What would you like to see in an open world sandbox RPG?

[chigoo 3]

What would you like to see in an open world sandbox RPG?

this is mainly to collect ideas for my game.

[Emanzi 0]

An open box sandbox game is a lot of work and I would like to see one done on rpg maker but firstly I would say to start it out small and then expand the idea. For me when I hear the term sandbox-rpg I automatically think Bethesda: Elder Scrolls, Fallout because they know the deal.

 

Some of the features you're not going to do in a short amount of time. Any good game takes a lot of time and drive to make and good luck with your project. I'll start with the simplest first as to what I personally think fits the term open box sandbox rpg which might typically be the same for most WRPG.

 

Character Class Selection or Full Custom Character System:

The player needs to be able to at least select a class like in the first early Final Fantasy or Dungeons and Dragons where you can be a Mage, Theif, Warrior class with some base stats and a different looking sprite to represent your choice and class. Later you could advance this to a more custom creation system where the player can further customize their starting character maybe by choosing more traits ( skills ) or a few different sprite styles for the same class e.t.c. It would be nice to have some visual avatar that is more suitable for the player since they will be attaching their identity or persona to their created character its important to give them choice in the process. even something as small as selecting different color schemes makes what would have been a dull character creation system into something that's more personal for the player.

 

Non Linear Story and Multiple Quest System:

The main character needs to be a void, don't give them a deep back story, or a very personal story arch e.t.c because open world games are all about creating your own story. Their back story would need to be mysterious or ambiguous, you want the player to fill in the gap and think of that for themselves. For example in Skyrim you start out with your character almost being executed as a prisoner, no one tells you what you did or how you ended up there, then the player creates their own story "My Kajhit character was caught selling skooma and got locked up!" (^_^) they feel a much deeper bond because of that rather than the game giving you a role you make it.

Same with the main, it needs to be separated into quests like in GTA SanAndreas or most Bethesda rpgs these days. the player needs to feel like they have some freedom between the story to make up their own, for example instead of forcing them to go to the volcano and fight the demon lord because they killed your parents and you have to slay him or else!, let the drive be a bit more global, say their happens to be a demon lord in some volcano and the player meets a random NPC who's orphaned because of him, he also has a really cool sword that could complete your Warlock identity nicely. you can wonder around and do other quests and decide when its right for you to take him on even if he was meant to be the last battle, you have to get stronger until you can beat him but you don't have to run through a personal story just to reach that stage. 

 

Expansive game world:

The game world needs to be either one or both of these things: 

>Very Large ( more appropriate but requires lots of mapping ) 

>Filled with Content ( more appropriate but requires lots of eventing ) 

>or both ( very difficult for starters, I would say start out with one then expand later )

 

Personally I think its better to have a lot of content in a smaller game world than the other way around mainly because this is rpg maker and we cant really make gorgeous 3d environments, you could make custom maps / parallax map e.t.c but if your not keen on game art it might be a bother for you. 

 

Overall the whole idea is to make a world in which the player has choice and can establish an identity for him/herself through multiple roles. Remember to start out small with a few classes, some simple quest system and then later when you have the basics you can start adding in those fancy scripts: leveling systems, character color schemes, karma system ( good or evil )  e.t.c otherwise sandbox games can become very overwhelming to make so don't rush.

[rgangsta 43]

One thing I really admired about games like the Batman Arkham series, Dishonored (although linear), and Skyrim was that they allowed me to complete missions how I wanted. So Dishonored and Batman gave me a set of skills and tools I could use along with multiple passage ways to dispatch enemies and get from point A to B. While Skyrim let's me explore and find new tactics that I can use on much stronger enemies.

 

So basically giving the player the option on how he/she wants to take on tasks is good.

Edited July 1, 2013 by rgangsta

[Emanzi 0]

Yes I love games like this, another game which allows the player to tackle missions in multiple ways is Deas Ex:Human Revolution. It still has a very heavy story even with non-linear game-play.

You can choose to tackle enemies with stealth, go all out, find an alternative path or lure them into a trap, the game-play is always fresh because your decisions affect how missions turn out. The trick is to have non-linear game-play and then link it back to the main story arch, you don't have to make 100 different story paths just keep it as a switch so that later you differ the plot a little based on their actions and then bring it back into context of the main plot.

In my opinion sandbox games are completely based on this style of game play, hence the name sandbox, you're just thrown into a world of game environment with different simultaneous events letting you the player decide on what action you should follow rather than heavily linear and structured level design which forces the player to finish a single task for the level to progress. 

Edited July 2, 2013 by Emanzi

[chigoo 3]

I believe That I have almost all the element required to make an open sandbox rpg, although I have a small world, It is filled with content. Although the game is still in beta stages, I am still thinking of new content to add to it, new side quest, new game mechanics, and more...

