POBTS - is this EVE lite , for rest of us ?

Rattrap

I , think i am fed up with EQ type of MMOs



Classes, preset level based questing areas, fedex .... enough is enough.

Unfortunately SANDBOX is not a word mentioned with any of new great titles.

Both Conan and Warhammer , bring lot of new cool things to the table , but all in all they are spiritual succesors of EQ gameplay.



What about Sandbox ?





Well we do have EVE , a great game.



But so hardcore complex , that they emptied it from any type of fun in order for players to concentrate on important stuff.

I just dont have that kind of patience.



I want sandbox elements of EvE , coupled with fun gameplay , and less mindboggle. EVE LITE





So far , it seems to me That Pirates of Burning Sea , might bring just that ...





What do you people think ?

joereed1

I largely agree with you, although i'm still not exactly sure what is ment by the term "Sandbox"
I also found Eve a little slow going although the ideas behind the game are great, and I'm looking forward to PotBS as a game that incorporates some of the same ideas into it, but maybe being a little more accessable.

Jenuviel

Originally posted by joereed1

 i'm still not exactly sure what is ment by the term "Sandbox"

Here's the wiki link to the video game usage of the term: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandbox_%28video_games%29



People tend to quibble over the details, but that's a good starter spot. It certainly more to read on the subject than most people will be willing to type, anyway.

Havoc11

I suggest reading up on a MMORPG in the works called Infinity: Quest for Earth.

Arath

Sandbox much like the words Innovation and 3rd Generation MMOs are buzz words and more often than not marketing tools to build hype. In an ideal situation the core idea behind a sandbox approach is to provide the user with a goal or task to achieve but leaving it open to them on how to achieve this (so various paths to achieve the same objective). Creating something like this is of course difficult because DESIGNING something that in the players view should seem open to their own DESIGN is very difficult.

Will Pirates of the Carribean provide the free-form gameplay? I dont know but it doesnt appeal to me in anyway at the moment. It could be an amazing game with a lot of freedom in terms of how players can choose to (well) play however how much of a sandbox it is remains to be seen.

nubbins

imagine EQ2 and Eve combined that is PoTBS.





soon enough you too will realise this and begin the search for another mmorpg elsewhere.





instancing == teh lose.

Mylon

We really need a good sandbox game.  I think Freelancer would be a nice starting point.  Add in crafting, meaningful research, and territory lines that move.  The way you could just fly around, the world was in motion around you (though it never really got anywhere), and how it was action-based... That would knock the socks off of Eve.

Rattrap

Freelancer

molovian

try Gokrida.  gameplay is excellent.

-Rodriguez-

Originally posted by nubbins

imagine EQ2 and Eve combined that is PoTBS.

soon enough you too will realise this and begin the search for another mmorpg elsewhere.

instancing == teh lose.

PoTBS has instancing?

Neehole

Originally posted by -Rodriguez-

Originally posted by nubbins

imagine EQ2 and Eve combined that is PoTBS.

soon enough you too will realise this and begin the search for another mmorpg elsewhere.

instancing == teh lose.

PoTBS has instancing?



It's not instanced as in the WoW type of instancing. When you ingage another ship, you are pulled into an instance - but I believe you can fire off a flare giving allies the option of entering and helping you out. In a sense, it's more of an open instance.

If this didn't happen, then you would either loose the scale ship combat, or it would actually take weeks to sail around.

Chizzer

Originally posted by Mylon

We really need a good sandbox game.  I think Freelancer would be a nice starting point.  Add in crafting, meaningful research, and territory lines that move.  The way you could just fly around, the world was in motion around you (though it never really got anywhere), and how it was action-based... That would knock the socks off of Eve.

Freelancer! There's a game I haven't thought about in a while.



The real problem I had with EVE is it's movement system. I'm a huge believer in the WASD mouse-aiming system for games involving a lot of vehicular movement. I think it would have done them well to include that as WELL as the point-and-click system for when players are on tediously long trips.

havocthefirs

   I'm afraid the only "sandbox" type games I can think of are UO, EVE and old SWG. Oddly enough they are my three favorite games, in fact I have never played any other mmorpg for more than three months. The current trend towards hold your hand, spoon fed content games seems to be on the rise. A challenging, thinking persons mmorpg appears to be falling by the wayside. I wonder if thats a result of trying to cash in on a quick buck, or is it because backward hat wearing kids with baggy pants, no life experience and good computer skills are becoming game developers?

   Strangely enough, mmorpg's that are over five years old, even with below average grafix and sound by todays standards are holding there own in the ratings. In fact, if you took away the grafix and sound ratings, I doubt any mmorpg newer than five years would make the top ten list. Apparently, content does beat eye candy in the end. Just a little food for thought. 

Rehmes

I cant wait to play POTBS but it will NOT be a sandbox type game. The player simply goes along with a faction takes over a port and thats about it (quests etc aside). They havent mentioned anything about players owning their own bases etc, and actually changing the world on their own through their own means. Itl be a great game but to me it seems like having to destabilize a port through pve quests is odd. Probably fun but not my style. But i will definatively play that game.

Btw EvE isnt too complex, it just seems that way at 1st. problem is people seem to think bigger is better and often end up losing their isk buying larger ships which they cant properly fly yet. The official forums are also a great way to get started since they have a large amount of guides that easy to read, as far as im concerned their community is very helpful when you need answers. Just dont bash the game or they will go fanatical all up in ur ass.

Rattrap

Originally posted by Rehmes


I cant wait to play POTBS but it will NOT be a sandbox type game. The player simply goes along with a faction takes over a port and thats about it (quests etc aside). They havent mentioned anything about players owning their own bases etc, and actually changing the world on their own through their own means. Itl be a great game but to me it seems like having to destabilize a port through pve quests is odd. Probably fun but not my style. But i will definatively play that game.
Btw EvE isnt too complex, it just seems that way at 1st. problem is people seem to think bigger is better and often end up losing their isk buying larger ships which they cant properly fly yet. The official forums are also a great way to get started since they have a large amount of guides that easy to read, as far as im concerned their community is very helpful when you need answers. Just dont bash the game or they will go fanatical all up in ur ass.

POTBS not being sandbox is a shame.



But as for EVE. It is complex. But it is not the problem.

As I said in EVE everything is toned down to be as minimal as possible, not to take away from the strategy and gameplay.



In my oppinion this is what EVE is missing.



Take Freelancer for instance. You have animations of your character landing on stations, talking with people in pubs, talking with sellers...etc. Eventually you start skipping all this with escape key. Because after all you only need a little text menu on the end.



This is what EVE has done. They took away all this unecessary things , and bring you just that menu on the end.



And by this they robbed the game of the SPIRIT.





I am vouching for game that has more spirit. That has more of this unnecessary stuff that bring "feeling"

Otherwise EVE is great....

Chizzer

Very good point Rattrap, and one that I was about to touch on.



The theme of a game is much more important than anybody realizes. Having a set of characters or even cut-scene animations that provide more relation and immersion into the game than simply having a defined rule set to follow.



This is one of the reasons i am so excited for Pirates. It looks like it has a very well hammered-out theme and gameworld to put a wrapping on what appears to be a fairly interesting game system.

Briansho

Sandbox and innovation are the kryptonite to the current MMORPG development.