What is sandboxing?

[Macaw!]

I know what sandboxing is on a computer, but how can that possibly make any sense applied to an NPC? I keep seeing people using it, referring to their behaviour or something.

[fluxtorrent]

sandboxing in this context refers to an ai's ability to act independently, preforming idle animations, doing tasks without player direction, ect.

Coming from someone who claims they could write a better engine I'm shocked that you don't know such a basic concept.

[Macaw!]

Originally posted by fluxtorrent:

sandboxing in this context refers to an ai's ability to act independently, preforming idle animations, doing tasks without player direction, ect.

Coming from someone who claims they could write a better engine I'm shocked that you don't know such a basic concept.

It's a misuse of the word. A sandbox should be completely seperated from the outside world. Clearly NPCs never are. I'm sure there's a better word that could be used. Like "smalltalk" but for actions.

[fluxtorrent]

Except it's not. In fact its MORE inline with the traditional use of the term sandbox. It's in fact entire consistent with how the term has been used in gaming since BEFORE video games even EXISTED. It's always been the go-to term for open ended gameplay. Hell its entirely derived from the actual physical existence of sandboxes. If anything, using it to refer to closed off systems as used in the context you WERE familiar with it is the one thats a misuse.


Nothing keeps the sand in the sandbox in real life, oh how many times I'd have dodged a scolding in my childhood if there were.

[Macaw!]

Originally posted by fluxtorrent:

Except it's not. In fact its MORE inline with the traditional use of the term sandbox. It's in fact entire consistent with how the term has been used in gaming since BEFORE video games even EXISTED. It's always been the go-to term for open ended gameplay. Hell its entirely derived from the actual physical existence of sandboxes. If anything, using it to refer to closed off systems as used in the context you WERE familiar with it is the one thats a misuse.


Nothing keeps the sand in the sandbox in real life, oh how many times I'd have dodged a scolding in my childhood if there were.

I guess the computer meaning was "A thing to play around in", and the meaning of "totally protecting the outside world from you" has crept in.

When I was a kid, my neighbour had a sandbox and I didn't. They were a family of semi nudists which was cool.

[fluxtorrent]

HEY you are not allowed to be reasonable, we have reputations to maintain here!

[Macaw!]

Originally posted by fluxtorrent:

HEY you are not allowed to be reasonable, we have reputations to maintain here!

Is there a minimum quantity of insults per post I didn't adhere to? Alright, your mother is a water buffalo.

[fluxtorrent]

Originally posted by Macaw!:

Originally posted by fluxtorrent:

HEY you are not allowed to be reasonable, we have reputations to maintain here!

Is there a minimum quantity of insults per post I didn't adhere to? Alright, your mother is a water buffalo.

Thats not an insult, she really is XD

[Macaw!]

Originally posted by fluxtorrent:

Originally posted by Macaw!:

Is there a minimum quantity of insults per post I didn't adhere to? Alright, your mother is a water buffalo.

Thats not an insult, she really is XD

I've heard of people accepting insults to themselves, but not their mothers. One of my customers calls herself a quartercast.

[fluxtorrent]

Originally posted by Macaw!:

Originally posted by fluxtorrent:

Thats not an insult, she really is XD

I've heard of people accepting insults to themselves, but not their mothers. One of my customers calls herself a quartercast.

The average person LIKES their mother.

[Macaw!]

Originally posted by fluxtorrent:

Originally posted by Macaw!:

I've heard of people accepting insults to themselves, but not their mothers. One of my customers calls herself a quartercast.

The average person LIKES their mother.

You won't get any inheritance with an attitude like that :-P

[fluxtorrent]

Originally posted by Macaw!:

Originally posted by fluxtorrent:

The average person LIKES their mother.

You won't get any inheritance with an attitude like that :-P

I lost out on the inheritance the moment I enlisted. Best choice I ever made.

[ralphtobybob]

Originally posted by Macaw!:

Originally posted by fluxtorrent:

sandboxing in this context refers to an ai's ability to act independently, preforming idle animations, doing tasks without player direction, ect.

Coming from someone who claims they could write a better engine I'm shocked that you don't know such a basic concept.

It's a misuse of the word. A sandbox should be completely seperated from the outside world. Clearly NPCs never are. I'm sure there's a better word that could be used. Like "smalltalk" but for actions.

I would say "idling" rather than sandboxing.

"What is sandboxing?

In the IT world, the terms “sandbox” or “sandboxing” are becoming increasingly common. But what is sandboxing exactly and how is it used? Sandbox technology allows you to create an isolated test environment within a system. In this way, certain actions can be performed by a program, without it being able to cause damage to the hardware. Sandboxing is essentially about protecting your operating system by shielding it from faulty code or malware. In both software development and cyber security, sandboxing is now considered a standard practice as it provides large companies the protection required to avoid system damage and cyberattacks."
https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/what-is-sandboxing/

[hawkeye]

Originally posted by Macaw!:

Originally posted by fluxtorrent:

sandboxing in this context refers to an ai's ability to act independently, preforming idle animations, doing tasks without player direction, ect.

Coming from someone who claims they could write a better engine I'm shocked that you don't know such a basic concept.

It's a misuse of the word. A sandbox should be completely seperated from the outside world. Clearly NPCs never are. I'm sure there's a better word that could be used. Like "smalltalk" but for actions.

The usage is valid. Just as a sandbox allows children to play in an uncontrolled manner, a sandbox npc is one that isn't controlled by the main game logic. Sandbox npc's act independently. Npc sandboxing is when an npc is operating in sandbox mode.

I believe that The Witcher 3 is an example of this. When the performance of the hardware permits, the game adds sandbox npc's whose purpose is to wander around and add atmosphere to the game world. A high end rig is likely to have more going on in the background that an entry level rig.

If interacted with, the npc will stop sandboxing (playing in its sandbox) and may or may not respond to the interaction depending on coding.

In theory the sandbox coding can be changed without impacting the main game.

[Vomit Heart]

A sandbox is a designated set of actions to carry out when idle.

[ralphtobybob]

Originally posted by Vomit Heart:

A sandbox is a designated set of actions to carry out when idle.

The animations are called idles. The NPCs who are idling, whether it's traveling or crafting, are a part of the game world. If attacked, they live or die based on their individual weapons, health and skill levels. If they are needed for a game quest, they're usually marked essential so the game won't let them die. Some essential characters are allowed to die after they fulfill their function within the game world .

Not a big deal what you call it, unless you're doing this for a living. A lot of people say "butt naked", when they should be saying "buck naked", but grammar flames are kinda lame.