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
Chronicles of Elyria hitches its death mechanics to its business model
Indie sandbox Chronicles of Elyria captured MMORPG players' attention last autumn when it began revealing details about some of its more unusual mechanics, including...
Indie sandbox TUG secures $8.5M in new funding, delays game for engine switch
Indie sandbox TUG has become the beneficiary of a huge windfall.
In a new Kickstarter update sent to backers this afternoon, Nerd Kingdom announced that...
Abandoned crowdfunded MMO Greed Monger is apparently back in production
Just when you thought the Greed Monger drama was so 2015, now it's back.
The crowdfunded MMO sandbox appeared to have gone belly-up last year...
Life is Feudal transforms into an MMO with its March beta test
A long time ago, back in the stone ages of 2014, Bitbox did alpha testing for its upcoming MMO, Life is Feudal. It was an...
Star Citizen has a ‘surprise’ in store for Alpha 2.1
Hailing frequencies are open, captain, and a new Star Citizen broadcast is coming through, loud and clear. CIG has published its latest episode of...
The Daily Grind: Which old MMORPG deserves more love?
Last week, MMO designer Raph Koster made a Twitter comment that's stuck in my mind:
https://twitter.com/raphkoster/status/682380531934322688
Hell yes it has. It's getting mainstream and indie attention left...
Massively Overthinking: Let’s play with the Gamer Motivation Model
Over the winter holidays, we wrote about game analytics consulting firm Quantic Foundry, which has published what it calls its "Gamer Motivation Model" --...
Old School RuneScape opens the doors to the continent of Zeah
RuneScape's 2007 server enjoyed a booming year in 2015, and Old School RuneScape will be offering even more this year. The developers posted an...
Perfect Ten: Our favorite MMORPG articles from 2015
The first year of Massively Overpowered had its ups and downs, like anything does, but I think we had some pretty great content in...
SWG-inspired sandbox Divergence Online is now on Steam early access
If you've been waiting over the last week for Valve to approve Divergence Online for its inevitable Steam early access release, wait no longer:...
Black Desert is keeping energy potions out of the cash shop
The first Black Desert beta test has happened, and the developers are taking in feedback and making changes. What does that mean? Well... change,...
ArcheAge previews the central dungeon of the Bloodsong
When a whole bunch of people start following a mysterious song to their deaths, you know that something is wrong, even in a setting...
PlanetSide 2’s next major patch lets you gather and build
The next major patch for PlanetSide 2 managed to sneak onto the game's test servers just before Christmas, but no one noticed. Thus, the...
Should you play Black Desert or Blade & Soul?
Just the other day we were discussing in the office the differences between Black Desert and Blade & Soul, and I said that I...
EVE: Valkyrie’s alpha test will kick off on January 18th
If you've already put your money down for the $599 Oculus Rift, you might be curious about when you can actually get some games...
The Oculus Rift costs a staggering $599
Did you think the Oculus Rift would be $350? Not so fast: Oculus is asking $599Â US for its sweet chunk of virtual reality equipment.
As...
Massively OP Podcast Episode 45: MMOs in the new year
Justin and Bree discuss Albion Online, The Repopulation, Firefall, Crowfall's innovative "vessel" system, and Pathfinder Online, plus mailbox questions on EverQuest Next, ArcheAge's health, and WoW.
Revival seeks more fans, plans investment into the game in 2016
On the verge of getting the Stage 1 client of Revival released, IllFonic posted a start-of-the-year newsletter to rally the faithful and encourage them to...
Project Gorgon gives away free gifts for the new year
It's a very happy new year in Project Gorgon, as this week's patch brings not only a home for animal players but also free...
Divergence Online calls for an indefinite moratorium on ‘gaming yelp reviewer bullshit’
Still waiting for Valve to approve Divergence Online for its inevitable Steam early access release? Stained Glass Llama's Ethan Casner is too. While we...
