This is really a questions for the owner/dev(s), but before I invest a ton of hours of my personal life into this game like when I was a teenager for original RuneScape, how long would this project last? Need to ask, especially since it’s “free forever” from what I have been told. Factoring in server costs, etc. I have my own server and domain names for things so I am aware of the costs, especially for a MMO.
Thank you!
Theres many projects like 2009scape and vidiya scape that have been around for awhile so I am sure 2004scape will be fine. Hopefully enough people will donate to help with those costs.
The intent is to last as long as possible. The Lost City project itself is open-source and immortal. The source code will remain available no matter what happens to the live server. We will continue to work to preserve the game regardless of whether we have 1 player online or 1,000.
As for the live server, I don’t believe it costs very much to host. Around $200/month was the figure Pazaz quoted during his recent interview.
We’re completely non-profit and run on volunteer time only, so hopefully that is looked upon favorably by Jagex if things ever came to a head.
You can export your characters from the Security Center on the website and import them into other servers that may be hosted in the future. Your progress will never be lost no matter what happens!
I think theres eventually going to be MTX and skills being devalued in OSRS.
I feel like project Zanaris is being developed to retain players who wouldnt like the above.
For me 2004scape is worth the investment since the main game will unfortunately go down hill.
I play this knowing it can get Jagexed at any time. I am on here way more than the Jagex servers regardless cuz I like this more. I have my 2004-2005 account stats, my exp from here upon shutdown will be added to my true Runescape account.
I checked two stats and here is what I have gotten from 2004scape so far:
65 to 66 prayer
56 to 59 runecrafting
I am happy to be here to continue leveling up what my actual stats are, like prayer before my Level 65 was wiped obsolete by POH altars.
Honestly i wouldn’t mind paying like $2-5 for members If itll help the devs keep the game alive.
This would give more incentive for Jagex to take the server down, as the server is diverting profit away from Jagex. It has to remain free.
Yeah i kind of agree but if it helps them stay afloat i would still do it. Plus jagex is making more than enough money. It’s not like all the players would come to this game and quit the RS, only maybe a couple hundred at max. At least until the word spreads about 04 Scape
As this is a preservation project for educational purposes only, could devs not accept donations for server costs. I get that profiting would be a no go for a project like this.
People get really touchy any time money changes hands with this sort of thing. Innocuous as it may be, we can’t be sure Jagex will see it the way we do. It would be very easy to convince a court that these preservation projects are copyright infringement. Best not to tempt fate by letting money into the picture.
I guess as a side note, sometimes enjoying an experience is enough to justify putting time into something. I had a hard time coming to terms with this concept, but at the end of the day, nothing you experience will be forever, so enjoying it while it last, even for a short while could very well be enough justification for you to stick around 
Jagex be like:
Oh nyo we are losing money, better shut it down and make our own 2004. Oh nyo our official 2004 is really buggy and no one plays it, we better shut ours down too. 
Source code is out there. It can’t ever truly go away. Jagex has had terrible PR lately so their best move would be to do nothing. They can’t ever truly win. Even if they shut it down. Another player could rehost it. Enjoy your time while it’s here. Nothing lasts forever. Have fun.
Great thought. Enjoy it while it lasts, export your character as you wish. Have fun and good luck!
& thank you to the entire Lost City team for all they do.
~Hydrated
I love the posts in this thread very much, especially this one. I completely agree. Hopefully 2004scape lasts a long time. To me, this is the real RS and i have missed it since i started long ago. No matter how long it lasts, i will thoroughly enjoy my time and am happy for the opportunity to experience this once again.