Nostalgia

Yesterday, I decided to log into the oldest character I remember, one that I created a long time ago in October 2001. I wanted to remember the past, plunge myself again into the simplicity and fun I used to play my characters with. Everything about this character evoquates memory: from his name, a science fiction character I used to love to his bunny ears, and the strange circumstances in which I picked them up. I read the names on his friend list, and I recognized the names of the few of my very first RS friends. I don’t remember anything about them, nor do I remember the childish and foolish things I must have said to them. I looked at my stats, trying to analyze what my long forgotten child self enjoyed; Fighting, and mining, apparently.

I headed to mine, in an attempt to bond back with my child self. My memory guided me back to what were my favorite mining spots. I remembered the almost-emptiness of the mines in the late evening, and how happy I was the first time I mined a silver ore. But now, those spots are crowded with people. It frustrates me, how different it is. I walked through Falador and Varrock aimlessly, and I realized how useless this was. My character radiates of the past, but it’s no use, everything around me is different.

RSC felt like home to me, there was something magical about everything. It was of course, when I started playing, it is natural it felt magical, and wonderful. It was that old game I feel in love with and enjoyed so much. I remember the depraved Moon Inn party that was ongoing in world 1, it was my favorite spot to go at the end the day. I remember how wonderful the avatar of items looked like. R2hs, armor, herbs, robes. Their simple avatar appeals to me like an old spell.

I remember the days I spent in the gnome stronghold, wearing those beautiful glowing robes, and making cocktails and cakes. I know the old RSC entirely, useless facts, flaws and qualities. Despite its imperfections, RSC truly felt like home.

I recall the RS2 beta; I remember not liking it at first. The graphics and game play were so foreign and different from what we knew that it was difficult to like it at first sight. But the more I played the beta, the more I liked the new version of Runescape, it smelled of possibilities. Slowly, everyone was only talking about how great the new version of RS was going to be, we couldn’t wait.

The day RS2 came out, after a seemingly quick beta, was a very special day; the vibe was cheerful and calm. I recall a particular sight of mod Paul, chatting calmly with around 5-10 low levels in Lumbridge. The higher levels continued their way, sometimes greeting Paul or staying silent in what seemed to be a respectful acknowledgment. Thinking back, it seems incredible. Nowadays, if Paul showed up he would have an enormous crowd following him and spamming him with nonsense.

The familiar vibe stayed during the few first weeks of RS2, the feeling that we were a family, that this was our old Runescape, just with different graphics. But slowly, things changed, and I felt as if RS was slowly being ripped away, bit by bit. But I only truly took in what happened months after. I could see famous and friendly people of the community quitting RS one by one, leaving it without a core. Eventually, the warm familiarity of RSC faded away, to give place to a colder, impersonal feeling. Long before Jagex associated with Miniclip, RS was already gone, transformed into something else.

Sometimes, I talk about RSC on forums, or in-game with some people that were not there back in those times. They seem dumbfounded, unable to comprehend or imagine how RSC could have been like back in those times. They often say I’m a fool, imagining things much better than they were. Maybe my mind has made the little details more beautiful than they were, but all the feelings I’ve felt, they were very real. The truth is that the players of RSC are never to be understood by the other players. We come from completely different worlds, and played entirely different games.

However, we must live with our time. We can never go back, and relive those feelings again. All things that are born into this world are destined to die, that’s how it’s meant to be. Now with the RWT changes, people’s heads are pointed towards the future, and how we could form it into something we’d want. We can make a difference. That means writing articles, posting suggestions, and making our opinions heard. Just changing how you play the game on a personal level can do wonders. And by all making small contributions to the game, I’m sure Runescape will have a shining future.

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