Any sandbox redeeming qualities for Guild Wars 2?

Interesting

Any sandbox redeeming qualities for Guild Wars 2?

What are the sandbox reedeming qualities of Guild Wars 2. This is a thread for those who are tired of the same non true, original MMORPGs. How much of this is a liviing breathing organic world, a virtual world, ever changing, ever evolving, where players cause effects on the world and other players. What are the tools available for living and interacting? What are the design elements for emergent socialization, living stories and playing a role?

Im listening.

If you cant think of anything, then just move along. Maybe someone else will be able to.

 

To those reading this for the first time, the actual answers start at repply #16 and on: http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/post/5146426#5146426 The rest is people talking about sandbox vs themepark and archeage... so skip that.

Comae13

Dude the true mmorpg is dead and buried.

Interesting

I want an oppinion from someone who Beta Tested Guild Wars 2. Someone who follows the game and knows what it is all about. Even fanboys are allowed.

Sell me, Can you?

ste2000

Originally posted by Interesting

Any sandbox redeeming qualities for Guild Wars 2? Sell me, dude.

What are the sandbox reedeming qualities of Guild Wars 2. This is a thread for those who are tired of the same non true, original MMORPGs. How much of this is a liviing breathing organic world, a virtual world, ever changing, ever evolving, where players cause effects on the world and other players.

Im listening.

GW2 is as Casual as you can get.

You need to wait for Archeage for that.

I am a sandboxers who played GW2 betas and bought it, and I will play it for a while.

But I wasn't expecting GW2 to be the next SWG, so I am fine with it.

 

Grahor

I'm opening a new thread and first two posters are blocked by me. Isn't it awesom? "Don't waste your time, Grahor, there is nothing worthy of your notice in this thread, or ever will be!"

 

On topic: there are absolutely no sandbox features or qualities in Guild Wars 2. They were never planned. They were never implemented. They were never promised. We (or at least I) don't want them.

Grahor

Originally posted by ste2000

GW2 is as Casual as you can get.

You need to wait for Archeage for that.

 

By the way. I've very carefully read all the information available on Archeage and haven't seen a single sandbox feature there, except for "you can build houses in specially dedicated areas!". Where that "Archeage=sandbox" meme came from?

Interesting

Guys, you are missing the point.

 

I want to know

 

ANY

SANDBOX

REDEEMING QUALITIES

 

So anything you can think of that fits the description is what Im looking for. Because, not all games are 100% made in a mold or another. So there has to be some %s that fits the description.

BeansnBread

Sandbox qualities are not inherently redeeming.

 

Besides that, GW2 is a themepark through and through. Someone made a thread a while back and called it the ultimate themepark and then listed a bunch of reason why it was the ultimate themepark. I pretty much agreed with him and it made me think about GW2 design in a different way. But a lot of GW2 fans went kind of nuts.

 

And I would also like to say that no one needs to sell you shit. No one knows you. You don't matter. Telling people to sell you and then asking if they are capable of such a feat is condescending. 

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The user and all related content has been deleted.

grapevine

To be fair GW2 isn't a sandbox MMO, and they've never tried to imply otherwise.

ste2000

Originally posted by Grahor

Originally posted by ste2000

GW2 is as Casual as you can get.

You need to wait for Archeage for that.

 

By the way. I've very carefully read all the information available on Archeage and haven't seen a single sandbox feature there, except for "you can build houses in specially dedicated areas!". Where that "Archeage=sandbox" meme came from?

Archeage has many of Darkfall Features as well as many of WOW features.

In fact it looks like they mixed the two games together.

Archeage is not a Sandbox, it is between a Sandbox and a Themepark.

That's why I say that Archeage might be the next big thing.

Pure Sandbox are Niche games, Thempark are getting quite boring.

The solution is in the middle, and that's what Archeage is doing.

Interesting

Originally posted by colddog04

Sandbox qualities are not inherently redeeming.

 

Besides that, GW2 is a themepark through and through. Someone made a thread a while back and called it the ultimate themepark and then listed a bunch of reason why it was the ultimate themepark. I pretty much agreed with him and it made me think about GW2 design in a different way. But a lot of GW2 fans went kind of nuts.

