RuneScape High Detail


 * "RuneScape 3" redirects here. RuneScape High Detail is commonly referred to as RuneScape 3 by players.
 * Some images in this article were taken directly from the RuneScape website, and remain the sole property of Jagex.





RuneScape High Detail, also known as RuneScape HD or RSHD by some, is a major overhaul of RuneScape's graphics. It is currently available to both members and free players, however the fullscreen feature is still currently only available to memebers. Major changes over the previous detail modes are numerous. By using a hardware accelerated 3D API, OpenGL, Jagex was able to implement more detailed textures, realistic lighting, shadows, and an optional fullscreen mode. (Example images can be seen on the right.) Due to the size of the tasks required, this update spent about a year and a half in development, with every texture, map square, character, etc. receiving a more detailed look.

However, these changes require significantly improved hardware for players over the previous requirements. This caused many players to experience latency and slow play, especially when the mode was first released. Keeping in line with Jagex's traditional targeting of users with lower-end machines, this mode of play is optional, and the original RuneScape detail level is still available.

History
Jagex has stated that RuneScape High Detail spent about eighteen months in development. According to the first development diary, Jagex first felt that Java, the platform on which RuneScape is implemented, was mature enough to support a hardware-rendered (rendered by users' graphics cards, as opposed to software) version in or around 2006. At the start of development, about 30 artists were hired in order to revamp every aspect of the game.

The first sign that players had that a major update was coming was on 6 May 2008, when Jagex released the "Send us your Specs!" update, asking players to run a Java applet that would send Jagex their hardware and software specifications. Soon after, on 8 May, it was revealed with another update that the development of a new detail level was under way, and two images comparing the current and updated graphics were posted. This was followed by a similar post on 16 May, followed by a two-part Development Diary released on 29 May and 16 June. Along with the second part of the diary, the required system specifications to use the new detail level were posted.

During late June, Jagex stopped updates to the game in order to focus on the update, which was said to be due out in "early July". The beta was then released as an update on 1 July (which was currently only available to members), along with an extensive website update. . On 14 July, the update was released to free-to-play players as well.

Changes


According to the development diaries for this update, the largest change was adding textures to every object in the game world. In the prior detail modes, there were few textures, as they required more memory, which Jagex tried to conserve; instead, shading was used to tell objects apart, as it required a fraction of the system resources. This is the most noticeable change for many players, as it results in a vast overall improvement of the game's look and feel.

Blending between the various textures has also been improved. In older detail levels, for example, paths had sharp, easily distinguishable edges; in the new mode, they blend in well with the surrounding terrain. This also applies to varying soil textures, as well as many other elements.



Shadows and fog have also been added with the update. Above ground level, most objects, including foliage and buildings, cast shadows that are consistent with the same position of the sun. In addition, dynamic shadows for objects such as players and NPCs can also be added with a graphical setting. A fog has replaced the previous "blackness" that was shown on the game screen when players looked at areas of the map that were not yet loaded. The fog's colour and thickness can also change depending on the player's position on the map.

Unlike the underground areas and dungeons before the update, with the new detail mode, these areas do not have the same amount of light as normal. Instead, they are lit almost exclusively by torches and other such light sources, which have been present since before the update, but previously had no effect in terms of lighting. This means that dungeons are effectively darker than they were before. Some areas such as the Lumbridge swamp caves and the Maze random event are far darker as a result.

Finally, the water in the game world has also been improved. Prior to the update, bodies of water were shown as just another texture, similar to land except impassable. Now, water is translucent, and has a bottom that is visible from coastal areas. This required coding in an extra "level" to each map square in order to show the bottom with realism, an extensive task.

Full-screen mode
An optional feature that was released with RuneScape High Detail is the ability to play the game on the entire screen, rather than the low-resolution game applet from before. (The applet's size allows the game to be played on an 800x600 resolution.) The resolution used is adjustable, depending on the player's monitor, allowing for support for all sizes and aspect ratios at the player's option.

System requirements
Just two days before the initial announcement of the updates, on 6 June 2008, Jagex posted the "Send us your Specs!" update to obtain information on hardware specifications of the RuneScape players. According to Jagex, this information was to be used to determine how far they could push the updates; however, the update was nearly complete by the time of this announcement, so it may not have had a large impact.

In the subsequent Development Diary and System Specifications update dated 16 June 2008, Jagex stated that the system requirements to be able to play in the new detail mode are as follows:


 * 1.5 gigahertz processor or higher
 * 256 megabytes of RAM or more
 * 64-megabyte 3D Graphics card, such as Nvidia® GeForce™ 3 or above

Jagex recommends that users' computers should exceed the system requirements so that unwanted issues do not arise during game-play. They also recommend that users have the latest drivers installed for their graphics card.

Bugs

 * ''All bugs should be reported to Jagex as soon as possible.

Freezing upon exiting Fullscreen: While playing in fullscreen mode and trying to revert back to windowed mode or infact trying to exit the game. The game will literally get stuck. The game doesn't 'crash', it merely freezes on screen, ingame sounds can still be heard, and windows is still functional. Some people have found pressing the Windows key (next to Alt key) allows them back onto the desktop. Most people do a hard-restart, by turning off the computer from the power button. The best way to escape this is to use Alt+Tab to switch to the desktop/another application. The browser can then be closed by right-clicking on the Taskbar.

Lag: After the update, many players had complained of lag and all the worlds went offline, about 30 minutes later, some worlds came online. There were many complaints after the update, and there were also a few riots.

Mounted Glory: A player's amulet of glory that is mounted on the wall in their Player-owned house appear to be embedded inside the wall. This is also the case for many hotspot items in construction.

Blindness: Many people could not see after the update in HD mode. The screen was black while the dots on the minimap moved and the players just could talk to each other.

Mind helmet: Mind helmet, which is gold in colour, show up as blue when worn. It appears to mimic the Elemental helmet when worn.

Baldness: Everyone who removes their headgear became bald after the update - now fixed.

Helmet Plumes: All helmets had a red plume, even if they are trimmed Saradomin, Guthix, (g) or (t). This has been fixed.

Colours: some players experienced colour errors. [Image 1], [Image 2]

Intangible Armor: Certain pieces of wieldable equipment will occasionally pass through each other.

Trapdoor: In the throne room of a Player-owned house, a trapdoor opens to reveal the floor rather than blackness.

Composite Bow: All the composite bows, which once had bands matching the player's hair colour, were changed to a grey.

Grand Exchange: Once the offer has completed, aborted, or making progress, the bar does not go instead it will be blank.