Sandbox or Career?

[regex]

I'm a bit concerned that KSP's career mode will turn it into a game that you "finish" and then restart for another "playthrough". Part of KSP's lasting appeal for me is that it's open-ended, you're never finished, and the only goals are those you set for yourself.

Part of the problem with career mode right now is that the progression is limited to UNLOCK ALL THE NODES. Budgets might help, but I have a distinct feeling that veteran players who want a challenging experience are going to be required to mod the game. Add on to that the real issue with this game: once you know your way around it and the parts, it's not exactly "challenging" anyway, at least if you want to retain the sandbox flavour instead of having a "guess what I really want you to build now" sort of mind-reading progression.

[Temeter]

You guys are so anxious. Just where do you get the idead that everyone interested in career mode is wanting to grind again and again through a techtree? Or that the techtree is the point of the game? Those ideas are completely absurd. And budgests won't only help, they are the main element of the career. That's where KSP get will get an additional level of complexity, and therefore more challenge. And here you are, complaining about balancing in a sandbox mode without any ristriction.

@Fyre Flare: xD

[NecroBones]

The thing that I'm looking forward to with the career enhancements, is that the game will be more than just a space simulator. It will also be a Space Program simulator, as the name implies. Managing spacecraft AND the NASA-like logistics will broaden the scope of the game.

That's my hope anyway.

[cwhiz]

The thing that I'm looking forward to with the career enhancements, is that the game will be more than just a space simulator. It will also be a Space Program simulator, as the name implies. Managing spacecraft AND the NASA-like logistics will broaden the scope of the game.

That's my hope anyway.

I agree. I would also like for there to be more incentive to create bases, rovers, and stations. SQUAD can take some pointers from Kethane which adds a lot of depth to the KSP experience.

[Jack_Aubrey]

I think that in career mode I learn on how to work with everything and in sandbox mode it's just messing around with the pieces.

Also I care more for my Kerbals in career mode ....

[TheSaint]

I like sandbox better. I've played through career mode a couple of times, and once I reach a certain point in the tech tree it just makes sense to keep using the same design over and over, and it winds up as a science point grind. By the time you unlock enough of the 2.5m parts to actually make a working ship, it's almost done anyway. I just keep using the same 1.25m design until the tree is filled out. From that point on, it's just sandbox with science reports. I think that contracts and budgets are going to add a whole new level to career, but until then I just keep horsing around in sandbox.

[davidpsummers]

Career.

(one word is apparently too short to post, but this should do it :-)

[Jean Deaux]

I enjoy the career mode only because of the open science facility. I enjoy bringing along the science packages on my missions and prefer getting a response other than "science center closed".

[TimePeriod]

Currently sandbox but I switch between the two once every month.

[corvustech]

Career. I was using sandbox a lot but the condescending messages if you use science modules.rather than actually telling you results bothered me. Career is also forcing me to become a better engineer due to parts not being unlocked. Recovering Science gives me a reason to rescue a lost krewman. If we can get solar winds, spacial anomalies, mining, and basic needs going without mods then win. And fix the tech tree so prerequisites work right.

[DJEN]

Sandbox for fun & experiments. Career for the pursuit towards data.

They are both as good as each other.

[phoenix_ca]

I still think you're all dirty cheaters for using either.

[Raptor9]

I still think you're all dirty cheaters for using either.

Is there a third mode that you don't consider cheating...? I don't understand.

[Superfluous J]

Is there a third mode that you don't consider cheating...? I don't understand.

There was some crazy goings on regarding "what is cheating" and it seems to have spilled into this thread. Best to pay it no mind

[phoenix_ca]

There was some crazy goings on regarding "what is cheating" and it seems to have spilled into this thread. Best to pay it no mind

Exactly.

(Seriously I can't help myself. Whenever I see any mention of something being "cheating" in a single-player game, I have to respond with sarcasm, because the claim is utterly ridiculous.)