 

And I would also like to say that no one needs to sell you shit. No one knows you. You don't matter. Telling people to sell you and then asking if they are capable of such a feat is condescending. 

 

I know that its not advertised as a sandbox, therefore its not the point of the thread.

I know its a themepark oriented. Thats why I phrased "sandbox redeeming qualities". Because its mainly a themepark, but there must be some sandbox qualities for it. AND THATS WHAT I WANT TO KNOW.

 

People stop arguing and running in circles. The topic is about what sandboxy reedeming qualities does Guild Wars 2 have.

Not if its full sandbox/themepark or if sandbox/themepark is good or bad: I dont need those answers.

grapevine

Originally posted by ste2000

Originally posted by Grahor
Originally posted by ste2000 GW2 is as Casual as you can get. You need to wait for Archeage for that.  

By the way. I've very carefully read all the information available on Archeage and haven't seen a single sandbox feature there, except for "you can build houses in specially dedicated areas!". Where that "Archeage=sandbox" meme came from?

Archeage has many of Darkfall Features as well as many of WOW features.

In fact it looks like they mixed the two games together.

Archeage is not a Sandbox, it is between a Sandbox and a Themepark.

That's why I say that Archeage might be the next big thing.

Pure Sandbox are Niche games, Thempark are getting quite boring.

The solution is in the middle, and that's what Archeage is doing.

 

I'd still say Archeage is a sandbox mmo. They've just added quests.

As for GW2 it has no sandbox features.

Grahor

>>The solution is in the middle, and that's what Archeage is doing.<<

 

Well, what EXACTLY is Archeage doing?

 

By the way, I think it's time to switch this thread into archeage thread. The OP has miserably failed in his trolling attempt, and it would be less embarassing for everyone if we just pretended that the thread was about Archeage from the start.

 

I know, that you can build houses in Archeage. I know that there is a pvp-centric "third continent" there where you can fight the other faction and make houses and castles. What other sandbox features are there? Any word on economy? Any word on benefits of territory control? Any words on proper market-auction-house where a player can not just put sell orders, but also buy orders?

ste2000

Originally posted by grapevine

Originally posted by ste2000
 

 

I'd still say Archeage is a sandbox mmo. They've just added quests.

You know, I think XLGames are on the right track.

All this "Archeage is not a Sandbox" vs "Yes it is", is a good sign.

If players cannot classify this game as a Sandbox or as a Themepark, that means that it is definetly something new

AxiosImmortal

Originally posted by Interesting

Any sandbox redeeming qualities for Guild Wars 2? Sell me, dude.

What are the sandbox reedeming qualities of Guild Wars 2. This is a thread for those who are tired of the same non true, original MMORPGs. How much of this is a liviing breathing organic world, a virtual world, ever changing, ever evolving, where players cause effects on the world and other players. What are the tools available for living and interacting? What are the design elements for emergent socialization, living stories and playing a role?

Im listening.

If you cant think of anything, then just move along. Maybe someone else will be able to.

That's exactly what GW2 has, it's a very immersive game. I can spend all day just exploring and hanging around landscapes and I feel very close to the virtual world. I can tell you this that this game is very good for RP as there is alot of freedom and they really made this world come alive. I was exploring the world with a friend and man does it looks nice.

The_Korrigan

What could be considered "sandboxish" is the exploration based content, with the whole world opening up as you progress. You can go anywhere of your level or below and do stuff, and be rewarded properly for your level. You aren't forced down a single path like some previous theme parks (Rift, AoC, SW:TOR or hell, even TSW).

Of course, at level 1, your choice is limited, but actually it's not very different from UO, you couldn't immediately go and kill a dragon with a newbie without raised skills. But e.g. at level 20, you have all the level 20 content and everything below at your disposition to explore. And at 80, the whole world is your playground thanks to downscaling.

That's the most "sandboxish" feature of GW2 I think. No more rails, but choice in content. The only "content on rails" is your personal story, but you can do that one whenever you feels so (or even not at all).

ste2000

Originally posted by Grahor

>>The solution is in the middle, and that's what Archeage is doing.<<

 

Well, what EXACTLY is Archeage doing?

