Runescape
RuneScape takes place in the world of Gielinor, a medieval fantasy realm divided into several different kingdoms, regions, and cities.
Players can travel throughout Gielinor on foot, through use of magical teleportation spells and devices, and via numerous other methods, such as charter ships. Each region offers different types of monsters, resources, and quests to challenge players. The game's fictional universe has also been explored through a tie-in video game on its maker's other website, FunOrb, Armies of Gielinor,[6] and a novel, Betrayal at Falador.
Players are represented in the game with customisable avatars. RuneScape does not follow a linear storyline; players set their own goals and objectives. Players can choose to fight NPC monsters, complete quests, or increase their experience in any of the available skills. Players interact with each other through trading, chatting, or by participating in any of a variety of minigames and activities, some of which are competitive or combative in nature, while others require cooperative or collaborative play.
The first public version of RuneScape was released on 4 January 2001 in beta form. As the game's popularity grew, the game engine was rewritten, and its beta was opened to paying players on 1 December 2003 under the name "RuneScape 2". It was renamed RuneScape upon its stable release on 29 March 2004.
History and development
Andrew Gower wrote RuneScape with the assistance of his
brother, Paul Gower.[9] It was originally conceived as a
text-based MUD, but graphics were incorporated early in
development, adding it to the ranks of what were then still
known as "graphical MUDs".[11][12] The first public version
of the game utilized a mixture of three-dimensional and two-dimensional
sprites. It was released as a beta version on 4 January
2001, and originally operated out of their parents' house in
Nottingham.[9] In December 2001, the Gower brothers, along
with Constant Tedder, formed Jagex to take over the business
aspects of running RuneScape.[13] Among its early
innovations, Jagex developed an interpreted domain-specific
scripting language called RuneScript which is used by
RuneScape's server for event handling.[14] On 27 February
2002, a monthly membership service was introduced, allowing
access to additional features including new areas, quests,
and items not available to free users.[13]
As the game gained more users, Jagex began planning major
changes.[15] The developers rewrote the game engine,
producing a new version of the game with entirely three-dimensional
graphics called RuneScape 2. A beta version of RuneScape 2
was released to paying members for a testing period
beginning on 1 December 2003 and ending on 29 March
2004.[10] Upon its official release, RuneScape 2 was renamed
simply RuneScape, while the older version of the game was
kept online under the name RuneScape Classic. On 12 January
2006, Jagex banned more than 5000 Classic accounts due to
cheating. To prevent further cheating, RuneScape Classic was
closed to new accounts, and access was restricted to
accounts who had played Classic at least once between 3
August 2005 and 12 January 2006.[16]
Ranged combat in RuneScape Classic.
To support RuneScape's free content, advertisements appear
on a banner above the playing screen on the free-to-play
servers. Since computer users may use advertisement blockers,
which may discourage advertisers, Jagex introduced a rule
that prohibits players from blocking these advertisements.[17]
On 13 July 2006, Jagex signed an exclusive marketing and
distribution contract with WildTangent Games,[18] which
granted WildTangent the right to handle advertising in and
around RuneScape in the United States, and to distribute
RuneScape through the WildTangent Games Network,[18]
reaching over 20 million consumer PCs.[19] Jagex moderators
have stated that in-game advertisements will not be re-introduced.[18]
On 16 May 2006, Jagex upgraded RuneScape's game engine,
improving the game's loading times and reducing its memory
requirements.[20] The engine was upgraded again on 26 June
2007 to allow the addition of future content.[21] On 1 July
2008, Jagex released a beta of their "High Detail" mode for
members, which was extended to free players two weeks later.[22]
Before the launch, Jagex stated that it would be officially
revealed at the 2008 E3 trade show.[23]
In September 2009, it was announced that RuneScape Classic
would be re-opened to the public, including a feature where
players could rent and administrate their own server, giving
them the ability to allow or ban any player of their choice,
as well as enabling or disabling any cheat codes they might
want.[24] The game was re-opened for two weeks on 11
November 2009 to paying RuneScape members, who were told
they would be permitted to continue playing Classic after
that time provided they had logged in during the two-week
period.[25]
On 8 October 2009, RuneScape was launched in India through
the gaming portal Zapak, which is responsible for the game's
marketing and distribution. Rob Smith, Jagex's chief
operating officer, described India as "an important market
for us [Jagex]."[26]
Servers
RuneScape server locations
