RuneScape is fundamentally better than World of Warcraft

Since my opponent has supplied a list of criteria, I will respond to them accordingly. However, before that I want to talk about the nature of the subjective nature in this debate: ==================== Philosophical fuzziness of the resolution ==================== Before I begin, I will note that ultimately the cases for both sides will be philosophically fuzzy, given that the value of art itself is subjective (if you wish to counter this claim, then so be it). However, even though we can assume the value of art is subjective we can still try to find some ground to decide which games are better than others. We can imagine that the term "fundamentally better" can refer to a game that serves it's purpose better - entertaining it's customers. For example, if you were to attempt to create a "good" FPS game then it would be in your best interest to have a consistent damage per shot system, otherwise the entire challenge of the game would be skewed. Imagine if the damage your assault rifle did per bullet was inconsistent; obviously the game would not fair well. It's facts like this that can help us lean towards one game as being fundamentally better. ==================== Runescape vs. WoW - List of criteria that demonstrates which game is better ==================== 1. World PvP + Safe PvP Your main point here is that like most MMORPG games, RS incurs high death penalty costs while WoW does not. I actually see this as a highlight point, since the reason WoW implemented this additions was to make the pauses between battles more brief. Having high death penalty costs in the back of your mind limits your desire to explore dangerous regions or undertake challenging quests - not to mention it bars you from joining a battle as quickly as you would wish to. The point of having a high death penalty cost is obviously to add more risk and thus challenge/fun to situations, but WoW accounts for this by the sheer complexity and teamwork many quests command -- if you screw up and die in important quest, you may have doomed the rest of your team and thus force you all to try again, which can take awhile. 2. Cost (Expansion prices, Subscriptions, etc. ) While I do agree that WoW is much more expensive, it accounts for this in sheer amounts of. .. fun. For any argument about price to be effective, it has to demonstrate that the cost of money is worst than the benefit the game brings. So how does WoW fare? Oh, just by being the most subscribed MMORPG ever - which gave it a Guiness World Record[1]. As for the disk space, again this is just a matter of money. 3. Class and Skill limitations Yes, RS allows you to have access to all abilities while in WoW depending on your character your a privy to only a select group. However, the fact that utilizing a specific character demands a certain amount of skill after you max out your level (or rather, ESPECIALLY after you do) means there is a much richer experience of gameplay. You don't win in a fight because you had more time to burn, but because you refined your skills better. Indeed, the way WoW has constructed their classes eliminates "class envy" because how they have balanced it works out perfectly (escept in PvP matches obviously). 4. Serve limitations and Factions The divisions among factions and servers makes it a much more interesting game play because you can encounter a race at which you are faced at odds with. It brings in competition and inevitably rivalry. If you want to mingle with a friend, you can always just ask them via an alternative manner - otherwise, befriending your fellow race members not only makes the game play feel more realistic but it still allows you to connect with the community. 5. Challenge of the game This is actually the biggest flaw of RuneScape. .. THERE IS ALMOST NO SKILL TO IT. Putting effort and time into RS is the same as burning time, since the majority of actions in the game is repetitive and monotonous (such as mining). WoW, on the other hand, has much skill to it. You complain that max leveling can be done in only a couple of days, and indeed it can. But there is MUCH MORE to the game after maxing out; indeed this is why many long-time players say the game really starts after you max out your level. This is when your skill as an individual player and as a team player is crucial in situations involving quests. It is this concept of refining one's skill that makes almost most popular games appealing. Take Halo 3, or for that fact any FPS game that has become famous. In Halo 3, which is MLG's biggest game, it is undoubtedly all about skill. Players have the same armor and damage (depending on the weapon), similar to having many players max out in WoW. When you reach the point of having to rely on skill instead of time, it's what makes the game truly challenging akin to real life situations such as sport. 6. Loot system While you may have some personal issues against it, and indeed perhaps many people do, it's not a significant flaw in WoW as to devalue it below RS - given that RS has barely any skill to it. 7. Groups The idea of needing a group is VERY appealing and important. It incorporates team work, which not only is featured in most sports but helps build a community for your online experience. Not only that, but it then forces one to have good teamwork, which is another important skill -- almost if not equal to individual skill. This makes the game more challenging and thus more fun. ==================== A few other remarks on why WoW is fundamentally better ==================== There are several important aesthetic keys about WoW that my opponent either forgets or ignores. While he may scoff at the point about graphics being overabused, it is a fact that WoW's gameplay experience - both visual and auditory - is unprecedent. Despite it's heavy file size, it's a very elegant and intuitive game. In fact, there isn't any bulky tutorial in the beginning, just starter tips (which is why it's so easy to pick up and play). Furthermore, it takes away one of the most common deathtraps of MMORPG - repetitive game play. In fact, Runescape is absolutely famous for this flaw (including Maplestory, yuck). Often you are doing the same pattern of actions over and over without much, if any, skill. It's simply time and patience. WoW, on the other hand, often throws a variety of situations that keeps you on your feet and assures that to excel in the game you need SKILL[2]. ==================== Conclusion ==================== Let me ask you a simple question: do you see tournaments around for Runescape? No. This is because to be a top player in Runescape takes relatively NO SKILL, JUST TIME TO WASTE. Most skills are just various ways to crunch time - indeed, a large part of the Runescape strategy is simply to find better ways to level up. Even though the fighting aspect of Runescape does take some management skill, it is nowhere as close to the intricacy of WoW fights. I'm not putting down Runescape - it's a great game and I used to play it a lot when I was younger (hell I passed level 120 before I quit). Similarly, I used to play WoW and I agree it's much easier to level up. However, this is when most long-time WoW players say the real game starts. .. AFTER you get max level. This is when skill, teamwork, and such come into play. But really, stop playing both these games and join me in Halo 3 ;). ---References--- 1. . http://books.google.com... 2. . http://www.gamespot.com...