i've played everything from what i consider very "themepark" games like WoW and Rift, to very much more "sandbox" titles such as Xyson, WURM, and currently...EVE.

the best combination of sorts i found in Fallen Earth, which i played quite a lot for the better part of 2 years. certainly there are strong elements of both, with more sandbox elements having been introduced (and still being developed) over its 3-year life.

the crafting lends itself very much toward a player-driven economy, and although there are quest hubs all over the map(s), really after you've got the hang of things after the tutorial and first couple of towns, you are completely free to do whatever you like in the expanse of the Grand Canyon. 

a really very enjoyable and highly under-rated (in terms of popularity) game. 

Originally posted by Pumuckl71

Now the sandbox and themepark discussion is almost as old as this site.

I  saw this sandpark/themepark  word  used  in quite a few posts (myself included ...but on an old account)

what made me think , yes there are people out there who'd like to see a  hybrid game like that .

I for myself think it would be a new approach to the old crusty  game labeling  and  maybe could be a platform for a new Era of

MMO's

Welcome to the discussion

I think so but only if they either split the servers up into White and Red servers (Pk and Non-PK like in Asherons Call).  Forced PvP is the reason why sandboxes are as niche as they are.

The game would also need to include things that make themeparks fun and  more populated like Auction Houses, questing systems (I'm partial to the Dynamic Event system myself since its as close to old school sandboxxes as you can get), organized dungeons and story progression.

Yes it is possiable and I've been waiting for that day to come like the second coming, but many companies are not willing to make such a risky investment, such a gamble would probably need the talent, a large budget and a decent IP for it to be successful.  The last MMO which could of done this successfully  was SWTOR and I remember during the pre-launch forum days a lot of folks were begging Bioware to make a hybrid WoW + SWG pre NGE or at least to implement the things SWG did right, but alas it was not to be (so many hopes dashed). Blizzard with Titan could be the next great hope for this, but I doubt it, so we can only dream of the perfect hybrid MMO right. =/

Originally posted by dustyhayes

Yes it is possiable and I've been waiting for that day to come like the second coming, but many companies are not willing to make such a risky investment

Yet they love throwing money at themeparks, which have almost all been complete failures.