Thank you OP for making this thread, it has made something very clear to me that until now has eluded me. Why Devs don't try and make sandbox games....
It's because the community clearly has no idea of what a sandbox game actually is. So why try and make one.
People in this thread are actually saying that Skyrim is NOT a sandbox game. You can do ANYTHING you want, follow the main story line, completely ignore the main story line, build a house, buy an inn, hunt monsters, be a crafter, mine for resorces, learn magic, get married, have kids playing in the back yard, hire a maid,
I'd break it down as some people want a virtual world sandbox and some people actually want to build stuff.
As a virtual world which gives you freedom to play the kind of character you want to play, TES games are pretty good but if someone thinks of a sandbox as a game that lets you build things (like Minecraft or even The Sims to some extent) than TES falls way short.
Personally, even though I generally describe myself as a sandbox fan I'm much more to the virtual world side. I have little interest in building and terraforming and architecture simulation but some people are very into that.
People who say TES games are themeparks either are not thinking it through or have never played a linear themepark game.
Actually.... I will agree with this... there seems to be no consensus in the MMORPG community of what actually is the definition of sandbox. Is a sandbox only the ones that allow you to build/change terrain and permanent features? Or is it set in a world and you can go do anything you want in that world... except permanent changes. I see people reference games that allowed you to BE anything and DO anything except change terrain and buildings and other people decry that it's not really a sandbox. I can tell the two extremes of a linear path and a building/terraforming game apart but at what point does Sandboxy or Sandpark become sandbox?
People looking at the definition of Sandbox as a game that lets you do everything will never have it. What they are looking for is the true expression of a campaign/map editor, put not the one playing in those creations. I doubt clear lines will ever be drawn.
Pretty common it seems that people do not know what a sandbox is.
As mentioned already, TES games never were and likely never will be sandbox games. To ask TES players what they prefer is rather silly. They have never played a sandbox TES game because there was never one made.
Themepark games can allow complete freedom of movement and progression and still not be a sandbox game.
I've seen people complain and cry for a new sandbox game, then one came out and they cried that there were no quests or anything to do...That's what a true sandbox is. You get a character made, the game plops you down into a world, and you use the "sand" around you to make your own adventures. I don't think a lot of people know what a sandbox mmo really is.
Originally posted by CazNeerg None of the Elder Scrolls games have been sandbox.
Hahahah... oh you're serious:O
Depends on what you consider sandbox as sandbox has lost it's original meaning in terms of game development. Many still associate it with that original meaning, rather than the marketing version everyone else considers sandbox today. If you consider sandbox to mean free building, then no it's not, if you consider it free to roam then sure.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Comments
Actually.... I will agree with this... there seems to be no consensus in the MMORPG community of what actually is the definition of sandbox. Is a sandbox only the ones that allow you to build/change terrain and permanent features? Or is it set in a world and you can go do anything you want in that world... except permanent changes. I see people reference games that allowed you to BE anything and DO anything except change terrain and buildings and other people decry that it's not really a sandbox. I can tell the two extremes of a linear path and a building/terraforming game apart but at what point does Sandboxy or Sandpark become sandbox?
People looking at the definition of Sandbox as a game that lets you do everything will never have it. What they are looking for is the true expression of a campaign/map editor, put not the one playing in those creations. I doubt clear lines will ever be drawn.
Pretty common it seems that people do not know what a sandbox is.
As mentioned already, TES games never were and likely never will be sandbox games. To ask TES players what they prefer is rather silly. They have never played a sandbox TES game because there was never one made.
Themepark games can allow complete freedom of movement and progression and still not be a sandbox game.
You stay sassy!
/thread
I could not care less what style they used. As long as the game is interesting, engaging, well put together, and most importantly, FUN!!!
Hahahah... oh you're serious:O
^^that^^
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Depends on what you consider sandbox as sandbox has lost it's original meaning in terms of game development. Many still associate it with that original meaning, rather than the marketing version everyone else considers sandbox today. If you consider sandbox to mean free building, then no it's not, if you consider it free to roam then sure.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson