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The Daily Grind: Should multiple accounts be policed?
Pirates of the Burning Sea recently amended its in-game rules to reflect an official stance on the practice of "alt-flipping," a tactic used by players with multiple accounts to manipulate the game's Conquest system. In a nutshell, Flying Lab devs have labeled certain uses of the tactic as griefing and stated that it will be policed as such (including possible bans). Interestingly, Flying Lab also goes out of its way to state it has no problem with multiple accounts per se, saying that in most cases multiple accounts are a perfectly acceptable gameplay tactic. This seemingly opens up a can of worms over what is considered legitimate and/or acceptable gameplay, particularly when the game's design intentionally features a "cutthroat, competitive [...] system that drives players to find any edge they can get over the opposing forces." Dual-boxing is nothing new in MMORPGs of course, and games like EVE Online even advertise it and run discount promotions for alt accounts. What about you, Massively readers? Do you dual-box, and more importantly, do you feel alt accounts should be policed? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of our readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's The Daily Grind!
Flying Lab answers six questions about Pirates of the Burning Sea
Unless you have a boulder for a roof, you know that the folks behind Pirates of the Burning Sea recently announced that the game is going down the free-to-play route. While that's very exciting, especially considering what free-to-play has done for games like Dungeons and Dragons Online, Lord of the Rings Online and EverQuest II, there were still some questions we wanted answered. We reached out to Declan O'Connell, the head of the Design Department at Flying Lab, for answers to some quick queries.
Community Detective, Issue #9: Pirates of the Burning Sea
Yarr! Hmm, not really. YARRRRRRR! That's a little better. Ahoy, mateys. Talk Like a Pirate Day may be over, but that isn't stopping me from navigating the rough waters of Flying Lab Software's Pirates of the Burning Sea for this week's issue of Community Detective. The game's a fair bit of fun, and since it recently joined the F2P bandwagon that all the cool kids are jumping on these days, it's likely to become more popular in the near future. As such, much like I did with Turbine's Lord of the Rings Online, I wanted to get a look at the game's community and customer service apparatus both before and after the payment model switcheroo. So how are the social aspects of the SOE-published title shaping up? Well, the customer service is pretty spot on. The community? Well, I'll be kind (for now) and simply say that it leaves a little something to be desired. Sail past the cut to learn more.
Uncharted Waters Online heads to open beta
Starting on October 1st, eager players will be able to jump into the open beta waters of Uncharted Waters Online. If you are a fan of Pirates of the Burning Sea, then you have an idea of what to expect with UWO. The game has a long history, stemming all the way back to a 1991 Nintendo title. This version is imported from Korea, where the game has enjoyed three years of hosting happy pirates. If you're an options player, then you'll more-than-likely enjoy UWO. While you can always fall back on combat or adventuring for your pirating needs, you can also explore and discover new areas and items, craft goods to sell, or become a trader. Of course, with job names like treasure hunter, master explorer, guerrilla or folklorist, you will have many other options to explore. The game also has a rich PvP system and weather that can actually hinder your adventuring. There will be a pre-load client available on September 29th for those of us who can't wait to get back to the stormy seas!
Flying Lab details Pirates of the Burning Sea F2P conversion
Flying Lab Software, makers of the Pirates of the Burning Sea historical naval MMORPG, recently decided it was time for the subscription-based business model to walk the plank. While Flying Lab CEO Russell Williams penned an introductory devlog breaking the news late last week, the piece was light on the details, setting the stage for a more in-depth look at the decision from a gameplay perspective. Flying Lab game designer Jason "Mr. Nutty" Gettel checks in with another devlog designed to address introductory questions that current players and tire-kickers may have about the title. While there's nothing revolutionary about Flying Lab's take on RMT (it features the standard item shop, along with the equally standard no-game-breaking-items-for-sale mantra), it's good to see it spelled out after Williams' somewhat cryptic announcement. One interesting wrinkle that bears watching is the way Flying Lab is implementing perks for Captain's Club members (the new name for monthly subscribers). Among other things, subbers will enjoy an experience bonus as well as increased loot and faction gain over their F2P brethren. Read the full article on the game's official website, and be sure to look for Massively's exclusive Flying Lab interview in the coming days.
