GamerNode: Columns - Are Sandbox Games Failing?

..article continued from page 2

It is important to note that the definition of sandbox gameplay is a wide, varied and oft-debated topic on the part of games journalists. One moment it's world creation, the next it's simply the ability to wander off the beaten path, a la Fable II or Metroid. But the problems are the same each time: too many distractions and the entire game reveals itself to be nothing but. However, too few and you're accused of not really being a "sandbox" title, and cast aside with other unfairly accused games such as Ubisoft's time-travelling assassin simulator.

Henry Jenkins, Director of the MIT Comparative Media Studies Program and author of many titles on media, amongst other academic accolades, had this to say on his blog:

"I think of worlds in which, if you need to kill the dragon in the cave and you happen to have a drill, there's no reason you can't just drill straight down, bypassing all his little traps, and kill the bastard. That's open-ended to me. That's sandbox. The pleasure of such incredible agency is much more satisfying than any forced narrative structure."

This is essentially what I'm getting at, in about sixty words instead of over a thousand. Open world titles are titles you can explore, but only if you want to. Exploration should not be forced, a la Spore and its repetitive "befriend/behead" gameplay in the Creature Stage onwards. It should not be snuck into titles like a thin dagger, as Assassin's Creed did with its infuriating map system and infinite amounts of guards.

Sandbox gaming should be, in my opinion, a god-damn sandbox. There should be toys, an ability to shape how those toys are used, and most importantly of all, the ability to simply reach over to your friend's sandcastle and demolish it with your Hot-Wheels roadster - you know, the one with the purple paint and green flames. Don't let it get to the point where all the toddlers start crying because there's too much sand and not enough toys. In fact, them (we) should never have to cry at all, too distracted should we be by a truck that spews poop whenever we are so inclined to do so.

• (0)
• 
• 
• 
•