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'''''Sea of Thieves''''' is an [[action-adventure]] video game developed by [[Rare (company)|Rare]] and published by [[Microsoft Studios]] for [[Windows]] and [[Xbox One]]. The game allows players to take the role of a [[pirate]] sailing the seas of a fantastical world either solo or as part of a crew of up to four players. The game features both co-operative and [[player versus player]] combat. It was released to a limited selection of countries<ref name="released_countries"/> on 20 March 2018 and received mixed reviews from critics.
'''''Sea of Thieves''''' is an [[action-adventure]] video game developed by [[Rare (company)|Rare]] and published bi [[Microsoft Studios]] for [[Windows]] and [[Xbox One]]. The game allows players to take the role of a [[pirate]] sailing the seas of a fantastical world either solo or as part of a crew of up to four players. The game features both co-operative and [[player versus player]] combat. It was released to a limited selection of countries<ref name="released_countries"/> on 20 March 2018 and received mixed reviews from critics.


==Gameplay==
==Gameplay==

Revision as of 11:32, 14 December 2018

Sea of Thieves
Developer(s)Rare
Publisher(s)Microsoft Studios
Director(s)Gregg Mayles
Producer(s)
  • Joe Neate
  • Drew Stevens
Designer(s)Mike Chapman
Programmer(s)Peter Campbell
Artist(s)
  • Ryan Stevenson
  • Peter Hentze
Writer(s)
  • Chris Allcock
  • Mike Chapman
Composer(s)Robin Beanland
EngineUnreal Engine 4
Platform(s)
Release20 March 2018
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Multiplayer

Sea of Thieves is an action-adventure video game developed by Rare and published bi Microsoft Studios for Windows and Xbox One. The game allows players to take the role of a pirate sailing the seas of a fantastical world either solo or as part of a crew of up to four players. The game features both co-operative and player versus player combat. It was released to a limited selection of countries[1] on 20 March 2018 and received mixed reviews from critics.

Gameplay

Sea of Thieves is a pirate-themed action-adventure cooperative multiplayer game played from a first-person perspective.[2][3] The game features cross-platform play between Windows-based personal computers and Xbox One video game consoles.[4] A group of players travel and explore an open world via a pirate ship and assume different roles such as steering, hoisting sails, navigation, and firing cannons.[3][5] Players embark on quests, collect loot and engage in combat with other players.[5] Sea of Thieves is a shared game world, which means groups of players will encounter each other regularly throughout their adventures.[3] The game has a cartoonish art style and an exaggerated physics engine that allow players to perform stunts, like being shot out of ship cannons.[4][6]

Players can collect coins by completing missions called voyages, taking loot from other ships, or raiding a skeleton fort that contains large amounts of gold. The player aims to become a pirate legend. The gold can be used for purchasing everything from re-skinned weapons to new hulls and sails for the ship. These items are cosmetic and do not affect combat. The weapons are given to the player at the start of the game, and have five rounds of ammo before needing to find an ammo box to restock. The four usable weapons are a flintlock, a blunderbuss, a sniper rifle, and a cutlass. Two weapons can be carried at once.

Development

Sea of Thieves was developed by Rare.[2] Its pirate theme can be traced back to Project Dream, another pirate-themed video game in the 1990s that eventually became Banjo-Kazooie.[7]

Sea of Thieves was developed using Epic Games' Unreal Engine 4.[8] Development started in 2014 with the idea of "Group Shaped Narrative", which Gregg Mayles of Rare described as "a clumsily titled concept [that] envisaged a different type of multiplayer game where players would create 'experiences that are entertaining to watch'".[9] The game, codenamed "Athena", did not originally focus on pirates at the time.[9] Instead of a regular character creator, the game features an "infinite pirate generator", that randomly generates a carousel of eight pirates with various body types and faces; players can pick one to play, look at eight more, or can lock one appearance in place while the others change.[10] In November 2016, Rare launched the Insider Programme to give select members access to an in-development version of the game. Rare used the Insider Programme for testing purposes and to get feedback from players.[11]

