After first reading this thread a few days ago, I created an Eternum account.  I now have several hours of "adventuring" under my belt, and have nearly reached level 3. 

The verdict?  Travel in this game has to be improved.  Right now, the toon just 'blips' from place to place.  The game would be greatly improved if the toon moved smoothly.  Combat seems to be a weakness as well, as it all takes place in an instant, rather on a blow-by-blow basis.

Again, I have only played for a few hours, and I have fought only rats and snakes; but Runescape seems to me to be the superior game.

Originally posted by nariusseldon

If they want to do sprite based 2D graphics, can they at least get to Diablo quality? Give me a break here.

You want Diablo style graphics in an HTML-based browser game? Do you not think you're asking a bit much? Name one other TRULY web-based (read: not java or flash based) game that has better graphics than Eternum. Most are little more than text-based.

For those of you who haven't played in a while, here is what I mean by the great graphical improvements RS has made recently:

Originally posted by galapagos

 Travel in this game has to be improved.  Right now, the toon just 'blips' from place to place.  The game would be greatly improved if the toon moved smoothly.  

It works fairly smoothly for me, would be cool if it was more animated though... like you can see the guy walking from place to place.

Originally posted by Runefan101

Originally posted by Superstition

Originally posted by Runefan101

Originally posted by deviliscious

Originally posted by Runefan101

 To all the people who insult runescapes graphics I say: Have you played it recently since the graphical updates or are you judging it by the old engine? IMHO Runescape is rivalling WoW or even some of the modern MMOs such as Age of Conan in terms of graphics these days.

HAHAHAHAH!!... HAHAHHAHAHA!!! ROFLMAO!!! Did this guy seriously try to compare the graphics updates to the graphics of  AoC?!!!  You can't even see the players faces on runescape unless you are in a NPC chat screen. And even then the detail is deplorable. This has to be a joke .. seriously.
 

 

Not a joke... are you sure you've seen the latest graphical updates to RS and aren't just thinking of the old classic gfx? Runescapes graphics are now detailed and atmospheric, more realistic than WoW's cartooniness and as dark and moody as the art direction in AoC, possibly WAR too although that looks like it may be taking some of WoW's cartoony styling.

 

is this guy serious lol? i think the name slightly gives away the runescape fanboy idea but runefan101 really are u serious???

runescape is a joke in the mmorpg market

No I'm not some blind fanboy... I have played AoC, WoW and LOTR at length as well as runescape so I am in a position to compare them graphically. AoC and LOTR both have really great and detailed graphics, but runescape at maximum settings still blows me away and it's at least on par with them.

Random Lotro screenshot from the gallery section here:

You really are a fan.

Originally posted by Runefan101

For those of you who haven't played in a while, here is what I mean by the great graphical improvements RS has made recently:

 

You need your eyes checked. EQ1 has better graphics thqn that, even Pre-Luclin.

My 4 yr. old draws more detailed characters on his Doodle Pad.

Originally posted by Cronq

Originally posted by Runefan101

For those of you who haven't played in a while, here is what I mean by the great graphical improvements RS has made recently:

 

 

You need your eyes checked. EQ1 has better graphics thqn that, even Pre-Luclin.

 

My 4 yr. old draws more detailed characters on his Doodle Pad.

you sir, are full of win :D

Originally posted by Cronq

Originally posted by Runefan101

For those of you who haven't played in a while, here is what I mean by the great graphical improvements RS has made recently:

 

 

You need your eyes checked. EQ1 has better graphics thqn that, even Pre-Luclin.

 

That's going pretty far... pre-luclin EQ had bitmap-based trees. Everything in runescape is fully rendered in 3d.

Infini-lul at the runescape fanboy, but i wouldnt put browser based games down that much. In-the-cloud processing is coming, and whilst running on a webpage, will blow any conventional game out of the water. Check out http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/11/liveplace-to-launch-photo-realistic-virtual-world-rendered-in-the-cloud/ for an example (yes, i know liveplace is most probably vapourware, but the tech is on its way)

And also, people are finally seeing flash as just that: A flashy tool for showing off... good for animation etc but less suited for interactive webpages. As for java applets, well, other than runescape the last time I saw one used was probably 1999 :P You can do pretty much anything with AJAX these days.

If Runescape are doing these things graphically now with Java, imagine what they could be doing 5 years from now when PC/Graphical hardware is more advanced? Plus they are doing it on a VERY limited platform (Java).

So YES a few years from now they may be the only people still using Java applets, but while everyone else is using AJAX they will still be in glorius 3d.

I'm not saying the runescape engine is the next unreal engine or anthing like that, just that it is competitive.

Anyone who programs a game in JAVA needs their heads examined!

The Java platform was never designed for games and using it for such is just a horrible programming choice.  

Runescape is an excellent example of horrible programming, it runs like it was coated in molasses.

Anyone playing it should enjoy the lag you always get it will most probably not get much better with a better graphics card, you also need a top notch CPU and fast hard disks, fast I/O, etc.  In other words the rig to run this game acceptably is far beyond most of our pocketbooks.

Eternum Online is just BETTER than Runescape! It doesn't try to overstretch itself with ridiculous graphics in a JAVA applet. Runescape's limited platform will be its downfall.

