Runescape Dying? [Discussion/Observation]

[God Of Lego]

I would love for them to have just made tutorial island a bit more modern, It was simple and clean cut. What ever you liked the most was what you were most likely going to seek out (I loved mining and smithing when I started back in the day)

[Fallstar]

As a completionist (onceI'vefinisheddiv) I find the NIS bizarre and the way you interact with the interfaces un-intuitive (idk if this is a word). If any brand new players don't just nopenopenope when they first start RS, I'll be impressed.

[RSDwaynee]

As a completionist (onceI'vefinisheddiv) I find the NIS bizarre and the way you interact with the interfaces un-intuitive (idk if this is a word).

 

Took me a while to get used to it all & I still do mess around with a few tabs from time to time but you just got to adapt to the changes <-- One thing I've noticed the RS Community are pretty bad at tbh.

 

If any brand new players don't just nopenopenope when they first start RS, I'll be impressed.

 

Most 'new' players I've seen like the NIS, think it's up to date & cool.. It's just us veterans that are so used to the old school layout that hate, dislike or can't get completely used to all this new stuff.

You must remember as well a fair few games out there today use something similar to the NIS...

[PolarBearBlue]

 

 

Why not compromise, and offer a very basic combat abd skilling tutorial, with optional tutors for more advanced stuff?

I think that is what Sy was getting at. Tell the new player what they need to know right now, then as they explore and decided to try, say mining, an option for a tutorial appears.

Very much so, to me for the initial tutorial all you really need is:

1) Moving, camera controls and world map

2) Brief overview of skills as in covering the basic types of skills (gatherer, artisan, combat, support) and what sort of things they offer

3) Basic overview of combat (classes, weaknesses, idea of abilities with emphasis on momentum)

4) Friends list, clan chats that sort of thing.

 

Then later tutorials as you go to use a skill can cover the details of the mining process and pickaxes or w/e.

 

I knew we talked about it somewhere. I 100% agree with this. Since you don't want to separate new players for the bigger game world by putting them on tutorial island, don't bombard them with information.

[Sy_Accursed]

 

If any brand new players don't just nopenopenope when they first start RS, I'll be impressed.

Most 'new' players I've seen like the NIS, think it's up to date & cool.. It's just us veterans that are so used to the old school layout that hate, dislike or can't get completely used to all this new stuff.

You must remember as well a fair few games out there today use something similar to the NIS...

 

I agree with this so much, many older players don't seem to be able to grasp their view of the NIS and how easy it is to navigate when you first experience it cannot be equated to how new players experience it.

 

No matter how much you suppress and ignore it you have a preconception of the runescape interfaces that dictates where you subconsciously expect to find certain things - this makes the NIS quite a jarring experience at first because you have to contradict what your mind is telling you to do and rediscover things.

 

By contrast a new player has no pre-conception of where anything should be and simply has an interface before them to use. Plus a new player doesn't have the same demands of what they want right at hand to click on - that is something they will build as they experience more of the game.

 

In that respect the NIS is most fine, it's easy enough to use the functions you want, especially once you get them laid out to suit you. Plus it isn't hugely difficult to find anything, with only 8 menus each serving a relatively narrow purpose you can find most things in 2 tries.

 

Where as us old hats are used to everything being right there and immediately want to find ways to cram it all back on screen resulting in our first experience being trudging through menus we aren't used to, battling our instincts of where things are to get every single interface back. This is especially evident when you see peoples layouts, so many complaining of the NIS being hard etc have something resembling the old layout put together, they haven't really even tried to play with it and make something that suits them they've just tried to rebuild the old interface and hit disappointment when they can't make it work.

[HunterDexter]

Yes I rebuild the old interface we had since like 2004, because it worked for me. And this just doesn't.

I want my "stones" at the top and bottom of my inventory back, prayers that react as quickly as they used to (now I have a 50% chance I can turn on my prayer it seems) and most of it all: GOD GIVE ME 7 ROWS OF 4 ITEMS BACK IN OUR INTERFACE, instead of 5*5+3...