 

Although there is no defined class, such as warrior, mage, or rogue, you can decide how you want to play. If you want to be a warrior you can go to the gym buff up your strength, if you want to be a wizard go to school, build up your intelligence, and go to the lab where the develope rings that allows you to gain super powers(Skill/Magic) based on your stats. If you want to be a rogue just go around sneaking, stealing, or become an assassin (sneaking and stealing yet to be implemented, although I have the system for them). You can even be all three if you wish.

 

there are tons of stuff to do in the world so far, as to role playing. things such as getting part time job, full time jobs or even working as a lumberjack, miner, fisherman, etc... 

 

things that you can currently do in my game:

Side quests (more to be added)

mine, fish, lumberjack, collect and use herbs, craft and upgrade equip, and hunt animals

join one of the three gangs and do there side quest until you're their boss

use the toilet, and shower to maintain your bladder, and clean.

Eat, and sleep to maintain your energy, and hunger.

gamble at the casino

drink, and smoke weed (can cause you to get drunk(you move slower and your movement becomes randomized) and high)

go to school to build your Int, go to the gym to build your strength, go to church you build your Karma

buy, and drive a car

use cocaine (which can cause addiction and kills you when you overdose)

part time jobs: Hooker, assassin, drug dealer, Hacker, Koals casier, and more to be added

Full time jobs: E-corp < you start as a janitor and can work your way up to being the boss, Doctor, Police man, and more to be added

there more but I can't remember them all right now

 

Keep in mind this game is still in beta stages, not close to being released. if you want to check it out tho click my siggy!

[dolarmak 23]

As much as I enjoy sandbox games, (Elder Scrolls, Fallout ext.) I have never found an indy game that does the genre justice. The biggest problems are usually a lack of content and unbalanced game play. I'd much rather play a linear game with good content and game play over an open style with small quests that can't keep my attention, or a broken game whose game mechanics don't fit together.

 

One of my biggest peeves is definatly game mechanics that fail to work together or are totally unnecessary. And looking at your description I see a few that could probably be dropped without actually making the game worse, or in some cases the game may even be better without them.

 

Personally I would do without the shower and bathroom stuff. I believe these mechanics will take away from your game incredibly making them tedious and unfun. This kind of mechanic hasn't been used in many games for a reason and the ones I have seen with it were mostly unplayable or entirely unfun.

 

So over all more content and do without the bathroom stuff. But these are just my suggestions. Good luck with your game.

[chigoo 3]

As much as I enjoy sandbox games, (Elder Scrolls, Fallout ext.) I have never found an indy game that does the genre justice. The biggest problems are usually a lack of content and unbalanced game play. I'd much rather play a linear game with good content and game play over an open style with small quests that can't keep my attention, or a broken game whose game mechanics don't fit together.

 

One of my biggest peeves is definatly game mechanics that fail to work together or are totally unnecessary. And looking at your description I see a few that could probably be dropped without actually making the game worse, or in some cases the game may even be better without them.

 

Personally I would do without the shower and bathroom stuff. I believe these mechanics will take away from your game incredibly making them tedious and unfun. This kind of mechanic hasn't been used in many games for a reason and the ones I have seen with it were mostly unplayable or entirely unfun.

 

So over all more content and do without the bathroom stuff. But these are just my suggestions. Good luck with your game.

 

The game isn't just an open world sandbox game it is also a life sim, all the features are to make you feel like an actual citizen in the world you are trapped in. So I want to give the players as much content as possible for them to play around, and the features aren't just there for show. EX: when you use cocain your karma goes down, which makes some people react to you different, and some will like you more. If you don't take a shower most people won't talk to you...

 

Also sims games are fun and you have to pee/take showers/baths.

[Polraudio 122]

One thing that would be awesome to see in an open world sandbox game is the ability to buy furniture and be able to place it anywhere in your house and interact with it. EX: buy a jukebox, place it anywhere in your house and play songs you buy from the store. Maybe a tv also and you can watch shows on it(scenes you have made).

I always look forward to the little things like that ^.

 

Cant forget the collectables. I love to collect unique things and leave it on my wall or something(would go great with the placeable furniture).

[dolarmak 23]

The game isn't just an open world sandbox game it is also a life sim, all the features are to make you feel like an actual citizen in the world you are trapped in. So I want to give the players as much content as possible for them to play around, and the features aren't just there for show. EX: when you use cocain your karma goes down, which makes some people react to you different, and some will like you more. If you don't take a shower most people won't talk to you...

 

Also sims games are fun and you have to pee/take showers/baths.

Ah, but the Sims games arn't Sandbox RPGs. The difference in game play and style is very big factor, which is why I don't believe the bathroom stuff is necessary.

 

I have no complaint about how you handle booze and drugs, but keep an eye on how the flow of game play works with your game mechanics. If the pace is annoyingly slow because you gotta pee and shower every 20 minutes in game or because you're running to eat and do other non-quest/mission stuff, you'll lose most of your audience.