Pirates of the Burning Sea to go F2P with next expansion
Having just cranked out the shiny new expansion Power & Prestige for Pirates of the Burning Sea, the team at Flying Lab Software has opted to set a course for another uncharted destination -- the free-to-play waters! Indeed -- it appears that the company has been planning this move since the tail end of last year, and what's more, it has already coded in the free-to-play elements -- currently in testing. While no specific date has been given, the hope is to release this change in the fall along with their next expansion content pack. Russell Williams, CEO of Flying Lab Software noted the change in a statement: "Since we launched Pirates of the Burning Sea in January 2008, players have been battling on the high seas to control the Caribbean. With Power & Prestige's Port Governance, we've added a whole new level of immersion to the struggle for power. Players also have access to a wealth of new content, and have a whole new fighting school to master. We're also excited to make Pirates of the Burning Sea even more accessible by making it free-to-play in the near future so that even more players can enjoy the amazing ship battles, in-depth missions, and the rich Caribbean setting." More information regarding the decision can be found on the Pirates of the Burning Sea website, for those curious. In the meantime, good thing that Talk Like a Pirate Day is coming! We can get to practicin' on our piratin' talk before it be time to weigh anchor and set sail on the F2P sea, mateys.
Pirates of the Burning Sea expansion launches tomorrow
Flying Lab Software has announced the new live date for Power & Prestige, the first expansion for their Pirates of the Burning Sea MMORPG. The update, originally scheduled to sail in August, is bringing quite a few new features to the high seas title, including ship revamps, port governance, and new mission content. Community manager Tom "Rhaegar" Atkinson-Edwards checks in on the official website to give us the low-down on what to expect with the patch. Due to the expansion's extensive content and complexity, the folks at Flying Lab are estimating a 12-hour downtime tomorrow as they work their magic. You can view the full update notes for the expansion on the official Pirates of the Burning Sea support website.
One Shots: Where's the rum gone?
The crew at Flying Lab is still hard at work polishing up the upcoming Power & Prestige expansion to its game, Pirates of the Burning Sea. Meanwhile, devoted seafarers are checking out the new adventures on the test server, as the new expansion has gone into open beta and is set to launch soon. This fun screenshot of freebootin' adventure comes to us from regular contributor Steven K., who has been enjoying some privateerin' fun lately and writes in: "I've just been accepted into the Bretheren of the Coast. More importantly, I've been gifted a shiny new frogsticker and a pistol I call 'One-eyed William.' Here I am at the dock's of Morgan's Bluff. I'm certainly finding the old saying true so far... 'A pirate's life for me!' " Have you been enjoying some time in a game we don't see that often? Are niche titles your favorite type of MMOs? Well, don't be shy! Send your images in to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll post it out here for everyone to check out and give you the credit for being adventurous. %Gallery-85937%
Pirates of the Burning Sea expansion delayed
Those of you looking forward to the graphical improvements, ship tuning, and assorted extra features coming your way in Pirates of the Burning Sea's first expansion will have to cool your heels for a couple of weeks. Flying Lab Software community manager Tom "Rhaegar" Atkinson-Edwards posted official word on the Power & Prestige delay on the game's official website yesterday. While no firm timetable has been set, it's not time to walk the plank just yet, as Atkinson-Edwards states that the team is currently shooting for a revised date in early September. The expansion brings skill revamps, ship revamps, port governance, and a boatload of new missions to the world of Pirates of the Burning Sea. If you absolutely can't wait to see what the expansion has to offer, check out the open beta via the official website.
One Shots: Buckles need swashin'
One of the things that's especially fun for me, as the person who writes One Shots every day, is having regular contributors who like to touch base every so often and show off what they're doing. It's kind of like catching up with a friend you haven't seen in a while. Today, I got a note from one of our regular contributors, Stephen K., who has sent in several screenshots of Ryzom. He's decided to throw us a curve today by sending in a screenshot of Pirates of the Burning Sea, and writes in: "Cap'n Svven Svensson has only just arrived, but you can easily discern the disgust on his face. Nothin' worse than an empty cage! 'Hmmph,' snarls Svensson as he stares at the British soldier slumped in the one cage that is occupied. 'Me thinks we need to find you a friend!!' He's arrived in the Burning Sea just in time to help elect the new Governor, and pamphlets championing various 'candidates' lay trampled on the docks or swirl high above the rooftops in the stiffening western breeze." If you'd like to share your adventures from time to time, we're always looking for regular contributors! All you have to do is email a screenshot to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a note to tell us what's going on in the image. To be a regular, just send them in every so often and keep us in the loop on what you're up to. We'll post your images out here on Massively and give you the credit for sending them in! %Gallery-85937%
Pirates of the Burning Sea exchange shops detailed
We know what you're thinking, because it's the same thing we thought when we heard the words "exchange shop" uttered in concert with Pirates of the Burning Sea. Surprisingly, this isn't yet another free-to-play conversion announcement but rather a look at one of the new features sailing your way in the forthcoming Power and Prestige expansion. The new content, scheduled to launch August 24th, will enable Collection Exchange Shops on every junk buyer in a particular game region. In a nutshell, the shops streamline the loot collection and turn-in process, and a new dev blog over at the official Pirates of the Burning Sea website has all the details. "We have done some number crunching and decided to increase the value of low level loot in order to give new players another way to generate capital while roaming the open sea," the post says. Furthermore, Flying Lab has also added Career Reward Exchange Shops to the expansion. Due to the extensive ship changes coming with the patch, it's quite probable that many veteran players will want to respec their previously earned career rewards. Many career mission NPCs will now feature the ability to swap ship outfittings free of charge.
