📕 RuneScape is Awesome, And Here's Why

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  • Опубліковано 29 тра 2024
  • Why RuneScape Is Not an MMO
    [00:00:00] Introduction
    [00:01:28] Disclaimers & MMO Credentials
    [00:04:14] The Clickbait Thesis Statement
    [00:13:54] #0: Who Cares?
    [00:19:04] #1: Structure & Class
    [00:27:49] #2: Quest Design
    [00:43:49] #3: Self-Direction
    [00:54:20] #3.5: Dependency Chart Walkthrough
    [01:02:21] #3 (cont'd): Self-Direction
    [01:15:16] #4: Single Player
    [01:29:47] #5: Content Deprecation
    [01:41:02] #6: Design Philosophy
    [01:48:11] #7: Itemization
    [02:05:05] #8: Inventory & Healing
    [02:16:27] #9: XP
    INTERLUDE
    [02:23:10] INTERLUDE: The Joy of Labor
    Why RuneScape Is Awesome
    [02:34:37] #1: Design Space
    [02:54:49] #2: Attention Calibration
    [03:16:12] #3: Breakpoints
    [03:22:53] Conclusion
    ■■■■■■
    🔗 Links Mentioned in the Video:
    Folding Ideas: / foldingideas
    WoW Classic And What We Left Behind: • World of Warcraft Clas...
    GameMaker's ToolKit: / markbrowngmt
    BossKeys: • Boss Keys
    What Makes Celeste's Assist Mode Special: • What Makes Celeste's A...
    RuneScape Dependency Chart .PNG: drive.google.com/file/d/1mBiy...
    My RuneScape Quest Cape Series: • ✔️️ Old School RuneSca...
    My HiScores Stats (Series Spoilers): secure.runescape.com/m=hiscor...
    ■■■■■■
    🎵 Music Credits
    Mass Effect - Vigil: • Mass Effect - "Vigil"
    Outer Wilds - End Times: • End Times
    Hollow Knight - Dirtmouth: • Video
    Chrono Trigger - Schala's Theme: • Video
    Final Fantasy X - People of the North Pole: • Video
    Chrono Cross - Life ~ Faraway Promise: • Video
    Undertale - Undertale: • Undertale OST: 071 - U...
    Old School RuneScape - Sea Shanty 2: • Old RuneScape Soundtra...
    Old School RuneScape - Harmony: • Harmony - Old School R...
    ■■■■■■
    Other Cool Video Essayists
    Apologies to Hbomberguy for the Title format (This video got no views until I used it): / hbomberguy
    Jenny Nicholson: / jennyenicholson
    Lindsay Ellis: / chezapoctube
    Sideways: / @sideways440
    Contrapoints: / contrapoints
    Big Joel: / @bigjoel
    Maggie Mae Fish: / @maggiemaefish
    Sarah Z: / @sarahz
    ■■■■■■
    Support the Channel Rewards: Click "Join" or go to www.patreon.com/marstead
    List of Past Stream VOD Playlists: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
    Stream Systems FAQ: faq.marstead.com
  • Ігри

КОМЕНТАРІ • 1,3 тис.

  • @PeachesYes
    @PeachesYes 2 роки тому +1201

    Came for the medieval cookie clicking, stayed for the class warfare

    • @jiaan100
      @jiaan100 8 місяців тому +69

      Half cookie clicker, half 100 bpm rhythm game

    • @Frommerman
      @Frommerman 8 місяців тому +23

      Well this just convinced me to watch this entire video without questioning it.

    • @OrchinX
      @OrchinX 8 місяців тому +38

      Oh cool another redditor who wants to tell me about his post-marxist theory. yawn.

    • @jaytang4954
      @jaytang4954 8 місяців тому +57

      "class warfare" triggered you huh? talking about post marxist
      bruh its a video game its classes are not the uber rich the work class and the poor
      their classes are warriors mages and rangers
      like wtf?@@OrchinX

    • @roxaskinghearts
      @roxaskinghearts 8 місяців тому +3

      mmo 100 people competition online not 100 people visable from where you are in the game even eve wouldnt be a mmo if that was the case 99% of the year so yes tetris in a online fourm a mmo

  • @CrazyBeardedGamer
    @CrazyBeardedGamer 19 днів тому +51

    Video too short. Interrupted my grind.

  • @Hessekimojo
    @Hessekimojo 9 місяців тому +291

    Every single MMO developer out there right now needs to have a sit down, and take notes off this video. Thank you for all of your effort, this was...beyond words.

    • @VB2P360
      @VB2P360 7 місяців тому +3

      Some of us have token notice ;)

  • @gbay99
    @gbay99 8 місяців тому +601

    This is a phenomenal breakdown. For years I've always felt Runescape scratch an itch that other MMOs never do and I haven't ever been able to put it into words. You did a beautiful job describing the unique aspects of this game that are so hard to pin down, and explaining their appeal to those who haven't ever played it.

    • @chunkysalsa9663
      @chunkysalsa9663 8 місяців тому +15

      from one video essay king to another

    • @Darkpwnge
      @Darkpwnge 8 місяців тому +9

      Yoooooo gbay

    • @PIVfirestarkproducon
      @PIVfirestarkproducon 8 місяців тому +6

      gbay from the top ropes, this is the last thing I expected to see here

    • @VioletCatastrophe
      @VioletCatastrophe 7 місяців тому +2

      oh shit it is HIM

    • @TonyOSRS
      @TonyOSRS 6 місяців тому +2

      God I would love to see a gbay video about RuneScape, I NEED IT.

  • @RyanJFaulk
    @RyanJFaulk 8 місяців тому +80

    The RLM "you might not have noticed, but your brain did" is how I feel about this essay. As someone who has played RS on and off since 2003, this felt like discovering my own thoughts. It's really the only game I've invested a significant amount of time in so I also learned a ton about other games and why I probably wouldn't like them.

  • @Zack-nl7vs
    @Zack-nl7vs Рік тому +316

    Can't express how much I appreciate this love letter to my favorite product of humanity and the best 20 year waste of time I could have hoped for.

