Runescape (partially found builds of online game; 2001-2012): Difference between revisions
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|image=runescape_logo.png | |image=runescape_logo.png | ||
|imagecaption=The game's logo. | |imagecaption=The game's logo. | ||
|status=<span style="color: | |status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span> | ||
}} | }} | ||
''RuneScape'' is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Jagex Limited, that was originally released on 4 January 2001 as a browser game made in Java. While it can be played for free, players can subscribe to become members, allowing access to far more content. The premise of the game is that players create a character within a fantasy medieval world - they can explore the world, battle monsters or other players, complete quests, or take part in minigames. It grew to become one of the most popular online games, and still enjoys an average player count that exceeds 100,000. | ''RuneScape'' is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Jagex Limited, that was originally released on 4 January 2001 as a browser game made in Java. While it can be played for free, players can subscribe to become members, allowing access to far more content. The premise of the game is that players create a character within a fantasy medieval world - they can explore the world, battle monsters or other players, complete quests, or take part in minigames. It grew to become one of the most popular online games, and still enjoys an average player count that exceeds 100,000. | ||
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There may have been many more versions that are unknown. However, only confirmed versions are listed here. These are known either because their version has been recovered, or they were announced in an updated news post at the time, most of which survive.<ref>[https://secure.runescape.com/m=news/archive?cat=0 Official news posts from 2002 to the present, which announce each time a game update happens.] Retrieved 17 January 2022</ref> | There may have been many more versions that are unknown. However, only confirmed versions are listed here. These are known either because their version has been recovered, or they were announced in an updated news post at the time, most of which survive.<ref>[https://secure.runescape.com/m=news/archive?cat=0 Official news posts from 2002 to the present, which announce each time a game update happens.] Retrieved 17 January 2022</ref> | ||
==RuneScape Classic (2001-2003)== | ==Versions== | ||
The game went through numerous different file formats over time. | |||
'''[https://github.com/edward4096/rscachefinder/releases This search tool] will scan a hard drive for all the relevant Runescape files and combine them into a single file that can be uploaded.''' | |||
===RuneScape Classic (2001-2003)=== | |||
[[File:RuneScape Game 2001.jpg|thumb|300px|RuneScape as it appeared in 2001.]] | [[File:RuneScape Game 2001.jpg|thumb|300px|RuneScape as it appeared in 2001.]] | ||
The very early versions of RuneScape from January 2001 to December 2002 would download files to the browser cache, usually "Temporary Internet Files". These files would be downloaded with the extensions '''.jag''' or '''.mem''' for files containing members-only content. Because they were saved from the browser, a large number of these files have been recovered from various domains in the Wayback Machine | The very early versions of RuneScape from January 2001 to December 2002 would download files to the browser cache, usually "Temporary Internet Files". These files would be downloaded with the extensions '''.jag''' or '''.mem''' for files containing members-only content. Because they were saved from the browser, a large number of these files have been recovered from various domains in the Wayback Machine. | ||
The most recent copy of each file downloaded would also be stored in the directory '''C:\WINDOWS\cache-93423-17382-59373-28323'''. | |||
[[File:RuneScape files 2001.png|thumb|center|RuneScape file format from 2001 to 2002.]] | [[File:RuneScape files 2001.png|thumb|center|RuneScape file format from 2001 to 2002.]] | ||
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[[File:RuneScape files 2002.png|thumb|center|RuneScape file format from 2002 to 2003.]] | [[File:RuneScape files 2002.png|thumb|center|RuneScape file format from 2002 to 2003.]] | ||
==RuneScape 2 (2003-2006)== | ===RuneScape 2 (2003-2006)=== | ||
[[File:RuneScape Game 2004.jpg|thumb|300px|RuneScape as it appeared in 2004.]] | [[File:RuneScape Game 2004.jpg|thumb|300px|RuneScape as it appeared in 2004.]] | ||
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|15 March 2004||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |15 March 2004||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|17 March 2004||<span style="color: | |17 March 2004||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|22 March 2004||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |22 March 2004||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
Line 95: | Line 102: | ||
|20 April 2004||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |20 April 2004||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|5 May 2004||<span style="color: | |5 May 2004||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|10 May 2004||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |10 May 2004||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|18 May 2004||<span style="color: | |18 May 2004||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1 June 2004||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |1 June 2004||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
Line 149: | Line 156: | ||
|17 November 2004||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |17 November 2004||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|24 November 2004||<span style="color: | |24 November 2004||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|29 November 2004||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |29 November 2004||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
Line 205: | Line 212: | ||
|6 June 2005||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |6 June 2005||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|13 June 2005||<span style="color: | |13 June 2005||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|22 June 2005||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |22 June 2005||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
Line 211: | Line 218: | ||
