw what I could putting my real skills towards in the real world and what change I could make with them, and thought 'What a great shame I wasted these skills on RuneScape for all those years.' Now that I've gone to university, and I'm still doing those voluntary commitments, and my situation's pretty much the same.

While I was mostly using CoD just for a comparison about the wasteful use of time, I can see why you could say CoD would take more "skill" to play versus clicking endlessly on RS, but at the end of the day that skill is worthless and was devolved only because you had spent countless hours playing XBOX which is just as much of a wasteful way to spend your time as Runescape.

 

 

Lastly; Runescape is looked down upon by other MMORPG players. The reason for this I would guess is due to the seemingly: out-dated graphics, unskilled and poor PvE and PvP, extreme levelling times, pointless and boring skills (last two points = larger 'grind' that other MMO's), and the low average age of its players and immature community. Most of this is due to how long it has been around, and the opinions that were generated without modern knowledge of the game.

But seeing as Runescape is played completely through your web browser using Java, unlike WoW or whatever which requires a CD and all that, I don't think Runescape is outdated at all. With nearly half of the game receiving graphical reworks over the past year I'd say that as of this week after Tuesday's update RS is at it's peak as far as being able to graphically compete with other MMO's that are also restricted under the same circumstances as RS. Seeing as when Mod Mark mentioned upgrading to HTML5 he talked about how their graphics team would no longer feel so limited because of how they are constantly waiting on new version of java's that will allow them to design the type of content they've really always wanted to but were never able to do while under the limitations of Java.

[Mercifull]

Interestingly Joystiq posted this article only yesterday...

http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/09/the-soapbox-runescape-is-a-proper-mmo/

[Youmu]

RS is pretty awful. Yes, mindlessly playing any mmo or a shooter isn't really any better, but at least there's a higher level of difficulty. I know I'm someone who doesn't like difficult games much, but I sure as hell wouldn't brag about beating the elite 4. But in this community, that's what you do. The social aspect on this community is horrendous. I guess birds of a feather shouldn't concern me, but don't fool yourself.

 

Everyone has an escape from reality, whether it's tv, books, games, or other media, but some are better than others. At least if you watch old movies you can talk to people who share the same interest about it. And how much time you spend matters too. Most of my time here was a pathetic waste of time. Maybe lots of people aren't facing reality much better than you, but that's no excuse.

Tui's post pretty much sums up my thoughts. After taking a break from RS not long ago due to a dysfunction in Jagex's banning system (I'd rather not go into it), I decided to go back to things that I used to do all the time before RS took over. During this time period, I revisited anime, something that I've enjoyed long before RS came into my eyes. Surprisingly as it turned out I had much more fun marathoning 50+ episodes of SKET Dance than say, grinding out 1m firemaking xp in a day. Heck, when I revisited League of Legends, the intensity of the game just told me the amount of effort I really need to put into it. RS fails to achieve this level of intensity, for obvious reasons.

 

There are probably specific reasons why very little sites are even mentioning RS at all. But because it's protrayed so very less in the media and relatively unpopular to the masses of the internet, RS will inevitably get this kind of view towards itself. Heck, I used to think my classmates were just spouting bullshit when they said that RS is just a terrible mess that will never become popular again. And slowly I'm starting to think they're right.

 

I don't really want to shun other people's opinion here, but if one opens their eyes just a wee little bit, it's quite obvious the shunning non-RSers see this game.

[Ginger_Warrior]

OK, you want my honest opinion, then let me level with you. Two things:

 

1) RuneScape is not skill-based (which is ironic, given you spend your whole RS life training 'skills'). With the exception of some minigames and Dungeoneering, it's a time ∝ XP equation which applies to all people. Pretty much everyone can chop wood, burn logs and smelt gold as fast as everyone else. CoD, on the other hand, is most definitely skill-based. Before you accuse me of being a CoD fanboy, I can't stand CoD, but I can see it for what it is

While I was mostly using CoD just for a comparison about the wasteful use of time, I can see why you could say CoD would take more "skill" to play versus clicking endlessly on RS, but at the end of the day that skill is worthless and was devolved only because you had spent countless hours playing XBOX which is just as much of a wasteful way to spend your time as Runescape.