As of August 2009[update] there are 171 English RuneScape
servers located throughout the world, which are numbered and
referred to as worlds by players and by Jagex. They are
located in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada,
the Netherlands, Australia, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Mexico,
Brazil, Ireland, Norway, Denmark, New Zealand, France, and
India.[27][28] The large number of servers scattered around
the world provides the best connection for players in the
most cost-effective manner. Servers are moved or added as
the need arises.[29]
Each RuneScape server allows up to 2,000 players to log in
simultaneously,[30] allowing a maximum capacity of more than
340,000 players. The servers are divided into free servers
which are available for all players, and servers which are
reserved for paying members. Some servers are given activity
labels, allowing players performing tasks that require or
desire group participation to group together.[31] In
addition to the RuneScape servers, there are two servers for
RuneScape Classic.[32]
Other languages
On 14 February 2007, Jagex released a German open beta
translation of RuneScape.[33] A French version was
introduced on 10 December 2008,[34] and a Brazilian
Portuguese version was released on 24 July 2009.[35] There
are five German RuneScape servers,[36] two French servers,[37]
and five Brazilian Portuguese servers.[38]
In an interview, former Jagex CEO Geoff Iddison stated that
"We do plan to go East with it [RuneScape] to the Asian
market and the Eastern European market too" and "RuneScape
is not for Japan, but it could work well in Malaysia for
example. And where's India in all this? I think RuneScape is
a game that would be adopted in the English-speaking Indian
world and the local-speaking Indian world. We're looking at
all those markets individually".[39]
Gameplay
Players begin in a secluded area, where they are taken
through a tutorial, a set path where they learn the most
basic skills in RuneScape.[40] After the tutorial, players
have access to tutors and advisors located in the towns they
explore, who can give players appropriate information about
their respective skills.[41] When the tutorial was
introduced on 24 September 2002, it was set on a secluded
island, called "Tutorial Island".[42] A new tutorial was
briefly introduced on 14 July 2008,[43] but the original
tutorial was reinstated before being replaced again on 17
September 2009.[44]
Players set their own goals and objectives as they play the
game. They can train the in-game skills, engage NPC monsters
and other players in combat, and complete quests at their
discretion.[8] Players interact with each other through
trading, chatting, or by participating in minigames and
other activities.
Skills
A player catches a tuna using the Fishing skill.
The 25 skills in RuneScape enable players to perform various
activities within the game, allowing for interaction with
NPCs, the environment and other players. Players gain
experience points in a skill when they utilise it. For
example, mining an ore trains the mining skill, and when the
player accumulates enough experience points in the skill,
their character will "level up".[45] As the skill level
rises, the ability to retrieve better raw materials and
produce better products increases, as does the experience
awarded if the player utilises the new abilities. The total
skill level of a player partly symbolises the player's
status in the game and the official RuneScape high score
tables can be viewed by anyone. Upon reaching the highest
available level in a skill, members may buy a special cape
known as a "Cape of Accomplishment" or a "Skill Cape", to
symbolise their achievement.[46]
Some skills, such as woodcutting and fishing, enable the
player to collect raw materials that can be processed into
usable items for other skills, such as fletching and cooking
respectively. The items created can be used by the player or
sold to shops and other players. Other skills allow players
to kill certain NPCs, build their own houses, move around
the map with greater ease, steal from various NPCs, market
stalls and chests located in-game, cook their own food,
create their own potions, craft runestones and weapons,
plant their own plants, hunt NPC animals, raid dungeons, and
summon familiars to assist in combat and training skills.[47]
Combat
RuneScape features a real-time combat system. Combat is an
important aspect of the game, allowing players to retrieve
items or gold dropped by defeated creatures or players.
Combat is also necessary to complete many quests. A combat
level gives an indication of how powerful a player or NPC is
in combat. For players, it is determined by applying a
mathematical formula to the eight combat skills.[48] Players
engage in combat by clicking on the enemy they want their
character to attack. A player character will automatically
continue fighting until they kill their opponent, die, or
retreat from the fight. Most of the game's weapons are
medieval or fantastical in nature and feature different
strengths and weaknesses. Players may also summon a familiar
to assist with combat,[49] and use potions and the Prayer
skill to boost their combat ability and defences.
