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Why play a non-sandbox game?
Daedalus732
Member Posts: 589
I've been trying to figure this one out for awhile. Why do people want to play an MMORPG or an MMO anything where the game is basically set-up for them already? Isn't one of the main features of an attractive MMO the ability to create a truly unique character with traits that aren't exactly like virtually everyone you meet?
I just don't understand why people play MMOs that could be single player games. Why don't people just play single player games and avoid the monthly fee? I just don't get why people feel like if the game isn't scripted then it's not worth their time. There are so many great single player RPGs out there that provide a rich and awesome experience that don't require a monthly fee.
So why play a non-sandbox game? All you do is pay a monthly fee for something you could get for free.
I really don't get it. What do people think?
Comments
So they can play with other people. Single player games are only fun for a while to me. I would rather play with other people.
Why do anything when there's another option available? Why play single-player games when multiplayer games are available? Why play boardgames when video games are available? Why play card games when board games are available? Why eat chicken when there's beef available? Why post in these forums when you can stand on the streetcorner with a bullhorn yelling at passing cars?
It's fun. Different types of games offer different experiences.
I completely agree with you
Waiting on Guild Wars 2
But do you actually play WITH other people/ Do you group with other people regularly?
Yet another "I can't understand that other people like something that I don't" post.
Different stroke for different folks. Deal with it. Or don't. Regardless if you understand or not, and regardless of how much you will inevitably try to convince everyone they shouldn't, other people will continue to do what they like.
Perception is Reality.
But do you actually play WITH other people/ Do you group with other people regularly?
Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. I'll group if I know I'll be playing for a good while. Often, however I just pop in for a short time, do a mission (right now I'm playing CoX) and log out. Even if I'm not in a group, it doesn't mean that I'm not being social. I like having options. I enjoy both MMOs and single player games, by the way, as well as some online non-sandbox games.
Just look at this thread: http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/post/1481258/thread/136848#1481258
You stand up to say you're sick and tired of MMO's that are full of BS and outflat lies, and they gallantly go on a crusade to massacre all those who refuse to take it up the butt. They would love prison.
Second. I would love to play a sandbox game where I can make the character exactly as I want them. However all the sandbox games to date seem to think that sandbox means no content, which is just totally completely boring. I want a sandbox game that lets me make the character exactly as I like and have an impact on the world in some way, and has some content so I can just log in and enjoy the game at times without worrying about anything else.
So to sum up, a sandbox is a great game in concept. In practive so far it has been totally completely boring.
Venge Sunsoar
edit: swg pre-nge may be the exception you could make the character you like and have an impact and there was lots to do. I just found it dull and boring because I don't really enjoy sci-fi games.
Of course people will do what they like. My point is that they can do what they like without paying $15 a month.
Because it's often nice to be told a story. Even better, to participate in the story.
Right, so don't play an MMORPG, play a single player RPG experience. There are quite a few that do quite well in their own right. You can even group with other people doing the same quests (ala Diablo)
What''s the fun in particiapting in a story that's already written?
Of course people will do what they like. My point is that they can do what they like without paying $15 a month.
huh? sorry but rpg online and offline is completly different, and since when do you know better then everyone else how a mmo should be ?why a mmo should be sandbox ?
because you think its more fun ? maybe some people have different opinion then you
It's quite clear you don't get it. You simply aren't listening. When someone tells you why they do something, it's not up for debate.
But to answer your question, not that you really care to listen to the answer: other people have active imaginations, and can often imagine things that I cannot. That's why I watch movies, read books, play games, and otherwise engage in things outside my own head.
Grow up a little bit and realize that there are other ways of living other than the way you know.
Not for everyone, I don't care about "Unique" or "Customization". I care about gameplay, such as combat, grouping, economy, things like that. I could care less if everyone looked the same like me.
I just don't understand why people play MMOs that could be single player games. Why don't people just play single player games and avoid the monthly fee?
This is a hard one.....ah yes, ofcourse.
Because its not MASSIVELY MULTIPLAYER. seriously, couldn't you really figure this out yourself? I'm not interested in a sandbox at all, But that does not mean I don't want to play a massively multiplayer online game. Sandbox and MMO's are two different things. Its not like an MMO HAS to be a sandbox (Although speaking from a technical standpoint, every MMO out today is a sandbox, some just more open then others, but that aside)
So why play a non-sandbox game? All you do is pay a monthly fee for something you could get for free.
Not really.
on a personal level, I play MMO's because of the vast amount of freedom and options you have at your disposal. Single player games are too restrictive, although some are awesome and a few have better stories and concepts than most MMO's. Also single player games, once completed, typically don't offer much varience in gameplay. After 100 hours of a single player game you have experienced everything it has to offer you with about 99% certainty on that. 100 hours in a MMO is like 10 minutes in real time....you can put in 1000 hours of time in an MMO and still haven't experienced everything it has to offer. There are new players coming into the games all the time. That's new people to meet who can and some will change your experiences in a game which overall will make the game new and different each time you play an MMO. You don't get that with a single player game at all. MMO's evolve and constantly change and that is also another reason why people like them over single player games.....it's nice to know that even though you would like to solo when you play that whenever you want, you can always go mix it up with other people. Human's make games alive, not npc's and A.I. and that is probably one of the biggest attractions to most people, certainly I value other things as equally or more than the mere fact that I can play with others though.....I don't play MMO's to socialize with others, it's just and added bonus for me.
