Linear vs Non Linear Discussion

[fatty]

Originally Posted by Rilder

Dwarf Fortress
Eve online
Navy Field
Mount and Blade
RTW + mods
Galciv2
Sword of the Stars
X3 Reunion
Hearts of Iron 2
Combat arms (multiplayer though so I doubt it counts)
Vegastrike
UFO:AI
Silent Hunter III+IV
IL-2 Sturmovik
The Guild 2
Pacific storm (to bad it sucks )
Battlefield 2142
Civilization series
EU Series

To name a few.

I guess I'm just one of those people that hates the idea of being lead around wtih a gun to my head. GO THIS WAY OR YOU DIE.

I guess I should rephrase my question to, can you name a game that has a non-linear storyline? Those are all just 'sandbox'-style games - there's nothing wrong with them, many of those are classics that I have installed myself and play regularly - but beyond maybe a few short campaigns they have no storylines to speak of. That is why I'm confused as to how you can file Armed Assault under something other than these kinds of games. Yes, it gives you the short campaign (which is surprisingly open-ended itself, there are several optional side-missions that can be completed in a variety of ways that will impact future missions) but beyond that the island of your Sahrani is your sandbox. If you just want to fight without a story to steer you around and are allergic to multiplayer, it's not hard to pick a spot in the editor and drop a few squads of infantry, or download one of the hundreds of third-party missions available.