From runescape home:
29th May 2002
Massive crackdown on cheating players.

As part of our promised commitment to stamping down and stopping cheats in RuneScape we have developed a new system to automatically detect people using macro/bot software to gain stats unfairly.

It clearly says in our rules that using software to automatically play the game for you and raise your stats for you is cheating!. This will not be tolerated. It is just not fair on the players who play the game honestly and get their levels fairly.

Our new system is extremely efficient and accurate, and in the last 24 hours we have already identified nearly 2000 players who have been cheating in this way. We also believe that we will be able to identify all future offenders and will continue modifing and improving our detection software to do so. From this point on if you use a macro or use a modified version of the RuneScape client, it is almost 100% certain that you WILL be banned or erased.

Since these people gained their stats/items unfairly we have unfortunately had no choice but to completely wipe the stats and inventory of the aprox 2000 people who we have caught using macro/bot software. It seems obvious that these players should not be allowed to keep what they did not gain honestly in the first place.

If you are one of the people who we stat-wiped then whining and making excuses to us won't help. Our new system is designed to have a 0% rate of false positives, and we KNOW you were cheating. The stat-wipe is irreversable, so if you want to get your stats back then the only way to do it is to start playing the game fairly, and EARN your way to greatness like everyone else has to.

We expect to catch more people at it over the next few days. I hope this proves we are deadly serious about stopping this cheating in runescape.

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28th May 2002
Two new members quests are now online.

In the first quest you must help the dwarves win a fishing competition. To start the quest look for the passage way at east kandarin.

In the second quest you must carry out a number of tasks for the monks south of Ardougne.

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8th May 2002
Both members and free-edition runescape have been updated with new content.

First up the members wilderness has been expanded to include: a new level-56 wilderness area, scorpion ravine, pirate hall, rogues to pickpocket, doors to lockpick, high level wilderness dungeon, shadow-spider monster, fire-giant monster.

Members also can now trade wood certificates for those valuable logs, and purchase/steal spice from the spice stall which when added to stew before cooking can be used to make curry (heals 19hp)

With all these new wilderness areas for members we've decided to make some of the older wilderness areas available to free-edition users. Explore the bandit camp, dark warrior castle, and overgrown village. Free users also now have access to the crafting guild

Both members and free versions have been updated with a new 'make-over mage' character, who can change your character appearance... for a price!

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30th April 2002
New members update online! Many RPGs have a thieving/rogue skill and this is something which until now has been missing from RuneScape.

We've now added this popular skill to the members version and it includes abilities such as pick-pocketing, picking locks, disarming traps, and stealing from market stalls. For more information about the new thieiving skill please refer to the online manual.

In addition we have added a quest which uses the new skill. Can you help the rightful owner steal back the lost tribal totem? The quest starts in Brimhaven, and after that is set entirely in the brand new city of Ardougne. You will need a thieving level of at least 21 to complete this quest, so practice your thieving before you start.