|27 June 2005||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |27 June 2005||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|5 July 2005||<span style="color: | |5 July 2005||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|11 July 2005||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |11 July 2005||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
Line 227: | Line 234: | ||
|23 August 2005||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |23 August 2005||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|30 August 2005||<span style="color: | |30 August 2005||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|6 September 2005||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |6 September 2005||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
Line 237: | Line 244: | ||
|26 September 2005||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |26 September 2005||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|4 October 2005||<span style="color: | |4 October 2005||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|17 October 2005||<span style="color: | |17 October 2005||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|24 October 2005||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |24 October 2005||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
Line 249: | Line 256: | ||
|14 November 2005||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |14 November 2005||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|22 November 2005||<span style="color: | |22 November 2005||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|28 November 2005||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |28 November 2005||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
Line 287: | Line 294: | ||
|3 April 2006||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |3 April 2006||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|10 April 2006||<span style="color: | |10 April 2006||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|18 April 2006||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |18 April 2006||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
Line 299: | Line 306: | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
==RuneScape HD (2006-2012)== | ===RuneScape HD (2006-2012)=== | ||
[[File:RuneScape Game 2008.jpg|thumb|300px|RuneScape as it appeared in 2008.]] | [[File:RuneScape Game 2008.jpg|thumb|300px|RuneScape as it appeared in 2008.]] | ||
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|24 July 2006||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |24 July 2006||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|31 July 2006||<span style="color: | |31 July 2006||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|7 August 2006||<span style="color: | |7 August 2006||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|15 August 2006||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |15 August 2006||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
Line 358: | Line 365: | ||
|11 October 2006||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |11 October 2006||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|18 October 2006||<span style="color: | |18 October 2006||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|23 October 2006||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |23 October 2006||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
Line 374: | Line 381: | ||
|5 December 2006||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |5 December 2006||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|12 December 2006||<span style="color: | |12 December 2006||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|18 December 2006||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |18 December 2006||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
Line 380: | Line 387: | ||
|4 January 2007||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |4 January 2007||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|10 January 2007||<span style="color: | |10 January 2007||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|16 January 2007||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |16 January 2007||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
Line 444: | Line 451: | ||
|3 September 2007||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |3 September 2007||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|10 September 2007||<span style="color: | |10 September 2007||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|18 September 2007||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |18 September 2007||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
Line 468: | Line 475: | ||
|18 December 2007||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |18 December 2007||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|2 January 2008||<span style="color: | |2 January 2008||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|15 January 2008||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |15 January 2008||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
Line 484: | Line 491: | ||
|22 February 2008||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |22 February 2008||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|25 February 2008||<span style="color: | |25 February 2008||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|4 March 2008||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |4 March 2008||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
Line 508: | Line 515: | ||
|5 June 2008||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |5 June 2008||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|11 June 2008||<span style="color: | |11 June 2008||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1 July 2008||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |1 July 2008||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
Line 536: | Line 543: | ||
|28 October 2008||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |28 October 2008||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|11 November 2008||<span style="color: | |11 November 2008||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|26 November 2008||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |26 November 2008||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
Line 542: | Line 549: | ||
|9 December 2008||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |9 December 2008||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|16 December 2008||<span style="color: | |16 December 2008||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|6 January 2009||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |6 January 2009||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
