Maybe on GD a sticky topic difference between sandbox and themepark?

Comments

• Mahni Member Posts: 64

  August 2008

  I think it would be great to see a consensus definition here.  I've seen the term "sandbox" thrown around with different explicit and implied definitions many, many times.

   

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  To pull from a previous thread, I believe it may be difficult to reach a consensus opinion because...

  I believe the term "sandbox" as it applies to mmorpgs is not clearly defined

  But...I think there are a constellation of features that could be seen as being prototypical of a "sandbox" mmorpg and I believe there are a handful of concepts that could be seen as being the motivating factors for developing / playing a "sandbox" mmorpg such as "freedom of choice"

  I believe "sandbox" mmorpgs do not have a list of necessary and / or sufficient features

  I do not believe that they have a list of necessary and / or sufficient features because there is not a rule-based definition.  Some may put forth a series of "necessary" features, and some would argue that they are missing a necessary feature, or others would argue that one of the features was not "truly necessary".  I believe arriving at a consensus about features that would be "sufficient" would likely be hopeless.

  I believe "sandbox" mmorpg is not a concrete concept, but is an aspirational concept

  I think that there are a set of features of a prototypical sandbox mmorpg that serve an aspirational purpose.  I am skeptical about how much of a broad appeal it has as an aspirational concept (not everyone agrees that "sandbox" is "better" than linear / themepark.  I am skeptical about how much of a mass market appeal a "sandbox" mmorpg would have given competition from more "linear" mmorpgs.

  I believe "sandbox" is a matter of degree - not a "type" or "kind" of game or mmorpg

  I believe that "sandbox" lies on a continuum - it is a matter of degree.  I see a mmorpg such as EVE Online as being more sandbox than a mmorpg like WoW - but I wouldn't say that EVE is the epitome of sandbox and WoW is the antithesis of sandbox.  Rather I would think there is a continuum where neither of these mmorpgs would be at the "end points".

   

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  But I think if we list the "constellation of features" I referred to, the following could be included:

  A playing environment that:

  • Is Large (full of content for players to interact with)
  • Is Unitary (existing within a single instance or server shard)
  • Is Dynamic (responsive to player interaction rather than being static)
  • Is Persistent (effects of player interactions remain in effect unless otherwise acted upon - whether these actions are warfare, economic, housing, politics, etc.)
  • Is Non-linear (navigation or exploration of the world is not dictated in a linear fashion by the environment)
  • Supports many players (the massively multiplayer part of mmorpg)

  Character design and advancement that:

  • Is mostly free of restrictions (such as arbitrary classes, levels, or prerequisites for various skills)
  • Supports characters that advance in abilities through gameplay (the rpg part of mmorpg)

  Gameplay that:

  • Is mostly free of restrictions (most player interactions are available to all players, not dependent on character advancement or loot possession - although the probability of success may differ)
  • Supports a large selection of player-generated goals (such as adventuring, exploring, crafting, socializing, competing etc.)
  • Has a large selection of tools to use to interact with the environment (where tools and be skills or gameplay features that support various goals)
  • Has a large selection of things to interact with in the environment
  • Supports interactions between players (again, the rpg part of mmorpg)

   

   

   
• paulscott Member Posts: 5,613

  August 2008

  So you're going to what a new tag for 8 or so games that are mostly  unargueable?

  I find it amazing that by 2020 first world countries will be competing to get immigrants.