RuneScape High Detail


 * All images in this article were taken directly from the RuneScape website, and remain the sole property of Jagex.





RuneScape High Detail is a major overhaul of RuneScape's graphics. A beta version was released on 1 July 2008, and is currently available to members only; however, Jagex has stated that when a stable release is made, it will be open to free players as well as members.

Major changes over the previous detail modes are numerous. With a new 3D graphics library, 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 two years ago. 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, along with an extensive website update.

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.

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. Pixellation is not an issue, as additional pixels are added to compensate for the larger resolution.

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
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.

Baldness: Everyone who removes their headgear became bald after the update - now fixed. EDIT- in some players this still remains

Doll-like appearance: After the update, players tend to look more like dolls then actual people.

Helmet Plumes: All helmets have a red plume, even if they are trimmed Saradomin, Guthix, (g) or (t).

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.