Line 552: | Line 559: | ||
|27 January 2009||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |27 January 2009||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|10 February 2009||<span style="color: | |10 February 2009||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|25 February 2009||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |25 February 2009||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
Line 568: | Line 575: | ||
|21 April 2009||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |21 April 2009||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|28 April 2009||<span style="color: | |28 April 2009||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|6 May 2009||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |6 May 2009||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
Line 592: | Line 599: | ||
|21 July 2009||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |21 July 2009||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|28 July 2009||<span style="color: | |28 July 2009||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|10 August 2009||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |10 August 2009||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
Line 598: | Line 605: | ||
|18 August 2009||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |18 August 2009||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|2 September 2009||<span style="color: | |2 September 2009||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|9 September 2009||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |9 September 2009||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|17 September 2009||<span style="color: | |17 September 2009||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|23 September 2009||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |23 September 2009||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|7 October 2009||<span style="color: | |7 October 2009||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|13 October 2009||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |13 October 2009||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
Line 634: | Line 641: | ||
|1 February 2010||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |1 February 2010||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|8 February 2010||<span style="color: | |8 February 2010||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|16 February 2010||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |16 February 2010||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
Line 640: | Line 647: | ||
|22 February 2010||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |22 February 2010||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|3 March 2010||<span style="color: | |3 March 2010||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|15 March 2010||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |15 March 2010||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
Line 648: | Line 655: | ||
|29 March 2010||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |29 March 2010||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|12 April 2010||<span style="color: | |12 April 2010||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|21 April 2010||<span style="color: | |21 April 2010||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|28 April 2010||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |28 April 2010||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
Line 662: | Line 669: | ||
|9 June 2010||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |9 June 2010||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|15 June 2010||<span style="color: | |15 June 2010||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|24 June 2010||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |24 June 2010||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
Line 678: | Line 685: | ||
|25 August 2010||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |25 August 2010||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1 September 2010||<span style="color: | |1 September 2010||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|7 September 2010||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |7 September 2010||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
Line 692: | Line 699: | ||
|18 October 2010||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |18 October 2010||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|2 November 2010||<span style="color: | |2 November 2010||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|9 November 2010||<span style="color: | |9 November 2010||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|24 November 2010||<span style="color: | |24 November 2010||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1 December 2010||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |1 December 2010||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
Line 702: | Line 709: | ||
|7 December 2010||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |7 December 2010||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|14 December 2010||<span style="color: | |14 December 2010||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|20 December 2010||<span style="color: | |20 December 2010||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|4 January 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |4 January 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|10 January 2011||<span style="color: | |10 January 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|17 January 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |17 January 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
Line 718: | Line 725: | ||
|15 February 2011||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |15 February 2011||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|21 February 2011||<span style="color: | |21 February 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1 March 2011||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |1 March 2011||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|8 March 2011||<span style="color: | |8 March 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|15 March 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |15 March 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
Line 744: | Line 751: | ||