  • @selkokieli843
    @selkokieli843 2 роки тому +557

    This essay ascends the niche of old school runescape to an amazing talk on mmo's and gaming in general. It even has a rare and deceptively valuable take on how society views labor and gaming as a use of time.
    I would call this nothing less than a masterpiece in long form video essays.

    • @aprimer1431
      @aprimer1431 8 місяців тому +7

      I cringe at the thought of a 3.5 hour video essay. Is it worth watching?

    • @selkokieli843
      @selkokieli843 8 місяців тому +13

      ​@@aprimer1431It's a collection of mostly individual ideas, so you don't have to commit to finishing all or any of it. I return to it periodically and watch a bit here and there to chill 😁

    • @bradoncrandall6840
      @bradoncrandall6840 8 місяців тому

      @@selkokieli843 I have been pretty stuck watching while I play runescape lol Its an exceptionally well thought out essay and I am appreciating his view on things.

    • @bradoncrandall6840
      @bradoncrandall6840 8 місяців тому

      *Im about 1 hour in so far.

    • @kanifis
      @kanifis 4 місяці тому

      @@aprimer1431yeah its realy good

  • @PreferablyPete
    @PreferablyPete 7 місяців тому +185

    I am so incredibly sad that it took over two years for this to hit my recommended page. Truly a fantastic write-up of why RuneScape is such an exceptional game, and also the extremely difficult explanation of why it is that great game. Trying to describe this game to others that have no concept of it, felt nearly impossible until this video.

  • @MaulusRS
    @MaulusRS 8 місяців тому +109

    This is the definitive dissertation on OSRS game design and appeal and it would, ideally, not only be watched by everyone interested in the genre - it'd be a landmark for the industry and designers, too. Really great work.

  • @SimonSlav-GameMakingJourney
    @SimonSlav-GameMakingJourney 2 роки тому +268

    Runescape is the type of game you can play while playing Runescape.

    • @icedo1013
      @icedo1013 8 місяців тому +5

      As someone fresh into an ironman it's so easy to chop redwoods or motherlode while I work on getting essence or bones.

    • @ShyBoy6ty9
      @ShyBoy6ty9 Місяць тому

      Funny af. Lol

    • @Reece8u
      @Reece8u Місяць тому

      ​@@icedo1013Man ive been playing for 4 months and im nowhere near chopping redwoods, but im days away from 99 ranging

    • @Skoglend
      @Skoglend 29 днів тому

      @@Reece8ugz it’s been 5 days

    • @MegaBanne
      @MegaBanne 23 дні тому

      I have a picture of when I was chopping wood while I was chopping onions XD.

  • @iloveDaddy_Gaming
    @iloveDaddy_Gaming Рік тому +436

    "The graph of people who like long videos and runescape players is a circle" Accurate

    • @Frommerman
      @Frommerman 8 місяців тому +47

      I cannot tell you how often I've thought, "Man I wanna watch this video, but it's just not long enough to be worth it." Because if it's too short, I can't leave it on in the background while grinding a boss.

    • @nunyabidness9482
      @nunyabidness9482 5 місяців тому +5

      Fr. We need something lengthy to watcch while grinding 😂

    • @Daniel-mo2vp
      @Daniel-mo2vp 4 місяці тому

      ​@@nunyabidness9482hu7uhh7hh7

    • @roxaskinghearts
      @roxaskinghearts 2 місяці тому +1

      Runescape is only not a mmorpg because it wouldnt be considered a dying game at that rate when compared to everything els isnt it funny when elden ring a game that only had a few million users compared to your remember 500 million user promo is kicking your butt with just steam alone runescape nowaday is for man children who love spending a premium to get fortnite which is free on everything with xcloud o but osrs that is proving why mmorpgs are done

    • @runawaymakefriendswiththem8905
      @runawaymakefriendswiththem8905 2 місяці тому +8

      @@roxaskingheartsenglish not your first language? genuinely impressed by how little of your comment made sense.

  • @willpkay
    @willpkay 2 місяці тому +13

    If you added some citations to primary literature throughout, you have yourself there a PhD thesis.

  • @balthazar579
    @balthazar579 6 місяців тому +47

    "The venn diagram between people who like RuneScapr and people who want 3 hour long videos is a circle."

    • @cpzd83
      @cpzd83 2 місяці тому +7

      I mean, the man makes a solid fucking point

    • @RainHH
      @RainHH Місяць тому +4

      Long attention span Chad's.

  • @ezra153
    @ezra153 2 роки тому +214

    That was incredible. I’ve never seen someone take such a deep dive into video games in general, let alone RuneScape. I think you explained the game extremely well in a way I’ve never heard before, coming from a 15+ year veteran. The time to make this video must have been immense, and I appreciate the effort you made. Even playing for 15 years, this video gives me a new perspective into the game I love. Thank you.

    • @miriamurdaneta2008
      @miriamurdaneta2008 2 роки тому

      Hhhhhhjßyuuf6ďhďhxurhŕuj

    • @LucasSoaresy
      @LucasSoaresy 2 роки тому +4

      Watch his series playing it for the first time, totally worth. One of the best stuff to watch while grinding some afk stuff

    • @I_Crit_My_Pants
      @I_Crit_My_Pants 8 місяців тому

      I'm a 20 year veteran and I say anyone that says it's not an MMO is a deluded idiot

  • @Mildwango
    @Mildwango 9 місяців тому +30

    "Testing patience is a legitimate form of difficulty" is a really good way of describing what makes the grind appealing. As you spend hours upon hours doing the same chain of tasks in runescape, the experience slowly gets less difficult and more enjoyable. It's a mindset and an acquired skill to be able to appreciate the road towards the end goal.

    • @2Poor4UserName
      @2Poor4UserName 2 місяці тому +2

      the journey was way more fun than finally maxing... havnt played much since, just hop on for events.

  • @asabranch5107
    @asabranch5107 5 місяців тому +61

    I got 2 magic levels during this video

    • @Rainman8814
      @Rainman8814 Місяць тому +1

      I got a easy achievement diary done. Western Province

    • @NathanielBTM
      @NathanielBTM Місяць тому +1

      gz

    • @TheAxhol
      @TheAxhol Місяць тому

      I got 3 slayer tasks and 2 hard clues done brother

    • @xFuaZe
      @xFuaZe 28 днів тому

      Half a slayer level 🙃

  • @meabhmurphy9090
    @meabhmurphy9090 8 місяців тому +26

    I always refer to the joy of labour in Runescape as 'The Zen of the grind'. Runecrafting was always my favourite skill and my first 99 (back in 2008 :) ) precisely because of how grindy it was. You can really lose yourself in it. Just as another take on the 'Misery Zone' there, I think seeing it as Zen is a way to find joy in it (or maybe some of us are just built different)

    • @snarfulhusocks1688
      @snarfulhusocks1688 Місяць тому

      My first 99 was agility and I love wearing my untrimmed agility cape around because people always make amusing comments on it, or about my sanity. But the truth is, I just absolutely love training agility. It's that zen experience you mention. Plus, knowing that I achieved something that most people find difficult adds an inherent sense of reward for me.

  • @bc3262
    @bc3262 2 роки тому +71

    This is a masterpiece.
    I’ve been playing the game since 2003, more off than on, but this perfectly refines the (sometimes obtuse) reasons why RuneScape is a hard game to stay away from. It’s just so different to everything else on offer, and allows the user to enjoy similar content at different paces, that mean it’s usually viable to play. I can even go for a nature walk while afk training combat, screen sharing every 20 minutes to a desktop to click a single button. About 30 seconds an hour of work for tangible improvements when I do decide to play the game with more focus.
    I look forward to the other video ideas you mentioned.

  • @joewhiting
    @joewhiting 8 місяців тому +72

    As an OSRS veteran who has been playing since 2008, this video was fucking AMAZING. Completely holds up in 2023 and is undoubtedly the best explanation of the game. on youtube. This is gold, and made it into my all time favorites playlist. Well deserved sub for a phenomenal video essay. You deserve WAY more subs! Shared the video with my clan. Gl on the rest of your journey brotha!

    • @WasteYuteeee
      @WasteYuteeee 5 місяців тому +2

      2008??? veteran???

    • @joewhiting
      @joewhiting 5 місяців тому +5

      @@WasteYuteeee This comment made me double check at Hans, and my account is 17.56 years old, so I started playing some time in 2006, which means I would have been just 10 years old. I’ve put in hundreds of days of time into my account as well… What ungodly requirements have you created in your mind to deem someone a veteran? lol.

    • @WasteYuteeee
      @WasteYuteeee 5 місяців тому

      @@joewhiting just playin around

    • @insaneserb7786
      @insaneserb7786 3 місяці тому +1

      Oh shut up@@WasteYuteeee

    • @WasteYuteeee
      @WasteYuteeee 3 місяці тому

      @@insaneserb7786 ur nan

  • @brennancasey680
    @brennancasey680 8 місяців тому +40

    Not sure why it took youtube so long to recommend me this video. I have been playing osrs for 3 years now, never played it when I was younger so I have no nostalgia, you capture exactly why this game is so great and at the same time so hard to describe to people unfamiliar. This game hooked me like no mmo ever could with its unique sense of achievement and it would be crazy to see what a modern fresh take on this kind of game could look like.

    • @michaels_madness
      @michaels_madness 7 місяців тому +4

      I wish you could have seen the glory days of the game. It was by far the best game ever created at the time. An absolute experience. The internet was still young and multiplayer games weren't really a major thing yet.

    • @TheBBCSlurpee
      @TheBBCSlurpee 7 місяців тому +3

      @@michaels_madnessstill goated but was nice when people didn’t give a fuck about efficiency

    • @Priest_Of_Zebak
      @Priest_Of_Zebak 6 місяців тому +1

      The game was wild in 2006-2007
      So much fun and nostalgia.
      It's still my favorite game out rn tho.

    • @bravingbrivatebrian
      @bravingbrivatebrian 5 місяців тому

      If you want a modern fresh take on osrs try Runescape 3 by the same company

    • @Priest_Of_Zebak
      @Priest_Of_Zebak 5 місяців тому +1

      @@bravingbrivatebrian That's disgusting tho.
      They ruined the game when I played in 2000's, and it still looks like that crap.
      I'll never go back.

  • @smilosabercat
    @smilosabercat 2 роки тому +66

    I have never played Runescape, yet you got me to watch this whole video, and have tempted me to try Runescape. The most mitigating factor for me is my age and how that has effected my hands. Repeat clicking the same motion over and over hurts these aging digits. It would not be the time that would be daunting for me 5K hours in each Fallout and Elder Scrolls franchises so far... indicates my willingness to waste time. I am going to take the time to look at your Runescape let's play and make the decision as to whether I dare attempt this game. Currently on 8/11 of your Fallout 3 series, I do like your voice and presentation style. Thank you for the fun.

    • @LilacMonarch
      @LilacMonarch Рік тому +7

      I've seen people map various things to make mouse inputs, like foot pedals and whatnot. There's probably something that would work for your situation

    • @thejollydevil3425
      @thejollydevil3425 8 місяців тому +5

      like he says in the video there are alot of easy ways to earn xp that dont require alot of clicking and some do its the best part!

    • @ethanchadwick8584
      @ethanchadwick8584 7 місяців тому +2

      Did you ever try?

    • @MooseWilliams
      @MooseWilliams 7 місяців тому

      @@ethanchadwick8584he won't reply, that's XP loss

    • @klwb69
      @klwb69 6 місяців тому

      The

  • @sbef
    @sbef 7 місяців тому +15

    This essay is so in-depth and thorough, I hope some Jagex developers see it to formalise what makes Old School Runescape such a good and special game.

  • @__w__o__w__
    @__w__o__w__ 5 місяців тому +9

    Worth noting that plenty of activities you do while 'afking' runecape also have their own attention 'calibration', and finding the perfect cross-over between real life attention and runescape attention can feel incredibly rewarding and productive. Like i'm being productive doing 'something that matters' and progressing my 'waste of time' video game credentials simultaneously.

  • @Maddogs1
    @Maddogs1 2 роки тому +19

    26:50 You really would be good at game design-based ted talks, was quite intrigued by that segment

  • @-VexyRS
    @-VexyRS 2 роки тому +18

    As soon as you mentioned metroidvanias and how runescape’s progression system is similar to theirs, I instantly understood why I loved Hollow Knight so much, but I struggle with getting into most other games in general. Incredible video!

