So reading from many comments, I can't help but notice that absolutely NO ONE likes the themepark model of rpg's in the mmo category. Alright, and it's being suggested that the devs are deviating from that, opening up the other provinces when you're a higher level(not even sure if it was ever confirmed enemy provinces were going to be locked indefinitely), but they claim they've always been more sandboxy, but still had things like zones and such.

Well, I think this should be made clear, everyone can agree that you want MORE sandbox than there already is? Then voice it, want it to overcome the themepark model, to the point of it no longer being a themepark mmo? Want something even more revolutionary? All you have to do is voice it.

People can argue on and on about how themepark or sandbox elder scrolls online is sounding to be(we won't know until we get to the beta anyways), but that's not the point of this thread. The point is that we already know the themepark feel is going to be there to some extent, and that alone is already worrying a lot of people, so why not vent our absolute disgust against it?

Yes, people can also argue that single player rpg's have felt linear in their own right as well, but no matter how this is argued, it's obvious the majority feel such a difference between single player and massively multiplayer rpg's. One can also argue that, what the hell is the point of this thread, the dev's have already said they are trying to not follow this kind of rpg model(just using as an example here ok, I don't know whether the devs SPECIFICALLY said that, but they did lead to some hints from the gameinformer interviews), alright, so if they said that, that's cool. Doesn't mean we shouldn't reiterate or reinforce our hatred of the themepark model.

The basis of this thread is, to put it simply, better safe than sorry. I know I want this game to be great, I can't deny that. So why not work on our part to make sure we meet that on the other end?

And people, once again, do not get fixated with the labels "themepark" and "sandbox", I chose these two for the sake of familiarity with what I'm saying. True, the single players are NOT totally sandbox, but let's not litter this thread with label wars, it is the concepts that are the important things here. Do not take my argument as being pure something either, I am for a hybrid, but in this case I'd like the openness to dominate the themepark model.

Stopped here, that is not at all true.

Also the game has been 5+ years in the making so far, Beta will be starting this week/Month and the plan is to release in 2013, so its not very likely they would gut the game and make it into something completely different.

I like themepark models sometimes. I think that destroys your premise.

Good luck, though.

This game is a dang good hybrid of both. You can have themepark like SWTOR or Sandbox like EQ and both of them have flaws. A compromise is the best and hopefully ESO has done that.

I don't want this game to be to sandbox-like, because the SP games really aren't fully sandbox either. I'm good enough with having the base frame of this game being theme park, but having sandbox elements implemented within it though.

We can argue long and hard here, but in the end, I don't think you'd be defending a concept that's limiting on openness, whatever it may be.

Don't get fixated on my wording, the idea is to go against those limitations as much as possible. If for example, there is something that absolutely needs a themepark-esque model in it, fine. But the game deviating from the traditional sense of themepark, and encouraging more openness in their game I don't think you'd argue against.

But if that is what you're against that's also fine by me.

Someone said here in the forums that a pure sandbox is a pipedream, there will always be limitations no matter what. I tend to agree with that, I don't think a pure sandbox can work, especially in the environment that this game is set up in. HOWEVER, I am for a hybrid, but I'd also like the sanbox aspect to be the dominant feel of the two, themepark only for necessities.

I want the game to be like the other TES games and they aren't Sandbox.

But they're very open, some would even say more so than other rpg's.

Don't get too fixated with the labels. That openness is what I'd like to see, and perhaps, even expanded on in this game.

Open world theme park, like the TES SP games.

I like theme-park MMOs, I prefer theme-park MMOs, oops I just blew your theory right out the window, sorry.

The game is open enough. We are able to see all the zones with one character.

It would go against their idea of having a Mega server that everyone plays on if they opened it up where everyone can go to every zone and see everyone. Because at that point you have to allow PvP in those zones, and not every person like to PvP or even getting griefed by other people. So then you would have to make two separate PvE and PvP servers. So since they are basing this whole game off their Mega Server I don't ever see them opening up the zones so every can be in their together.

What feature(s) are you wanting? This is very non-specific.

TES is VERY much sandbox.

Sounds like there's two definitions of "Sandbox".

Sandbox refers to any game that's open-ended free-form of your choice of what you want to do. A literal "Throw you into the world and do what you want" concept.

I've heard a few people today talk as if they think that "Sandbox" solely refers to some player-generated content-based construction game like Second Life. I assure you that it is not.

If Grand Theft Auto III was the game that made the term "Sandbox" popular - then Skyrim is sure as hell also "sandbox".

So - in regards to the OP:

I definitely would like a mix of both, but focusing more on the sandbox elements (do what you want) as opposed to something rigidly pushing you into one form of gameplay aspect at the end of the game.

Do you like the single player games in addition to the theme-park mmos? Are you also a man of limits? If the last part is not true, then that's all I'm really going for.

If you ENJOY limits, whether you like themepark mmo's, OR NOT, then that's simply your opinion and we can agree to disagree. You don't have to shove a senseless argument to me(which by the way, you're still too fixated on the labels, not the argument itself).

Limits on what? What freedom are you looking for that that won't be available? Then we can discuss that.

It is intended to be non-specific because it refers to very broad concepts. If I had to be specific to the extent you want me to, China would get angry with my wall.


Thank you, this is what I'm talking about.