Then there's another thing I like about MMO's which you typically don't get in single player games and that's the level of detail of everything in the game. From facial expressions, emotes, life like movements and adjustments, beautiful landscapes and scenery (haven't seen a single player game with better scenery than any MMO myself), freedom of movement, ever changing missions, frequent updates and new content and even massive expansions that can totally change your whole gaming experience.....these are lots of things that a single player game don't give you. so just because a person has a single player out look when playing MMO's doesn't mean they should be playing a single player game.....for most, I think they will agree that paying a monthly fee and getting all the above is much better than paying a one time price and having to experience the same linear gameplay over and over and over and over and over again while at the same time not having no other live minds to chat it up with.
The only MMO out there that is even close to a sandbox is Eve, nothing else even comes close. Pretty good reason why not many play them.
If you don't think that is true, just consider this any game that uses a class based system is most definitely not a sandbox game, you are limited by your class to your skillset, that completely invalidates any association with the concept of a sandbox. So that just leaves the skill based games which there are not many of them.
That is why I laugh when people try to associate Darkfall with the sandbox concept, it has classes hence it is not a sandbox game.
Exactly. And as another poster said, there aren't very many that even come close to being sandbox. Reason? Sandbox MMOs don't do very well. Thus, I'd have to say you're in the minority when it comes to wanting to play a sandbox MMO.
One of the problems with sandbox games in the fact that some paths are unavailable to a new player in the beginning. Back in the closed beta for Eve online I remember trying to start off as a crafter which was impossible with out some large funding source.
Also there is a design flaw where in most sandbox games where the first ones to advance and get rich first can usually always stay the riches as long as they play because of the who every has the most money to spend can make the most money, controlling the economy and stopping others from competing.
People play which ever games they enjoy the most,not games which its 'cool' to like or that have the most customisation. a lot of these sandbox style games,while offering customisation to an extent,are often limited by certain other factors.All im interested in is character individuality,stuff like house building isnt my idea of sandbox,it doesnt bring anythign to the game other than having a virtual set of rooms to decorate.
scrap all of the classes in WoW,LOTRO,EQ2 and vanguard,and people would still continue to play them.Why? because they'd still have the content they enjoyed,in the surroundings theyre used to.
That's not been my experience. Offline RPGs seem almost identical to online RPGs to me, with the only difference being that there's no interaction between other players in offline RPGs.
Considering that most people are so concerned about being able to solo, it seems to me that most people play MMOs for the wrong reason.
Yes, people have fun with different things, but the point I'm making is that they can have this kind of fun without the monthly fee.
It's not a matter of having a different opinion, it's a matter of being smart enough to figure out that you're being charged monthly for an experience that you can get without the monthly fee.
No, I'm trying to get you to explain yourself, not dictate what's fun and what isn't. Don't mistake my digging deeper into your explanation for an edict of what is fun and what is not fun.
Which one of us really needs to grow up: the person trolling the thread or the person who's just trying to understand why people behave the way they do?
Yes, a minority seems to want a sandbox MMO, but why is that? Are people afraid of actually having to put time into developing a character that isn't pre-determined from the start? This whole instant gratification crowd just makes no sense to me.
For me I like to have other people around when I adventure. I also like that the content lasts a lot longer then in a single player game. If I choose to I can find a group for a dungeon or if I choose to I can solo all day long. It's a great thing.
Most single player games last a week or two by comparison and you have to buy the next one. There aren't many good single player RPGs being produced today because a lot of RPG companies are working on MMORPGs instead.
I also have to wonder why you would pay a company money and a monthy fee so that you can produce your own content. It sounds to me like they should be paying you then. Personally I can use my imagination, but I'd prefer to have them do the work story wise if I'm paying them money. Consdering the MMOs that have been the most popular so far I'd have to say most people agree with that.
Name 1 single-player- RPG that comes close to the complexity of any modern p2p MMORPG. Let me help you there... Morrowind, killed it in less than 50 days, Oblivion, round 3 weeks, Gothic, both within 2 weeks, Diablo1/2 offline, 3 weeks, Might&Magic VIII, 4 weeks, Wizardry, all around 3 weeks...
And then? - Of course, the game was only 50 bucks, I can go get a new game every month, FOR 50 BUCKS!!! To play absolutely alone for eternity never getting any real social contact I will pay 3 times the money I'd pay for a monthly subscription in an MMO.
Let's look at my played times of other games... EQ2 -10 months, WoW - 14 months, EvE - 4 months, SWG - 12 months... AND I had great times with other people AND could experience adventure AND could "pimp" my own character, and roleplay, and craft, sell, buy... PvP... well like HUNDREDS of things I can not do when I sit locked inside a single player game staring at PC driven NPCs all day long...
Get it? - No? ... Ok - We like game with people *points towards imaginary other people* because we enjoy together, ok?
Man my brain hurts
Meridion
No, I still don't get it. All of those things you listed have been consistently dumbed down to the point where I have to wonder why anyone cares to do them. From resource gathering to the actual crafting process, everything has been dumbed down. SWG (pre-NGE) had the most involved crafting and resource gathering system I've seen in any MMORPG out there. Now we just have the ones where the hardest part of the process is assembling the resources so you can press a button and get the end product. Why even have a progress bar? It just wastes time.
There are plenty of games out there that let you play with other people without a monthly fee. Yes, MMOs are more epic in scale, but it seems to me if you can throw so much of your time into playing a game, why not throw it into something where you can actually develop a unique character, rather then picking 1 of 8 jobs and 1 of 8 body styles for your avatar?
That is a very good question.
I’ll give you three answers.
1. PvP (Granted FPSs still rule as far as online combat – but they don’t satisfy the d&d dorks enough (myself included)
2. People think, "too interact with other people". But what do they really get? My past MMO "interactions" would have been better with AI. No talking. Do stupid things in missions. Screw up mission. The occasional emote.
3. Guild – team work. If you find a good guild and can plan group activities, pve and pvp and are well coordinated – then I think it's worth it.