  • @the_BattleGoose
    @the_BattleGoose 8 місяців тому +11

    Man... you absolutely captured what makes Runescape such a worthwhile experience.
    Thank you for this essay.

  • @whiphore
    @whiphore Місяць тому +3

    As a kid I thought I was a mmo fan but it turned out I was just a runescape fan since it’s nothing like any other mmo

    • @FunnyAshShorts
      @FunnyAshShorts Місяць тому

      Soooo true dude, nothing at all. You can try to find something but will end up back at osrs

  • @jonathanc3001
    @jonathanc3001 Рік тому +22

    I feel so spoiled that I found this channel after all these videos are already out, so I can just binge them all without waiting. There is something special about the amount of effort you put into documenting your playthrough, impressions, and then a full analysis of this game and why it’s so great. Thank you marstead. I was familiar with a lot of these concepts, but you really made me think harder about exactly what it is that makes this game different. I especially loved the attention/difficulty chart. Game designers should use that always as a way to see if content is good or bad. This video deserves more views, but people may be put off by the length. You are correct though that RuneScape players are fine with it because it’s great content to watch while grinding!

  • @ErikGsson
    @ErikGsson Місяць тому +4

    Sometimes I go back and rewatch this 3.5h video.
    Every time I learn something new about why I love oldschool rs. ❤

  • @Litepaw
    @Litepaw Місяць тому +3

    Runescape has something that other MMOs lack. It's really charming in a way. It's clunky, the grinds are really long, but there's just this weird charming vibe that no other game has.

    • @thaynetarbox4117
      @thaynetarbox4117 11 днів тому +1

      it’s the grindiest game ever made like that is the whole point and i’d still rather smack a tree all day then do dailies 2 days in a row in wow

    • @Litepaw
      @Litepaw 11 днів тому +1

      @@thaynetarbox4117 yeah true. I just played a lot of wow classic, season of discovery to be specific. I quit when they introduced a brainless grindfest daily thing.
      The point of WoW is to have a lot of options to reach a certain goal, and the end game raids. Multiple builds and multiple bis items for multiple classes. But when they have to be grinded with dailies -- no thanks.

    • @thaynetarbox4117
      @thaynetarbox4117 11 днів тому +1

      @@Litepaw yeah i played up to phase 3 of sod and the constant nerfs to completely break builds was bothering me

    • @Litepaw
      @Litepaw 11 днів тому

      @@thaynetarbox4117 I know.. I had both boomie and shaman mains. And the incursions killed it for me. We got a few full clears of ST so most of us had full sets and then everyone just.. quit lol

  • @sweatywraith8242
    @sweatywraith8242 4 місяці тому +8

    Thanks Marstead I did not know how to accurately describe OSRS to anyone and always felt like I messed up their introduction to the game.
    I've memorized this entire video and recite it to everyone I meet and its been working great! I've even met some women at the bar and have been able to get them to understand the beauty of OSRS.

  • @-VexyRS
    @-VexyRS 2 роки тому +5

    Minute 1 “Welcome to my TED Talk about Runescape”
    Hour 1 “So you click rocks and get levels”
    Hour 2 “Sidegrades are different from upgrades”
    Hour 3 “NOTHING MATTERS, WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE ONE DAY, LET ME CLICK ROCKS”
    And yes, I’m rewatching this for fun. I *LOVE* this video, Marstead!
    I’d actually love to see an in-depth analysis of what RuneScape is, and what awaits you as a player; in a more ‘introductory’ sense, but not sugar-coating or lowering people’s expectations.
    I think this video serves that purpose well, but this essay is more geared toward people who are already well acquainted with MMOs.
    Food for thought! Just saying I’d love to see it. Keep up the grind ♥️

  • @Sir_Basil
    @Sir_Basil 7 місяців тому +3

    Marstead thought we weren't gonna notice this video was designed to watch while grinding on Runescape

  • @tormenter1111
    @tormenter1111 Місяць тому +3

    Love the surprise class analysis in the RuneScape genre investigation! Genuinely. You never see people using a class analysis lens in how they look at stuff

  • @DonYagamoth
    @DonYagamoth 7 місяців тому +11

    I think the point at ~1:09:55 is probably my favorite part about OSRS - "You don't have to worry about optimization paralysis, because it's impossible to optimize"
    I'm someone who greatly enjoys optimizing things of all variety. And the moment I recognized, that there often is just straight up no "optimal path" for a variety of reasons, it became... easier. I normally struggle with sandbox games, because I get lost, and often don't have too much drive to 'go explore'. Somehow OSRS still worked for me... Although I've only been playing for roughly a year now, it's still neat

  • @olive7155
    @olive7155 2 роки тому +9

    3:26:23 got me good. What a great video/essay/movie!

  • @timurrte5694
    @timurrte5694 6 місяців тому +5

    I started playing this medieval clicking simulator 9 months ago. And this video actually describes undescribable feelings that i got from this game ❤

  • @liljacket
    @liljacket 8 місяців тому +11

    Just watched the entire video, my man... This is probably the best video essay I have ever watched. I really appreciate the amount of time you put into this and the way you are able (and probably practiced] to put all this entire topic into words. Best video I have ever watched by far, bless you sir!!

  • @dakkx
    @dakkx 8 місяців тому +6

    This is the best video essay on RuneScape I’ve ever watched. Kudos for keeping it so clean, clear and well organized. S+ tier content.

  • @zackchud
    @zackchud 2 роки тому +13

    Loving the vid so far! your metroidvania argument at 48:00 was incredibly compelling, as soon as you proposed the idea i was immediately convinced.

  • @UnknownVir
    @UnknownVir Рік тому +8

    I think farming is most likely lap running when doing trees, and most like rock clicking when doing allotment+herbs.
    I really hadn't considered why I actually disliked farming until I found out how nice allotment+herb runs were for me (woodcutting was one of my favorite skills growing up).
    I think the other main difference is the time wait. Farming might be one of the more novel game loops in RuneScape. Birdhouse runs are also time gated lap running vs most hunter being either rock-click or conventional lap running.