I've adapted to the NIS, but to be honest, I hate every piece of it, especially those 8 buttons which give a dropdown box whenever you're near it, causing you to open some random "adventure log" or something, while you were just trying to eat a rocktail.

 

And let's not forget the [type here to enter], while I never use any shortcut key or something, it shouldn't be there in such occasion. And overhead prayers of Nex, Astea and probably other monsters who got hidden in a small box in NPC information, which reacts way too slow, causing much deaths at the Icy Prison.

Also, when banking, every row in the bank which is at the same height as the chat box, when you try to remove an item from that row, you click through the whole banking interface and change the chatbox settings.

[Quyneax]

For some reason, the skeletal trio members still have their overhead prayers... so it is possible!

 

The responsiveness of the prayer buttons (and abilities, and quickprayers, and action bar) is indeed horrible. They should at least allow us to 'lock dragging' if they can't make a decent drag-and-drop system.

[Ammako]

GOD GIVE ME 7 ROWS OF 4 ITEMS BACK IN OUR INTERFACE, instead of 5*5+3...

You can very easily fix that...

 

And let's not forget the [type here to enter], while I never use any shortcut key or something, it shouldn't be there in such occasion.

That isn't a problem with the NIS, that's the EoC.

This is supposed to be off by default when you have the action bar minimized.

[God Of Lego]

 

GOD GIVE ME 7 ROWS OF 4 ITEMS BACK IN OUR INTERFACE, instead of 5*5+3...

You can very easily fix that...

 

And let's not forget the [type here to enter], while I never use any shortcut key or something, it shouldn't be there in such occasion.

That isn't a problem with the NIS, that's the EoC.

This is supposed to be off by default when you have the action bar minimized.

 

Mines always like that even with the bar minimized. xD

[Sy_Accursed]

Yes I rebuild the old interface we had since like 2004, because it worked for me. And this just doesn't.

Of course you are entitled to do so, but answer me this:

 

Does it actually work for you through trial and error of finding what works the best for you?

Or does it 'work for you' in so much as it was what always existed so you stubbornly stuck to it without even trying some other layout options out to see if they work better for you?

 

Some how I suspect the later is true.

 

 

Of course, to clarify, I wasn't saying the NIS is perfect or without bugs; I was just addressing the factor of assuming new players will find it confusing and horrid because we older players find it a bit like that when we are fighting our preconceptions and instincts to re-learn where things are.

 

On the topic of enter to chat - as long as action bar is minimised you only have to press enter once to get in to chat and then unless you press escape you'll stay there with no more enter to chat. The only exception being when other interfaces steal the keyboard focus temporarily (eg dialogue boxes or search boxes), but even then it doesn't go back to enter to chat once u close the interface.

 

To me this is perfectly fine, you press enter once to get in to chat mode and tell the game you won't be using hotkeys and then your sorted.

[God Of Lego]

With the NIS I find the problem is its too much going through menues. The simplest sollution would be to allow us to customise tabs to allow us have the old set up look. The arguement then is only the texture and skin of the NIS.

[Kaida23]

The problem I had was trying to find an NIS setup that matched the old minimized layout because my laptop is old and I need to run the game like that to reduce lag. But I found one that works pretty quickly so it's not so bad. You're right about new players adapting more quickly, my son recently started playing and quickly figured it all out.

 

I've also found that you have press enter every time you switch tabs within the chat box (ie: go from general to friend chat, or from friend chat and back). It's really rather annoying.

[HunterDexter]

On the topic to change my inventory to a smaller box, well, then I have a black, useless space in my screen, and my character on the loadout screen vanishes if I make the box smaller. So the "fix" would give me a suboptimal setup, for my gaming purposes. Jagex just should revert (or add an option) to the last NIS-update, where I could have the 7*4 inventory.

As someone who goes through a lot of chats, yes, that [press enter] is very annoying.