Combat is subdivided into three main categories: melee,
magic and ranged. Melee attacks are close range with or
without weapons,[50] magic attacks focus on using runestones
to cast spells,[51] and ranged attacks use projectile
weapons like arrows, darts or knives.[52] These combat types
make up the "Combat Triangle"; melee attacks are effective
against ranged opponents, ranged attacks are effective
against magic opponents and magic attacks are effective
against melee opponents.[53] The advantages and
disadvantages of the combat triangle apply to both NPCs and
player opponents. Unlike most games in the MMORPG genre,
RuneScape does not require players to choose a character
class nor are players bound to a specific category of combat.
They may freely change between the three styles of combat at
any time by switching weapons and armour. Players can even
carry the weapons and armour of more than one combat
category in their inventories and switch between or combine
the styles.[53]
Players die when their health points are reduced to zero.
Lost health points can be recovered by eating food or
drinking certain liquids. Players who die reappear at one of
four respawn points with their health points, and any other
reduced skill levels restored; however, they drop all but
their three most valuable items.[48] The items dropped form
a gravestone, and they can be retrieved if the player can
return to the gravestone before it crumbles within a certain
time limit. Players can purchase longer lasting gravestones,
and fellow players can repair or bless a gravestone to make
it last longer as well.[54] However, there are situations in
which all items will be lost upon death.[48]
Player versus player combat
Player versus player combat (sometimes called PvP combat)
can be performed in specific controlled minigames and worlds.
The Duel Arena offers limited staking,[55] while other PvP
games offer their own rewards. PvP worlds allow players to
engage in combat almost anywhere in Gielinor.
Before December 2007, Player Killers were players that went
to an area known as the Wilderness to fight other players
within a certain combat level range, hoping to kill them and
gain their items.[56] In December 2007 the Wilderness was
altered to prevent players from transferring in-game items
for real-world currency.[57] PvP combat was removed from the
Wilderness and temporarily restricted to new minigames named
Bounty Hunter and Clan Wars.[58] Bounty Hunter was replaced
by special Bounty Worlds on 6 May 2009.[59]
On 15 October 2008, Jagex introduced special PvP Worlds
where players would be able to fight each other almost
anywhere,[60] similar to RuneScape Classic where players
could opt in to PvP in most areas outside of Lumbridge.[61]
Players can engage in combat almost anywhere in Gielinor, as
long as their combat levels are within a certain range of
each other. However, various "safe areas" prohibit combat.
Players are "skulled" when they log in to a PvP world,
represented by a skull symbol hovering over the character's
head. If a player dies whilst "skulled", they will lose all
the items they are carrying. When a player kills an opponent,
the victorious player can claim items as a reward. To
prevent players from using these worlds to transfer in-game
items for real currency, the reward given depends on,
amongst other factors, the combat levels of the combatants,
as well as the value of any items they carry.[61][62]
On 6 May 2009, Bounty Worlds were introduced with the
intention of replicating the previous system of PvP combat
in the Wilderness.[59] In these worlds, players are confined
to the Wilderness; the rest of Gielinor is closed off. These
worlds have the same conditions as other PvP worlds, but
with the addition of a bounty system. In addition to
fighting anyone whose combat level falls within a certain
range, players may also be assigned specific targets to kill,
and will receive a greater reward than usual for killing
these targets.[63] In addition, some Bounty Worlds are
marked as "+1 Worlds". If a player dies while logged into a
+1 World, they will retain the most valuable item they are
carrying.[62]
Quests
Quests are series of tasks with a storyline that players can
choose to complete. These often have requirements including
minimum levels in certain skills, combat levels, quest
points and/or the completion of other quests. Some quests
require players to work together, and many require players
to kill particularly powerful monsters. Quests are grouped
into categories based on requirements and difficulty.[64]
Once a player completes all quests in the game, an
achievement cape, called the "quest point cape", can be
purchased from an NPC.[46] New quests are released
periodically.
Players receive various rewards for completing a quest.
Rewards depend on the quest's difficulty and include gold
coins, unique items, access to new areas, increases in skill
experience and/or quest points. Quests form the storyline of
RuneScape, and many are part of a series of quests that
become increasingly difficult. The longest and oldest of
these is an incomplete eight-part series known as "Plague
City," which was started in 2002. The storyline takes
players through a conspiracy and unlocks areas inhabited by
elves.[65] Jagex has previously stated that it is the
closest thing RuneScape has to a central storyline.[66]
Interaction
The TzTok-Jad, an attackable NPC in RuneScape, is available
for players to fight after overcoming many other weaker
creatures.
