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Will there ever be another "SANDBOX" type game again?
Exar_Kun
Member Posts: 242
Will there ever be another "SANDBOX" type game again?
That is, assuming DARKFALL is a fake piece of vaporware. Will we ever see cool next-gen "SANDBOX" game in our lifetime. I don't see anything in development that gives any hope. I don't understand why we don't see more games like these.
Comments
Depends on whether or not Devs Think EvE is a 'boring screen saver' and realize how many people want to play it, but will only bother with a 'game'.
I find it amazing that by 2020 first world countries will be competing to get immigrants.
OK, in an attempt to rescue this thread from going off topic right off the bat, (not a great idea to take shots at DF or EVE unless you enjoy defensive replies from fans of both games) I think Earthrise and some other games coming up have a decidedly sandbox type design.
I doubt we'll ever see a return though to the early games where there was really nothing much to do other than what the players designed or thought up.
Quests and story lines are here to say, and I think every game will incorporate them to some degree. They don't have to be a linear in game progression, a la the WOW/LotRO model currently popular, but games will always have them from now I think. (Heck, Darkfall probably will have them)
The only sandbox game I've played is EVE, (though early DAOC was somewhat similar, but still had classes/levels) and I've been enjoying the experience. I'm all for a fantasy game along the same lines and I'm hoping we do see at least a few titles in the next few years that follow the format.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
Maybe if you actually bothered to look beyond the big names at what is out there you'd realise there will be another Sandbox MMO, it's called Earthrise.
Not everyone is making linear crap.
As much as i am aware there are a few sandbox type games in development, but the problem is like the OP hinted, that all of them are from indy developers and the outcome is quite vague.
And the main question is, will we ever see a successful sandbox type game, or developed from a major company? I personally guess not as long as we see another indy company be successful with it, like EvE was it, or even more. See, a lot of developers classified the sandbox type game as a failure with the not so good success of SWG, well even some said it was a ill success, and SWG had in the beginning around 300k subscriber(EvE didnt reach this amount up to now). And to be honest i doubt if we see anytime soon a sandbox game reach this numbers again, or even overtop it.(and i am a so called DF fanboy.. maybe a realistic one.. but anyway)
In conclusion i am not really optimistic about the future of mmos and sandbox like games alike, so in my mind we will see in the near future more games like wow pop up, before something better will appear, with maybe the little hope that indeed one indy company will have huge success and will then convince some major companies to try something similar. But this hope is more like the snowball in hell.
The problem with sandbox games is they don't really attract a "mainstream" audience anymore. The rewards require much more "work" than should be needed in a game, and most people already have a real-life job to cover that aspect of their lives.
Take the open-beta of a game called Mabinogi...the game is very sandbox with the quests being just a means to gain skills and small amounts of money. I thought it might be interesting since I've not seen a sandbox game in quite awhile, but good Lord it feels like I'm playing a Virtual Poverty Simulator rather than a game. Go chop wood before you can build a campfire that will allow you to heal yourself, get berries before you starve and your stamina is cut down to nothing, and if you want that neat sword at the blacksmiths (as opposed to hoping someone has made it far enough to actually make one and NOT rape you on the cost) you better have over 180k gold handy because he's a greedy little snot.
Most people don't play games to go through that, ergo most people will be turned off by sandbox games...and since games are there to make $$ (sorry to break that to you) most games will not go that route.
it's in the works.
www.fallenearth.com
http://www.soesucks.net/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=10
@ OP
Absolutely there will be! The wait for a properly invested developed title is the real problem.
* Life is not black or white, it's shades of grey. But, at it's best/worst, it hints at 32bit color. -Me (a.k.a. RuthlessTimes)
* I do not need to know how to make a better game than you. I just need to know how to cancel my subscription. -Antarious(a slight misquote but the sentiment remains)
Nostradamus predicted a good sandbox game, where you can play as a person and not a spaceship, will be released in the year 2012.
However, you will have to preorder it, and you won't get to max level, because that is of course the end of the world.
I thought it was the Mayans that predicted the end of the world was 2012? Either way I guess the gaming companies better get their butts in gear to get most games out by 2010 so they can least make some of their money back b4 we all *poof*
I thought it was the Mayans that predicted the end of the world was 2012? Either way I guess the gaming companies better get their butts in gear to get most games out by 2010 so they can least make some of their money back b4 we all *poof*
Yes. The Mayans predict the world to end in 2012, but Nostradamus predicted a good sandbox MMO would release the same year. Oh the irony.
Nos', Mayans, Southern US Native tribe, the Oracle of Delphi, the verbal accounts of the real Merlin, even a internet pc AI (forget it's name) designed to forcast stock market trends, Edgar Casey, etc..
All say Dec. 2012 ../shrug
-- Enjoy the x-mas season. You can bake the turkey out in your yard and don't mind the fallout. Afterall, it doesn't mind you.
