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Battle for the high skies: Hands-on with Pirate101
Her name is Reckless Roslyn Ramsey, and she is a pirate. She sails a ship, loots treasure, hangs out in seedy bars, and fights anyone who stands between her and the fame and fortune she so rightly deserves. You wouldn't be lying to say that young Ms. Ramsey has swashed a fair few buckles in her time, and the pink and white, panda and crossbones flag under which she and her crew sail is feared the world over. Such is life in Pirate101, a family-oriented MMO created by KingsIsle Entertainment and due to launch today. Placing you in the role of a young pirate at the beginning of his or her quest for glory, Pirate101 asks you to carve your own path, gather cunning crewmembers, and discover the hidden mysteries of The Spiral (a fantasy world the game shares with smash hit Wizard101). I hopped in on the Pirate101 head-start over the weekend to get an idea of what this colorful MMO has to offer and to see whether its kid-friendly design hinders its ability to be fun for those of us jaded gamers who expect a little blood with our sword slashes. What I found was an accessible game with a clear slant toward younger players as well as a robust and fun MMO with plenty to offer grown-ups seeking to step away from the grim, dark worlds of more traditional fare.
Enter to win one of two ships from Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean Online
Yarrr, maties! Turn yer eyes up above, off starboard! Aye, there be a miniature pirate ship herself, complete with three masts and all the sails and rigging on a custom stand, packed in an official Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean Online wooden crate. Ye want her, matey? Then she's yours... if ye win!Yes, Massively is giving away not one but two of these miniature pirate ships (they stand a little over a foot tall, and a little longer across), and with them, a yearlong subscription to Disney's online Pirates of the Caribbean game, estimated retail value of a hefty $145 each. To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post with your best pirate impression-- that can include some insults, a shanty of some sort, or just a good old fashioned "Yaarrrr!". Put a comment (and only one) on this post before Thursday afternoon, January 31st, at 3pm EST, and after that we'll choose not one but two winners to receive the miniature ships and a year of free PotC gameplay.There are caveats in the pirate code-- you must be 18 years of age or older, and you must be living within the United States (that's right-- due to legal regulations, pirates of the Caribbean are not actually allowed to win). Also make sure to use an email that you regularly check to enter the comment, as that's where we'll be contacting the winner. Full official rules are here.Good luck, landlubbers! And stay out of Davey Jones' locker!
The Daily Grind: Getting there
We have to say, one of the things that we've enjoyed in games was watching the evolution of travel systems. Now, this isn't to poke too much fun at the old way -- after all, a lot of friendships were started while sitting in Butcherblock Mountains or Qeynos in EverQuest and waiting for the boats to show up. (You know, when they actually worked.) But there's something to be said for having your own personal way of getting around quickly -- be it a horse, a super travel-power, a spaceship, or a pirate ship! As games evolve, there are more and more options; Warhammer Online has some pretty cool-looking mounts coming up. On the other hand, games like Perfect World do utterly bizarre things with them like piling people on top of tigers on top of giant flying manta rays like the one in the picture above. Today we'd like to know what your #1 personal method of travel has been in your game? Are you addicted to Flying or Super Jump? Is the Skeletal Warhorse your pick of choice? Is there nothing better for you than a high-end spaceship or a nice heavy pirate ship? How do you get around?