I do not mean to be rude, but which part of "it's a mix of Sandbox and Thempark" you do not get?

Of course Archeage will not have all the Sandbox elements and it will not have all the Themepark elements.

It will be a compromise, sometimes compromise work, sometimes don't..

We will see when we can play Beta if it works or not.

For now we have:

Sandbox:

1) Heavily focused on Crafting and therefore player Economy driven (Weapons, Armor, Houses, Boats, Furniture ad so on)

2) You can build Houses and Boats

3) World FFA PvP

4) You can Tame animals/pet

5) You can build your own class (although there will be some pre-made if you want)

6) Freedom, you don't have to follow a linear path to enjoy the game. You can be a Crafter, explore the world as an Adventurer or enjoy classic Themepark features

7) No insta-travel, so you travel by horse, cart, or ship (Teleports cost lots of money)

 

Thempark:

1) Generic WoW Combat

2) Classic UI (with minimaps and point of interest)

3) Quest System (With "?" and "!")

4) Dungeons Battlegrounds and Raids

 

So no, Archeage won't have all Sandboxes features and it won't have all Thempark features

It is a mix between them.

BeansnBread

Originally posted by Reskaillev

Originally posted by The_Korrigan

What could be considered "sandboxish" is the exploration based content, with the whole world opening up as you progress. You can go anywhere of your level or below and do stuff, and be rewarded properly for your level. You aren't forced down a single path like some previous theme parks (Rift, AoC, SW:TOR or hell, even TSW).

Of course, at level 1, your choice is limited, but actually it's not very different from UO, you couldn't immediately go and kill a dragon with a newbie without raised skills. But e.g. at level 20, you have all the level 20 content and everything below at your disposition to explore. And at 80, the whole world is your playground thanks to downscaling.

That's the most "sandboxish" feature of GW2 I think. No more rails, but choice in content. The only "content on rails" is your personal story, but you can do that one whenever you feels so (or even not at all).

+1

I consider the rest of the posts a bunch of trolls, finally someone who answers the OP

The problem is that a lot of us don't consider that a sandbox feature. It does keep older content valid and that is awesome, but you aren't really affecting the world in any major (or minor) way. It just opens up more themepark content to you. And eventually, when level 80, all themepark content is open to you.

GwapoJosh

It's not "sandboxy" but it's great for explorers.. I'm an explorer

The_Korrigan

Originally posted by colddog04

Originally posted by Reskaillev

Originally posted by The_Korrigan

What could be considered "sandboxish" is the exploration based content, with the whole world opening up as you progress. You can go anywhere of your level or below and do stuff, and be rewarded properly for your level. You aren't forced down a single path like some previous theme parks (Rift, AoC, SW:TOR or hell, even TSW).

Of course, at level 1, your choice is limited, but actually it's not very different from UO, you couldn't immediately go and kill a dragon with a newbie without raised skills. But e.g. at level 20, you have all the level 20 content and everything below at your disposition to explore. And at 80, the whole world is your playground thanks to downscaling.

That's the most "sandboxish" feature of GW2 I think. No more rails, but choice in content. The only "content on rails" is your personal story, but you can do that one whenever you feels so (or even not at all).

+1

I consider the rest of the posts a bunch of trolls, finally someone who answers the OP

The problem is that a lot of us don't consider that a sandbox feature. It does keep older content valid and that is awesome, but you aren't really affecting the world in any major (or minor) way. It just opens up more themepark content to you. And eventually, when level 80, all themepark content is open to you.

I used the term "sandboxish" intentionally.

And an open world with a choice of activity is definitely one of the features of a sandbox, as opposed to a linear world where you are on rails all the time. A typical sandbox is partially about "what the hell am I going to do today", as opposed to "ok, now I have to go to this area which is of my precise level or I won't progress".

