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
World of Warcraft and RuneScape dare you to become a beach bunny
What's up with all of the beach studio blogs lately? I guess we know where all of the devs' minds are at now that...
The Stream Team: Visiting Villagers & Heroes Reborn with devs
Have you looked into Villagers & Heroes since it was reborn a few weeks back? The game got a facelift, and MassivelyOP's MJ is...
CCP recaps EVE Fanfest 2015, sells tix for Fanfest 2016
If you're wondering why CCP would publish a YouTube video on July 1st which recaps an event (Fanfest 2015) that happened several months ago, it's probably...
Ascent’s new president of the galaxy ruffles feathers, furthers roleplay
Ascent's president of the galaxy election is in the books, and a player named Prolapser ran away with 77 percent of the popular vote....
Trove’s got more travel options than you can shake a stick at
You might not have realized it, but over time Trove has been steadily adding in more and more travel options to the point that...
Global Chat: Are fellowship maneuvers due for a comeback?
Lord of the Rings Online hasn't been en vogue in MMO circles recently, but that doesn't mean that the game and its systems are...
Watch MapleStory 2’s Korean launch preparations
MapleStory 2 is a week away from its July 7th launch in South Korea, and Nexon is going nuts with the game's promotions and...
Massively OP Podcast: Episode 20
Justin and Eliot discuss FFXIV's Heavensward expansion, Devilian, WoW's 6.2 patch, Anarchy Online's graphics upgrade, WildStar's fall plans, PlanetSide 2's PS4 launch, and some embargoed goodies.
Eleven makes slow but steady progress on Glitch remake
A new state of the project post is up over at Eleven, stating that while the game is struggling with tech issues that's preventing...
Star Citizen answers questions about damage, building, and repair
Star Citizen aims to make its damage feel complete. Your ship doesn't take a 15-point hit; you have a blowout in your starboard plasma relays,...
Trion welcomes action-RPG Devilian into its fold
After a cryptic teaser site posted last week, Trion Worlds is finally ready to make its big announcement: The studio will be publishing Korean...
Trion shuffles community managers for ArcheAge and its secret project
There's a new name on the community team for ArcheAge this week. Evan "Scapes" Berman has posted his farewell letter on the game's official forums, announcing his...
The Daily Grind: Are levels in MMOs overrated?
Today's Daily Grind question comes from an anonymous Kickstarter donor who wanted to see just how many cans of worms he/she could open in...
Albion’s summer alpha is underway for founders
Albion's summer alpha is officially a thing, if you're a legendary founder, that is. Sandbox Interactive updated its website with a post that highlights...
Pathfinder Online’s new settlement mechanics improve customization
The power to customize settlements in Pathfinder Online lands for players in the game's next Early Enrollment release, v10. Previously, these settlements were composed of predesigned templates...
Player analyst believes EVE Online concurrency is at its lowest point since 2008
It's really difficult to be sure about how EVE Online is doing, since CCP Games has stopped releasing subscription numbers on a regular basis....
EVE Evolved: Is EVE becoming less emergent?
I've often heard it said that EVE Online is more fun to read about than to actually play, and for the vast majority of...
E3 2015: Garriott and Long share Shroud of the Avatar secrets
This past year, Shroud of the Avatar moved from a monthly weekend-release cadence to being online 24/7, but the major updates have been no...
Trove on graduating Beta University and heading into the real world
The stages of pre-launch development always conjure some measure of protection for a fledgling video game. It may be rough, but that's OK, it's...
Star Citizen’s Roberts on the delayed FPS module, Squadron 42 shoot
Star Citizen boss Chris Roberts released a new letter from the chairman last night, in which he details his experiences directing performance capture for...
