MechScape Post #28 - 12 September 2009, Jagex's Technology Capabilities Rating Options

[Max]

Issue #28 - 12 September 2009

Jagex's Technology Capabilities
Max & Ren

Hello and welcome! Many of you might know me already but for those who are not familiar, I am Max. I hope that you will enjoy this post as it will hopefully give you a new new understanding of into Jagex's capabilities with their in-house technology. Without these breakthroughs in technology RuneScape would have never have been possible nor would MechScape. Jagex has a number of valuable technologies and today continues to pioneer beyond that.

Former Jagex CEO Geoff Iddison said back in 2008 that "We've got an infrastructure behind Runescape which is the real silver of the Jagex, the value of the company" (source). While this statement does seem to indicate he didn't love RuneScape in the same way that founder Andrew Gower or the awesome Jagex CEO Mark Gerhard seem to, he isn't wrong that their underlying technologies are extremely valuable and vital to their success. It seems that "the Jagex" (as Iddison calls them) have created a development pipeline which means they can make low file size content which will work in their engine on multiple platforms and it all links into their modular supporting technology such as the website and customer support systems. Each aspect of their technology base could be the entire focus of a lesser company, but Jagex manage to do it all and make it accessible. They are, it seems, truly the Java Gaming Experts.

So why does this concern MechScape? Well, MechScape is going to be taking full advantage of these technologies that Jagex have developed. Of course, it would be impossible to tell you all of the different technologies that MechScape could contain, but by looking at the ones we do know of, we can better understand what MechScape could be like. Hopefully this article will be able to inform those who have not investigated closely on the different technologies that Jagex has discussed.

In-house development is probably one of the two words that could possibly describe everything Jagex has created. It is pretty well known that everything they use from model editors to RuneScript, Jagex has made in-house. Jagex was first named after Java Audio Graphics Extension which is their first known technology created by Andrew Gower. "So Jagex built a Java Audio Graphics Extension. We had to write our own library for audio and for graphics" (source). So from this we can see that RuneScape's graphics and audio depend on this library so we can assume that MechScape will depend upon this library as well. Evidence of this has to due with the fact that Java is very well known for being able to reuse existing code, Jagex has stated that RuneScape and MechScape use the same engine and from what we can tell RuneScape and MechScape run off of the same client.

Another technology that RuneScape depends on for quests and other features is RuneScript. This is a separate language similar to Java in syntax form. "We write in a scripting language called RuneScript, which our Game Engine team has created specifically for making RuneScape content. The Java-based game engine then reads this RuneScript code and makes it all work" (source). RuneScript is used by the content developers whom are not coders. "That's really great for my team, since it means we can create the content we design without needing to delve into the Java, but it also means we can't do things that RuneScript doesn't currently support" (source). We know this technology is also used for MechScape. Many have accepted as fact that MechScape will depend on RuneScript for missions and other features in the game.

The whole backend system of Jagex consists of modules. A recent Developer Blog from Jagex, Changing Names, gives us a general idea of how Jagex works with modules. "The systems we maintain are broken up into many individual applications (we call them 'modules'), each of which handles a generally quite small part of maintaining the games and accounts" (source). The simple task of allowing players to change their username proved to be quite a task. From this we can draw a conclusion that everything plugs into each other. Each module is not exactly dependent on another but can communicate with each other an unknown degree. The idea of a module is to seperate code so that changing on line of code does not cause the entire module network to break. For instance, changing one line of code on a module that logs you into the game could happen to create a new unforeseen glitch that allows people to fly. This allows Jagex to be able to enhance each module and not worry about it effecting any other module beyond the communication the module may do.

Does Jagex really only use Java? We know that Jagex uses Java SE for both the client and the server. (source) Also we know that they use RuneScript, which was mentioned earlier, but that depends directly on Java. We also know they use one other language which is very unclear (source is video below found at 8:35). I expect this to be C++ due to the requirements for a programmer at Jagex but one could only guess (source). The advantages of C++ would be down to the nature of language. C++ is naturally faster because it does not require a program to translate code for the computer's central processing unit to understand it. Java is known for being able to run on many operating systems and that is achieved through having a program translate a compiled code that the computer does not understand into a machine code native to the computer. The use could range from accelerating server side work just a little more to helping Java process the 3D world on the client. Eventually everything goes down to the Java elements. We do know that RuneScript is used in both RuneScape and MechScape (source).

