Revisiting Your Childhood: Jagex Making Runescape 3
Jagex is updating Runescape yet again.
Many a gamer began their MMO careers in their pre-teens (maybe younger, maybe older) playing the browser-based MMO Runescape. Most have, since then, grown out of the game, or simply got tired of grinding to just about level anything. However, even after all these years, Runescape continues to be popular.
Jagex is now working on Runescape 3. Much like Runescape 2, which really was more of a complete re-do than a sequel, Runescape 3 will be yet another revamp of the game… meaning players will still be able to log on using their old log-in details. The game's graphics will be massively improved upon, and the game will hopefully run better, as they game will be re-scripted in HTML5 and utilize WebGL. For those who are a few years behind on tech, the old Java client will remain available.
Other improvements include better draw distance, a fully customizable UI, an upgraded camera, and a new, fully-orchestrated soundtrack.
Runescape 3 will be touching down sometime this summer. If you've been curious about revisiting the Runescape of your childhood, now might be a good time.
Here's the announcement video containing all the info you need to know about the new and improved Runescape:

This game is a dying franchise.
You'd be surprised. It's remained very constant in regards to the amount of players still active.
Botting has been virtually eradicated - Jagex unlike many other MMO creators actually made it a priority. They constantly improve their system too.
Back on-topic, can't wait. They've kept the game going for 10+ years with constant content updates.
Perhaps I'll become active again when RS 3 comes around.
made a powerfull character
got full ruin armor
got it all stolen and every item i amassed was dropped
never felt like playing the game again.
tried comeing back a few years after that
new character... but just could never get into the game that was more of a grind then everquests AA system.
I'm off topic? Runescape is a grindfest, and there will be botting in the next game like there has been in Runescape for years. Botting makes Jagex money, and I really wonder what their intentions are with bots. They can't try too hard because bots make them a lot of money. Botting is still going strong, and plenty of people go unbanned.
For me, the game went downhill after Jagex sold out to the US. I was pretty much done after that.
The botting only stopped when they limited the trading between players. They have long since removed those limitations as well as completely changed the combat system to be a cookie cutter version of World of Warcraft and Everquest turning Runescape into a button masher style rpg with weaker graphics then the mmo's they are trying to copy with the new system.
The game is going down hill for various reasons as well. I played RS since the old RS classic was RS. And returned to it several times over the years. But when they decided to completely gut the combat system to me it was the final straw and as such i have completely stopped playing. Imagine the combat where you have to button mash while clicking the screen for your character to move and you have what the new RS combat system is in a nut shell.
A shame to as i loved RS and i have fond memories of playing it and the many friends i made over the years. But Jagex has burned a bridge with me over this. They have since then opened a server with content up to 2007 RS. But i would rather back a company that respects and listens to its customers from the start and not treat them as an after thought. So they lost me permanently as a customer. As i am sure others have left as well.
It just shows that a great concept can be destroyed by the company. If you try to fix some thing that is not broken to begin with expect it to break. In this case it alienated many players that loved RS because of its unique battle system. But that is my opinion as a RS player for over 11 years.
I hear you. I put way too much time into that game and in Everquest before I managed to kick the MMO bug. Haven't found another MMO that was as much fun since then.
The move away from Java to HTML5 and WebGL is most welcome!
Runescape is 10 years old. I don't think that line is very accurate unless your average reader is 18. That would explain a lot of the "can it play crysis" and "iphone users suck" comments though...
They said preteen in the article, so the average age is more like 21-23. Regardless, what do you expect from a tech website? That seems like a normal average age for something like this, and besides, how is it immature to say "Can it run Crysis"? Crysis is still a benchmarking tool for the best graphics cards.