Sandboxes are a type of MMO that emphasize player freedom and expression. They frequently include mechanics for building, crafting, trading, character customization and development, roleplaying, destruction, and significant interaction with the world and other players. A sandbox that is dominated by an open-PvP or free-for-all ruleset is sometimes pejoratively called a gankbox. Contrast with the themepark.
sandbox
Leaderboard: How important is character gender selection to your MMO play?
Our article about lady toons (finally) in Star Citizen last week got a bit heated. One subthread was locked, unlocked, and locked again because...
Rend merges servers as new patch introduces control-point revamps
The servers for Norse-flavored survival game Rend are going to be down for a little bit today so that the devs can deploy the...
Star Citizen’s alpha 3.5 rolls out to all backers this weekend with playable female toons as ATV takes a break
It's gonna be a good weekend for Star Citizen backers: The 3.5 alpha is going live for everyone this weekend. This'd be the update...
Massively Overthinking: Thoughts on the holy trinity in MMOs
One of MOP's bright new columnists, Tyler Edwards, blogs over at Superior Realities, and he recently brought to my attention his pieces on the...
Star Citizen spin-off Squadron 42 updates backers on February progress
Still keeping an eye on Squadron 42, the Star Citizen spin-off that's... well, it's closer to launch than Star Citizen is, at least. Cloud...
Vague Patch Notes: The occupant’s dilemma in MMORPGs
This is the story of Stanley.
Stanley had a hobby, and that hobby was playing MMOs. Every day, he logged in to Final Fantasy XI, where...
Here’s a look at the female armors in Star Citizen
Whether it's the digital world or the real one, window shopping is easily one of my favorite pastimes. It's like retail therapy but without...
Bethsoft has just launched Elder Scrolls Blades into mobile early access
Did not see this one coming, but in retrospect, it makes sense: The Elder Scrolls Blades has apparently just launched into early access on...
Desert Oasis: Reframing player perceptions of Pearl Abyss’ MMO Black Desert
Hello and welcome to our revival of the Black Desert column! The Desert Nomad decided it was time to reroll for the new meta, and...
Hyperspace Beacon: This is the toughest choice in Star Wars Galaxies Legends
I'm Larry, and I'm an altoholic. (Pauses for everyone to say "Hi, Larry.") The toughest part of any game for me is which class...
EverQuest Next failed to clear its ‘technical hurdle,’ but Daybreak hasn’t given up on a sequel
Did EverQuest Next fail to come to fruition because it wasn't fun, the studio didn't want it, or its technical challenges were too great...
Black Desert mass-bans Shadow Arena hackers as True or False patch goes live and Black Desert Mobile is teased
If you've been keeping an eye and ear on Black Desert's battle arena mode Shadow Arena, you probably know that the game's been plagued...
RuneScape sparks up its Firemaking skill in latest game update
We didn't start the fire, but that might change with RuneScape's latest update, which brings a massive overhaul to the game's Firemaking skill. Realizing...
Massively OP Podcast Episode 213: FFXIV’s first world problems
Justin and Bree discuss FFXIV's controversial reveals, WoW level squish, Albion Online F2P, Glitch, Age of Conan, and Google Stadia, with adventures in Trove, SWG, Starmourn, LOTRO, and Rock Band, and mailbag letter on feeling perpetually behind in MMOs.
Choose My Adventure: The almost-zen of crafting in Legends of Aria
Funny how this run of Choose My Adventure arrives after we've had a discussion about designed downtime, because the crafting and gathering in Legends...
Shroud of the Avatar puts R64 on the test server and takes over publishing worldwide
Shroud of the Avatar has put out 324 newsletters. I don't know why that strikes me so much, but it does. In this edition...
Population Zero takes you on a wildlife safari in its latest dev blog
It stands to reason that if you are willingly entering a survival sandbox, then you are going to be interacting with the wildlife almost...
Bounty hunters make a return to Outlaws of the Old West
When it comes to open sandbox games, one's sense of morality tends to skew just a wee bit, especially if it means survival. Players...
Check out some of the female character creation options planned for Star Citizen’s 3.5 alpha
As you are all aware by now, women play video games, too. And it's about time that Star Citizen had its female models ready...
The Daily Grind: Is it possible for an MMO to make you feel like a kid again?
Last month on /r/mmorpg, there was a thread about finding MMOs that will make you feel like a kid again. You can probably guess...
