I would say it allows more freedom to think than the drones around that keep spouting "sandbox is the best".
As I started EQ in Feb of 01, I was well versed with the MMO genre before WOW thank ye very much. I knew enough to avoid that smouldering POS known as SWG. Can you say the same?
The average person is a consumer, not a producer. Those interested in spending their down time building stuff are probably going to be more apt to enjoy a sandbox. Those looking for things to do, with an evolving character, are more apt to be drawn to the themepark genre.
You think things are going to change, and all of a sudden Sandbox will be king? Hah OK. It goes against human nature.
How is sandbox all about building things? And how is your character more "evolving" in a themepark? Its pretty easy to say that sandbox characters are more evolving. Tell me, at max level in WoW, or EQ or LOTRO, how is your character more evolving?
Also, sandboxes are about a lot more than just building things, it seems like you havnt played many sandboxes.
On top of that, UO was wildly popular for its day. Whats to say that a well funded sandbox wont work again? We dont know because there hasnt been one. All we have seen lately is themeparks.
And SWG was a POS? Tell that to all those people who enjoyed it almost religiously until the CU/NGE crap (that made it more themepark I might add).
No one is saying that suddenly sandboxes will take over the market and dominate it. But to say its impossible for a sandbox MMO to be big and popular is just close minded. Eve online is a sandbox and at its most recent peak (before all their bad decisions) it had more subs than most themeparks do.
I'm not sure what the angle is. A Sim of lobby based political systems? Due to the static nature of MMO worlds they tend to be easier to control but it would need a third element. In the case here it could be public opinion and the two other elements are trying to garner that. I don't think you would have any choice but to make this Sim a time cycled event with preconditioned players. Each server has max 50 corp 20 political bodies, they run through a term and the winners and losers are decided. You could go "term two" with it based on how things turned out and let the scenarios continue but what makes these Sims a challenge in real world won't influence the game. I lose in the first three days and quit playing, the other guy wins by default and will be bored. Reality, I can't just "quit life" so I am there if for other reason than to create the optic of competition.
Really though I suppose it all comes down to Motive and a playerbase that can't be controlled to make this Sim seem real and as such be interesting to play for those who would be inclined to do so. My guess, motive would be to make it as realistic as possible.
I would say it allows more freedom to think than the drones around that keep spouting "sandbox is the best".
As I started EQ in Feb of 01, I was well versed with the MMO genre before WOW thank ye very much. I knew enough to avoid that smouldering POS known as SWG. Can you say the same?
The average person is a consumer, not a producer. Those interested in spending their down time building stuff are probably going to be more apt to enjoy a sandbox. Those looking for things to do, with an evolving character, are more apt to be drawn to the themepark genre.
You think things are going to change, and all of a sudden Sandbox will be king? Hah OK. It goes against human nature.
How is sandbox all about building things? And how is your character more "evolving" in a themepark? Its pretty easy to say that sandbox characters are more evolving. Tell me, at max level in WoW, or EQ or LOTRO, how is your character more evolving?
Also, sandboxes are about a lot more than just building things, it seems like you havnt played many sandboxes.
On top of that, UO was wildly popular for its day. Whats to say that a well funded sandbox wont work again? We dont know because there hasnt been one. All we have seen lately is themeparks.
And SWG was a POS? Tell that to all those people who enjoyed it almost religiously until the CU/NGE crap (that made it more themepark I might add).
No one is saying that suddenly sandboxes will take over the market and dominate it. But to say its impossible for a sandbox MMO to be big and popular is just close minded. Eve online is a sandbox and at its most recent peak (before all their bad decisions) it had more subs than most themeparks do.
Don't waste your time, some people think playing like a dev hand puppet on a quest rail is the best and only way to play a game.
Comments
How is sandbox all about building things? And how is your character more "evolving" in a themepark? Its pretty easy to say that sandbox characters are more evolving. Tell me, at max level in WoW, or EQ or LOTRO, how is your character more evolving?
Also, sandboxes are about a lot more than just building things, it seems like you havnt played many sandboxes.
On top of that, UO was wildly popular for its day. Whats to say that a well funded sandbox wont work again? We dont know because there hasnt been one. All we have seen lately is themeparks.
And SWG was a POS? Tell that to all those people who enjoyed it almost religiously until the CU/NGE crap (that made it more themepark I might add).
No one is saying that suddenly sandboxes will take over the market and dominate it. But to say its impossible for a sandbox MMO to be big and popular is just close minded. Eve online is a sandbox and at its most recent peak (before all their bad decisions) it had more subs than most themeparks do.
Let me get this topic back to the main question, he he - What do you think must be in this kind of game?
bump
I'm not sure what the angle is. A Sim of lobby based political systems? Due to the static nature of MMO worlds they tend to be easier to control but it would need a third element. In the case here it could be public opinion and the two other elements are trying to garner that. I don't think you would have any choice but to make this Sim a time cycled event with preconditioned players. Each server has max 50 corp 20 political bodies, they run through a term and the winners and losers are decided. You could go "term two" with it based on how things turned out and let the scenarios continue but what makes these Sims a challenge in real world won't influence the game. I lose in the first three days and quit playing, the other guy wins by default and will be bored. Reality, I can't just "quit life" so I am there if for other reason than to create the optic of competition.
Really though I suppose it all comes down to Motive and a playerbase that can't be controlled to make this Sim seem real and as such be interesting to play for those who would be inclined to do so. My guess, motive would be to make it as realistic as possible.
Don't waste your time, some people think playing like a dev hand puppet on a quest rail is the best and only way to play a game.
Decided to not make it realistic then?
Games can not be realistic. But they can be close.
I'm strategy games player. I don't play mmo's but upcoming political mmo is closer to real life then any of strategy games on the market.