NPCs populate the realm of Gielinor. Some NPCs, such as
shopkeepers and characters in quests, are unavailable for
combat. However, most NPCs can be attacked and these are
generally referred to as monsters. Monsters range from
common, low-level creatures, such as chickens and goblins to
unique, and often much more powerful monsters such as the
King Black Dragon, Kalphite Queen, TzTok-Jad, or the
Corporeal Beast.[67]
Each type of monster has its own strengths and weaknesses.
Demons, for example, have a weak defence against magical
attacks, while most dragons have extremely high defence
against magic. Monsters may either be aggressive or non-aggressive.
Non-aggressive monsters ignore players unless attacked,
while aggressive monsters may attack all players or may only
attack players with combat levels below a specified level,
depending on the circumstances or location. This can make
certain areas throughout Gielinor dangerous or inconvenient
to players with lower combat levels.[67]
RuneScape also features independent minigames, although most
are only available to paying members. Minigames take place
in certain areas and normally involve specific in-game
skills, and usually require players to cooperate or to
compete with each other. Examples of these minigames include
Castle Wars, which is similar to the real-life game Capture
the Flag, Pest Control, a highly combat-focused minigame,
and Fist of Guthix, where one player (the hunter) tries to
stop another player (the hunted) from collecting charges
into a magical stone.[68]
Random events
A player participates in the Drill Demon random event,
designed to deter macros.
Random events are short interludes that occur during the
game, requiring some form of player input.[69] They were
introduced to deter players from using automated programs,
known as macros or bots.[70]
When a player receives a random event, they will be
teleported to a secluded area, and must complete the event
before they are allowed to leave. The likelihood of a player
receiving a random event is based on the player's total
skill level, as well as their past success in dealing with
random events.[71] Players are rewarded for responding
correctly to random events.[69]
On 25 February 2009, several random events were either
altered or removed from the game.[71] Jagex had previously
stated that it intended to reassess the random event system
because "the threat of bots and macros has been largely
removed."[70]
Economy
The main form of currency in RuneScape is gold coins.[72]
Players can trade items and gold coins with each other,
either through a face-to-face trade,[73] or by using a large
automated marketplace known as the Grand Exchange.[74]
Players using the Grand Exchange can buy and sell items
within a set price range, which is governed by an overall
market price. This market price is adjusted based on the
prices of exchanged items on the Grand Exchange.[74]
Shops in RuneScape will adjust the prices of their items
based on stock levels; a shop with higher or lower stock
levels will lower and raise the prices it charges for items
respectively. To prevent players from buying items in shops
and selling them on the Grand Exchange for profit, shop
prices are also adjusted as the market price rises or falls.[75]
Chat system
The chat system enables players to communicate with each
other. Public Chat broadcasts text to all players in the
local area on one world, both by text appearing above the
speaker's head and in the message box. Clan Chat broadcasts
text in the message box to only those players logged in to a
special virtual channel. Players in the channel can be on
any RuneScape world. Each Clan Chat channel has an owner,
who can assign different ranks to individual players;
players' ranks dictate their ability to talk in the channel
or to remove other players from the channel.[76] Private
Chat allows for one-to-one communication through a player-controlled
Friends List. Quick Chat allows players to choose from a
list of prearranged messages to send as Public Chat, Clan
Chat, or Private Chat.[77]
Safeguards protect users from receiving verbal abuse; the
most proactive of these safeguards is a word filter, which
replaces specific words and phrases with asterisks (*).
Players also have access to a personal Ignore List, which
prevents them from seeing messages from any player they add
to the list.[77]
Players found to have used inappropriate language in the
game may be muted temporarily or permanently, either by a
Jagex staff member or by a player who has been granted
Player Moderator status. Muted players are unable to talk
freely, but may still use the Quick Chat system.[77]
Any player who admits to being under the age of thirteen
cannot talk freely on the RuneScape game, and can only use
Quick Chat until their thirteenth birthday, unless they have
parental consent to do otherwise.[78] There are also special
servers on which players can only use Quick Chat to
communicate.[31]
Graphics and sound
RuneScape can be run with varying levels of graphical detail.
