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I need help with this list. (sandboxy/hybrid mmo)
Rockgod99
Member Posts: 4,640
I've recently got back into the mmo gaming genre and am looking to pick up a few trials of sandboxish/hybrid mmorpg.
I've started this list of both p2p and f2p games but I know i'm missing some.
If anyone could help me complete this you would be helping me a ton.
The list!:
Sandboxy/Hybrid P2p:
Vanguard (Up for Debate)
SWG (Up for Debate)
Mortal Online (not yet released)
Perpetuum (not yet released)
Earthrise (not yet released)
Dawntide (not yet released)
Sandboxy/Hybrid F2p (micro transaction):
Link realms (beta)
Haven & Hearth (not yet released)
I know I'm missing some, hopefully you guys could help me out.
Comments
You forgot the best one. Starwars Galaxies
Problem with SWG is I would need to mess with the Emu to play the sandbox/hybrid version and I didn't want to be warned for bring up a private server game.
Same goes for Shadowbane Emu thats in the works.
Playing: Rift, LotRO
Waiting on: GW2, BP
If Fallen Earth is listed as a sandbox hybrid, then Vanguard should be there as well. The games in their gameplay design are basically the same (quest driven leveling, open zoneless world, crafting separated from adventuring, leveling gives points you distribute among attributes to name a few).
REALITY CHECK
It was good but it's long gone. This thread is about games you can or you will be able to play.
Doesn't Fallen Earth have a skill system? I mean I remember playing Vanguard and you basically pick a class and fill sometype of talent tree similar to world of warcraft.
Where in FE atleast you have skills to select and options on how you actually build your character.
I could be wrong though since i only played VG for a few hours tops.
Hybrids are basically themeparks with more flexibility in character customization and progression.
Does Vanguard have a skill system under the hood like Fallen Earth and other games like Anarchy online?
Playing: Rift, LotRO
Waiting on: GW2, BP
www.cyberkreations.com/kreationsedge/
Here this should help out your list a bit.
Edit: For a more useful post......and to actually make the link useful. Doh><
I totally forgot about this one Tyvm!!
Playing: Rift, LotRO
Waiting on: GW2, BP
Careful with your definition. If a game had a strict class based character system but you went around an open world and could build towns to gather resources to fuel a player driven economy, wouldn't that also be a hybrid?
I could be wrong though since i only played VG for a few hours tops.
Hybrids are basically themeparks with more flexibility in character customization and progression.
Sandbox, hybrid or theme park has no real definition in mmorpg. It certainly has least to do with classes or skills or levels in that matter. VG and FE has almost the same gameplay, I play both. VG has more sandboxy features in terms of - player housing, ships, crafting in VG is even more independant from adventuring than it is in FE.
VG leveling has no talent trees, it has classes and each class has 6 attributes for adventure, 4 attributes for crafting and 4 attributes for diplomacy. Each of these spheres has its own leveling progression and you distribute the points among them everytime you hit a level in one of these. Same as FE basically, you get points at every level you distribute among the skills. Additionally, FE has instances, while VG has none.
Anyway, I think the games are pretty much the same in their gameplay-design and either both are listed as theme parks or both are listed as hybrids.
REALITY CHECK
In my opinion, Vanguard fits perfectly this hybrid theme. A Tale in the Desert and LOVE are couple you didn't mention.
Careful with your definition. If a game had a strict class based character system but you went around an open world and could build towns to gather resources to fuel a player driven economy, wouldn't that also be a hybrid?
Well for me Sandboxish type games have always been about Avatar customization and the freedom one has within that system.
Other features like Open worlds, housing and economies aren't really hardcoded into the sub genres.
I mean we have housing in Lotro and I'm sure if a developer really wanted to they could fit a player driven economy into a more linear type game.
As for the poster that wants VG to be listed as a Hybrid. I would like to get other peoples options on the matter.
Strictly speaking of Character customization/progression only does vanguard fit with games like Anarchy Online, Fallen earth? If so should we add in other games like AC? maybe even Guild wars and DDO?
Playing: Rift, LotRO
Waiting on: GW2, BP
I've never heard of Love and I wasn't aware of Tale of the desert being a hybrid or sandbox. I assumed it was just a crafting game.
Ill do some research on both games.
Damn... this list is going to be getting long since we have many opinions on what a Hybrid actually is.
Playing: Rift, LotRO
Waiting on: GW2, BP
You kinda opened the pit when you listed Fallen Earth.
Fallen Earth is theme park just like Vanguard or AC. They might be called hybrids because they offer mainly non-instanced (VG full non-instanced) world, and deep crafting not as a supplement to leveling, but an independent feature. If you listed FE, then you should list VG and AC as well. And probably Everquest 1 too.
REALITY CHECK
Hmmm if Im going to add LOVE wouldnt I also need to consider Neocron and Face of Mankind as possible hybrids also?
Playing: Rift, LotRO
Waiting on: GW2, BP
You kinda opened the pit when you listed Fallen Earth.
Fallen Earth is theme park just like Vanguard or AC. They might be called hybrids because they offer mainly non-instanced (VG full non-instanced) world, and deep crafting not as a supplement to leveling, but an independent feature. If you listed FE, then you should list VG and AC as well. And probably Everquest 1 too.
Well I listed FE due to its skill system.
I need to do a bit of research on VG. I wasn't aware of a similar system in that game.
It also took me a very long time on deciding if Anarchy online should be listed since it has a linear system and classes but with skill system under the hood.