    • @jextra1313
      @jextra1313 8 місяців тому

      Same, woodcutting was my favourite skill and I disliked farming, It feels like dailies in other MMOs, and I'd rather be actively playing the game rather than having to wait x hours. The xp reward doesn't feel deserved.

  • @Pooeyboy
    @Pooeyboy 4 місяці тому +2

    This video was absolutely fascinating, it also helped me to realise why I'm still playing this game 22 years later... shit, I'm old.

  • @space_ghost2809
    @space_ghost2809 Місяць тому +3

    I love how everyone agrees on how EVE Online is on it's own league. I play it actively since 2008

  • @Odinh
    @Odinh 2 роки тому +10

    you caught me with one of your later points, "OSRS Attention Levels: #4, consuming media", as of writing this i am watching your essay and grinding black knights for a diary.
    there were moments where i laughed about your keen assertions about what runescape boils down to. the multiple analogies are spot on and is what makes this, in combination with the attention level variance a clear genre builder/ setter ( like metroid, DS, and Rogue were)

  • @tastycastle1976
    @tastycastle1976 2 роки тому +22

    Amazing! The structure and presentation is great!
    RuneScape (based on your descriptions) reminds me of Mabinogi in a lot of ways. You should check it out!

    • @Marstead
      @Marstead  2 роки тому +5

      Oh wow, Mabinogi's made by Nexon, who also made that Nexus TK game I mentioned. I'll have to scope it out, thanks!

  • @intendedtendencies
    @intendedtendencies 8 місяців тому +13

    Please make more video essay content, you have an insane talent/skill for it.

  • @RuneDest
    @RuneDest 8 місяців тому +4

    I just not stumbled on this, just a bit late.. But I'm just getting back into OSRS after a long break and man.. this video essay not only captures the feelings I exprience but enstilled a new appreciation for Jagex and Runescape itself. Thanks for taking the time to put this together, I look forward to the (potential? eventual?) RS3 video essay!

  • @Sens249
    @Sens249 8 місяців тому +6

    this was so fun to watch! As a Runescape player you voiced so many deep feelings that I had a hard time vocalizing or even understanding. Youve helped me understand why I actually like this game so much and why I have had a hard time getting into other MMOs. You hit the nail on so so many different points and I give kudos to you. Thank you for making the medium clue grind a bit more enjoyable.
    I do want to add a funny sidenote which is that when you were talking about how Jagex would never allow a training method that has "good exp rates, little prerequisites, great resource, gain, little need for banking, low resource cost, low danger and low complexity" The only thing I could think of was Wintertodt, which seems to hit all of those points haha. But it also is the one thing that saved Firemaking so, we accept it.
    10/10 video, and now Im excited to watch your Runescape playthrough!

  • @soul_loa6643
    @soul_loa6643 Рік тому +3

    Found you on Bonfire man and had this video up while doing Ardy Knights Grind. Pretty much a perfect take on how Runescape is awesome thanks for the content that you release. It is great fun to watch!

  • @Nnoreaga
    @Nnoreaga 8 місяців тому +10

    RuneScape also has the most unique PVP mechanics of all time. It’s basically real time rock paper scissors, but in order to switch from rock to paper you have to throw on a completely different set of armors and weapons between each tick

    • @Exposing21
      @Exposing21 8 місяців тому

      True, it’s truly unpredictable

    • @realityDUBSTEP
      @realityDUBSTEP 8 місяців тому +4

      yup. i'd say runescape pvp is in the starcraft side of his difficulty/attention chart. it reminds me of certain super fast paced fighting games like smash bros melee where things like fakie switching (shield mixup/dashbacks in melee lingo) and "reading" your opponents mind becomes a skill in of itself on top of ultra fast and accurate osu level clicking.

  • @jeroenstolp9889
    @jeroenstolp9889 2 роки тому +10

    Just finished watching this, while playing Runescape (albeit rs3, I can't wait for you to give that a shot soon) of course. Perhaps using many more words than necessary, but definitely hitting the nail on the head throughout all of it.
    I genuinely believe that a big reason for why many people keep coming back to this game (the saying "you never quit Runescape, you only take breaks" exists for a reason) is that there simply are no good alternatives out there. The game truly is unique, and it scratches an itch that no other major developer has ever tried to scratch. Looking on Google for "games like Runescape" tends to lead to generic MMORPGs and if you're lucky will lead to a game like "RPG MO" which is as close to a title "like Runescape" as you'll get, but in the end is an indie title that doesn't have the budget or backing to really "make it" out there.
    There is a lot of controversy about people have a love/hate relationship with Runescape, coming back to the game they've grown to dislike over and over again. Why? Because they've got nowhere else to go. It boggles my mind how there hasn't been any major developers who have tried to cash in on this "genre" since it genuinely feels like a hole in the market right now for the many many players who have grown tired of Runescape after 20 years, but want something similar.

    • @Marstead
      @Marstead  2 роки тому +5

      This was definitely one of those "If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter" situations. Thanks for the comment!

  • @glebgladkiy6908
    @glebgladkiy6908 5 місяців тому +4

    As someone who has been playing Runescape since 2004, this video leaves me with mixed feelings. On one hand, it's super cool to see you break down why Runescape is awesome in such great detail, there were a lot of things I never really thought about before, at least not in such terms. On the other hand, now I see it crystal clear why I never managed to truly enjoy other MMOs (or should I just say, MMOs) and it's extemelly unlikely I'll ever find another game that feels as good to play.
    Love everything about this video except for using Outer Wilds music at 2:25:50. It's very hard to focus on what you're saying when my brain screams "YOU HAVE LESS THAN 30 SECONDS LEFT TO LIVE".

  • @krodlori2118
    @krodlori2118 2 роки тому +9

    Ok the ven diagram joke nearly made me choke hahaha xD

  • @icecream-soup
    @icecream-soup 2 роки тому +8

    This will go great with my Kraken slayer task.