Yes, the skills needed to play Xbox games are also worthless within the much greater context of 'life'. Gaming generally is worthless regardless of what game you play. But apart from that I feel you've really missed my point.

 

I'm a gamer. I'm a pretty competitive gamer and, if we're not bothered about showing false modesty, I'm actually quite good at gaming. A game is a challenge; as a gamer, I don't just want to be challenged, I need to be challenged. I don't play CoD, but I'm more of a Halo player. When I play a multiplayer game of Halo online, I'm being challenged, by other gamers, to score 'kills' against them as much as I can without being killed myself. Ultimately, how successful I am, and my teammates are, at that task will decide whether we achieve the ultimate goal of winning that match. A Halo: Reach game, when it's on the well balanced playlists, is a challenge to see which team of players possess more skill.

 

I don't get that from RuneScape. Like I said, (some) minigames and Dungeoneering are different because your character's performance is indirectly relative to your own personal skill, but generally most people can play RuneScape as well as each other, it's simply a matter of time before people eventually reach certain milestones like 99s, quest capes etc. I personally therefore fail to see RuneScape as a challenge at all and, hence, I find it a very poor experience from a purely gaming perspective.

[Pinata]

I have different experiences. So I own a few Runescape shirts from Jagex store. No-one has ever said anything about them. Positive or negative. So I'd assume most people don't care about/know what it is. I often play Runescape at my school between classes and I've had several people approach me about the game. They were more nostalgic over it (telling me what they used to do, someone at my college apparently ran runes for Larryr), rather then Rs is nerdy.

 

The magic players get more flak from others imo. But who cares really if someone plays cod, magic, rs, or D&D. They're fun to play w/ friends and that is what matters.

[Blyaunte]

Oddly enough, the OP's comments would have made for a decent piece in the Tip It Times.

 

That said, I play Runescape because I enjoy it and to hell with what other people think about it ...

 

:P

[Estoc]

People judge Runescape with a different (lower) opinion than Call of Duty because they play Call of Duty and not Runescape.

[Fred_S]

Am in a crew hosting a LAN-party with around 50 people here, some kid is playing it openly and havnt been "judged" yet.

[SnuGGzZ]

Am in a crew hosting a LAN-party with around 50 people here, some kid is playing it openly and havnt been "judged" yet.

I didn't mean viewed or treated differently because of what they like to play, I am talking about how people comment on your time spent depending on the game and how it is commonly assumed RS has much less physical gain compared CoD or something when in reality neither game has any true benefits which I explain my thoughts on in the op

[decebal]

*cough* We haven't had a weekly hot topic in over a month *cough* .

 

Runescape has never been taken seriously, really. Many MMO gamers that I know started with either WoW or Runescape, with the younger ones always opting for RS. It is so accessable it is a stepping to hardcore MMO gaming. This does have a significant drawback: its capabilities are constrained by the technology it can use. Don't kid yourselves, even though the graphics have gotten a lot better, the polygon count much denser, and the animations sharper, rival games have gotten just as good over the same amount of time. The MMO genre is famously weak nowadays when it comes to graphics for such high end games due to the massive amounts of players that have to be on the same server, at the same time. Add the fact that RS is a browser game, and you can see why RS can never be as good graphically as other games. In a gaming age when people seem to want 1080p realistic graphics, a game like RS is downright laughable.

[Deletion]

But seeing as Runescape is played completely through your web browser using Java, unlike WoW or whatever which requires a CD and all that, I don't think Runescape is outdated at all. With nearly half of the game receiving graphical reworks over the past year I'd say that as of this week after Tuesday's update RS is at it's peak as far as being able to graphically compete with other MMO's that are also restricted under the same circumstances as RS. Seeing as when Mod Mark mentioned upgrading to HTML5 he talked about how their graphics team would no longer feel so limited because of how they are constantly waiting on new version of java's that will allow them to design the type of content they've really always wanted to but were never able to do while under the limitations of Java.

