Polygon video report on BE unveiling

[Buster's Uncle]

Absolutely, turning the faction function into a "sandbox" would be an interesting addition to AC.  They're trying to establish the entire game as a sandbox without any kind of background meaning.  "We aren't trying to establish what the future would be."  The affinities don't have meaning!  They're a sandbox!  They don't reflect on the meaning of "Harmony", "Supremacy", "Purity"!  They're a sandbox!

This seems all too true.  I find it unfortunate, if so.

[Geo]

I'm not sure I get the meaning of "sandbox" in this context. Are you saying it's only a label while the function is pretty similar or what?

[Buster's Uncle]

Sandbox as in you do whatever you like - blank.

[BlaneckW]

Although there is quite a bit of question as to how much depth said sandbox would have.
http://forums.2k.com/showthread.php?468631-Civilization-Beyond-Earth-announced
page 4: "There's been plenty of discussion of the tech of Beyond Earth (i.e sci-fi basically) but what about art of the future? I haven't seen anything of the culture aspect of Beyond Earth (or even if there's going to be a cultural game)"