Jagex had always striven for the most accessibility for their games. "We built a translation tool - a parsing tool, rather, that parses out proprietary code to Wii, to the Xbox 360. So we have the capability to be on all three, but it's now a question of which product, which device? Equally, do we do that or do we go into China? So we've made sure we have the support for that" (source). One of the main reason Jagex keeps RuneScape at such a low polygon count is due to the number of computers which can handle it. Jagex is also tracking the new Google OS as well as perhaps dozens of other operating systems. Java is known for support but not doubt Jagex's technology plugs into elements which are only supported for certain operating system. One instance is the DirectX is for the Microsoft Windows operating system and Jagex is looking into that.

Textures found in RuneScape have a very high compression ratio. "The Graphics team create textures in an editor, which then converts it into a series of instructions at a fraction of the file size. Instead of the game downloading a texture, it's recreated on the player's computer from that series of instructions, as and when it's needed. This is called procedural texturing" (source). This technology alone makes it possible content to be streamed onto your computer when it is needed. Then creating the texture through procedural texturing Jagex is able to do effects with the textures. One example would be combining two or more textures to make a new texture. High Definition version of RuneScape is essentially a showcase of this technology whenever you look at something. Whether it is a rune scimitar, dragon or scenery there is a texture that was created using this technology.

Shadows are another big feature that HD showcases as well. While RuneScape did have shadows before they were static and not actual dynamic shadows that flicker with light back and forth. "Different areas will be sunny or gloomy, and shadows are created dynamically" (source). "A hardware card will typically allow for eight lights. A very basic sunlight takes up two of those, leaving only another six, but we've managed to code a system that allows us to have up to 255 lights in a map square" (source).

I would like to close with a video for this article. This is a shortened version that I have uploaded to YouTube but you are also welcome to watch the full length video at sun.com. I couldn't simply describe it well enough using words as this shows Jagex's in-house tools.

MechScape and Community News


RuneScape in-game Meeting
Mod Hohbein from the Community Management Team will be holding a RuneScape in-game surgery to answer questions on 16th September starting at 11am UK time. Alas, he says that he won't talk about future content. (Read more)

Another 'soon' from Jagex
Mod MMG is reported to have said that they will do an announcement on MechScape soon. (Read more)

Previous Issues:
MechScape Post #27: A Mech Called Murrie
MechScape Post #26: Solo Play Versus Team Play In MechScape
MechScape Post #25: MechScape and the 4X Genre
MechScape Post #24: MechScape and its future competition
MechScape Post #23: Jagex's use of Social Networking Sites
MechScape Post #22: Basics of the Four Playable Species
MechScape Post #21: The Mecherican Dream
MechScape Post #20: Desert City Art Review and New Beginnings Review
MechScape Post #19: Cultural Differences: How they might affect MechScape
MechScape Post #18: The Economy of an MMORPG
MechScape Post #17: Influences on MechScape
MechScape Post #16: MechScape Moderation
MechScape Post #15: The MechScape Environment II
MechScape Post #14: The Community of MechScape


Footnotes
Contributors: Cursed, Ed5, Ren (Content Research Team); Max, Oscar, Xela (Writing & Editing Team).
Disclaimer: The views expressed by members of staff do not necessarily represent the view of MechScape World.

[urantis]

I'm pretty anxious to see how it all works with the textures and how high the polygon count is.
It seems weird to me that with Runescape being a low polygon game that I still get some lag from it. I don't know wither this is from the world I'm in or what, but It would seem that If Mechscape has alot more polygons and the graphics are souped up, that my computer won't be able to run it. I'm assuming that Mechscape's graphics are going to be better but not by much, guess we'll have to see.

Good article guys.

This post has been edited by urantis: Sep 12 2009, 11:14 PM

[Ren]

We also know they use one other language which is very unclear

Jagex use their own web server technology called "JaGeXServer" and one of the things it has is their own propriety scripting language for generating dynamic content. It'd probably be a bit like ColdFusion (think ASP/PHP) but more tailored to integrate with other Jagex technology. I believe that the two languages Gerhard was talking about was therefore RuneScript and JaGeXServerScript (or whatever they call it internally).

[Shadow of Sofia]

Nice news post. These "soons" are driving me crazy...

