User blog comment:The Milkman/Twitter Responses: Bethesda Still Having Issues/@comment-69.217.200.195-20121010002802/@comment-4113369-20121013204701

Some games have full-blown consoles now: They're even more powerful. OK, so they have been around for a while. But they're more common now than they used to be. And then there are games like Saints Row: The Third, who lets you buy cheats as legitimate upgrades (in-game) or as DLC (with real money...). So, I guess you could say technological advancement and ever-increasing american capitalism happened. I guess...

As for best sandbox? Mafia definitely had the best atmosphere, but I'd probably have to say either GTA:SA or GTAIV. They always had ways of keeping you busy.