09-Aug-2011 - Graphical and Audio Updates

Pfkninenines · Global Moderator 12/4/08

wrote:

Those venturing to Edgeville or touting their wares at the Grand Exchange will notice that there have been a number of graphical updates, as well as a new layout for the Grand Exchange.

The Grand Exchange

The Grand Exchange has been overhauled to make it easier to use and better-looking. The main hub in the centre has now been replaced by four hubs, each with their own and bankers and exchange clerks, spread out in each corner of the central, paved area. As well as easing the crowding at the Exchange itself, this frees up space for a central garden, where you can tout your wares, haggle with other players or just hang out and chat. There’s also a new entrance on the east side, leading in from the Varrock palace grounds, making access to the Grand Exchange even easier.

Edgeville

The frontier town of Edgeville has also been given a visual makeover. Improvements to the roofs, trees and ruins, as well as new lighting effects and visual props, have given the town a great new look and feel:

These improvements, along with the Draynor Village overhaul released earlier in the year, are just a first taste of the improvements we have planned for RuneScape’s graphics. We are aiming to enhance the medieval fantasy theme of the game, and upcoming engine fixes will allow us to fulfil the graphical potential of RuneScape.

- Mod GFX

Audio Improvements

We’ve also improved the majority of the Magic spell sound effects, including those for elemental spells, spells from the normal spell book and the Ancient Magick spells. There are also a new set of Agility course sound effects, making use of sampled sounds. Along with this come a range of ambient sounds and effects for many areas throughout the game, including the Morytania swamp, Misthalin and Asgarnia, making for a more immersive game experience.

These are just the beginning, so look out for more audio and visual improvements in the near future!

The RuneScape Team

In other news...

Several NPC adventurers can now be found wandering the world, including the heroes from the ‘Three’s Company’ Fremennik Saga.

Adbot · **Posted:** August 9th, 2011, 8:30 am

Jason B · **Posted:** August 9th, 2011, 8:35 am

Lol, i cant check it out until I finish monkey madness im no were near either laces currently

Priss · **Posted:** August 9th, 2011, 9:22 am

Edge looks wonderful. I love the building straight north from the furnace, its like a mini castle. The ruins south of the bank look pretty good, but now they bother me a little. How come this place was left to ruin and the rest of the town looks so nice (not saying the ruins look bad)? The lighting is pleasant, its not too dark or too bright. It looks like a cloudy day.

The GE definitely looks bigger now. The exchange clerks are well spread out. I might not have to turn my public chat to friends while I am here anymore. I can see the center fountain becoming the gather place for alching. The Spirit tree looks boss (like someone said earlier in clan chat). I will not mess around with that tree! Good Job Jagex!

I do play with sound effects and ambient sounds on. I can't play a game without been able to hear my sword hit. It just feels wrong! The magic spells for elements sounds great. I think the most noticeable change is the earth sound, it sounds very rocky. I noticed my character does make combat sounds every once in a while. It is at random and its not annoying at all. They also changed when u select a spell in you magic book, it automatically goes to autocast instead of a single cast. The alching sound is a little annoying to me, but I'll get used to it I guess. The few teleport spells I tried also sound good. The free home teleport sound does not cut off if u walk away or get interrupted. The agility sounds are defiantly more realistic, I remember doing monkey bars at Ape Toll and they would sound like metal bars. They are more woody now.

Overall I am very happy with the update. I am a graphics junky anyways!

P.S. I think this is the most I have wrote in a post here in a very long time lol

Ranging God · **Posted:** August 9th, 2011, 10:23 am

I must say the GE looks amazing. I love that it is spread out now.

Ablazin Scar · **Posted:** August 9th, 2011, 1:20 pm

The visual changes I like, but even though I haven't heard the new one, I loved the old Morytania Swamp sounds. :L

Ben · **Posted:** August 9th, 2011, 1:23 pm

Teleportation sounds are awesome now.

Adbot · **Posted:** August 9th, 2011, 1:23 pm

Priss · **Posted:** August 10th, 2011, 5:14 am

I just noticed Oziach's house didn't get a graphics update! Either Jagex don't like him or they think he is rich enough to do it himself?

Also, can't see inside the mini castle looking building north of the furnace, something fishy is going on in there.

Ben · **Posted:** August 10th, 2011, 7:01 am

Priss wrote:

Also, can't see inside the mini castle looking building north of the furnace, something fishy is going on in there.

I looked inside using my Orb of Occulus. All that's in there is a floor. No walls, not even outer walls.

Anubis · **Posted:** August 16th, 2011, 7:25 am

Has anyone else noticed the very few firemaking bots in edgeville now?