RuneScape

The Good
The whole idea of Runescape is very original, as it combines the ideas of real-time action, RPG and multiplayer games into a very basic program. What fascinates me the most is that your character is part of a diverse trade community, where every item, depending on its rarity, has an accepted "market value." It's basically very similar to real life: improve your skills and make money off a particular trade, which will allow you to finance skills such as magic and ranged fighting that require a constant supply or runes and arrows respectively. You really get a sense of community in this game, because part of the gaming experience depends on the other players. When selling a commodity, a player can log on to a room that has a large amount of players, while those who want to train by fighting creatures without other people taking the kills may prefer to chose empty rooms. Although i'm not a member myself, it is possible to pay $5 a month and unlock tons of member benefits, including many new places to travel to, more items... etc.

The Bad
There's very little i don't like about Runescape... actually the only disadvantage is for people that don't have a permanent connection to the internet. Improving your skills takes forever! It's really discouraging to see level people smithing runite bars right next to you while you're still smithing steel daggers... therefore, with a limited amount of time you can spend online, reaching the higher levels in a particular skill will take weeks, if not months.

The Bottom Line
Although it may seem too basic at first, the thousands of possiblities in Runescape along with its captivating ambience accounts for the hundreds of hours players spend online!