There must be something to the sandbox design as it was recently announced that Skyrim has sold over 3.4 million copies in just 48hrs, not including digital sales. This outpaces every game this year with the only exception being Modern Warfare 3.
While Skyrim is obviously a single-player game, the Elder Scroll series has always utilized a sandbox design allowing players to truly have the freedom to do whatever they want and go anywhere. This includes, but is not limited to, murdering, stealing and looting, something that most MMORPGs are too afraid to do these days.
The Elder Scroll series takes a realistic approach to crime, where if the player gets caught they must face the consequences of it, either by going to jail or being killed. In the case where the player can escape, they become essentially bared from that town or city, which in itself is pretty cool.
Skyrim also doesn’t pigeon hole players into a specific class, allowing them to user any gear and weapons they find. Players also have the option of completely reworking their perks or skills if they decide they don’t enjoy the character they’ve created without having to start over.
These sort of features have always been used against sandbox MMORPGs, with the argument being they’re just too “hardcore” for mainstream players. I call BS on that. I think the reason the Elder Scroll series has grown into the RPG juggernaut it is, is because players love the freedom to do anything they want. Stealing from or killing friendly NPCs are one of the great hallmarks in Elder Scrolls. How fun it is to go back later on it the game, kill your NPC trainer and loot their awesome gear.
One thing to keep in mind is that Skyrim is a single-player game, so all of these sandbox features are one sided. Meaning no one is going to steal or attempt to kill you unless you attacked first, so there’s really no sense of constant danger for the player as there would be in a MMORPG.
Even so, I think MMO players are getting tired of the same old theme-park system nearly all MMO games today follow, at least I know I am.
“Even so, I think MMO players are getting tired of the same old theme-park system nearly all MMO games today follow, at least I know I am.”
Exactly right. SWTOR couldn’t have come out at a worse time, releasing right after Skryim. Who the heck wants to go from the sweeping, do-whatever-you want, open world of Skyrim to a hold-your-hand grinder in SWTOR? Talk about a tough act to follow.
November 16th, 2011 at 6:34 pmQuote
You can also look at the game Minecraft to see that people LOVE freedom to do whatever they want.
The old games like UO, AC and EQ all had different flavors of sandbox but for some reason, since then, Dev’s have decided that everyone needs to follow a direct path to your goal. No playing how you want, no designing your character how you went just one path to follow.
Please MMO developers, realize that the MMO market is dying for a great sandbox mmo!
November 16th, 2011 at 7:49 pmQuote
I think its mmo gamers themselves that shoot themselves in the foot.
What do you all demand? A POPULATED GAME.
What does a sandbox mean? It means some people play for a long time, but alot more play for a short time. Either in spurts, or never playing again.
To have a populated game, you have to cut down on freedom. Or atleast, that’s why they funnel you down a carefully designed path – so you stay on long enough to populate the game.
Which is what you asked for.
November 17th, 2011 at 1:43 amQuote
“murdering, stealing and looting, something that most MMORPGs are too afraid to do these days.” Not true. PWE murders your account, steals your ingame items, and loots your bank account. Lehehehe
Seriously though, good article. I also think that there is a big comfort zone in single player games to nestle in and get a feel. Back in the day, the old NES /DOS / MAC mmorpgs were basic attempts of pen and paper on the screen with “Yes and no” decisions. Even though it was limited compared to now, the RPG will ALWAYS find it’s way back to the PEN AND PAPER “sandbox”. The RPG is born from a book where the story guide simple tells you that you are in a town…”What do you do?” *secret dice rolls commence*… The problem today:
November 17th, 2011 at 4:30 amTo many asian companies trying to profit by forcing their idea of what fantasy is (Even in RPG, the asian element ruined it when your broadsword is couple by Shrieken (ninja stars)) .
Asian fantasy is not a bad thing, but big round anime eyes plastered all over a mideavel character, with game mechanics just to get money has flooded the system. This is why WOW stays in business. It is more “WEstern style”. Like RIFT, like Star wars. This is not racist towards asians as they are awesome, it is just the expectation that we the players are forced to chose from “PErfect world, Gpotato, Nexon, etc.. ALL OF THEM” = asian producers publishers / games. MAybe 1 or 2 would be good. But the truth is. BEST RPG ARE = Pen and paper. or Single player box versions. Or. a SELECT few mmorpgs (subscription) and only if you are fan of the series (like lord of the rings, star wars, etc..). HEll the word “Farm” is asian “Chinese farmer” as western was not used to the Chinese farming gold for cash. And is not that the killer of wow? When dungeons went on Farm status directly after the Server shifts to China??
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All MMO players do is whine and complain and want free handouts. The reason this game works is because its a throw back to the days when MMO’s werent for cry baby sadsacks that want the game spoon fed to them every step of the way
November 17th, 2011 at 1:31 pmQuote
That and those who do simply find a mod for skyrim that spoon feeds them every step of the way.
November 18th, 2011 at 5:51 amQuote
I find it interesting that nobody has pointed out that Skyrim is not an MMORPG… It falls neatly into the RPG category though…
November 26th, 2011 at 4:53 pmQuote
Sandbox isn’t a mmorpg term, it was around before them.
November 29th, 2011 at 4:12 amQuote
Solution: Stop thinking about huge the MMORPG, it’s a tired, worn box that can no longer hold creativity. Move towards small RPG worlds.
Imagine Skyrim for 2-8 players. You create a world that can be manipulated (vendors robbed, factions pissed off, alliances made, houses bought, etc) without ruining the world. Maybe even a world broken into smaller sections that only allow 2-8 players, but other areas that intersect to allow for very large communities to buy, sell, trade, build alliances and wage war.
Skyrim was SUCH a refreshing change from the RPG drudge we’ve been dragged through for the last 10 years. Now we need developers to find a way to enjoy an Elder Scrolls-type game with a few of your friends.
November 12th, 2012 at 4:44 pmQuote