Guild Wars 2 may not technically be a sandbox but I dont think it would be accurate to just write it off as another themepark.

Here's my themepark analogy

Swtor-Secret World-Tera ect..would be a Haunted House attraction, You walk in its small cramped and there is but one way to travel, Although intially entertaining by the time you are at the exit you can't help but feel you have seen this place before. Good while it lasted but over in the blink of a eye.

   WOW for many of us was like a carnival, Alot of stuff to see and do, No linear path for attractions. GuildWars 2 is like Disney Land or Epcot, Its a themepark just packed with things going on, There is so many ways & options to explore the park, You feel like you are in a small world.

Originally posted by Kuinn

It's not a sandbox, but it definately is the first themepark mmorpg where you can just wander off into the wild and still get stuff done, and feel like you are doing something meaningful.

 

Last night I just went to see if there's anything at a hill top, and it lead me to wander around for two hours untill I realized "Oh yes I was going to do the next part of the story q" and that's really amazing for a themepark. Normally you just do what you are supposed to (follow quest hubs or trail) do since that's all there is.

Nope that would be Vanguard.

Originally posted by Syno23
I hate themepark games where you go to one area get the quests and do them and move onto the next area. In GW2 you can explore every inch of every area. Don't have to do the story quest right away. Different areas to explore like all the starting areas for each race PLUS other areas. I don't feel like I'm in a linear game. But a nice relaxing sandbox style.

First of all, you're trying too hard.  Not every thought that comes into your head needs to be a new thread.  Take it down a notch. Second of all, you obviously have no idea what the word "sandbox" means.  

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Originally posted by Lord.Bachus
Its neither a thempark, nor a sandbox. Its GW2 style, which means that noboddy is holding your hand and you have a lot of freedom to choose what to do or how to build your character.*

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Seriously though. Give the OP a break. He's 18 and excited about his new favorite game. He may not know what a sandbox is, but he is having a lot of fun.

How does this thread even exist.

Now im convinced...GW2 fans have completely lost their mind.

Hmm, disappointing, You're usually not this obvious about it.

:(

3/10

Originally posted by Nikkita

Originally posted by Kuinn

It's not a sandbox, but it definately is the first themepark mmorpg where you can just wander off into the wild and still get stuff done, and feel like you are doing something meaningful.

 

Last night I just went to see if there's anything at a hill top, and it lead me to wander around for two hours untill I realized "Oh yes I was going to do the next part of the story q" and that's really amazing for a themepark. Normally you just do what you are supposed to (follow quest hubs or trail) do since that's all there is.

Nope that would be Vanguard.

Ah sorry, that might be, I should have said I'm only listing games though with more recognized reputation, vanguard isnt on that list.

Originally posted by Deriums
I'm loving the game, but it's NOT a sandbox at all. You can't build anything (houses, bases, eye cndy), there are levels, item stats, limited interaction with the enviroment ect ect.

Wasting virtual space by building virtual crap is not the definition of Sandbox either ...

Plus, according to Wikipedia, GW2 is a sandbox gamedesign :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandbox_game

[mod edit]

While this is not the most sandboxy game of all the sandbox games, just like WoW is not the most RPGy of all the RPG games... it still has a sandbox oriented gamedesign. Period.

If I wanted to nitpick, I'd take what Wiki's calling a "true sandbox game" : 

"A true "sandbox" is where the player has tools to modify the world themselves and create how they play"

... and say that GW2 is by definition a true sandbox game. Players do have ways to modify the world, by triggering DEs (DEs are modified versions of the world, by definition). And players do create how they play, as there's no fixed goal. Now you can nitpick my nitpick down to hell, but this is not the point. The point is that refusing to call GW2 a sandbox gamedesign is erroneous.

Saying GW2 is not a true sandbox is like saying Tomb Raider is not a true adventure game. It's biased upon your own ideals.

Originally posted by Syno23
I hate themepark games where you go to one area get the quests and do them and move onto the next area. In GW2 you can explore every inch of every area. Don't have to do the story quest right away. Different areas to explore like all the starting areas for each race PLUS other areas. I don't feel like I'm in a linear game. But a nice relaxing sandbox style.

This "debate" (more like "arguing on semantics") is as old as MMORPGs, if not older.

Even WoW, the "god" of all theme parks, has sandbox elements, even if only a few.

While GW2 lacks sandbox elements like beeing able to build/shape the world, it's less restrictive and linear gameplay is definitely similar to sandbox gameplay. Instead of the usual themepark "ok I'm this level I need to go in those specific areas", the world opens up the more you progress, just like in a sandbox.

Originally posted by oubers

Originally posted by tom_gore

You have no idea what a sandbox MMO is, do you?

 

^^THIS^^

 

This ^^^ Again!