[Max]

We also know they use one other language which is very unclear

Jagex use their own web server technology called "JaGeXServer" and one of the things it has is their own propriety scripting language for generating dynamic content. It'd probably be a bit like ColdFusion (think ASP/PHP) but more tailored to integrate with other Jagex technology. I believe that the two languages Gerhard was talking about was therefore RuneScript and JaGeXServerScript (or whatever they call it internally).

Where is this?! O.o

[DjIceman]

Hopefully this article will be able to inform those who have not investigated closely on the different technologies that Jagex has discussed.

Where is this coming from? :P

Is that targeted at me? :P I have investigated Jagex's technology closely. By all means, their back-end technology IS actually good. However, do they really have what it takes to pull off some of the things they said about MechScape? WASD movement? Really? I'm not that sure.

A good example is yes, the Mobilising Armies camera movement. Which, was completely rubbish.

Anyway, nice post! :) I had an interesting read.

Thank you
Iceman

[MrThomas]

Nice to see you got this out the door finally Max! :P
Great article, Taught me quite a bit :)

[Spam]

After runescape hd im not all that worried about the texture maps. Those are better than a lot of games out there. I am more worried about the polygon count. (more rounded edges) Runescapes are pretty...well...uh...not circular. I just hope they are better. We already know the sound quality will be much better. If i have this correct, it should be one of the best browser based games out there graphicly and sound whise.

This post has been edited by LegoYeti: Sep 13 2009, 11:21 PM

[TechnoBulldog]

I saw this video when you first uploaded it to YT about a week ago. Nevertheless, this has been interesting. I have high expectations for MechScape/StellarDawn, although I still am not sure if it will run on my computer or not. I hope so.

By the way, how the heck do we find this stuff? The information this forum finds never ceases to amaze me!

[MrThomas]

I belive some is from Development diaries.
Other info we just know like they use Runescript.
And the rest is just sentencing make suggestions e.t.c

Shame not many people have read this MSP

[SkyArmada]

Veer good read. It really is impressive that Jagex is able to make their own programming language to do what they need done. SO many other people would have just given up, instead of taking the extra steps needed to get the job done.

[Dirk]

A lot of research went into this Post. Kudos to Max for putting it all together.

[ReXgor]

Very nice set of information. Did anyone else see that WYSIWYG map editor? It looked beautiful in my opinion. Working at JaGex would be great... It'd be cool to have an office in the US.

[MrThomas]

Perhaps they may consider it?
I would have like to seen the ACP for the forums and the J Mod options for posts. Seems kinda weird, I know. Also it's a shame they didn't show a view from a mods account.
However, this was more of a technical video so I didn't really expect anything like this. Would have been nice though

Looking forward to the forum update

[Lord John]

Rather interesting. Must've taken ages to research! Unfortunately I'm not very savvy when it comes to coding and scripts so I find that kind of stuff rather dry. As long as it means MS is going to be good, I'm happy.

I found the video rather amusing. Why do adults saying "Runescape" just make you cringe and throw images of 10 year olds into your mind?

[Ren]

Also it's a shame they didn't show a view from a mods account.

Besides debugging info I doubt the in-game view from a JMod account is that interesting as I believe most of their powers are accessed by typing in special commands into the chat window (which only work on mod accounts).

[MrThomas]

Yeh,I just realised that.
Aren't they just stuff like .die .tele e.t.c
Also a view of like the appeals system, billing, obviously because of privacy issues this wouldn't happen.

[puppychow]

I'm pretty anxious to see how it all works with the textures and how high the polygon count is.
It seems weird to me that with Runescape being a low polygon game that I still get some lag from it. I don't know wither this is from the world I'm in or what, but It would seem that If Mechscape has alot more polygons and the graphics are souped up, that my computer won't be able to run it. I'm assuming that Mechscape's graphics are going to be better but not by much, guess we'll have to see.

Good article guys.

I have almost no lag from runescape even in HD. Im hoping they will have a runescape SD graphic setting, a HD setting, and a new better setting for all of the people who can run HD with no lag and want MORE!

Cant wait.

[killrrhubarb]

Nicely put together Max. If Mechscape is made to run on anyone's computers, just like Runescape, everyone should be able to do that. However, I doubt that will be the case, and I'm hoping that because my laptop can run Runescape HD, it can run Mechscape as well.