In June 2015, Sea of Thieves was announced at Microsoft's Xbox press conference at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2015 (E3).[12] Gameplay was first shown at E3 2016.[2] The game was scheduled to launch on Windows and Xbox One in 2017, but it was delayed until 20 March 2018.[13][14] The game is part of Microsoft's Xbox Play Anywhere cross-buy program, meaning that purchasers of the downloadable version of the game can play the game on both a Windows 10 computer and an Xbox One.[11] Additionally, the game is playable at launch for those subscribed to Xbox Game Pass.[15]

Reception

Sea of Thieves received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[17] Many noted that the game was lacking in content, and criticised Rare's decision to charge full-price.[28]

Writing for Polygon, Russ Frushtick gave the game 6.5/10, saying "Sea of Thieves has the foundation of an incredible experience. It is a true pirate game that simulates the experience of piracy perfectly. And yet, after those first few jaw-dropping hours, you’re going to start feeling less like Blackbeard and more like Blackbeard’s accountant."[25] Similarly, Kirk McKeand of VG24/7 wrote that the game "just needs more. It needs more ways to play, more mission variety, more enemy variants than just different coloured skeletons, and more meaningful progression. If these things don’t appear soon, I can see player numbers dropping off substantially after a short while."[29] Michael Goroff of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game a 6/10, writing "Sea of Thieves' world isn't completely lacking in achievement, thanks to its luscious visuals and excellent sailing mechanics, but it feels completely undercooked in terms of actual gameplay. Perhaps ironically, Sea of Thieves feels like the skeleton of a game rather than a fully realized experience."[19] IGN's Brandin Tyrell gave the game 7/10, writing that it had "a good foundation that's fun with friends" but was bogged down by a repetitive grind.[24]

Upon release, a large number of players reported having trouble logging into the game. Rare studio head Craig Duncan and executive producer Joe Neate explained that due to a higher-than-expected number of players getting the game on day one, they had to turn some away in order to stop servers from crashing.[30]

Accolades

Year Award Category Result Ref
2016 Game Critics Awards Best of Show Nominated [31]
Best Original Game Nominated
Best Online Multiplayer Nominated
Gamescom 2016 Best Xbox One Game Won [32]
Best Social/Online Game Nominated
Best Multiplayer Game Won
Golden Joystick Awards Most Wanted Game Nominated [33]
2017 Game Critics Awards Best Original Game Nominated [34]
Best Online Multiplayer Nominated
Golden Joystick Awards Most Wanted Game Nominated [35]
2018 Develop Awards Animation Nominated [36]
Visual Design Nominated
Music Design Nominated
Sound Design (Rare Ltd) Nominated
Gameplay Innovation Nominated
The Independent Game Developers' Association Awards Best Action and Adventure Game Nominated [37][38]
Creativity Award Nominated
Best Audio Design Nominated
Visual Design Won
Golden Joystick Awards Best Audio Design Nominated [39][40]
Best Co-operative Game Nominated
Xbox Game of the Year Nominated
The Game Awards 2018 Best Multiplayer Game Nominated [41]

