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
GDC 2018: Hands-on with Trion’s ‘reimagined’ Defiance 2050
Before my GDC interview with Producer Matt “Destromathe” Pettit last week, I was really frustrated with the news about Defiance 2050. I wasn't a huge fan...
The gaming community rallies around EverQuest Next AI developer Dave Mark
A renowned game AI designer who worked on EverQuest Next and John Smedley's Hero's Song is the focal point of concern following an accident...
The Daily Grind: What’s the most creative way MMOs thwart toxicity?
Forget group-kicks: If you're a tool in Sea of Thieves, your own shipmates might just opt to stuff you in the brig - "a...
The MOP Up: Final Fantasy XIV gets primal (March 25, 2017)
The MMO industry moves along at the speed of information, and sometimes we’re deluged with so much news here at Massively Overpowered that some...
MMO Mechanics: The Fair Play Alliance and mechanising fairness
News of over 30 gaming companies taking a united stand against unfairness and toxicity in online game communities sprung out of GDC 2018 a...
Ultima Online continues testing free-to-play patch
Can you smell it? The sweet scent of spring is in the air -- and free-to-play trials as well! Ultima Online is on the...
One Shots: At least we have pie
What's the last thing you've ever done in an MMORPG before it was shut down? If you have ever found yourself in this unfortunate...
Star Citizen brings back old ships for sale, asks backers to vote on alpha 3.2’s priority projects
Do you have too much money? Awesome. Star Citizen has some ideas for where you can spend it - say, on some new ships?...
The Black Death has spawned an actual popularity contest
If you thought your days of losing popularity contests were over when you left school, think again! Indie survival sandbox The Black Death is...
Here’s how Star Citizen’s character customizer is coming along
Sea of Thieves' character customization got you down? Star Citizen won't be making that mistake. This week's Around the Verse details the game's roadmap...
Fractured’s alignment and karma systems put a spin on MMO PvP
Is it even possible to put the diametrically opposed playstyles of PvE and PvP into the same MMO game world and make it work? Well,...
ArcheAge shows players how the next patch will allow you to tame a dragon
Of all the flying things you can ride in the world of ArcheAge, dragons seem like they might not be the best choice. They're...
Massively Overthinking: Paying for MMORPG emulators, legal or otherwise
MassivelyOp reader Bryan recently wrote to us with a fun question about emulators, a topic that will simply never die as long as MMORPGs...
Black Desert is introducing the Musa to its Southeast Asia servers
If you've been playing Black Desert in America for a while, you are not surprised to see the Musa. Heck, the Musa is downright...
Black Desert’s next patch will alter weight penalties, fort construction, and monster drops
Pearl Abyss Executive Producer Jae-Hee Kim has a new Black Desert letter out for western players - apparently he's aiming to make the letters...
MMO studios form Justice League-style alliance to combat toxicity
After years of trying to crack the serious issue of negative behavior and toxicity among their individual communities, 30 game studios and industry leaders are...
Black Desert harvests a spring event, fixes wheelbarrows, and compensates players for outages
It may not look like it in the real world, but it's spring, you guys, and Black Desert is going to make sure you...
Bless Online interview: On soft launch, monetization, classes – and no lockboxes
Earlier today, we posted up Bless Online's new trailer and big news: That's it's launching on Steam early access as a buy-to-play title this coming...
GDC 2018: Rend is looking to ‘WoW’ the survival genre
I'm already old and bitter when it comes to survival games. I've killed zombies, dinosaurs, infected bears, maybe even infected dinosaurs, and people. Lots of...
Massively OP Podcast Episode 162: The Morninglight wants you
Justin and Bree discuss Project Gorgon, RIFT, Trove, Secret World Legends' South Africa, ArcheAge's progression servers, Black Desert on Xbox One, World of Warcraft, and Bless, with mailbag entries on classic Guild Wars and RIFT Prime.
