Yes, some direction tends to be good to get players into content, im my experience. But maybe I’m just terrible at sandboxes?

  • lorty@lemmy.mlOP
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    1 year ago

    That’s basically how I feel. People like to say they want deep virtual worlds with lots of freedom but time and time again they mostly fail due to lack of direction for new players.

    • Morgikan@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      I think a lot of it has to do with risk reward management too. Like this isn’t exclusive to the MMO genre, you see it elsewhere. You have two questions: why and what do I get?

      The hardest fight in Final Fantasy 7 is the optional emerald boss. Virtually nobody fights him. Why fight him? Its not required and the loot can be gotten elsewhere without fighting a 1mil HP boss.

      Skyrim. Why play anything other than stealth archer? You do more damage and don’t risk your health. The reward is the same. You still get the loot.

      D&D even if milestone. If I get experience from advancing the story only, then combat earns me very little. It unnecessarily puts me at risk.

      If a game is sandbox, then why should I fight these optional bosses or put myself at risk? I stand to lose more than I gain. Management wise, it’s better for me to do nothing which leads to a pretty boring game.