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MMOGs and Sandbox-Style Play

Posted by Zonk on from the d-k-p-minus-fifty-for-creativity dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Why do so few games truly embrace the sandbox metaphor? The folks at GamersWithJobs have their own opinions, and think that MMOGs may be replacing The Sims as the center of the 'emergent gameplay' movement. From the article: 'I don't know if it's a function of age, or experience or perhaps just changing tastes, but my favorite games are increasingly the ones where I can find my own methods of play. I loved that Dead Rising simply gave me a maul, a chainsaw and an army of zombies. Perhaps my love of MMOs is as much related to the opportunity to explore and adventure on my own as any actual construction of gameplay.'"

3 of 113 comments (clear)

  1. go outside by User+956 · · Score: 2, Informative

    I would love to see an MMO with elements of Civilization, Sim City, The Sims, and RPGs. It would use a first person interface, have plenty of Sim like NPCs to interact with, and if you achieved positions of power and influence, you could influence city and nation building.

    They have that. It's called real life.

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
  2. GTA is the poster-child for a sandbox game by jchenx · · Score: 2, Informative

    Those aren't really sandboxes as much as playgrounds. There are lots of rides on them and you can choose when you want to go on them, but they, for the most part, only work in the way they are designed.
    A truer example of a sandbox might be Sim City.
    I don't want to get into a deep discussion of the differences between "sandbox" and "playground" games, but I did want to point out that in the gaming culture and industry, Grand Theft Auto is often referred to the poster-child of sandbox gaming. You may not agree to that, or argue that there different levels of non-linear gameplay within sandbox games, but that's a different issue ...
    --
    -- jchenx
  3. Re:Sandbox vs Storyline by colganc · · Score: 2, Informative

    The game you describe is very much how EVE Online works out in 0.0 space. You build space stations and they can be taken away. When they are taken away you no longer have access to that space. In order to keep those space stations and defend them there is a lot of logistics involved that needs defending (aka supply lines). Stick with EVE Online on out into 0.0 claimable space and you have the game you want.