|7 June 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |7 June 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|14 June 2011||<span style="color: | |14 June 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|28 June 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |28 June 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
Line 760: | Line 767: | ||
|23 August 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |23 August 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|31 August 2011||<span style="color: | |31 August 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|6 September 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |6 September 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
Line 768: | Line 775: | ||
|21 September 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |21 September 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|28 September 2011||<span style="color: | |28 September 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|4 October 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |4 October 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
Line 774: | Line 781: | ||
|12 October 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |12 October 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|17 October 2011||<span style="color: | |17 October 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|25 October 2011||<span style="color: | |25 October 2011||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1 November 2011||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |1 November 2011||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
Line 784: | Line 791: | ||
|22 November 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |22 November 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|28 November 2011||<span style="color: | |28 November 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|6 December 2011||<span style="color: | |6 December 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|13 December 2011||<span style="color: | |13 December 2011||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|20 December 2011||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |20 December 2011||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
Line 797: | Line 804: | ||
Recovery of the lost game versions is currently being tracked in this spreadsheet. | Recovery of the lost game versions is currently being tracked in this spreadsheet. | ||
<ref>[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NSCUuFWP8gIFZnpwbjxb8n4DFy6IxK8v1SZ8BXVHFr0/ Google Spreadsheet tracking the recovery status of known game versions.] Retrieved 17 January 2022</ref> | <ref>[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NSCUuFWP8gIFZnpwbjxb8n4DFy6IxK8v1SZ8BXVHFr0/ Google Spreadsheet tracking the recovery status of known game versions.] Retrieved 17 January 2022</ref> | ||
The search effort is being coordinated in [https://discord.gg/UTCE5EfzSg this Discord server]. | |||
[https://github.com/edward4096/rscachefinder/releases Runescape cache finder] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Line 802: | Line 813: | ||
[[Category:Lost video games]] | [[Category:Lost video games]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Partially found media]] |
Latest revision as of 16:35, 6 January 2023
RuneScape is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Jagex Limited, that was originally released on 4 January 2001 as a browser game made in Java. While it can be played for free, players can subscribe to become members, allowing access to far more content. The premise of the game is that players create a character within a fantasy medieval world - they can explore the world, battle monsters or other players, complete quests, or take part in minigames. It grew to become one of the most popular online games, and still enjoys an average player count that exceeds 100,000.
RuneScape has gone through continuous weekly updates throughout its 20 years history, making the current game entirely unrecognisable from the original. Despite these rapid changes, the developers did not make any systemic backups or include any version control until early 2012. As a result, the vast majority of game versions from this time are lost, with practically nothing surviving from 2003-2005.
There may have been many more versions that are unknown. However, only confirmed versions are listed here. These are known either because their version has been recovered, or they were announced in an updated news post at the time, most of which survive.[1]
Versions
The game went through numerous different file formats over time.
This search tool will scan a hard drive for all the relevant Runescape files and combine them into a single file that can be uploaded.
RuneScape Classic (2001-2003)
The very early versions of RuneScape from January 2001 to December 2002 would download files to the browser cache, usually "Temporary Internet Files". These files would be downloaded with the extensions .jag or .mem for files containing members-only content. Because they were saved from the browser, a large number of these files have been recovered from various domains in the Wayback Machine.
The most recent copy of each file downloaded would also be stored in the directory C:\WINDOWS\cache-93423-17382-59373-28323.
In December 2002, the format was changed - a "loader" was now downloaded instead, which would install the now-encrypted game files. This had the unfortunate effect that files were no longer saved by the Wayback Machine and would overwrite older versions following each update. From this date onwards, all versions of RuneScape Classic saved their files with names such as g34zx, in the directory C:\WINDOWS\.file_store_32.
RuneScape 2 (2003-2006)
RuneScape's first major overhaul came in 2003, with the development of the "3D update". Substantial changes were made to all graphics, quests, and game mechanics. Due to these changes, the game was known as RuneScape 2, with the previous versions being renamed RuneScape Classic. The beta of RuneScape 2 was launched on 1 December 2003, with the full release on 29 March 2004. The files were still stored in C:\WINDOWS\.file_store_32, but all files had strings of random numbers for names, such as 236861982.
The game's format was altered on 1 June 2004 - as the old format had to redownload all files on a system update, it was replaced with a new format that streamed files directly from the server. They were again still saved in C:\WINDOWS\.file_store_32, but each file had the name main_file_cache.