High-detail graphics enhance texture and design, while low-detail
graphics provide a cleaner look and can reduce lag on less
powerful computers. The game's graphics have gone through
two major overhauls, the first of which began on 22 February
2005 with graphical updates to two different towns.[79] The
second overhaul was released on 1 July 2008 with the release
of "RuneScape HD".[22]
RuneScape features a character-customisation system. Unlike
many MMORPGs, characters are always human; however, players
can choose the gender and a variety of hairstyles and
colours, body types, facial features, skin colour and
clothing options.[40] Appearance is further complemented by
wearing or wielding items. Players can express emotions
through the use of specialised animations called emotes,
some of which are standard and others earned through
gameplay or released during holiday events.[80] Standard
weapons of the same class, such as swords, use the same set
of animations in combat, while a few special weapons have
their own, distinctive animations.
On 1 July 2008, Jagex released a beta version of a major
graphical update for paying members, referred to as "RuneScape
HD".[81] Notable additions included a full-screen mode, new
textures and shadows, and an increased level of detail.[82]
On July 14, the HD version came out of beta and was made
available to free players.[83] To avoid causing problems for
players with lower-performance computers, the previous "Low
Detail" and "High Detail" modes were combined into a default
option called "RuneScape", alongside the new "RuneScape HD".[39]
These options were later renamed as "Standard Detail" and "High
Detail".[84] The high-detail version incorporates hardware
acceleration, using Java's implementation of OpenGL as part
of its rendering.[85][86]
On 2 September 2009, Jagex rewrote the graphics engine to
support a number of future improvements such as sky boxes
and bloom lighting. This rewrite, named "RuneTek 5", also
provides support for multiple graphics platforms such as
DirectX, OpenGL and video game consoles.[87][88]
On 8 February 2010, "Standard Detail" was updated with
graphical features from "High Detail", including textures,
shadows and lighting. For players who did not have the
Windows operating system, the previous version of "Standard
Detail" was moved to a third graphical detail option called
"Safe Mode".[89]
RuneScape has music, sound effects, and ambient noises
throughout Gielinor. The music is designed to define the
underlying cultures of the various locations accessible.
Sound effects, such as the "sploosh" heard when a lobster
trap is submerged in water, are heard as players train their
skills. Ambient noises, such as the cry of seagulls flying
over the ocean, occur in logical places.[90] On 21 April
2010, voice acting was added to the game's tutorial.[91][92]
Community
A set of official forums is provided by Jagex on the
RuneScape website. On the forums, players are able to
participate in game discussions, take part in player-made
forum games, arrange to buy or sell items, post suggestions
for game improvements, vote in polls and otherwise interact
with the community. Unlike many MMORPG official forums, the
RuneScape forums have limited features. A user can set an
avatar and have a separate display name,[93][94] but cannot
set an automatic signature. User profiles only display the
number of posts a user has made along with the option to
disable smileys. Users cannot use text formatting, post
links, nor display images.[95] The privilege of posting on
the forums is limited to paying members, as well as free
players with at least 5 million experience points or a total
level exceeding 1000.[96]
Beginning 24 September 2002, players could submit questions
via e-mail to the RuneScape gods, which were published in
the form of letters; the last edition of these letters was
published on 9 December 2004.[97] On 26 September 2005, a
new feature known as Postbag from the Hedge was introduced,
where players can submit questions via e-mail to any non-player
character in the game.[98] Players can also submit original
RuneScape related artwork, some of which is displayed in a
gallery on the RuneScape website. Media featured has
included sculptures, comics, drawings, and paintings.[99]
Each Easter, Thanksgiving, Halloween, and Christmas, Jagex
hosts a holiday event in a specific location in Gielinor.
