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How 2004 RuneScape engineered a full MMO to run on 56k dial-up connections

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A technical blog post explores how the 2004 version of RuneScape was designed to function over 56k dial-up internet connections. The article examines the engineering decisions that allowed a full multiplayer RPG experience to run within the severe bandwidth constraints of early 2000s home internet. RuneScape was notable for being a browser-based MMO accessible to a wide audience at a time when broadband was not widely available. The post has gained attention on Hacker News, sparking discussion about the clever optimizations developers used to minimize data transmission. It highlights how technical limitations of the era pushed developers to find creative and efficient solutions.

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How 2004 RuneScape engineered a full MMO to run on 56k dial-up connections · ShortSingh