2 questions for SE

[Winterclaw]

1. This is for Yoshi-P in particular if it gets around to him for his statement in his 20th letter. Why are MMOs theme parks instead of sand boxes?

2. You guys are adding charges for obvious reasons... however why not go the free to play route that many MMOs take (star trek online is about to do it)?

[Anonymoose]

I don't think he meant theme park in the traditional SANDBOX vs. THEMEPARK style, but more of a general statement that there's a TON OF STUFF TO DO regardless of what it is that you actually LIKE to do; something for everyone and aimed at being fun.

And free to play games are (no offense intended) absolutely terrible. The mechanics they use to remain afloat while offering the game for free ruin the entire experience. I'd rather pay the monthly fee - chances are I'd actually end up paying LESS than microtrans and special stores.

[TheVedis]

2 is easy

this game just doesnt work with a f2p model

to go f2p, you need ALOT of content that you can add and charge for, or alot of cosmetic crap


looking at games like ddo, you have a vast ammount of stuf that can be charged for, same with lotr

as for star trek, that game has a HUGE cosmetic factor to it, much like champions(cryptics other game, which is doing quite well on its f2p model)

[Kailea_Nagisa]

*puts on a Yoshi-P mask*

1. Sand Boxes are much harder to work with in an MMORPG format and honestly are better suited for single player games

2. F2P would allow for way to many kids to play this, and will ruin the game, free to play is best left for those mass produced Karen MMOs

[Alerith]

*puts on a Yoshi-P mask*

I want one.

[zaviermhigo]

If you thought about it in real life sandboxes probably aren't as fun as themeparks haha. But for those who want FFXIV to be more sandbox good luck. Just saying SE doesn't make sandbox engines, if they did I'd be pumped don't get me wrong, its just companies stick to their guns. SE isn't the best at sandbox, and so they tend to stay out of that game, where sandbox games are likely to be made by developers who have made previous sandbox games or developers where "sandbox is their effing shizz" basically.

[Aion]

can someone explain to me what is sandbox in this context, I am confused >.<

[Anonymoose]

can someone explain to me what is sandbox in this context, I am confused >.<

Google explained it better than I could. Or rather, some other dude VIA the miracle of Google.

Theme Parks games offer a guided experience that is similar to other players of your class/race in general. If you start as a Goblin Warrior in WoW, your experience will probably be very similar to other goblin warriors. You'll do the same quests, go through roughly the same zones, etc. Theme parks generally opt for tight focused content, that is usually (but not necessarily) combat driven. Examples include: Everquest, World of Warcraft, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Lord of the Rings Online.

Sandbox games are more of an open-ended experience. Much of the content is player driven or generated. Typically sandboxes also have a variety of non-combat options which allow players to enjoy the game within being forced into combat. These games usually have a less guided approach to gameplay. Examples include: Ultima Online, Star Wars Galaxies, Eve Online.

[Winterclaw]

A sandbox is more like the sims (or simcity) and eve. You are given a number of tools, but the players have to decide what to do on their own. A theme park is there are a lot of things to go see, but the player is more of a spectator in that he can go and do things, but there are limits on what he can do.