Players who successfully complete the required tasks during
the event receive a reward such as an item or an emote,
allowing the player character to perform a gesture conveying
an emotion.[100] Holiday items released after Christmas 2002
can be retrieved if lost. Earlier holiday items such as
partyhats and Santa hats can be traded between players and
sell for large amounts of gold on the player market.[101]
Many RuneScape fansites have been established by players,
none of which have been supported or significantly
recognised by Jagex. In the early days of RuneScape, the
official website had a page which listed links to several
fansites, but has since been removed.[102] In order to
provide players with an alternative, official site to get
the information they want or need, Jagex introduced the
Knowledge Base,[103] which offers information on gameplay,
the main RuneScape rules, and account security.[104] For
account security reasons Jagex discourages the discussion of
fansites within the game or the official forums – and a rule
specifically prohibits sharing web addresses.[105] A major
fansite has criticised Jagex for not recognising fansites'
contributions to the development of its game.[106] However,
as a result of announcements made in 2009, Jagex has
promised to increase communication with fansites.[107]
Rules and cheating
Jagex has employed a number of rules for player conduct,
such as rules against offensive language, scamming, and bug
abuse.[108] To enforce the rules, an in-game feature exists
that allows any player to send a report to Jagex if they
notice another player breaking a rule.[109] RuneScape also
uses three types of moderators: Jagex Moderators, who are
actual Jagex employees; Player Moderators, who are trusted
players that enforce the rules within the game; and Forum
Moderators, who are trusted players who police the game
forums.[110] Players who repeatedly break the rules may be
temporarily or permanently banned from playing the game.[109]
There are also rules prohibiting the use of third-party
software to play the game, known as macroing, and the sale
of game items for real money through real-world trading. In
an attempt to stop cheating, Jagex made direct interaction
with the client difficult, and established rules against the
practice.[17] In response to continued gold farming, Jagex
issued a statement condemning real-world trading, stating
that they were seizing billions of gold and banning
thousands of accounts every week for cheating. Nevertheless,
real-world trading and macroing activities continued.[111][112]
From October 2007 to December 2007, Jagex began releasing a
series of updates to restrict unbalanced trades. These
updates established the Grand Exchange, limited the value of
items staked in duels, removed player-versus-player combat
from the Wilderness, made valuable player drops invisible to
other players, introduced gravestones for the items of dead
players, and instituted the LootShare, CoinShare, and player-assist
systems. Collectively, these changes were designed to make
it extremely difficult for real-world traders to distribute
gold and items to players.[57]
Press reception
PC Gamer UK stated in December 2003 that while the "traditional
RPG values of questing, slaying monsters and developing your
character in a familiar medieval setting" will not "have the
big boys trembling in their +2 Boots of Subscriber Gathering,"
this is offset by the game's accessibility through a web
browser, "compounded by a version of the game that allows
free adventuring player the opportunity to upgrade to a
members' account," describing the game as "an unsurprising
success."[113]
The Yahoo! 2006 Buzz Log states that "while it may not be as
easy on the eyes as some other popular online RPG games,
like World of Warcraft, City of Heroes, or EverQuest,
RuneScape is still a lot better way to kill time than
pushing around cells in a spreadsheet."[114]
A 2007 JustRPG review summarised RuneScape as "a fun,
addictive game, and while the graphics may not be perfect,
for a game written in Java, they aren't bad. The skills are
varied, the community is alright, and it'll eat up your time
if you aren't careful," giving it a score of 83%.[115]
In its 2008 intellectual property profile of the game,
Developmag.com stated that whilst Jagex's changes to curtail
real world trading resulted in "a wave of user criticism...
growth is understood to have resumed since." Its analysis
states that "RuneScape’s mass-market appeal lies in its
simplicity and accessibility (both financial and technical).
It has tapped into the vast market of games players
unwilling or unable to spend premium prices on PCs capable
of playing the latest, expensive, processor-intensive games.
Its core gameplay concepts are very similar to its retail-distributed
RPG and MMORPG analogues."[116]
In August 2008, RuneScape was recognised by the Guinness
World Records as the world's most popular free MMORPG. Jagex
was presented with a certificate to commemorate the
achievement at the 2008 Leipzig Games Convention.[2]
A 2009 EuroGamer article criticised RuneScape's in-game
community for being unfriendly to newcomers, although they
have stated that the Fan-Forum community is more
approachable.[117]
Player reception
In December 2007, updates by Jagex removed free player-versus-player
combat and unbalanced trading in order to rid the game of
activities involving real currency being traded for virtual
goods.[118][58] The updates also affected legitimate players,
resulting in many of them actively complaining on the forums
and in-game via "riots"—virtual protests in which
disgruntled players congregated in cities, spamming the chat
system with objections to the changes.[citation needed]
Jagex issued a Customer Support News article admitting the
updates may not have been an ideal replacement for what was
removed, requesting patience and promising to remedy
potential problems with updates in the future.[119] During
the changes subscription numbers fell by 60,000.[120] No
figures were given as to how many of those subscriptions
belonged to legitimate players and how many to gold farmers.