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
Das Tal invites everyone to the alpha test for one day only
Das Tal's Kickstarter campaign is staring down its final week, and with only a little over 27 grand raised of its $55,794 goal, it's...
The Repopulation on expectations, SWG, and the Q4 launch
When Above & Beyond Technologies announced that its sci-fi MMOÂ The Repopulation will launch before the end of 2015, sandbox fans simultaneously pumped their fists...
The Daily Grind: Are MMOs in a cultural decline?
An editorial over at Rock Paper Shotgun attempts to tie two topics together as one: why there will never be a World of Warcraft...
Global Chat: Blizzard’s war on flying
How is the MMO blogging community reacting to Blizzard's proclamation that flying mounts are grounded -- perhaps permanently -- in World of Warcraft? In...
The Stream Team: ArcheAge’s barrel racing
It can certainly be a stretch to come up with new seasonal events, but ArcheAge has added one for the summer that could either...
ArcheAge’s server merges will spark another land rush
When ArcheAge first announced that there would be some sort of server consolidation, players were understandably nervous. Merges can be a messy business at...
Not So Massively: Heroes of the Storm’s launch; Need for Speed’s online DRM
Nintendo's quriky new online paint-battle game Splatoon officially launched this week to very positive reviews. Monster-battling game Moonrise entered early access and promises Pokémon-like...
CCP delays EVE’s next set of major sovereignty changes
CCP is currently rebuilding EVE Online's sovereignty capture system, and as such the sci-fi sandbox developer is updating players on a couple of changes...
Shards Online gets pledge upgrades, a new playtest, and more
Citadel Studios has released the latest Shards Online newsletter. It's got a new letter from project lead Derek Brinkmann, good news for backers looking...
MapleStory 2 is launching in Korea on July 7
Predictions of a July 2nd launch date for MapleStory 2 were off -- but only by a few days. Nexon announced that the colorful...
The Daily Grind: How do you plan to play Star Citizen?
I'm pretty excited to get my hands on some different ships in this week's Star Citizen free-fly event. I know, I know, I can...
EVE Evolved: Have the Drifters conquered the Jove Empire?
EVE Online's Carnyx release is right around the corner on June 2nd, and it's going to be a big update! The Caldari will finally...
Das Tal plans Kickstarter-exclusive preview, discusses server architecture
Are you seriously interested in server architecture? Can you not wait to find out how Das Tal is handling its backend for logging in?...
The Stream Team: Cruising Landmark’s creations (and code giveaway)
Between templates and basic materials being free in Landmark, folks have been able to build bigger and better things in a shorter amount of...
Test fly Star Citizen’s military ships for free this week
When I backed Star Citizen in 2012, I opted for a couple of the $60 pledge tiers. One of these I gave away, and...
The Game Archaeologist: Mythic’s Imperator Online
It is a truly difficult thing to create something completely new and original, especially in storytelling and setting. It's perhaps impossible in this day...
The Daily Grind: Are you excited for Wander?
Wander kind of surprised me. I've been aware of it for some time, but due to its lack of a launch date and my year-long MMO...
Elite’s latest newsletter talks Powerplay, mining, drones, and more
Frontier talks up the forthcoming Powerplay patch in this week's Elite: Dangerous newsletter. The titular patch feature "makes the galaxy a hotbed of activity,"...
EVE Online’s Carnyx update goes live on June 2nd
Players excited for the Sovereignty overhaul coming to EVE Online need only wait a couple of days more before it rolls onto the live...
The Soapbox: Can MMOs eradicate pay-to-win?
You know what sucks about getting old? Apart from the adult diapers and the dying? Yeah, it's the seeing things you love retconned into...
