Pirates of the Burning Sea
| Pirates of the Burning Sea | |
|---|---|
| File:PotBS Logo small.jpg | |
| Developer(s) | Flying Lab Software |
| Publisher(s) | Flying Lab Software |
| Platform(s) | Windows System XP/Vista |
| Release | June 2007 |
| Genre(s) | MMORPG |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
Pirates of the Burning Sea (PotBS) is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) for the PC currently under development by Flying Lab Software. The game is set in the Caribbean in 1720, and will combine intense tactical ship combat and swashbuckling adventures on the land and sea. Pirates of the Burning Sea has been announced for release in June 2007.
Development
In development since 2002, the game is currently in beta testing.
Gameplay
Players in Pirates of the Burning Sea will captain their own ship as a member of one of four different factions: England, France, Spain, or the 'Pirate Brotherhood'. Players picking one of the standard three nations will have the option of playing as merchants, naval officers, or privateers, however information is currently unclear on whether this will be at character creation or a more freeform choice that can be made during gameplay.
Players will be able to participate in both ship and avatar based gameplay, covering both ship to ship combat and avatar combat of three different types: sword-fighting, brawling, and ranged combat. Sword-fighting can be one of three styles: dirty fighting, dual-wield fighting, and more refined single-handed swordplay.
The avatar combat differs from many other MMORPGs, in which you 'click and forget'; in Pirates of the Burning Sea each fighter has a bar at their feet, known as the balance meter. When the bar is green, the player will not take much damage; instead, players must slowly work their opponents bar down to knock them over, before they can finish them with stronger attacks.
Players will engage in both Player-versus-Environment and Player-versus-Player game-play. PvP will only be possible in specific areas of the map, the location of which will change depending on player action. The many ports of the Caribbean are also planned to change hands based on player action. Fighting for countries is a key element of the game-play, as a unified nation can eventually take over the entire Caribbean.
Combat is promised to be real-time and tactical, with the skills of the player being at least as important as the abilities of their ship and character. During ship combat, a players speed, position, and heading all affect the ability to damage enemies and resist damage.
Key Features
- Four loyalties to choose from: English, French, Spanish and Pirate
- Four career choices: merchant, privateer, naval officer or pirate
- Game world consists of over 140 PvP conquerable ports in the Caribbean
- Over 1,000 missions
- Player-driven economy; all the goods found in the game are manufactured by players
- Build, capture, destroy, and/or customize over 50+ historical ships
- Design your own personal flags and customize sail decals
Customization
Avatars will be highly customizable as Pirates, English, French, and Spanish captains.
The game will also feature user designed content. Players will be able to use standard graphics software to design flag and sail decals that will be available to them in the game. Submitted content is peer-reviewed, and then reviewed by the Flying Lab staff for quality and appropriateness. The color of players' ships with also be customizable along with the flag and sail customizations.
Players with 3D modelling skills who are willing to meet the stringent criteria set for ship models, will be able to create 3D ship models using software such as Maya or GMax and submit them to be included in the game. Several user-created ships have already been accepted and integrated, and can be spotted in screenshots shown on game sites and the official site.