Originally posted by Runefan101

 To all the people who insult runescapes graphics I say: Have you played it recently since the graphical updates or are you judging it by the old engine? IMHO Runescape is rivalling WoW or even some of the modern MMOs such as Age of Conan in terms of graphics these days.

Helllllllllll Noooo

EQ1 even looks better than it let alone AOC

Well you're comparing modern day EQ to it - that's a whole new engine. Contrast it against the old sprite trees in the commonlands if you wanna be fair.

 Just to clarify btw:

Java games != Web based

Make runescape run using CSS3's canvas property, then we'll talk. If I can't run it on my RISC OS Firefox port, it ain't a browser game ;)

The problem with Runescape is not related to its graphics for me, I can take outdated  visuals as long as I'm getting quality in gameplay (Mount & Blade comes to my mind now as a prime example). The thing is, there's no diversity in RS skill system, gathering is a complete mind numbing boring clickfest and combat boils down to who got more recovery items, it's too much simplistic even for a browser game.

      With the technology we have available today why bother with Java anyway??.....Except for the most diehard fans, most people that have tried Runescape thought it was crap.

hey why do you need to talk about java here? how is it related in the said title of this thread.. sorry dude i got lazy to trace back your thread becasue its already long ^^

Originally posted by elit3gam3r

hey why do you need to talk about java here? how is it related in the said title of this thread.. sorry dude i got lazy to trace back your thread becasue its already long ^^

Because before Eternum Online came along the best offering browser MMOs had was Runescape, which runs in Java. Eternum is a "true" browser MMO in that it runs in HTML and Javascript instead of requiring you to download a 3rd party plugin like Java, Flash or Shockwave. People started discussion the merits of it because a RS fanboy up there ^^ was claiming the Runescape graphical engine was on par with Age of Conan's.

Actually, most up and coming web games are going the route of browser plugins. Quake Live, Instant Action and even Gametap all work on "thin client" browser plugins with the level data being loaded from the web instead of your hard drive. Right now there's a World of Warcraft clone, Earth Eternal, that's planning on doing the plugin thing.

Of course, if you're going to do a straight browser based thing then you probably need to be working with shockwave or flash. Sherwood used Shockwave and Dofus uses Flash. I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I spend one hell of a lot of my gaming time just playing stupid little flash games like Miracle Witch and Candy Mountain Massacre on the web. They're free, they don't require me to really install anything and I can play them from just about any computer with internet access.

I don't think Runescape is as bad as some people here think it is (It's a homebrew Ultima Online when you get right down to it) and I definitely think it's way easier on the eyes than Eternum. But you should all get ready for these kinds of MMOs to become more and more common.

Originally posted by Jimmy_Scythe

Actually, most up and coming web games are going the route of browser plugins. Quake Live, Instant Action and even Gametap all work on "thin client" browser plugins with the level data being loaded from the web instead of your hard drive. Right now there's a World of Warcraft clone, Earth Eternal, that's planning on doing the plugin thing.

Of course, if you're going to do a straight browser based thing then you probably need to be working with shockwave or flash. Sherwood used Shockwave and Dofus uses Flash. I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I spend one hell of a lot of my gaming time just playing stupid little flash games like Miracle Witch and Candy Mountain Massacre on the web. They're free, they don't require me to really install anything and I can play them from just about any computer with internet access.

I don't think Runescape is as bad as some people here think it is (It's a homebrew Ultima Online when you get right down to it) and I definitely think it's way easier on the eyes than Eternum. But you should all get ready for these kinds of MMOs to become more and more common.

The point people are making however is that using a plug-in such as Java, Flash or Shockwave is not truly web-based, it just happens to run within a browser window. Quake Live is also web deployed, but not truly web based either (See the Javascript implementation of Wolfenstein 3D to see what can really be done with HTML,JS etc these days). IMO there is no need to resort to third party plugins (especially ones as archaic as Shockwave) when so much is possible with AJAX technology these days. Eternum has pulled off the impressive feat of enabling a true MMORPG to run in nothing more than HTML controls and with more powerful browsers and CSS/JS technology we?e bound to see some really great games running natively on the web in the not so distant future.

Either way Im not exactly looking for graphical excellence in a browser MMO (not that any have that)

If I want graphics Ill go home and load up Crysis.

I believe Runescape. I'm not a Runescape fan at all (I hate the game, I'll move on to that later), but the graphics, for a browser MMO are amazing. Yes, even EQ1 looks better, I agree. But remember this is being run in Java, give it some bloody credit.

Runescape really is a decant sandbox MMO, as in you can mine, smith, make items. Fish and cook for food, and any profession you want you can train. I remember playing Runescape in the old RS1 days. However, I think they've ruined it now. They're added stupid instanced zones, and instanced PvP mini-games. Then made it so that when you die in the Wilderness, you no longer drop anything.

I'm quite sick and tired of MMO developers catering to whiny little bitches who cry when I kill them and steal their stuff.

EDIT: forgot to say I don't like the gameplay at all. The combat is just boring stand still, he whacks you, you whack him. Rinse and repeat. Graphics, awesome. Features, awesome (well... they ruined it nowadays, I'm refering to a few years back), gameplay, nah.