Pirates of the Burning Sea confirms expansion release date, extra features
Get ready to return to the high seas, as Flying Lab Software and Sony Online Entertainment have announced the official release date for Pirates of the Burning Sea's first expansion. Power and Prestige will sail on August 24th due to Flying Lab's desire to polish and perfect. The expansion, which already features quite a list of game improvements, will also debut with a new career rewards exchange shop, a junk buyer exchange shop, and client-side preferences for auto-facing targets in avatar combat. When we add these to the previously announced port governance, skill revisions, career revamps, ship tweaks, avatar skill revamps, and hefty doses of new mission content, the result looks to be a premium expansion that will keep captains busy for quite some time. You can view all the details via the official press release and expansion feature list.
Avast ye landlubbers: Uncharted Waters Online ahead!
A month ago we heard that the folks at TECHMO KOEI are bringing Uncharted Waters Online, a three-year-old pirate MMO from Korea, to North America. As we do with all piratey things, we waved our hooks in the air and demanded that they tell us more -- or else face our ire and walk the plank. While they didn't respond to garish pirate threats, KOEI was moved by "Pretty please?" and gave us a glimpse into the high seas and low talk of this popular title. Uncharted Waters Online is actually the latest in a long series of Uncharted Waters games, dating all the way back to a 1991 Nintendo title. Each game has dealt with a romanticized version of the Age of Exploration (14th through 16th century), and this MMO is no different. If you're familiar with games like Sid Meier's Pirates! and Pirates of the Burning Sea, you have a good idea what you're in for: trading, exploration, and a whole lot of ship-on-ship violence. Hit the jump for a deeper look at Uncharted Waters Online!
PotBS's Power and Prestige expanion enters open beta
Flying Lab Software has announced that the first expansion to their Pirates of the Burning Sea MMORPG has officially entered open beta testing. The new features, titled Power & Prestige, include Port Governance, a new fighting school called brawling, and over 60 new missions. "Power & Prestige's closed Beta has been a great success," says Flying Lab community manager Tom Atkinson-Edwards. "The feedback from our testers has been fantastic and we're excited to show Power & Prestige to the world." Closed beta testers as well as anyone sampling Pirates of the Burning Sea via its 14-day trial are eligible to participate in open beta activities from now through the launch in early August. Players may log into the Testbed server and experience Power & Prestige with no level-cap, as well as take part in weekend events hosted by Flying Lab.
Pirates of the Burning Sea dev blog details expansion graphical tweaks
Flying Lab Software is ramping up for the first expansion to its Pirates of the Burning Sea historical MMORPG, as the August launch of Power and Prestige is just around the corner. In a new blog on the official site, the developers talk about some of the graphical tweaks in store for ship captains everywhere, focusing in on the new avatar lighting system. The blog talks about the technical wizardry behind the new lighting system, as well as the decisions that went into creating the system itself. "The new lighting system had to be designed within several constraints. First, the new lighting system couldn't require much artist time, because ArtCo was busy with other expansion work. Second, the new system couldn't be much more resource-intensive than the old lighting system. Third, the new system couldn't add huge amounts of data to the game's size," the blog says. Check out the full article on the official website.
