Orb of oculus

The orb of oculus is an item which allows players to have total control over the camera, an ability which is intended to be useful for video makers. It was intended to be used for the second RuneScape Machinima contest. The item is available for both free-to-play and members. This was announced in the developers blog, Machinima: The Orb of Oculus. It may be purchased from Faruq in Al Kharid for 20 coins.

On 15 June 2010, the orb of oculus was given even more features. This was announced earlier in the Behind the Scenes - June announcement. The orb can now save positions to shift to different positions with less difficulty.

History
Mod Fnord stated that although the orb gives players complete control over the camera, including recording into the next room and performing close-ups, it will not be able to record video files, so players will still need a screen capture program to do this. He also confirmed that players will not be able to control themselves while using the orb, as controlling a player and the camera at the same time generated problems.

Mod Fnord further stated that the orb will be available from Faruq in Al-Kharid for a "very low" price.

During a Q&A session Mod MMG announced that the orb would be released the week of 31 January 2010. Mod Hohbein also confirmed this.

The orb of oculus is designed to help making RuneScape YouTube videos more creative and fun:

Controls
When equipped, the orb has a right-click option of "Gaze-into". This will bring the player to a screen without inventory or minimap, only the surrounding area. A small compass and a guide will appear in the upper right corner showing the compass point the orb is facing, and keys to control the orb:

Note that when the chatbox is open, no other controls may be used. In addition, any attack on the player will immediately end the orb mode and return the player to the Avatar view.

The orb is wielded in two equipment slots, one weapon and one shield, making it essentially a two-handed weapon. (Although with -20 Defence modifiers, one you would not hope to have to use in combat.) As any attack on the player will make the player stop gazing into the orb, and return to the Avatar view, the use of the orb near any dangerous opponents requires a form of "safe-spotting".

Viewing areas
Not only is the orb of oculus used for making videos, but it is also widely used for taking a closer look at areas which players either cannot access, could formerly access but can no longer do so, or ones which are unrelated to the area the player is currently standing in and are only visited via completely different methods. There are many mysterious areas that were found using the orb of oculus, more than 100 to date. This is because the developers place the locations for the convenience of debugging and content development rather than by their geographic location. Andrew Gower has revealed that he doesn't mind allowing players to view these areas as anything that is kept secret is not put in the game. However, these hidden areas are interesting nonetheless.

Trivia

 * Oculus is the Latin word for "eye".
 * When you fill up your run using the explorer ring you hold your orb up with one hand.
 * If you Gaze-Into the orb while inside a POH, some rooms will show up as if in building mode.
 * There was a glitch where if you go through the Soul Wars portal, near Edgeville you would hold the orb as you would a dagger.
 * The orb appears to be held with the same technique as was used with cabbages in the 2009 April Fools, as well as the Stone of Power in the Fist of Guthix minigame.
 * On 22 February, 2010 the orb was updated, making the movement much smoother.
 * It is said that the examine, "An orb of mystical excellence" is a reference to Excl, the winner of the first machinima competition.
 * Although it is sold at Faruq's stall, there is no page in the Faruq's Toolonomicon about it.
 * Other than the ring of kinship, the orb of oculus is the only item that can be taken into Daemonheim, so video makers can make a video in a dungeon. It can be sold to the Smuggler for 6 coins. Some players also find it useful to bring the orb of Oculus while Dungeoneering, as players can view parts of the dungeon that are difficult to see normally, such as maze puzzles, and to see which doors need which keys from afar.
 * This item can be used to see into places players cannot yet go, such as Castle Drakan, Prifddinas, Menaphos, Tutorial Island, East of Castle Drakan, the East corner of Soul Wars from viewing west of Mobilising Armies, Poison Waste areas, the island northwest of Port Tyras, the Wilderness Clan Wars arena and the unnamed island south of the wheat field in Miscellania.
 * There appears to be a glitch when attempting several agility obstacles while holding orb of oculus, one of such attempting to click on the rocks on Al-Kharid Mining Area.
 * Using the orb of oculus next to the strange frozen door will let you see a new area, with strange underwater tunnels and odd skeletons. Most players speculate it could possibly be a future update, but Jagex confirmed it was a tunnel designed to go from the main God Wars dungeon to the Zamorak area, and was eventually scrapped. The frozen door leads to Zaros' area of the god dungeon.
 * Using the orb of oculus inside the Stronghold of Security with the orb of oculus, and on the first floor gaze into and go into focus mode and go north east, you will see a small strange room filled with water and a large stone hand coming out of the water, holding a large orb. This is actually related to the Dragonkin Forge, which you activate in that room using high level fire spells on dragon skulls to power the orb in the middle.
 * On the fourth floor of the Stronghold of Security you can see an area similiar to the Fight Pits.
 * You can view some of the rooms from the quest, Recruitment Drive by viewing north in the western most part of the gold mine from the Between a Rock... quest.
 * At the Freaky Forester random event you can see a part of the Fire altar.
 * In the Creature Creation dungeon where the Jubster altar is, you can see what looks like the Pollnivneach Slayer Dungeon.
 * In Baba Yaga's house, you can see a copy of the Lighthouse which is used and entered during the Horror from the Deep quest.