I'm not a thread necromancer but I had to post in this one..
For one
I took a entire collage course on java
You mispelt college xlight..
For two
These games are nearly identical genres, both are MMORPGs played online with other characters, in a fantasy role player game environment, both are centered around PVE and PVP interactions (the systems both run off the same basic ideas) etc.
Runecape honestly has nothing over WoW.. RS has stolen most of their ideas from hundreds of other titles.. and for pete's sake if I wanted a house (and one that looked decent) I'd go play Ultima Online.
WoW is now $20, free 15 day trials are available right off the site, and theres even payment assistance for accounts.. If you really enjoy Runescape so much, then keep playing it, but honestly, your massively missing out..
Three:
Pros Vs Cons
Being a Runescape player for at least 4 years of my life, 1998 to 2002, I have the background information to make these arguments.
Lets start with Combat Systems
Runescape
Hack and slash, literally sit there while your character attacks, a few choices of spells available to you (about 40 I believe) but are very limited and most are just damage upgrades of previous ones.
WoW
You could hack and slash if you wanted, but wheres the fun in that? Each class has about.. I'd say ~25 spells and abilities available to each (not counting upgrades in rank, which would be about 10-12x the amount) 9 classes in the game x 25 unique spells = 225 spells, take that times upgrades.. ~2700 spells and abilities available to you. Buff/Debuff system. You are able to play in real time rather then a timed turn based system (and yes Runescape is a turn based system with a timer, not a second by second real time) you are also able to jump (provides hours of entertainment) and the terrain plays into your combat besides just being a place to get stuck on.
Player vs Environment
Runescape
Dungeons, lots of repetitive dungeons, built similarly, some of them have their unique qualities, but almost every single creature is the same with a few varying factors in health/damage/special abilities. Its possible for other groups to go into the dungeon and gank/ruin your experience.
World of Warcraft
Over 30 Instances available to you, a private dungeon that upon entry keeps others from messing with you. Many of them require massive teamwork and coordination, as many of the creatures that challenge you are unique in almost every possible way, every pull is a new experience. Massive 40 man raids from the deepest volcano to the highest mountain.
Items and Crafting
Runescape
Repetitive recolored items (WoW has some too, but at least has SOME variety), crafting professions are very basic and as you go up in the skill you get the ability to make an item identical to your basic item, only increased stats and a different color, only about ~50 items per profession. Items are lost upon death except your 3 most expensive ones. A lot of gear dependency on players, instead of skill.
World of Warcraft
Tens of thousands of unique and different items, unique stats system for items, each profession has hundreds of possible items you can create, each with a different look and stats to show. Rare recipes are obtainable from mobs or raids. Your items are permanent (considered carebear in some cases) but you don't lose years of work in one wrong move. Gear does not determine skill, as a green geared player still has a chance against an epicced out raider.
Player vs Player
Runescape
Wilderness, you walk out there, you die, you get your stuff stolen.
World of Warcraft
Battlegrounds dedicated to PvP alone, allowing you to group with 9-39 other people to accomplish a set objective and reap massive benefits. PvE and PvP servers to accomodate players playing styles. Raid cities and fend off hordes of guards in your factions name (honestly here, world pvp has its flaws but Southshore vs Tarren Mill is still freaking amazing) The new arena system allows a set group of friends to fight their way to the top of the ladder each season and obtain gear.
Graphics
Runescape
Recolorings, members can have their armor get a gold outline on it (woo), spells are cheesy and have maybe 8 polys in each one, and the characters are about the same, my 8 year old sister could make a Runescape character in Milkshape 3D...
World of Warcraft
Thousand poly models, beautiful spell effects, dungeons, cities, and zones elaborately crafted to make your eyes bleed in goodness. Shaders (nuff said =p)
Overall
There can be arguments both ways, and some of you will stick your nose in and say you can't compare the two games, but as many have said the RS players bring it on themselves, you cannot bring your opinion about a game into an argument without being retaliated upon.
One thing you fail to realize, even though Runescape is free, it is made by a large corporation (Jagex is a fairly well-to-do company and makes a very nice annual profit) most companies of Jagex's stature make games that are on par with some of the latest games (Silk Road for example, an excellent free game that provides just as much fun as runescape, its company made an excellent game, even though the company is nearly unheard of)
Overall, would you rather have 3 months of Runescape or 1 month of a game thats 3x+ better?
(please note, you pretty much have to be a member of Runescape to do anything decent in the game, last I remember dues were about $5 a month)