Yes there'll be a sandbox MMO. When, no idea but the alternative is watching the MMO industry carbon copy itself into oblivion.
* Life is not black or white, it's shades of grey. But, at it's best/worst, it hints at 32bit color. -Me (a.k.a. RuthlessTimes)
* I do not need to know how to make a better game than you. I just need to know how to cancel my subscription. -Antarious(a slight misquote but the sentiment remains)
APB seems like the next upcoming sand-box game game that will actually see light of day.
Fallen Earth
Earthrise
Infiniti: Earth
Darkfall (who knows)
These are all sandbox style games that are currently under development. Also, Elder Scrolls Online would surely be a sandbox MMO, when and if it is announced.
Tecmo Bowl.
I do believe that there is a large enough population that want Sandbox. Take a look at Second Life as a prime example. Its kind of like the Movies ..you just cannot rely on special effects, you need a good plot. With MMORPGS, you need a good world and gameplay.....If done right, any game can succeed.
Torrential
Torrential: DAOC (Pendragon)
Awned: World of Warcraft (Lothar)
Torren: Warhammer Online (Praag)
I have my fingers crossed for Earthrise. I think the Earthrise devs really understand that there is a niche market for a true "sandbox" MMO.
I like the sound of "SANDBOX" game... how can my game, WOW, get this title?
I love playing in the sandbox at the beach.... WTF!!! WHAT IS A SANDBOX!!!???ew#$#%$#%$#%
Well, like any "model", the sand-box model just needs to evolve more. WoW/LotRO are essentially iterations of the model set by the original EQ and the MUDs/PnP games it was based on. I think the problem with many sand-box games is that the game design encourages players to work on their own, therefore requiring them to delve into every activity in the game just to get forward. Old-old SWG was very successful in getting players to work with one another and maximize character differences. Old-old UO was very much the same way. But then, both developed into games where players had multiple accounts just so players could be self-sufficient.
Some have said it, and I shall say it again.
Fallen Earth.
If you don't know about it, look it up.
I'm not here to complete my forum PVP dailies.
I think the biggest issue with SANDBOX games are the players themselfs. The players go into a sandbox game thinking they must somehow beat the game or make it to the end level or max out all there skills. Players entirely miss the point of sandbox games and that is to do almost anything you want. To live another life, to have a truely open ended gameworld where you do what you decide to do and not be lead around with a series of quests or fixed paths.
SANDBOX games have always had the hardest entry barrier to get into because theres no way to ease someone into a game where the rules are decided by you. Where there are no predefined goals layed out to you (like in truditional mmorpg games where you are trying to make it to the last level or finish every quest, ect.) a sandbox the only goals are whatever you create for yourself. You try to explain that to someone that has only experienced the truditional mmorpg's, you completely lose them as they are used to having everything prelayed out and determined aka a liner path like in a fps where there is a beginning, middle, and end.
Will we ever see a major company pickup and create a sandbox game. I highly doubt it. Sandbox games are ALOT more difficult to market to customers. The customer base itself is alot smaller then your casual gamers market where currentl mmorpg's are focused in.
It's not a good idea to cutdown EVE Online because CCP/White Wolf owns a lot of great unique IP like World of Darkness, Scion, etc. CCP is currently working on World of Darkness MMO which will surely be sandboxy.
The List:
Champions Online (Cryptic studios makers of City of Heroes) -->
Will be a hybrid (sandbox/linear). Be any hero you can imagine. I dont know how you've not heard of this
All Points Bullentin --->
From the mind behind GTA and Crackdown xbox360. What? you never played Crackdown? Well it was a fun little sandbox coop RPG check it out. APB will be good I think
Fallen Earth---> Scifi MMO
WELL Online --> Scifi MMO. Promises fast ramp up.
LinkRealms --> medival sandbox MMO. Be anything you want. Make your own house/realm and populate it.
Earthrise --> Scifi MMO. Looks great should be good.
There's really a long list. I am probably missing a few that we dont know much about like Blackstar and others.
I believe I read world of darkness will be a sandbox similar to eve.
Yes.
fallen earth enough said
The problem is that most consumers want to be entertain, and not really want a virtual life. The idea of a virtual life sounds good on paper but it does not necessarily make good entertainment. Just look at the popularity brainless big block-buster movies. People want to have fun with the least amount of work.
It is much easier, conceptually although implementation is still hard, to entertain people in a MMO by giving them lots of content instead of trying to design a world that you can induce them to entertain themselves.
Regarding Fallen Earth...
Is there a fair number of players to interact with at any one time?
Is there a good quality of roleplay? Are there professions or player run groups, etc?
Can you own or rent a room or house (or shack) - are there things you can put in it? Can you change your clothes - is there alot of choice?
Bizarre questions, maybe... but I'm really really looking for the right game. I am not the type to try a bunch and go back and forth. As soon as I find one, I want to stay... for a long time.
Do the GMs create any story lines and have involvement, or is it just player run?
Any comments will help! Thanks!