Trying to get an idea of all the good sandbox/skill based games out there.  

So, If you like sandbox/skill based games, what is your favorite one?

Originally posted by Wavinstrider

Trying to get an idea of all the good sandbox/skill based games out there.  

So, If you like sandbox/skill based games, what is your favorite one?

I am pretty partial to EvE Online at the moment. I thought Ryzom was also good, but I did not get as into that and have been meaning to revisit it. Aside from those games, I really had a blast with SWG until the CU came around. I tried going back since the NGE, but just didn't enjoy it as much. Certainly, there will be no shortage of people arguing exactly what makes a game a sandbox or not, but those are my answers :).

well, there arent too many of these really.  But, thats not what the OP asked so..

Id have to say my favorite is Anarchy Online.  Even thats debatable if it falls into the skill-based sandbox MMO.  However I really feel that it is since it doesnt follow any sort of linear progression that most MMO's do.  Not to mention the countless possibilities in equipping your character with gear and implants.  Above all, I think the skill system is the best of any MMO I played yet.

Earth Rise is suppose to bring a lot of what Anarchy Online was back to life and combine some aspects of Eve Online.  Im really looking forward to this game ..its really the only thing that has my attention at the moment.  I hope all goes well with it.

Asheron's Call and it's coming up on it's 10th anniversary so should be some interesting additions coming.

trial.ac.turbine.com

Ultima Online was one of the first and I feel still one of the best.

I still enjoy UO, though I am pretty new to it compared to allot of people.

I have to say EvE here, a more solid sanbox like game is hard to find these days.

Originally posted by SnarlingWolf

Asheron's Call and it's coming up on it's 10th anniversary so should be some interesting additions coming.

 

trial.ac.turbine.com

I've not played it in ages, but AC is the best of this type of MMO I've played.

The MMOs I'm currently playing are all skill based - Eve, Entropia and Ryzom. Eve is probably the best game, although I'd prefer levelling up skills as you do them rather than over time. Entropia is too expensive, although it has a lot of good, unique qualities. Ryzom is too quiet, but with a captivating world. AO probably has the best skill system, but it's now too dated and a pretty grim, lonely experience.

Right now EVE.  I loved UO and SWG at launch though.  Looking forward to Earthrise, Mortal Online, and continued development of Darkfall.

I have tried Eve a few times and have enjoyed it to some extent. The main problem is the lack of PVE in the game that ends up me leaving. IMHO SWG pre NGE was the best and to this day I'm still looking for something close to that game. I tried Ryzom and it fell short on the housing / running a business that is a must for me these days. UO was a good game but very out dated these days.

WurmOnline.   It takes the term litterally.

Saga of Ryzom

just wish the game had moer players

EVE is the first and only sandbox style, skill based MMO I've ever played however I do enjoy it and will give future games like it a try.

None, since Sony took a dump on SWG

I like both EVE and Ryzom. I never got to play pre-NGE SWG.

I'm looking forward to Earthrise and MO. Hopefully they live up to the hype.

AC and EVE.

LinkRealms. I love it

http://linkrealms.com/

EVE of course.

You should check out Fallen Earth. It is now in FFA stress test stage.

Originally posted by WizGamer

LinkRealms. I love it

 

http://linkrealms.com/

I've heard that game is great but it seems damn near impossible to get into the beta to try it.

For me it was SWG before they got rid of the awesome skill system. Now I'd have to say it's EVE.

 Eve is that game I just hate to love and love to hate. I've tried it for varying periods about six or seven times now, each time I end up getting into a "mission cycle" and leaving again. For all the tools and freedom the game has, unless you have a ton of time to invest in it, it's hard to find a tool that's "fun".  I'm sure it would probably be better if I could get into one of the uber corps and go around with billions of isk popping things left and right, but I just don't have the time to dedicate to that. )=

Ryzom is too unstable for me. It has a great setting but the implementation is only half their with everything. The encyclopedia unlock dealy they were working on and then left in in a completely broken and unfinished state is the epitomy of this. Couple this with changing hands and being killed and resurrected three or four times now and it's just not worth getting into anymore. If it was polished up, given a solid publisher/developer, and had some housing/community elements put into it, I could see it becoming amazing. Sadly, these things will never happen.

pre-NGE SWG I never got to play, but it seems like something I would have really enjoyed, and I'm not sure if I should feel disappointed I never got to try it, or relieved I didn't get to fall in love with it only to watch SoE take it all away. 

UO, what can I said. It's UO. Or rather, it was UO. What EA owns now is not UO, it's a bunch of bastardized sprites and sound effects mashed together to make some monsterous harlequin MMO that we once knew. 
 
Wurm is interesting in concept, and it definitely lets you alter the game world the most out of anything to date, it's planning seems similar to what Atriarch was going to be minus the more fun bits. However, 60 whacks to dig out a tunnel. Yeah. Once again, a game that requires too much time and dedication. I can't bring myself to make meager progress after two three hour play sessions. It also seems to be suffering from some management issues and fairly debilitating exploits.

Unfortuantely this sort of only leaves Darkfall (hahahah....hahaha) and Mortal online in the picture at the moment, soooo here's hoping Mortal doesn't fuck it up. 

I begin to wonder, do we need to label a game sandbox or skill based before I can love a game?  Do I need to label a dish American or Mexican before I can taste it and love it?

IF a game feels right for me, that is it, even if the other part of the game I never play sucks.  Who cares?  A restaurant may only have 1 dish I like, but if that dish keeps me coming back that is it.

Sandbox?  So what?  If the game sucks, it sucks for me.  Skill based?  How is it skill based, that is the key, class bases?  how does class work?  That is the key.

SWG comes off my head when I read this title, in as much as I hate the title of the thread.  SWG has freedom in too many dimensions, no game since has managed to come close.  I seldom pvp, never flag up automatically, and I already have enough fun online in SWG pre-CU.  Is it sandbox?  Is it skill based?  I don't care, and I don't know.

Usually when a game tries to sell itself as sandboxed, skillbased or some other fancy terms, I feel alerted.  Is there nothing solid in the game worth selling that the publisher is trying to sell me hot air?

We need these labels so when a decent MMO comes along we can spot it, otherwise we will have to try ever new MMO ourselves. :)

sandboxed :)

Shadowbane