Introduction

Editor's Note: RuneScape is arguably the biggest MMORPG in the world, with more than 9 million players. The Java-based game is free and the vast majority of its subscriber base is under the age of 18. But is the world of online gaming appropriate for children? Contributing writer Charles Kozierok examines the world of RuneScape to find the answer. The following editorial is the opinion of the author and does not reflect the views or opinions of TwitchGuru.com and TG Publishing.

In Part 1 of RuneScape Exposed, I described how kids learn far more from this supposedly "educational" game than they bargain for. One would imagine that with abuse and negative behavior so rampant, Jagex Ltd. (the owner of RuneScape) would make addressing it their number-one priority. However, growing numbers of experienced players and parents are increasingly concerned that this may not be the case.

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Children not only learn from the other players in the game and the tone they set, but from Jagex' example as well. Is the company open and honest about its policies? Does it take a tough stance on illegal and immoral behavior? Does it make combating cheaters and scammers a priority? Is it willing to accurately convey the true nature of the game to parents? Read on and decide for yourself.

"RuneScape Is Limited To Users Aged 13 And Older"

If you visit the RuneScape site or try to sign up for a new account, you get the message in quotes that forms most of the title of this section. The RuneScape Website likewise says that it is only for those 13 and up. This might lead a new visitor to believe that RuneScape players are over 13, but the reality is very different.

This issue of just how old RuneScape players are is critically important, because official declarations of players being 13 or older are used as justification by some people for Jagex' policies. Many players wave away concerns over the dangers of the game by saying that it is "only for those over 13," and that players are "adequately warned" about risks or that they "should know better" than to fall for scams. Well, even a 13-year-old is not always capable of making wise decisions, but the level of judgment of a nine-year-old is that much less. Most of the victims of scams in the game are newer, younger players.

So how old are the players in RuneScape? For starters, the game has been around for over five years, but the age-13 restriction is much more recent. As a result, there are tens of thousands - if not hundreds of thousands - of active RuneScape players right now who were under that age limit before it was put into place and are still under 13, playing completely within the rules.

The large pool of young players, combined with the game's simplicity, free accounts and cartoon-like appearance, have combined to create a huge "word-of-mouth" effect. Thousands of school-aged kids sign up for RuneScape every day simply because their friends play, ignoring the "over-13" requirement easily.

Let's also consider Jagex' Parent's Guide, which says nowhere that the game is for those 13 and older. In fact, it contains comments saying that RuneScape is for all ages to enjoy, that it is accessible to people of all ages and a fantastic opportunity for people of all ages and races to come together.

Unfortunately, matters get even worse. Jagex is not only making it easy for kids to join this game, the company is actively making the game appeal to kids, and marketing the game to them. In the last year Jagex has made the game more and more kid-friendly, through a process that older players describe as "dumbing down." This includes changes that make it easy for younger players to avoid getting lost in the game, giving them free supplies, making banking easier in the "start town" of Lumbridge and more.

Then there is the matter of the newly released "RuneScape: The Official Handbook," which is raising many eyebrows. This book, which lists Jagex Ltd. as the copyright holder, is produced by Scholastic Inc., which calls itself "the largest publisher and distributor of children's books in the world." The company is also "the largest operator of school-based book clubs and school-based book fairs in the U.S."

Jagex and Scholastic teamed up to produce the official RuneScape handbook, which is targeted at youngsters.

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The handbook itself carries an age recommendation of "9 to 12". It is written in very simple, kid-friendly English, and filled with cartoonish illustrations. And it is indeed being marketed directly to children: a friend of mine had her 10-year-old daughter bring home a Scholastic book club flyer that featured the RuneScape Official Handbook on the front page.

Does any of this sound consistent with a game that is supposed to be only for those over 13?

The reality is that kids as young as five years old play RuneScape. It is found on the screens of computers in elementary schools and libraries. Most parents either have kids under 13 who play or who want to play. In parenting discussion groups, most conversations on the suitability of RuneScape involve kids under 13.

Obviously, parents and teachers must assume responsibility for controlling when, where and how children access the Internet. Still, the sheer numbers of RuneScape players under the age of 13 cannot be denied, and certainly cannot be unknown by Jagex. Does a disclaimer on a Website negate the hundreds of thousands of younger kids who are playing the game? Does it compensate for the game being promoted to young kids through advertising in schools and other places?

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