PotBS devs detail ship tuning, new expansion
Flying Lab Software, developers of the historical naval combat MMORPG known as Pirates of the Burning Sea, have released a new devblog detailing the ship-tuning options soon to be available in August's Power and Prestige expansion. The blog zeroes in on ship archetypes, including discussion about the considerable changes in store for scouts, warships, and merchants. Flying Lab are serious about leveling the playing field and bringing balance to the game's ship combat, but they're also taking into account historical and authenticity concerns. "Before everyone mentions warships going 35 knots, please remember this key fact: we've added stacking penalties on ship outfitting. We've tuned ships (and skills) with this in mind, as we expect ships to be outfitted more reasonably, and less to one extreme or another," the devblog states. The piece goes on to talk a bit about the desire for "vanilla" ships on the open sea as opposed to the relatively common high-end ships that most veterans possess. You can view the full article on the game's official website.
Set sail for Uncharted Waters Online
Look out, Pirates of the Burning Sea -- there's a new challenger on the high seas! Publisher CJ Internet and developer TECHMO KOEI are bringing Uncharted Waters Online to North American and European shores after a three-year run in Japan and Korea. Set during the Age of Exploration (1400s-1600s), players will pilot ships, conquer cities and engage in a complex economy, all in an effort to propel their chosen nation to victory. Because it is three years old, this free-to-play title should offer a greater amount of stability and content than most new MMOs. It looks as if there's a decent amount of character options in Uncharted Waters Online as well. Players can pledge allegiance to one of six nations -- England, Dutch Republic, Ancient Régime in France, Spanish Empire, Kingdom of Portugal, and Republic of Venice -- and live the life of an adventurer, merchant or soldier. The combat and conquest aspect of the game has a tight symbiotic relationship with the economy; for example, if you want lower taxes in port, it's best if your country's flag is flying above it. We'll be seeing more about this title at E3, but in the meantime you can check out the teaser trailer after the jump and our gallery full of screenshots and concept art: %Gallery-94950%
One Shots: A pirate's life fer me
Yarr, mateys! It be summer in the northern hemisphere, and that'll be meanin' that it's hotter than a freshly fired cannonball in a Spaniard's foredeck. But ha'e no fear, ya barnacle-laden landlubbers! If th' acrid winds a' summer be beatin' ye down, ye can always climb inte' ye fav'rite chair and set sail for the breezy seas in Flying Lab's Pirates of the Burning Sea like today's One Shots privateer, Cpt. Shadowind! Here's what th' salty dog had to say for 'imself and th' nice image 'e sent in te' us: "[It's] Cpt. Shadowind from Pirates of the Burning Sea sailing into summer -- hey there is no tax on wind!" If ye be readin' this site, then we know ye must be a tried an' true MMOer. If yer' readin this second paragraph, ye must be bleedin' bored! If yer' that bored, then ye should dig through yer screenshot folder, pick out a right tasty one for arr' right fair Massively crew, and send it o'er to oneshots AT massively DOT com along with yer name, th' name of th' game in yer screenshot, and a right fair tale about 'et. If 'ye do that, we promise 'te never make ye walk th' plank, matey. %Gallery-85937%
PotBS: Power & Prestige sails this summer
Flying Lab Software today announced the feature list for Power & Prestige, the upcoming expansion for their Pirates of the Burning Sea MMORPG. The expansion, the first for the historical high seas title that originally set sail in 2008, is due to be released this summer. Power & Prestige looks to build upon the game's Conquest system by allowing players to become Port Governors and wield significant strategic and economic influence over the game world. Additionally, the expansion will have over 60 new missions, four new Privateer factions, and a bevy of tweaks to combat gameplay. For starters, Avatar Combat skills are being overhauled by moving Brawling into its own fighting school. Additionally, every ship in the game is being revamped, including tweaks designed to offset outfitting stacking. Finally, each of the game's five career paths will receive some love in the form of new skills and additional tactical play options. Check out the official Pirates of the Burning Sea website for more details on the game, and be sure to sign up for the expansion beta, currently slated for Spring 2010.
Pirates of the Burning Sea announces server merges
Are you a fan of Pirates of the Burning Sea, and feel like the population in game has been a bit thin these days? You're certainly not alone. Other players have been expressing the same opinion, and Sony Online Entertainment has been listening. On March 5th, Pirates of the Burning Sea will be closing three servers: Blackbeard, Defiant, and Rackham. The two remaining servers, Antigua and Roberts, will serve the entire player base. Sony Online Entertainment is giving players a month to make plans and choose a new server. Beginning this Friday, February 5th, players on Blackbeard, Defiant, and Rackham will be able to transfer their characters to either of the remaining servers. Character creation on those three servers will be disabled at the same time, so start making your plans for new characters and transfers of current characters now. Character transfers can be done via the PotBS character transfer service.
