Why was RuneScape fun?

I just finished playing FireFall, and after playing some hours I decided it wasn't worth my time despite the neat-o MMOFPS aspect and pretty graphics.

Then I thought, why was RuneScape fun with its monotonous grinding, subpar graphics, and bland combat system?

I can't seem to pinpoint it.
Thoughts?

 

Sense of progress and competition. Also has a good "sink" for time in the form of training/skilling, for when the PvP'ers are bored of PvPing.

 

Pretty much. However before I quit there were tons of hardcore botters. You didn't feel like you accomplished much when you've spent 200+ hours on a skill to get the max cape. In the old days you would be a god among men even by simply having a cooking cape. There used to be a great feeling of accomplishment even getting a 60-70+ skill.

 

The community was great depending on when you played it. Really boomed from its inception up until about 2010ish I'd say. Even til EoC came along it was pretty good.

Playing & competing with friends: This was another major hook of the game when it was most popular. Doing things with your friends online is fun, and Runescape was one of the biggest time-killers around to do with friends. The game was also cheap to play, or even free to play if you were content with F2p. Competing with friends in goals, monetary or skill based, generated loads of fun for a lot of people.

Clans: Clans were a lot of fun, especially in older style Runescape. Clan Wars organized by the players would see the Wild populated to a ridiculous degree.

Graphics - Some people, like me, actually like more modest graphical games. I'll even venture as far to say that I appreciate shitty graphics when the gameplay still is enjoyable - which for me it certainly was and still is to this day. Yes, it's monotonous and a grind, but the end-result (especially in the old days), was sooo worth it.

The ability to get a "return on your investment" so to speak. Most games you pay for and once you get your fun out of them, you get nothing in return. In Runescape, Gold is always valued at such a rate that you can sell off your items + gold and get a return on your playing days. I'm looking at quite a nice cash out when I'm done with Runescape. While not everyone gets this, there are plenty of people that do.

Combat system - What may be bland to you is beautifully simplistic for others. You could spice up the blandness with Staking or Pking, two things that took a good amount of know-how and strategy.

Everything was fresh, and new, and a new adventure- Minigames were jam packed, fun, and addicting. Castle Wars, Pest Control, and Barbarian Assault were AMAZING when they were released. Every single world would be packed with people playing it.

Quests + Lore is fantastic - The most under-appreciated thing about Runescape is its rich lore and great writing and storytelling embedded in quests. If you actually take the time to read the dialogue in the quests and pay attention to the storyline(s), it's fantastic. Their quests are a lot more interesting than WoW's or other popular MMO'S.

It's so different from any other game - Especially Pre-EoC, Runescape had its own niche and was great at generating content for said niche. Before it turned to cookie-cutter ideas, the game was innovative, creative, and bold. The Gower's turned a modest project into a multi million dollar success.

That's why Runescape is so successful, in my opinion.

 

The simplicity of it, is why I enjoy it myself. Its not over complicated and pking in general is just fun. Guess the whole "you never know what may happen" aspect of it. Its heavily about luck and timing when it comes to pking.

The simplicity of OSRS and pre-eoc is why it draws people to it. Which is something that Jagex themselves, did not comprehend. The game truly was one of a kind. It was popular due to it being so different. EOC is Jagex's attempt to "fit in" with the other MMOs.

Favorite part of RS had to be clans. The overall community feel, plus the rivalries. This was before DDOSing and crashing became the norm. Kind of overly childish now. Hell, I didnt even mind the 5-12 hour fights. I have been in a 11ish myself. Dont see how I did it though. I have issues sitting at a computer desk for more than 6-7 hours now.

 

I loved RuneScape because of the leveling system and amount of shit to do, I first started playing for a couple years f2p while some of my friends that got me into it were p2p and I heard about everything and wanted more so I upgraded and fell further in love.

I had an addiction to Runescape in junior high and part of high school but more recently I could take it or leave it. I keep playing now because of the nostalgic value of Oldschool, hate the fuck out of EoC because its to much like wow with to many bells and whistles.

 

This sums up a lot of it. I loved playing it because I was always setting my self goals that I would always try to reach. Weather it was full saradomin armour back in f2p, 99 def as I was a tank, etc.

 

There was just so much to explore back in the day. Remember my first time getting members, just exploring through Cammy, Ardy etc just trying everything a bit. I did Underground Pass without a guide back then.

Everything's mapped now, and it's more experience focused.

 

I loved it for the sense of achievement, you could always set a goal, whether it be long or short term

 

A lot of gamers like the rush of exceeding above your friends and other people, it goes deeper than the gameplay. Runescape gave plenty opportunity for prestige above others.

 

I really enjoyed clans to be honest. pking as a group was the best part. and when i got 94 mage on my pure i was a badass.