Playing: Rift, LotRO
Waiting on: GW2, BP
Don't forget FE skill system is capped by the avatar level. You are restricted with the amount of points you can pump into something by your actual level.
REALITY CHECK
LOVE is a one man indie project, but it's guaranteed to keep you entertained for a while. To me sandbox means freedom. How much and what kind of freedom? That is very subjective. Can't really argue about it, everyone is equally correct. What I know though is that If you have FE on the list, then VG should be there as well.
Don't forget FE skill system is capped by the avatar level. You are restricted with the amount of points you can pump into something by your actual level.
Yeah FE is capped and it bugs me to know end but the system overall is quite flexible.
Anyway Like I said I need more info on VG before adding it to the list. I'm big on lists and I take them seriously.
I do have a question though.
I personally consider a Game like World of warcraft a pure themepark now compared to that game How much freedom does a class in Vanguard have over a class in Wow?
I assumed VG had a similar talent tree system and I was wrong. But imo in order for me to list a game in a hybrid section it must be more flexible that a Three talent spec system that Wow uses.
Playing: Rift, LotRO
Waiting on: GW2, BP
Problem with SWG is I would need to mess with the Emu to play the sandbox/hybrid version and I didn't want to be warned for bring up a private server game.
Same goes for Shadowbane Emu thats in the works.
The current SWG still has enough of the original elements to warrant it being classed as a sandbox/hybrid - versatile housing, non-combat classes, player vendors, open worlds, storyteller feature for creating RP events etc.
I'll pass no judgement on if it's actually worth playing, but it should be on the list.
Vanguard has many sandbox features, but class system is not one of them. They don't have talent trees, they have 6 attributes (strength, dex...) and you distribute points among them as you level up. Each attribute gives different obvious bonuses to your class-abilities.
Vanguard does offer non-instanced player housing, and player built ships.
Vanguard has zoneless (no artificial impassable barriers) world again, with no instances whatsoever.
Vanguard has crafting totally separated from adventuring, you can stay in town, level up your crafting and make money from work orders, or player orders. Crafting has its own inventory, and attribute system. You can build a different types of crafters - have you ever heared that someone is called an offensive crafter? or defensive crafter?
"Offensive crafters have a low station and high utility/tool skills; a typical build might be 26/37/37. They would typically see 5, 6 or more comps per recipe. "
http://vanguardvault.ign.com/wiki/index.php/Crafting_Overview
Vanguard has diplomacy, a card mini-game again totally separated from any other adventuring. You can stay level 1 adventurer, and just converse with NPC's all day long. Again, diplomacy has its own inventory and atttribute system.
So yes, I do believe VG is hybrid in case FE is. As I said earlier, they are either both theme parks, or both hybrids, depends on the criteria.
REALITY CHECK
Problem with SWG is I would need to mess with the Emu to play the sandbox/hybrid version and I didn't want to be warned for bring up a private server game.
Same goes for Shadowbane Emu thats in the works.
The current SWG still has enough of the original elements to warrant it being classed as a sandbox/hybrid - versatile housing, non-combat classes, player vendors, open worlds, storyteller feature for creating RP events etc.
I'll pass no judgement on if it's actually worth playing, but it should be on the list.
If I place SWG on the list I might as well toss WoW on it also.
I mean SWG has clearly been transformed into a class/talent tree system.
While it has a few other features that are hybridish. I don't want to be flamed to death for placing it on my list.
Even though placing it on would get some more people into the discussion lol!
Playing: Rift, LotRO
Waiting on: GW2, BP
Vanguard has many sandbox features, but class system is not one of them. They don't have talent trees, they have 6 attributes (strength, dex...) and you distribute points among them as you level up. Each attribute gives different obvious bonuses to your class-abilities.
Vanguard does offer non-instanced player housing, and player built ships.
Vanguard has zoneless (no artificial impassable barriers) world again, with no instances whatsoever.
Vanguard has crafting totally separated from adventuring, you can stay in town, level up your crafting and make money from work orders, or player orders. Crafting has its own inventory, and attribute system. You can build a different types of crafters - have you ever heared that someone is called an offensive crafter? or defensive crafter?
"Offensive crafters have a low station and high utility/tool skills; a typical build might be 26/37/37. They would typically see 5, 6 or more comps per recipe. "
http://vanguardvault.ign.com/wiki/index.php/Crafting_Overview
Vanguard has diplomacy, a card mini-game again totally separated from any other adventuring. You can stay level 1 adventurer, and just converse with NPC's all day long. Again, diplomacy has its own inventory and atttribute system.
So yes, I do believe VG is hybrid in case FE is. As I said earlier, they are either both theme parks, or both hybrids, depends on the criteria.
The highlighted text is my issue.
Sandbox,hybrid and themepark mmos share many features and I strongly feel that we could easily see many of these features sharded between sub genres.
As of right now the one defining feature in these sub genres has to do with character customization/progression.
Playing: Rift, LotRO
Waiting on: GW2, BP
Is Love released or in Beta? Are both games F2p, P2p?
Playing: Rift, LotRO
Waiting on: GW2, BP
Wurm too, by the way. The most sanboxy MMORPG I know. ATitD is p2p as well as LOVE, which is in beta.
I think you weight character customization a bit too much, it's just one feature of sanboxes and doesn't stand out anymore than other features. Well, that's my opinion anyway.
Ryzom should be on the list, p2p sandbox with free three week trial, uncapped.
F2P/P2P excellent thread.
http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/282517/F2P-An-Engineers-perspective.html