 

I'm not saying I agree. I think Runescape is amazing for a web-based game. However, as you said the graphics are limited, and extremely outdated compared to what is possible (not compared to other web-based MMO's but other MMO's in general). Being web-based is a double-edged sword for Runescape, it allows pretty much anyone and everyone with an internet connection to create an account and play the game, but it also limits (not saying it's the fault of Jagex, but it is limited) what is possible.

 

Everything I wrote in my post above isn't my thoughts, it's how I believe Runescape is percieved. Actual players of Runescape either know these things aren't true, don't care about them, or find them entertaining, whereas people with no to little experience with the game will judge it completely by how it outwardly appears: which is an outdated, skill-less, grind-fest.

[Ginger_Warrior]

Everything I wrote in my post above isn't my thoughts, it's how I believe Runescape is percieved. Actual players of Runescape either know these things aren't true, don't care about them, or find them entertaining, whereas people with no to little experience with the game will judge it completely by how it outwardly appears: which is an outdated, skill-less, grind-fest.

Oh, yes, of course.... the reason I'm so critical of RuneScape couldn't possibly be an informed opinion... it's because I have no experience of playing the game!

 

I have enough experience of it and I still think it's a poor game which relies far, far, far too much on grind-festing. I'm sorry, the quoted statement doesn't stand as an argument in itself.

[Fallstar]

I don't see the problem regarding graphics, maxed out graphics in wow (the only other MMO I've tried) are also shitty for modern standards.

 

As for other stuff, I guess it's because a lot of people try RS as young teens, then stop playing. So they associate the game with that age group, because that's when they played it.

[Deletion]

Everything I wrote in my post above isn't my thoughts, it's how I believe Runescape is percieved. Actual players of Runescape either know these things aren't true, don't care about them, or find them entertaining, whereas people with no to little experience with the game will judge it completely by how it outwardly appears: which is an outdated, skill-less, grind-fest.

Oh, yes, of course.... the reason I'm so critical of RuneScape couldn't possibly be an informed opinion... it's because I have no experience of playing the game!

 

I have enough experience of it and I still think it's a poor game which relies far, far, far too much on grind-festing. I'm sorry, the quoted statement doesn't stand as an argument in itself.

 

That's your opinion and you're welcome to it. No need to be sarcastic at a comment which clearly wasn't directed at those with an informed opinion. Next time I make a comment should I completely cater to every possible position of opinion?

 

You judge Runescape because you had experience with it, and no longer find it enjoyable, which is fine. But does that mean you have the right to look down upon those that still play the game and still find it enjoyable? No. The entire premise of the original post is that Runescape is looked down upon as a waste of time, compared to other videogames, when they both provide the same thing: entertainment.

 

The point I was trying to make, along with some others, and maybe I didn't portray it clearly enough, is that those without knowledge of the game judge it as a waste of time because it appears to be an outdated, skill-less, grind-fest. Which can't nearly be as fun as shooting at someone? Right? Wrong.

 

Fun is a personal opinion. You don't find the grind of Runescape fun or relaxing, well I do. Does that give you the right to judge the game as more of a waste of time that what ever game you are playing at the same time I am playing Runescape? Hell no.

[Ginger_Warrior]

OK then... you want to get personal on this. Problem is, though, is that while you accuse me of thinking RuneScape players are somehow "lower" than me, I'm not sure I have said that, or even implied it, and if anyone else looks back over my posts, I'm not sure they would find me saying that either. What I actually said, was that I personally find RuneScape a poor game because of its general inability to differentiate players by their level of competitive skill, whereas FPS almost unequivocally are able to differentiate along the same criteria and frequently do so, thus making FPSs more of a challenge to play. If you take that comment as a personal attack (because you're a RuneScape player, and for no other reason apparently) then that's not really my problem, is it? Because I can't very well hold that same opinion and present it any other way to make it less offensive to you, can I?

 

The point I'm making is that people on the outside, who lack sophisticated knowledge of RuneScape and who see it as a grind-fest, aren't far from the truth in my eyes. If you have a different opinion, then let's just agree to disagree. But stop pretending as though I'm attacking you personally--it's blatently obvious I'm not really doing that.

 

There is absolutely no point in a thread asking why people who criticise RuneScape, criticise RuneScape, then jumping down their throats and falsely accusing them of pan-elitism. You may as well not bother asking the question in the first place.