And indeed, I'm stubborn and I don't like to change stuff which worked well enough for me. And the thing we have now just doesn't work for me. I like my chatbox at the bottom, I like to have my inventory to the right, with a minimap above it. I like it this way, and playing in other setups, which I tried, made things even more confusing for me.

I've played for 9 years in the same setup, and now I have a busy life and the NIS, which was completely useless to me, forced me to use something I have to adapt to, while it doesn't offer the same advantages the old system had. And I find that tough, very tough. I like a clean and simple setup, with everything nice and tide put away, without forcing me through dropdown menus, popup screens and so on. I don't have the time anymore to adapt to it and connect to the game. And that saddens me, because I like Gielinor, I like its stories and quests and especially my character, in which I've put a lot of work. I know I sound like a whining veteran, and I probably am one, but I have a great passion for this game. And I don't like these updates that are forced upon me, surely when you see how many bugs are still in it, yet so few fixes are happening.

 

I don't want this to become a deep discussion about how I should adapt and so on, I just gave my two cents. I just really don't like the NIS, and so does a lot of the nostalgiascapers, which most of my ingame friends appeared to be, as most of them quit after it. So yeah, I feel lonely in Gielinor.

[Octarine]

For what its worth, there is actually an interface size that allows a 7*4 inventory and the image of the character on the equipment screen, there's just an annoyingly small resize-window for it to occur.

[Ammako]

Mines always like that even with the bar minimized. xD

Yeah, well if it still says that you have to press Enter to chat even with the action bar minimized, then that is indeed an issue with the NIS.

But it's most likely (and hopefully) just a bug and not an intended feature.

[Guest Smelly Paws]

Just to put a cat amongst the pidgeons, perhaps an upside of all this is the older player base leaves and makes way for a newer playerbase where things are on an even keel.  Perhaps one of the negative aspects of RS after EOC is a playerbase that's been around for a long time refusing to accept change or being so negative about it that the negativity filters through to other players.  Maybe we might be better off in some aspects from a new start.

[Indigo_Aqua]

Just to put a cat amongst the pidgeons, perhaps an upside of all this is the older player base leaves and makes way for a newer playerbase where things are on an even keel.  Perhaps one of the negative aspects of RS after EOC is a playerbase that's been around for a long time refusing to accept change or being so negative about it that the negativity filters through to other players.  Maybe we might be better off in some aspects from a new start.

That's assuming there will be a new playerbase. The truth is, a lot of newer, better games are free now and computers that can run those games are getting cheaper and more affordable. There is little incentive for someone to pick up Runescape, especially since its subscription based but isn't that much cheaper.

[Guest Smelly Paws]

^ I agree we need a new player base. Shame on Jagex for not advertising the game more effectively.  There was a spate of adverts on TV a short while back but as brief as it was it stopped abruptly. 

 

I can't agree on "newer, better games" as you put it.  It's still a great game, the membership fees are cheap and now with bonds someone is quite capable of subsidising their membership with in-game wealth.   Graphically it's now superb.  I don't see better games than this on the market of this genre, especially since you can play it for free forever if you wanted.

[God Of Lego]

They should advertise it in cinemas, big bold, not much else to take away the attention. And tv ads are bearly looked at by myself these days.

[Jennya]

older playerbase leaves? ;)   maybe there won't be new members to make up for those that left, and it's not nice of you to say that everyone has to accept the changes that are being forced upon them?  Even if you LOVE Eoc as you seem to do,  that doesn't mean it's fair it was just forced down the throat of those who didn't want it, blizzard unlike Jagex, cares for those who play that amazing game, and isn't going to FORCE New character models down my throat, but be fair to everyone, including those who DON'T want new models, so yeah...  I wouldn't say Jagex cares about their former players.....  forcing this EOC... down our throats. 

[Guest Smelly Paws]

^ I understand some your concerns.  Something was implemented which many disagreed with and you want it removed.  You feel that you would be treated better by other gaming organisations.  Fine, it's your opinion and I respect that.