Originally posted by afhn2110
I can not believe anyone just called this game a sandbox....its total themepark...lmao

WHO CARES? I don't and am enjoying the game immensely.

Does it change your game experience if it is a Thempark versus a Sandbox? It doesn't and if it does for you then you have issues.

Just enjoy the game - who cares what it is.

There are two definitions of sandbox floating around out there.

One is the original sandbox defintion, where a sandbox basically meant a free-roaming open-world with an emphasis on exploration, where the player can choose to ignore the "main" storyline if they want and go their own way.  This wiki page has more info:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_world.  Under this defintion, games like GTA, Skyrim, Burnout:  Paradise, and Dark Souls, Minecraft, and UO are all sandboxes.

Then there is the "nuveau" MMORPG definition of sandbox where a sandbox is a world where the content and/or experiences are primarily player-created and driven.  This is a very narrow definition, and the only games that really fall under are games like UO, Eve, and Minecraft.

I will be honest, I do not like the nuveau definition.  I do not like it because...

A.  It causes arguments like these.

B.  It causes several posts where someone has an "epiphany" that if you change the definition of a genre, then games that used to be in that genre, no longer qualify.  IE, "OMG Skyrim is not a sandbox!"

C.  Along the lines of B, it creates a definition of sandboxes for MMORPGs that is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT than the sandbox definition for SPRPGs...this isn't bound to cause confusion.

I don't see why we just can't call games like UO, Eve, and Minecraft "player driven," or "virtual world," instead of "stealing" the pre-existing term sandbox and then screaming at anyone that dares to use the ORIGINAL definition of sandbox that has been around for DECADES.

Originally posted by Creslin321

There are two definitions of sandbox floating around out there.

One is the original sandbox defintion, where a sandbox basically meant a free-roaming open-world with an emphasis on exploration, where the player can choose to ignore the "main" storyline if they want and go their own way.  This wiki page has more info:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_world.  Under this defintion, games like GTA, Skyrim, Burnout:  Paradise, and Dark Souls, Minecraft, and UO are all sandboxes.

Then there is the "nuveau" MMORPG definition of sandbox where a sandbox is a world where the content and/or experiences are primarily player-created and driven.  This is a very narrow definition, and the only games that really fall under are games like UO, Eve, and Minecraft.

I will be honest, I do not like the nuveau definition.  I do not like it because...

A.  It causes arguments like these.

B.  It causes several posts where someone has an "epiphany" that if you change the definition of a genre, then games that used to be in that genre, no longer qualify.  IE, "OMG Skyrim is not a sandbox!"

C.  Along the lines of B, it creates a definition of sandboxes for MMORPGs that is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT than the sandbox definition for SPRPGs...this isn't bound to cause confusion.

 

I don't see why we just can't call games like UO, Eve, and Minecraft "player driven," or "virtual world," instead of "stealing" the pre-existing term sandbox and then screaming at anyone that dares to use the ORIGINAL definition of sandbox that has been around for DECADES.

We were having this discussion at work today and everyone I talked to feels this game plays more like a sandbox than any other MMO of recent years.. but talking to them their definition of sandbox is like your first example and open world that has a major focus on exploration and doesn't tie you to a story unless you want ot do it. They also say a game that lets you play how you want and level how you want makes it play more like a sandbox.. but again really depends on what you consider a sandbox.. If you look at wiki An open world(sandbox) is a type of video game level design where a player can roam freely through a virtual world and is given considerable freedom in choosing how or when to approach objectives.. GW2 would fall under this but then look at the second sentance it says generally without loading screens and such.. so in ways it is sort of middle ground in this respect

Originally posted by thunderC

Guild Wars 2 may not technically be a sandbox but I dont think it would be accurate to just write it off as another themepark.

 

Here's my themepark analogy

Swtor-Secret World-Tera ect..would be a Haunted House attraction, You walk in its small cramped and there is but one way to travel, Although intially entertaining by the time you are at the exit you can't help but feel you have seen this place before. Good while it lasted but over in the blink of a eye.

 

   WOW for many of us was like a carnival, Alot of stuff to see and do, No linear path for attractions. GuildWars 2 is like Disney Land or Epcot, Its a themepark just packed with things going on, There is so many ways & options to explore the park, You feel like you are in a small world.

Well Said!!

If ANet came out tomorrow and said GW2 is a sandbox  most these people would be on the forums defending that it was a sandbox tooth and nail.

Well, not to be mean or anything, but people who are calling Guild Wars 2 a themepark seem also to not know what they are saying. Please, gather enough information about the MMO-Industry before talking.

GW2 is a '' HYBIRD '', combining sandboxy elements with the usual themepark style. We have to the breathing world here, all we need is housing and instanced/no-instanced areas to effect largly, something, that was confirmed by ArenaNet, to be added.