Note that I never said GW2 was a sandbox

Master10K

Originally posted by colddog04

Originally posted by Reskaillev

Originally posted by The_Korrigan

What could be considered "sandboxish" is the exploration based content, with the whole world opening up as you progress. You can go anywhere of your level or below and do stuff, and be rewarded properly for your level. You aren't forced down a single path like some previous theme parks (Rift, AoC, SW:TOR or hell, even TSW).

Of course, at level 1, your choice is limited, but actually it's not very different from UO, you couldn't immediately go and kill a dragon with a newbie without raised skills. But e.g. at level 20, you have all the level 20 content and everything below at your disposition to explore. And at 80, the whole world is your playground thanks to downscaling.

That's the most "sandboxish" feature of GW2 I think. No more rails, but choice in content. The only "content on rails" is your personal story, but you can do that one whenever you feels so (or even not at all).

+1

I consider the rest of the posts a bunch of trolls, finally someone who answers the OP

The problem is that a lot of us don't consider that a sandbox feature. It does keep older content valid and that is awesome, but you aren't really affecting the world in any major (or minor) way. It just opens up more themepark content to you. And eventually, when level 80, all themepark content is open to you.

I've got to agree with both The_Korrigan & colddog. GW2 is most definitely a themepark, without the sandbox feature that most sandbox players crave. However the game does a good job in promoting exploration, without being stuck on any rails and with also a ton of hidden content; that's good enough for me.

ste2000

Why people are saying that GW2 does very good at exploring?

Am I playing another game?

Am I playing the same game where zones are clearly divided by level group (Wayfare Foothills 1 to 15 then Diessa Plateau 15-25 and so on)  and on top of that are instanced?

Azeroth was better than Ascalon for exploration.

First of all you really could go wherever you wanted from lvl one, and zones are not instanced.

So am I missing something or you guys are a bit over enthusiastic?

The_Korrigan

- The areas are NOT instanced. Everybody is in the same version of the area. Exception is the overflow server, but that's better than a login queue for 1 hours like it was at WoW's release or even in SW:TOR, don't you think?

- You can go everywhere you want as soon as you finish the introduction. Rolled a Norn, but want to visit your friend who is human? No problem. Want to try to go to a level 80 area at level 1? No problem either (except death of course). Just like WoW. But there's a major difference (see next point).

- You are not forced down that single path like you describe. First, you have several level 1-15 area to chose from. Then, when you hit 15, nothing forces you to a 15-25 area... you can just stay where you are, or do another 1-15 area you didn't do yet. At level 25-35, you have even more choice, etc, etc, etc... thanks to level scaling.

Bladestrom

Originally posted by ste2000

Why people are saying that GW2 does very good at exploring?

Am I playing another game?

Am I playing the same game where zones are clearly divided by level group (Wayfare Foothills 1 to 15 then Diessa Plateau 15-25 and so on)  and on top of that are instanced?

Azeroth was better than Ascalon for exploration.

First of all you really could go wherever you wanted from lvl one, and zones are not instanced.

So am I missing something or you guys are a bit over enthusiastic?

This was kind of talked about to death a year ago.

WOW - you cannot go anywhere or you will lose the quest hub trail and probably enter an empty/broken phased zone. 

Appart from a portal here and there it is identical to WOW - except it doesnt have the above problems + you get downscaled to match content so events/quests are still fun, whereas in wow if you are level 50 and the mobs are level 10 then the content becomes meaningless - i.e you just aoe 1 shot groups of mobs as you go and quests are pointless.

Amjoco

Originally posted by ste2000

Why people are saying that GW2 does very good at exploring?

Am I playing another game?

Am I playing the same game where zones are clearly divided by level group (Wayfare Foothills 1 to 15 then Diessa Plateau 15-25 and so on)  and on top of that are instanced?

Azeroth was better than Ascalon for exploration.

First of all you really could go wherever you wanted from lvl one, and zones are not instanced.

So am I missing something or you guys are a bit over enthusiastic?

You must be playing another game. Climbing mountains, finding cracks, holes, caverns, underwater structures, vistas, and jumping puzzles to name a few. Azeroth had very little of this. Perhaps you have your sights on DEs or Heart Quests instead of adventuring.