I have played wow, and rs, but my vote goes to wow.
They both have bad graphics (yes wow does too.)
if you want to see good graphics play guild wars.
Wow has almost no content for lower level players, you have to just grind for a few months until 80 and then you can start doing some fun things.
It must be played constantly to turn a profit, even merching requires long play time,
In my opinion (which means fuck off spammers)
Runescape is a game for people who want to play a mmorpg, but want to have a life.
Wow will soon snatch your life away from you

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This should not even be a real question >.>
Runescape in my opinion has some feats to it. For one being able to run on a browser.
Being a free MMO i can see why it has such a large audience.
Having said that - to compare a game which cost millions to make, against a barely 3d game is incomprehendable to me.
The reason why World of Warcraft is so much more popular and more importantly successful is only for simple reasons against Runescape.
1.Far greater depth - peroid
2.Greater character development in class/race - somthing wow isn't great at, however trumps runescape.
3.A story line, Wow even has a movie coming out because thier story is so immense - unlike runescape.
4. Graphics - not the most important, however is apart of the game....the reason why people play games like crysis - eyecandy.
Have you actually done almost all the quests on runescape? and paid attention to the storyline. Runescape has a great story, but most ppl think quests are boring and use a guide and dont really understand what everything is about.
Runescape is working on diff char classes atm
If you play runescape in high detail, it isnt bad really, not bad at all compared to wow, but compared to guild wars both of them fail miserably.
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Why do you think 9 year olds can get level 138?
Runescape takes 0 skill.
It's just whoever can click more.
Literally whoever clicks more.
Ok, show me something that you need skill for in wow? You mean you need skill to click buttons that make you do special attacks? or do you need skill to ditch all your friends to go play wow in your basement for the next 5 years? Or do you need skill to weigh 450 pounds with a 2 inch?
The same amount of skill is required in both, in wow you have unlimited moves in your bar thing.