Release Date | Status |
---|---|
1 December 2003 | Lost |
2 December 2003 | Lost |
3 December 2003 | Lost |
5 December 2003 | Lost |
9 December 2003 | Lost |
14 December 2003 | Lost |
15 December 2003 | Lost |
18 December 2003 | Lost |
7 January 2004 | Found |
21 January 2004 | Lost |
2 February 2004 | Lost |
10 February 2004 | Lost |
17 February 2004 | Lost |
25 February 2004 | Lost |
3 March 2004 | Lost |
9 March 2004 | Lost |
15 March 2004 | Lost |
17 March 2004 | Found |
22 March 2004 | Lost |
23 March 2004 | Lost |
25 March 2004 | Lost |
27 March 2004 | Lost |
29 March 2004 | Lost |
6 April 2004 | Lost |
15 April 2004 | Lost |
20 April 2004 | Lost |
5 May 2004 | Found |
10 May 2004 | Lost |
18 May 2004 | Found |
1 June 2004 | Lost |
2 June 2004 | Lost |
8 June 2004 | Lost |
14 June 2004 | Lost |
21 June 2004 | Lost |
28 June 2004 | Lost |
29 June 2004 | Lost |
13 July 2004 | Lost |
20 July 2004 | Lost |
27 July 2004 | Lost |
2 August 2004 | Lost |
9 August 2004 | Lost |
24 August 2004 | Lost |
1 September 2004 | Lost |
7 September 2004 | Lost |
14 September 2004 | Lost |
20 September 2004 | Lost |
27 September 2004 | Lost |
5 October 2004 | Lost |
14 October 2004 | Lost |
18 October 2004 | Lost |
26 October 2004 | Lost |
2 November 2004 | Lost |
17 November 2004 | Lost |
24 November 2004 | Found |
29 November 2004 | Lost |
6 December 2004 | Lost |
7 December 2004 | Lost |
13 December 2004 | Lost |
15 December 2004 | Lost |
21 December 2004 | Lost |
5 January 2005 | Lost |
10 January 2005 | Lost |
17 January 2005 | Found |
26 January 2005 | Lost |
31 January 2005 | Lost |
7 February 2005 | Lost |
15 February 2005 | Lost |
22 February 2005 | Lost |
28 February 2005 | Lost |
7 March 2005 | Lost |
14 March 2005 | Lost |
21 March 2005 | Lost |
4 April 2005 | Lost |
11 April 2005 | Lost |
18 April 2005 | Found |
26 April 2005 | Lost |
4 May 2005 | Lost |
9 May 2005 | Lost |
17 May 2005 | Lost |
31 May 2005 | Lost |
6 June 2005 | Lost |
13 June 2005 | Found |
22 June 2005 | Lost |
27 June 2005 | Found |
5 July 2005 | Found |
11 July 2005 | Lost |
19 July 2005 | Lost |
26 July 2005 | Lost |
1 August 2005 | Found |
9 August 2005 | Lost |
15 August 2005 | Lost |
23 August 2005 | Lost |
30 August 2005 | Found |
6 September 2005 | Lost |
12 September 2005 | Lost |
19 September 2005 | Found |
26 September 2005 | Found |
4 October 2005 | Found |
17 October 2005 | Found |
24 October 2005 | Lost |
31 October 2005 | Lost |
7 November 2005 | Lost |
14 November 2005 | Lost |
22 November 2005 | Found |
28 November 2005 | Lost |
5 December 2005 | Lost |
12 December 2005 | Lost |
19 December 2005 | Lost |
4 January 2006 | Lost |
10 January 2006 | Lost |
16 January 2006 | Lost |
19 January 2006 | Lost |
23 January 2006 | Found |
30 January 2006 | Lost |
7 February 2006 | Found |
20 February 2006 | Found |
27 February 2006 | Found |
7 March 2006 | Lost |
15 March 2006 | Found |
22 March 2006 | Lost |
28 March 2006 | Found |
3 April 2006 | Found |
10 April 2006 | Found |
18 April 2006 | Lost |
20 April 2006 | Found |
24 April 2006 | Found |
2 May 2006 | Found |
RuneScape HD (2006-2012)
On 15 May 2006, the game's engine was updated again. Although altered several times over the next few years, this format would remain roughly consistent throughout. There would be many significant changes during this time, such as the launch of RuneScape HD in 2008, a complete revamp of the game's unique combat system in 2012, and the release of RuneScape 3 in 2013. Continual updates and improvements during this time meant the game was very different from how it was in 2006.
