tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1229618075021986600.post7757259637092367333..comments2024-02-07T22:21:28.079+11:00Comments on Creations of AmstradHero: Meaningful Freedom (Part 2)AmstradHerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02313267316109911061noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1229618075021986600.post-86130075658207879612010-08-06T23:52:35.645+10:002010-08-06T23:52:35.645+10:00I dont consider BG2 a sandbox either thats why I l...I dont consider BG2 a sandbox either thats why I like it. Putting a main plot out of order would be pointless and just deteriorate the story. Those quests just made it way more fun, immediate rewards for optional danger.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1229618075021986600.post-83694316595948643752010-08-06T10:19:12.852+10:002010-08-06T10:19:12.852+10:00I can't consider BG2 a sandbox. It's still...I can't consider BG2 a sandbox. It's still a linear game - it just forces you to do some side quests in order to be able to progress the linear main plot.<br /><br />I also didn't find Niko a sympathetic main character in GTA IV - for someone who is supposedly "trying to reform" he's certainly doing his darned best to mess up the city.AmstradHerohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02313267316109911061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1229618075021986600.post-76833589307976219862010-08-06T07:39:40.306+10:002010-08-06T07:39:40.306+10:00I think one problem with more recent sandbox games...I think one problem with more recent sandbox games is that they still try to tell "the epic story" while keeping the sandbox elements. It's rather noticeable in GTA IV for example, where you're supposed to sympathize with the main character (who feels regret of events in the past) in the storyline but the actual gameplay will typically have you murdering half the city. Yeah...<br /><br />Oblivion has the Daedric invasion going on, but *nothing* ever happens as you wander the world. It also doesn't mesh with quests you may undertake outside the main quest. For Fallout 3, they try to sell the personal relationship with your father on you and aside from the horrendous writing, it just does not mesh well with a game where you can blow up an entire town (though good ol' dad scolding you on this is pretty hilarious).<br /><br />I think a better way to design sandboxes is related to what you've talked about in previous topics, make use of the non-linearity to empower the player with real choices and don't try to deliver an epic tight story. The beauty of a sandbox is that the player should be allowed to "write" the story himself in a way, but so many sandbox games fails in this.<br /><br />For example, a game such as Fallout 1 sets you off with a very simple goal. Find the water chip for your vault. Then it sends you off. It doesn't try to woo you with epic storylines and cutscenes, it doesn't restrict where you go and so forth. It's up to the player to navigate the world, impact it on his way and investigate where he might find the water chip. There are different ways to solve things on your way and you get the old-fashioned RPG slide at the end telling you how you've impacted the wasteland in the end.<br /><br />I tend to prefer games like that myself but yep... There are very few games that truly take advantage of their sandboxyness. Ideally, they should be ultimate vehicle for empowering the player but too often it's just "choose your linear mission in whatever order you wish".<br /><br />I have some hope for New Vegas in this matter.Starwarsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1229618075021986600.post-86668509701498181102010-08-06T07:27:29.392+10:002010-08-06T07:27:29.392+10:00If BG2 had let you do the mandatory portions out o...If BG2 had let you do the mandatory portions out of order, that would have been pointless. I guess some of the quests ARE mandatory in chapter 2 till you have the gold. But not all of them, so they are quasi optional.<br /><br />On that basis doing them out of order is definitely awesome, it loosens the reins. Would the main plot line benefit from that? no not at all there is no point. And regardless of you are or think you are, you cannot keep a story that has a random order as tight and as good at foreshadowing when you don't when they will be at point A, B, B1, B2, and C.Eguintir Eligardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12319335483254994121noreply@blogger.com