 

RS needed to evolve and it couldn't stay still forever.  You don't have to accept or be forced to do anything, you just vote by not paying or playing.  If you are going to play then I see no benefit in constantly condemming the game/Jagex and creating an atmosphere of hate.  If you really don't like the game then you need to move over and let others enjoy it.  As much as it's not a nice thing to hear, as long as there can be a newer influx of players then we're all as expendible as we are fickle.

[SwreeTak]

^ I understand some your concerns.  Something was implemented which many disagreed with and you want it removed.  You feel that you would be treated better by other gaming organisations.  Fine, it's your opinion and I respect that.

 

RS needed to evolve and it couldn't stay still forever.  You don't have to accept or be forced to do anything, you just vote by not paying or playing.  If you are going to play then I see no benefit in constantly condemming the game/Jagex and creating an atmosphere of hate.  If you really don't like the game then you need to move over and let others enjoy it.  As much as it's not a nice thing to hear, as long as there can be a newer influx of players then we're all as expendible as we are fickle.

 

Precisely. I certainly don't like every update, even though I mostly think that Jagex do a rather good work. Some protesting when you think Jagex is heading in the wrong direction always have a chance at improving future updates/changes. This chance increases if you use proper arguments, not only 'hate' or 'rage' as it is called on the internet today. Proper motivations can get you a long way. However we can't always stand still. And that is the important thing to realize here. The combat system as it was for example was far from as good as many on here seem to think. Click and wait may for sure work, but that was far from the only thing in the old combat system. And as a whole I do like EoC a lot more. Not only because of the abilities itself. 

 

Also, as mentioned above, if you can't stand the changes in game, and just wish to hate on everything without reason, the choice of what to do is simple: Quit. This is just a game.

[God Of Lego]

 

^ I understand some your concerns.  Something was implemented which many disagreed with and you want it removed.  You feel that you would be treated better by other gaming organisations.  Fine, it's your opinion and I respect that.

 

RS needed to evolve and it couldn't stay still forever.  You don't have to accept or be forced to do anything, you just vote by not paying or playing.  If you are going to play then I see no benefit in constantly condemming the game/Jagex and creating an atmosphere of hate.  If you really don't like the game then you need to move over and let others enjoy it.  As much as it's not a nice thing to hear, as long as there can be a newer influx of players then we're all as expendible as we are fickle.

 

Precisely. I certainly don't like every update, even though I mostly think that Jagex do a rather good work. Some protesting when you think Jagex is heading in the wrong direction always have a chance at improving future updates/changes. This chance increases if you use proper arguments, not only 'hate' or 'rage' as it is called on the internet today. Proper motivations can get you a long way. However we can't always stand still. And that is the important thing to realize here. The combat system as it was for example was far from as good as many on here seem to think. Click and wait may for sure work, but that was far from the only thing in the old combat system. And as a whole I do like EoC a lot more. Not only because of the abilities itself. 

 

Also, as mentioned above, if you can't stand the changes in game, and just wish to hate on everything without reason, the choice of what to do is simple: Quit. This is just a game.

 

I don't think telling someone to just quit after the game they have played for years has been dramaticly changed and in some cases for the worse.

 

I don't advise playing a regular updated game if you are not into change.

 

That would of been a better way to put it. Its not great that the community tells people to just quit when the games already dying anyway. Its not a nice enviroment.

[Sy_Accursed]

I don't see whats wrong with telling people to quit.

 

If the adamantly hate a specific change and cannot get used to it and constantly have a negative outlook on the game because of that update and therefore find fault, boredom and failure in ever avenue of the games progress  then what are they really still here for?

Why continue to play a game you feel so negatively about and brings others down with that negativity when you could just move on to new pastures?

[God Of Lego]

I see alot of people fighting for a game they love, compromise should be made within the community to keep it high and keep it strong.

 

Just saying quit just shows the spite in the community and its not very nice to be around. Not only do people leave one by one, I doubt many others feel welcome. Its just not a simple thing that should be thrown at people who disagree with something.

 

The first step is to listen to their proposal, and see what you can get from there on. Not omg just quit.