While files still had the name main_file_cache, they were moved to the new directory C:\WINDOWS\.file_store_32\runescape. On 29 January 2007, this changed again to C:\WINDOWS\.jagex_cache_32\runescape, before finally being changed again to C:\Users\[USERNAME]\jagexcache in 2011.
Release Date | Status |
---|---|
16 May 2006 | Lost |
22 May 2006 | Lost |
31 May 2006 | Lost |
6 June 2006 | Lost |
13 June 2006 | Found |
21 June 2006 | Lost |
27 June 2006 | Lost |
4 July 2006 | Lost |
11 July 2006 | Lost |
17 July 2006 | Lost |
24 July 2006 | Found |
31 July 2006 | Found |
7 August 2006 | Found |
15 August 2006 | Lost |
22 August 2006 | Lost |
29 August 2006 | Lost |
4 September 2006 | Found |
20 September 2006 | Found |
27 September 2006 | Lost |
2 October 2006 | Lost |
11 October 2006 | Lost |
18 October 2006 | Found |
23 October 2006 | Lost |
30 October 2006 | Found |
6 November 2006 | Lost |
13 November 2006 | Found |
21 November 2006 | Found |
28 November 2006 | Lost |
5 December 2006 | Lost |
12 December 2006 | Found |
18 December 2006 | Found |
4 January 2007 | Lost |
10 January 2007 | Found |
16 January 2007 | Lost |
22 January 2007 | Lost |
29 January 2007 | Found |
6 February 2007 | Found |
12 February 2007 | Found |
14 February 2007 | Lost |
19 February 2007 | Lost |
6 March 2007 | Found |
13 March 2007 | Found |
20 March 2007 | Lost |
27 March 2007 | Lost |
2 April 2007 | Found |
10 April 2007 | Lost |
18 April 2007 | Found |
24 April 2007 | Lost |
30 April 2007 | Lost |
8 May 2007 | Lost |
15 May 2007 | Lost |
29 May 2007 | Found |
4 June 2007 | Lost |
11 June 2007 | Found |
18 June 2007 | Found |
26 June 2007 | Lost |
3 July 2007 | Found |
9 July 2007 | Found |
17 July 2007 | Found |
24 July 2007 | Lost |
6 August 2007 | Found |
13 August 2007 | Found |
28 August 2007 | Lost |
3 September 2007 | Found |
10 September 2007 | Found |
18 September 2007 | Found |
2 October 2007 | Lost |
9 October 2007 | Lost |
16 October 2007 | Lost |
22 October 2007 | Found |
5 November 2007 | Lost |
12 November 2007 | Lost |
20 November 2007 | Lost |
26 November 2007 | Lost |
10 December 2007 | Found |
18 December 2007 | Found |
2 January 2008 | Found |
15 January 2008 | Lost |
22 January 2008 | Found |
29 January 2008 | Found |
5 February 2008 | Lost |
13 February 2008 | Lost |
19 February 2008 | Lost |
22 February 2008 | Lost |
25 February 2008 | Found |
4 March 2008 | Lost |
11 March 2008 | Found |
18 March 2008 | Found |
31 March 2008 | Found |
9 April 2008 | Found |
15 April 2008 | Lost |
22 April 2008 | Lost |
7 May 2008 | Lost |
13 May 2008 | Found |
21 May 2008 | Found |
5 June 2008 | Found |
11 June 2008 | Found |
1 July 2008 | Found |
14 July 2008 | Found |
29 July 2008 | Found |
5 August 2008 | Lost |
12 August 2008 | Found |
19 August 2008 | Found |
26 August 2008 | Lost |
2 September 2008 | Lost |
9 September 2008 | Lost |
15 September 2008 | Found |
29 September 2008 | Found |
15 October 2008 | Lost |
28 October 2008 | Lost |
11 November 2008 | Found |
26 November 2008 | Found |
9 December 2008 | Lost |
16 December 2008 | Found |
6 January 2009 | Found |
13 January 2009 | Lost |
20 January 2009 | Lost |
27 January 2009 | Found |
10 February 2009 | Found |
25 February 2009 | Found |
3 March 2009 | Found |
