Graphics

Graphics in RuneScape.

History
The Graphics in RuneScape have been a continuously evolving part of the game over the 7 years that it has been released. As the internet connections and performance of player's computer have improved, Jagex have gradually increased the levels of detail available to players.

In RuneScape Classic players saw a game which had only 4 seperate views, one in each of the cardinal directions (North, East, South, West) and players, monsters and animals were 2D sprites in a fairly low detailed world.

With the release of RuneScape 2 (now called RuneScape), Jagex unleased a 3D engine, complete with 3D models and as a result, the graphics of the game were much improved. Two levels of detail, high and low, change the amount of texture in various locations around the game.

As the RuneScape game-world began to expand, with the release of new member's areas and various visual effects (Snow on Trollweiss Mountain and the electrical effects in the Killerwatt plane), Jagex and the players realised that older and more visted places were being left behind. This resulted in a series of graphical updates, mainly to Free-to-play areas of RuneScape - such as Varrock and Falador, although also to the TzHaar region.



The most recent graphical-related update is the upcoming release of what has been dubbed 'Very High Detail' by players. The update An Image of the Future and the follow-up An Image of the Not-Too-Distant Future gave a few sneak-previews of this. In the May Development Diary: A New Look RuneScape!, they have further expanded upon this.


 * "The story of the this graphic update project began a year and a half ago, and who better to ask about it than Lead Developer, Andrew Gower: “We've considered a hardware-rendered version of RuneScape a number of times in the past, but it was only two years ago that we felt Java was mature enough.” We knew the things we wanted – textures, shadows, lighting, fullscreen – and it seemed the right time to start, as Andrew continues: “I tasked the Tools team to run a feasibility study to verify if it was possible to do what we wanted to do."

Amongst other improvements, the seamless landscape (as opposed to tiles which are seen in various locations), the addition of a full-screen mode, shadowing and other particle effects are being discussed at length by many players. It is unknown what the recommended system requirements for these will be, although, after asking players to submit their system specifications (Update:Send us your Specs!), Jagex claim most will benefit from these updates.

High Detail
In high detail, many smaller objects, like rocks, sand, and plants are visible to make the game appear better. Roofs are shown, and you can see all the floors below you as they would appear with no NPCs and Players there. Interestingly enough, dropped items will also show up, although they cannot be clicked on.

Low Detail
In general, only things essential to RuneScape's gameplay appear, with no extra details than necessary being used to convey the landscape. Various small plants and rocks found in High Detail are left out, as well as the tops of roofs. Also, when upstairs, the floor below only appears as blackness. With the exception of ladders, the floors above players do not appear. An example of this can be found in the Tree Gnome Stronghold.

"A New Look RuneScape" update
The graphics of Runescape have long been known to be less visually appealing than other games, and so some say that they are dull. According to recent news Jagex announced that they have been making a complete graphical rework of Runescape due to release in a couple of months. They also stated that they will introduce a full-sceen option. This may or may not be for paying members only. The new rework will have an optional detail mode and full screen version. Jagex also says the players might be able to zoom in on the screen, not just viewing the character from the same distance but different angles. Many players now say that this may finally end the argument of who's favorite game is better based on the graphics, as these graphics will be top of the line for an internet-based Java game.

Jagex has comfirmed that the new graphics will be released in early July, as stated in Behind the Scenes - June.

Upgrades
''' The face in the talking panel when talking to NPCs will have a massive overhaul. ''' The graphics on the whole will change; ''' There will be a full screen mode;
 * Textures will appear on the ground, PCs and NPCs, monsters and just about everything.
 * Water now looks like water, being semi-transparent and seeing where rocks etc. originate from.
 * Instead of being black around the edge of world where you are, a fog will take it's place.
 * There will be a shadow to everything, including movng shadows(flags, etc.)
 * Players can now see objects not on their level, like NPCs on the floor below.
 * Blending will be in ground textures, showing things like dark soil merge to lighter soil.
 * Instead of the play screen being in a box, it will cover the whole screen, having the map in the corner, and the text box and the interface along the bottom, similar to World of Warcraft.

List of updates
2004 2005 2007 2008
 * 21, March - Runescape 2 released, complete graphic makeover.
 * 26th September - Port Sarim, Rimmington and Thurgo's Peninsula.
 * 22nd January - Most of zombies, most of skeletons, ghosts and mummies.
 * 20th March - Cave goblins, cows, chickens and rabbits.
 * 24th April - Surface Goblins.
 * 8th May - Small spiders, scorpions, kalphites and metal dragons.
 * 27th March - King Roald.
 * 29th May - Varrock and many of its inhabitants, Jolly Boar Inn, Cook's guild, Lumber Yard and other surroundings, Varrock Sewers.
 * 4th June - Canifis, dogs and other canines, werewolves.
 * 18th June - Crandor, Karamja/Crandor dungeon.
 * 3rd July - Lake Baxtorian
 * 9th July - Birds, mugger.
 * 24th July - Camelot, Seer's village, Keep Le Faye and their inhabitants.
 * 10th September - Pirates, children.
 * 17th September - Area near Ourania Cave entrance.
 * 2nd October - Edgeville
 * 5th February - Edgeville Dungeon
 * 28th April - Silvarea, Paterdomus, Myreque Tunnels and area between Paterdomus and Canifis.
 * 7th May - Dwarven Mine, Monastery near Edgeville, cats and monk robes.
 * 13rd May - TzHaar city and its inhabitants, Party Pete.
 * 5th June - Numerous slayer creatures.
 * 4th July - Complete rework. In terms of polygonal updates: Lumbridge, Al Kharid, East Ardougne, West Ardougne, chat heads, emotes and other player animations.

Needs to be updated