References

  1. ^ "What regions can I purchase Sea of Thieves in?". 28 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Alexander, Julia (11 June 2017). "Sea of Thieves coming in early 2018". Polygon. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Totilo, Stephen (15 June 2016). "How Rare's Co-Op Pirate Game Sea Of Thieves Works". Kotaku. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  4. ^ a b Hall, Charlie (13 June 2016). "Rare's next game is a multiplayer pirate adventure". Polygon. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  5. ^ a b Moser, Cassidee (14 June 2016). "E3 2016: Sea of Thieves is a Massive Pirate Sandbox". Shacknews. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  6. ^ Chan, Stephanie (11 June 2017). "Microsoft's Sea of Thieves shows how you use cannons to board ships". VentureBeat. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  7. ^ Rare Ltd (22 December 2015), Rare Revealed: A Rare Look at Dream, retrieved 29 March 2018
  8. ^ Thang, Jimmy (12 July 2016). "Tim Sweeney Criticizes Microsoft/Oculus and Talks Project Scorpio". GameSpot. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  9. ^ a b Mayles, Gregg (24 January 2018). "Nearly 4 years ago, a clumsily titled concept envisaged a different type of multiplayer game where players would create 'experiences that are entertaining to watch'. Today we'll start to find out whether #SeaOfThieves has achieved this pic.twitter.com/vblR45ywF7". @Ghoulyboy. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  10. ^ "Rare, Give Me a Little Control in Making My 'Sea of Thieves' Character". Vice. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  11. ^ a b Donnelly, Joe (23 November 2016). "Sea of Thieves launches early access 'Insider Programme'". PC Gamer. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  12. ^ Lee, Ben (15 June 2015). "Rare's Sea of Thieves announced as Xbox One and PC exclusive at E3 2015". Digital Spy. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  13. ^ Pereira, Chris; Dayus, Oscar (11 June 2017). "E3 2017: Sea Of Thieves Delayed Until 2018". GameSpot. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  14. ^ Seppala, Timothy J. (8 December 2017). "Pirate simulator 'Sea of Thieves' hits Xbox on March 20th". Engadget. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  15. ^ Phil Spencer (23 January 2018). "Xbox Game Pass Expands To Include New Releases From Microsoft Studios". news.xbox.com. Microsoft Corporation. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  16. ^ "Sea of Thieves for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  17. ^ a b "Sea of Thieves for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  18. ^ Devore, Jordan (23 March 2018). "Review: Sea of Thieves". Destructoid. Retrieved 23 March 2018. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  19. ^ a b Goroff, Michael (23 March 2018). "Sea of Thieves review". EGMNow. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  20. ^ Hilliard, Kyle (23 March 2018). "Fun In A Shallow Pool - Sea of Thieves - Xbox One". Game Informer. Retrieved 23 March 2018. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  21. ^ Tamburro, Paul (26 March 2018). "Sea of Thieves Review – Rarely Exciting (Xbox One)". Game Revolution. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  22. ^ Brown, Peter (27 March 2018). "Sea of Thieves Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  23. ^ Loveridge, Sam (23 March 2018). "Sea of Thieves review: Doesn't have the (sea)legs for longevity". GamesRadar+. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  24. ^ a b Tyrell, Brandin (27 March 2018). "Sea of Thieves Review". IGN. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  25. ^ a b Frushtick, Russ (22 March 2018). "Sea of Thieves review". Polygon. Retrieved 22 March 2018. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  26. ^ Wilde, Tyler (23 March 2018). "Sea of Thieves review". PC Gamer. Retrieved 23 March 2018. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  27. ^ Bell, Alice (27 March 2018). "Sea of Thieves review". VideoGamer.com. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  28. ^ "Sea of Thieves reviews round-up – all the scores for Rare's wonky pirate adventure". VG247. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  29. ^ Kirk McKeand (22 March 2018). "Sea of Thieves review: an ocean of possibility, but nothing below the surface". VG247. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  30. ^ "Sea of Thieves team issues candid video update on persistent technical issues". Polygon. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  31. ^ "Game Critics Awards: Best of E3 2016 (2016 Nominees)". Game Critics Awards. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  32. ^ "Best of Gamescom 2016 Winners Selected by Gamescom Committee". The Video Game Librarian. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  33. ^ Sam Loveridge (15 September 2016). "Golden Joystick Awards 2016 voting now open to the public". Digital Spy. Retrieved 4 September 2018. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  34. ^ "Game Critics Awards: Best of E3 2017 (2017 Nominees)". Game Critics Awards. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  35. ^ Eri Gaito (13 November 2017). "Golden Joystick Awards 2017 Nominees". Best in Slot. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  36. ^ MCV staff (21 May 2018). "Announcing the Develop Awards 2018 nominations shortlist". The Market for Computer & Video Games. Retrieved 4 September 2018. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  37. ^ Suzi Stephenson (19 September 2018). "TIGA Announces Games Industry Awards 2018 Finalists". The Independent Game Developers' Association. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  38. ^ "2018 Winners". The Independent Game Developers' Association. 1 November 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  39. ^ Tom Hoggins (24 September 2018). "Golden Joysticks 2018 nominees announced, voting open now". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  40. ^ Connor Sheridan (16 November 2018). "Golden Joystick Awards 2018 winners: God of War wins big but Fortnite gets Victory Royale". GamesRadar+. Retrieved 17 November 2018. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  41. ^ Grant, Christopher (6 December 2018). "The Game Awards 2018: Here are all the winners". Polygon. Retrieved 9 December 2018. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
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