17 March 2009 | Found |
25 March 2009 | Lost |
1 April 2009 | Lost |
8 April 2009 | Found |
21 April 2009 | Lost |
28 April 2009 | Found |
6 May 2009 | Found |
12 May 2009 | Found |
19 May 2009 | Found |
27 May 2009 | Lost |
2 June 2009 | Lost |
9 June 2009 | Found |
16 June 2009 | Lost |
22 June 2009 | Found |
8 July 2009 | Lost |
15 July 2009 | Found |
21 July 2009 | Lost |
28 July 2009 | Found |
10 August 2009 | Lost |
18 August 2009 | Found |
2 September 2009 | Found |
9 September 2009 | Found |
17 September 2009 | Found |
23 September 2009 | Found |
7 October 2009 | Found |
13 October 2009 | Lost |
20 October 2009 | Lost |
26 October 2009 | Found |
9 November 2009 | Found |
17 November 2009 | Found |
26 November 2009 | Found |
3 December 2009 | Lost |
8 December 2009 | Lost |
15 December 2009 | Lost |
21 December 2009 | Found |
11 January 2010 | Found |
19 January 2010 | Found |
1 February 2010 | Found |
8 February 2010 | Found |
16 February 2010 | Lost |
22 February 2010 | Found |
3 March 2010 | Found |
15 March 2010 | Lost |
23 March 2010 | Found |
29 March 2010 | Found |
12 April 2010 | Found |
21 April 2010 | Lost |
28 April 2010 | Found |
13 May 2010 | Lost |
25 May 2010 | Lost |
27 May 2010 | Found |
9 June 2010 | Lost |
15 June 2010 | Found |
24 June 2010 | Found |
5 July 2010 | Found |
19 July 2010 | Found |
4 August 2010 | Lost |
10 August 2010 | Lost |
19 August 2010 | Found |
25 August 2010 | Lost |
1 September 2010 | Found |
7 September 2010 | Lost |
15 September 2010 | Found |
21 September 2010 | Found |
6 October 2010 | Lost |
12 October 2010 | Found |
18 October 2010 | Found |
2 November 2010 | Found |
9 November 2010 | Found |
24 November 2010 | Found |
1 December 2010 | Lost |
7 December 2010 | Found |
14 December 2010 | Found |
20 December 2010 | Found |
4 January 2011 | Found |
10 January 2011 | Found |
17 January 2011 | Found |
1 February 2011 | Lost |
9 February 2011 | Found |
15 February 2011 | Lost |
21 February 2011 | Found |
1 March 2011 | Lost |
8 March 2011 | Found |
15 March 2011 | Found |
28 March 2011 | Found |
4 April 2011 | Lost |
12 April 2011 | Found |
19 April 2011 | Found |
3 May 2011 | Found |
16 May 2011 | Found |
25 May 2011 | Lost |
1 June 2011 | Found |
7 June 2011 | Found |
14 June 2011 | Found |
28 June 2011 | Found |
5 July 2011 | Found |
12 July 2011 | Lost |
26 July 2011 | Found |
9 August 2011 | Found |
17 August 2011 | Lost |
23 August 2011 | Found |
31 August 2011 | Found |
6 September 2011 | Found |
14 September 2011 | Found |
21 September 2011 | Found |
28 September 2011 | Found |
4 October 2011 | Found |
12 October 2011 | Found |
17 October 2011 | Found |
25 October 2011 | Lost |
1 November 2011 | Lost |
7 November 2011 | Found |
22 November 2011 | Found |
28 November 2011 | Found |
6 December 2011 | Found |
13 December 2011 | Found |
20 December 2011 | Lost |
Sources
Recovery of the lost game versions is currently being tracked in this spreadsheet. [2]
The search effort is being coordinated in this Discord server.
References
- ↑ Official news posts from 2002 to the present, which announce each time a game update happens. Retrieved 17 January 2022
- ↑ Google Spreadsheet tracking the recovery status of known game versions. Retrieved 17 January 2022