  • @kirilllysenko8616
    @kirilllysenko8616 8 місяців тому +7

    This analysis was extremely insightful, like the way you compared runescape's progression to that of a metroidvania felt like a revelation. Your channel deserves way more subscribers

  • @T3RD5ify
    @T3RD5ify 15 днів тому +2

    You forgot about a key demographic of people… *too busy for RuneScape but still need something to listen to at work* … great video

  • @carloscachicamo331
    @carloscachicamo331 2 роки тому +11

    You hit the nail on the head on so many different parts about why Runescape is what it is. Whatever that is! I know whenever i try and explain runescape to other people it always ends up feeling like i dont have enough time to properly convey why the game is pretty perfect to me.

  • @TheWiseApe
    @TheWiseApe 2 роки тому +7

    I'm only 40 min in and look forward to every minute after for my drive out of state today. Subbed!

  • @ritzon2670
    @ritzon2670 7 місяців тому +2

    Now instead of trying to get my friends to play osrs, i just have to get them to listen to a 3 1/2 hour video explaining why they'd enjoy it.

  • @TopFurret
    @TopFurret 2 місяці тому +1

    Honestly this graph and analysis filled 3 hour video essay is the best pitch for RuneScape I have ever seen.
    RuneScape really needs to market itself as a "multitasking game"

  • @TheMaktastic4
    @TheMaktastic4 2 роки тому +7

    Really enjoyed this, afked work whilst afking osrs, while watching this

  • @lermrodgers3082
    @lermrodgers3082 2 роки тому +13

    Haven't watched the vid yet, but osrs is a cleverly designed rhythm game that beats in .6 second intervals lol.

    • @Marstead
      @Marstead  2 роки тому +7

      Hahah, I had to cut the section on Tick Manipulation but I was going to make this exact argument in it 😂 I've definitely played it to a Metronome or a 100BPM playlist before

    • @lermrodgers3082
      @lermrodgers3082 2 роки тому +3

      @@Marstead I learned to woox walk vorkath to staying alive by the beegees

    • @NickRuedig
      @NickRuedig 2 роки тому +2

      @@Marstead That might be an interesting followup video!

  • @Hot_To_Trot
    @Hot_To_Trot 2 місяці тому +2

    Never found a way to put it into words, now I can just link people a three-and-a-half-hour-long video to people as a brief introduction to my beloved game.
    Great work, loved the video!

  • @Cuestar
    @Cuestar 5 місяців тому +9

    this is one of the best videos ever created about a video game. been playing runescape for 17 years and i could've spent another 17 writing out why i love the game and i would've never been able to describe it this well.

  • @swerveq_p
    @swerveq_p 2 роки тому +9

    I haven't and won't be watching this video for a while as I'm still busy with your Let's Play of OSRS - just want to let you know that you did an amazing job on how you played Runescape (not too many Guides etc). I'm currently at Part 38 and absolutely loving it!

    • @-VexyRS
      @-VexyRS 2 роки тому +2

      Idk if you’ve come far enough to watch this yet, but I’m only at episode 10, and I watched this entire essay without having anything spoiled. He mentions late game stuff, but doesn’t go into detail. A few very minor things along his playthrough are mentioned, but by the time you get there, you will have forgotten the context; I’m sure of that. So, watch away! It’s absolutely brilliant

    • @swerveq_p
      @swerveq_p 2 роки тому

      @@-VexyRS Oh thanks for the Info, I'll check it ou very soon then :)

  • @finnafishfl
    @finnafishfl 2 роки тому +8

    Thank you for everything, love what you're doing and can't believe you don't have more subs. I'm about 30 episodes into the series and I was very glad to find it

  • @philipburger4652
    @philipburger4652 8 місяців тому +3

    This video is very well done. I’m sure a lot of people have told you this but it put into words so many things I have felt about OSRS but didn’t know how to say. Thanks for putting this video together!

  • @violettheshadowfan
    @violettheshadowfan 8 місяців тому +4

    not only did this video get me into osrs but i'm now watching it for the third time, i really appreciate the captions!

  • @TheDiabloke
    @TheDiabloke 11 місяців тому +5

    This is criminally underviewed.. Great video and thank you for putting it out

  • @UnknownVir
    @UnknownVir Рік тому +3

    There is so much I never knew about MMOs because I've played more RuneScape than any other MMO

  • @KazaganthiDrakkor
    @KazaganthiDrakkor 8 місяців тому +1

    I recently after 23 years achieved a Trimmed Completionist Cape on Rs3, and have been here since classic days. Runescape, both osrs and modern, has a very special place in enjoyment and escape. It's got relaxing portions and HARD challenges, now im chasing the trimmed comp on an ironman for the extra challenges! Great video!!

  • @Litepaw
    @Litepaw 5 місяців тому +1

    I fell in love with runescape back in 2004 in a completely different way than i did to WoW.
    WoW was beautiful, immersive, really detailed, and absolutely massive. It had a massive "wow factor" (pun 100% intended)
    But something about runescape just felt so warm and inviting and wholesome to me. It was unique and simple, but it had a heart and soul. Something in it just felt so cozy, and reaching goals and milestones in RS actually felt like an achievement and felt warm inside.
    Unlike in WoW, where reaching goals just felt more like.. relieving. Most times my reaction was just "ugh, FINALLY".
    Grinding honors to exalted, doing daily quests, doing battlegrounds and arena, checking the auction house, and participating in raids felt more like day job task obligations than having fun.
    The most fun thing in WoW was leveling to max, and that's basically all runescape is.
    In WoW your guild and blizzard tells you what to do, and there's a singular "correct" way to play, even though you have all kinds of weapon choices, talents, professions, gear, etc.
    In runescape YOU decide what to do, but Jagex provides you the playground. You dont need anyone else to max your account if you wish to play that way, and there are endless possibilities to reach a goal. Thats why i dont like this new "no xp waste" 2tick minmax efficiency mindset.
    WoW is still great, i played from vanilla all the way to pandaria, and spent thousands of hours playing it. Way waaay more than RS. It's just more engaging, even though it felt like a job sometimes.
    But runescape always had a special place in my heart.
    Someone said something about categorizing some youtube videos as first or second screen content, but both still being equally important in different ways.
    WoW/FF14 are great and engaging full focus main screen games. But runescape is the undefeated king of second screen games.
    Damn this comment turned out way longer than i intended 😂 thanks for coming to my ted talk.

  • @julianfernandes9301
    @julianfernandes9301 2 роки тому +17

    Ive heard so many audiobooks because of runescape, watching this 3.5 hour video was nothing lol

  • @Reldonator
    @Reldonator 8 місяців тому +6

    I've watched thousands of Runescape videos but this one just hits different. Your perspective on the game and mmos in general is fascinating. This is a much watch

  • @marisasob
    @marisasob 5 місяців тому +1

    As someone that played on and off for 20 years, this video was incredibly well made. Last few years i played OSRS on and off on the same character. And this is what keeps pulling me back to the game. I log in after a year, and i still have my high level account. I have to do a few Quests and i have my Quest cape again (achievement cape you get for completing all quests). My account is over 10 years old now and every stupid thing i did on this account for the past decade, is still usefull now when i play. And this is what makes OSRS players one of the most loyal players of any game. You never quit Runescape, the breaks just get longer.

  • @alexlabs4858
    @alexlabs4858 8 місяців тому +7

    Not sure why this popped up on my feed but I watched it all the way through (while grinding of course) and it was fantastic. Loved how you looped in real life and how our society views work, and luckily societies view of work is slowly changing. I hope it continues in that direction because you're absolutely right that we have a very twisted and toxic view surrounding work and time off.

  • @regista4
    @regista4 8 місяців тому +4

    This was absolutely phenomenal, I was enraptured from start to finish. I made sure I was doing low attention stuff in OSRS so I could give this the majority of my attention! The Joy of Labor interlude in particular was so thought-provoking and inspiring. Thank you so much for all the effort you put into this.

  • @MaxCapeRoad
    @MaxCapeRoad 8 місяців тому +4

    It's so funny when you started talking about numbers, I think it was in the XP section?
    This has been my main game since 2006, and it literally did not phase me for a moment when you mentioned 8k arrows, 7k nars and 300k+ iron ores. I was like 'uh huh, makes sense.' and it was not until you mentioned how insane it must look for an outside who hasn't played or is familiar with runescape that it dawned on me and I went complete 'uhh, wow'.
    Watched the whole thing, hands down one of my favourite videos of all time. Easy to follow, articulate and good humor all through.

  • @Blackobluna
    @Blackobluna 7 місяців тому +2

    I watched this while safe spotting lessers in the Karamja volcano, finally hit 60 range and 60 hp!

  • @noxwalrus
    @noxwalrus 6 місяців тому +4

    This should be mandatory onboarding for any jagex employee, or really any game dev. I think this is up there with the presentation Mark Rosewater gave at GDC 2016 about his lessons learned from designing Magic: the Gathering.

  • @dude92
    @dude92 2 роки тому +4

    Nice video! I love how you started as a newbie and how you came to like it. The fact that you have achieved 3 times more in 1 year, than I with 3 years is astonishing. I would say priffdinas anvil is not special just for the fact that it is 1 tile closer to a bank, but it has a furnace right next to it. If I'm correct, it's the only place where there is a bank, a furnace, and an anvil right next to each other, which makes training smithing much easier. And the fact that zalcano's prison is right next to those makes it more rewarding, because you can easily take a detour to smith some of the ore drops from zalcano when grinding for the tool seed or the pet. It's good to take a break sometimes.

  • @ethanhenare1
    @ethanhenare1 Рік тому +10

    2 hours and 30 minutes in, have been watching this while playing osrs and it has been a fantastic experience, this deserves so many more views.

    • @ethanhenare1
      @ethanhenare1 Рік тому +1

      and finally finished!! that ending honestly rly hit hard

  • @stevehufnagel6754
    @stevehufnagel6754 6 місяців тому +2

    This is amazing. It's a philosophical essay with a thesis and many antithesis. Great work!

  • @Sosemaush
    @Sosemaush 8 місяців тому +2

    I recently started playing OSRS (just hit total level 1000 and 100 quest points) and this video really captures what makes OSRS so different and interesting compared to modern MMORPGs. Amazing job.
    I'm now at the part about "routing a speedrun" and the "rabbit holes" that you get into while planning your activities in this game are amazing. I get the same sort of rabbit hole feel sometimes while playing Factorio, completely different kind of game.
    For example now I want to get a Dragon Scimitar, as an ironman. For that I need to do Monkey Madness. For that 43 prayer is apparently highly recommended. To get 43 prayer effectively I need two things: high-value bones and a good way to sacrifice them. That means either Ectofunctus (please no), the Wilderness altar or house altar. I opted to go for Wilderness altar. From my research, to reach that in an effective way, I need 45 crafting and 49 magic to make burning necklaces. To level up crafting effectively I first need to... and so on.
    I love falling into these rabbit holes and when you get to the end (the Dragon Scimitar), it just feels so rewarding.
    And I'm certain that my path is probably far from optimal. Someone with more experience with the game might do things very differently. But it doesn't bother me, it's my path and it's certainly achievable.

    • @dwerg1
      @dwerg1 8 місяців тому

      I have played since 2004, but only started an ironman a few years ago after getting burnt out grinding for money. I have progressed that ironman far more than any previous accounts and mostly enjoyed it, but I have taken breaks for several months a couple times. You're not going to have a great time trying to play optimally with the end game in mind, go for the next thing within reach that you feel would be satisfying to unlock. If you try to do everything as optimally as possible you'll likely just get burnt out.
      Btw, I too would highly recommend 43 prayer for Monkey Madness so you can protect from melee. You're going to run through a looong multicombat cave full of relatively hard hitting monsters who can all hit you at the same time. You CAN do it without praying protect from melee to negate all their damage, but it's going to be very rough and require a lot of food.

    • @daddyfuse50
      @daddyfuse50 7 днів тому

      What's funny is this video doesn't mention this was all basically done ACCIDENTALLY in the game design. The original game designer, Andrew Gower, made it more as a social fun idle game. He didn't think anyone would ever get a 99, so he made the xp scaling what he assumed was impossible, and that no one would ever spend the time to actually max a skill.

  • @boulderboi-fs3um
    @boulderboi-fs3um 6 місяців тому +3

    Such a cool video, congrats on that! I just started playing OSRS, never played before. I've played lots of fantasy mmos and none of them come close to the feeling OSRS has to it. The quests are the best I've ever seen, the grind is fun, easy to get into and something I can just do while I watch videos, play other games or wait for the bus. And I haven't even gotten into combat yet. You described the game so well!

  • @arkend7666
    @arkend7666 9 місяців тому +3

    I was looking for this exact kind of video from someone who doesn't have particular nostalgic attachment (playing the game as a kid) to osrs. I'm happy to hear someone talk about how runescape is in its own subgenre of mmorpg's, its so very true! Beyond impressed with how the video is put together, and the ways you present the core gameplay in the most accurate way I've seen on youtube so far.

  • @goldendonut7349
    @goldendonut7349 8 місяців тому +2

    This was very well structured and thought out. Even though i've played rs since 2009 and osrs since its beginning and know most of what youre talking about, i still enjoyed the listen and you actually taught me more about the game that i play every day.

  • @SirEmperus
    @SirEmperus 8 місяців тому +1

    This was insanely high quality, thank you so much for this video! Haven't checked if you have yet, but a summary version of 10-20min would be awesome to sell osrs to some friends :D

  • @ZCheVskY
    @ZCheVskY 2 роки тому +21

    Hey Marstead,
    Thank you so much for all of the hard work you have put in over the years on all of these Lets Plays! I started watching your channel about 6 months ago when I stumbled across your RS playthrough, since then I have revisited your past videos for many of my favorite games specifically to see how you evaluate the good and the bad in those games. Your reactions and commentary has been an invaluable asset for me, an aspiring game designer. It is so helpful to see blind reactions from someone so well spoken, and consistent.
    Now you are further pushing the Game Design Topic to new highs! Thank you for this video, which was extremely well done and better analyzed OSRS than any video I have ever seen before. Not to mention you are now naming new Game Design concepts by building off of some of the greats of Game Design Analysis on youtube. YOU ARE PUSHING THE MEDIUM FORWARD! amazing work! I send you a donation on your twitch and hope you keep up the great work!

    • @Marstead
      @Marstead  2 роки тому +6

      Thanks a ton for the donation! If you have a Twitch username you'd like to share I can give you some stream currency for voting in thanks for that. I really appreciate it!

    • @ZCheVskY
      @ZCheVskY 2 роки тому +2

      @@Marstead thanks! my twitch username is zulfiqarkindjal

  • @gamerex9378
    @gamerex9378 2 роки тому +6

    Welp, background audio for when I skill ✓

  • @VallianceRS
    @VallianceRS 12 днів тому +1

    the way i've always described RS is "imagine some social game like habbo hotel or club penguin, or even just social media... but you do it in a fantasy world and your character you control can level up professions like being a lumberjack or fisherman... all with incredibly simple point and click gameplay (with short wait periods) where you can just sit around and chat the shit"

  • @kayminlemoine9781
    @kayminlemoine9781 3 місяці тому +2

    2:22:05 i agree, its perfectly reasonable to mine 370,000 iron ore to level 99

  • @Scorsch
    @Scorsch Рік тому +3

    I liked the TSP analogy. It would be fun to determine the most efficient route (if it ever becomes possible in polynomial time)

    • @Marstead
      @Marstead  Рік тому +2

      I'd be interested to find out if common player meta decisions like rushing Wintertodt are close to optimal or way off!

  • @createyour2831
    @createyour2831 6 місяців тому +4

    Lmfao people thinking RFD takes roughly 2 hours 😂😂😂😂😂

  • @nonsense402
    @nonsense402 6 місяців тому +1

    Great choice of music of the interlude. Love your perspective about labor. Even as someone who shares your perspective, I still struggle with both ideas. That dissonance has led me to prioritize the things that I value highly though, not just for money but also for identity and fulfillment. As I've gotten older I've found that it doesn't matter what you commit to, just that you value it. This was such a great rant. Thank you for putting to words what I haven't been able to for years.

  • @redtaileddolphin1875
    @redtaileddolphin1875 8 місяців тому +2

    This kinda reminds me of minecraft. The vast tree of what materials you need to make what farms, but the farms you make are determined by what materials you want so you can do anything you want. I think the main difference would be that none of it is mandatory but to a technical player with a long list of goals, afk farming slimeballs in a swamp in minecraft is similar to afk fishing or training agility in osrs
    Easiest example is a storage system: definitely gonna want lots of wood so you need a tree farm, but that requires honey and slime in good amounts, so go build a honey farm which requires lots of glass bottles so make a huge furnace and a sand super at the end portal! Then you’ll need an iron farm for your slime farm and storage system so better get started on gathering 3 villagers. Don’t forget about needing lots of redstone! (I just trade for that, my go to emerald maker is books since they sell bookshelves and buy books)

    • @realityDUBSTEP
      @realityDUBSTEP 8 місяців тому

      absolutely. anarchy vanilla minecraft scratches much of the same itch. manually mining out a giant perimeter and then building tnt dupers to then blow it up and having to rebuild it multiple times to slowly eat through all the layers until finally reaching bedrock. just so you can get higher efficiency on item farms so you can then start trading items in bulk using goofy mechanics like pearl stasis'ing to get back to spawn. or building a giant insane pillager raid farm that goes over mob cap and generates insane amount of items but takes hours and hours to set up.

  • @mitchware9357
    @mitchware9357 2 роки тому +8

    Your dedication to the game has been immense.
    You've achieved more in the game already than I have in my 18 years of playing off and on.

  • @Lexyvil
    @Lexyvil 2 роки тому +5

    This was amazing! I'm so used to watching your Let's Plays that it took me by surprise to see you do a game analysis on your channel. Not only are you a good commentator but a really good reviewer too.

  • @Omnicide101
    @Omnicide101 4 місяці тому +1

    Hey mate, this video pulled me through a really rough time (my girlfriend was in the hospital with a damn near lethal case of bronchitis - she's mostly back to health and back home now, thankfully) and got me to try RuneScape again for the first time in three years. Finally finished Dragon Slayer just now, never even dared to start that quest as a kid, and the feeling is spectacular. Thank you :)

  • @PersonS6
    @PersonS6 8 місяців тому

    I have been looking up information about philosophers and spiritual teachers for the past few days because I'm going though a bad existential crisis again. This was the last place I expected to find some answers but it actually helped. Seriously, thank you! This was lovely