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Pirate101

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Pirate101
Developer(s)KingsIsle Entertainment
Publisher(s)KingsIsle Entertainment
Platform(s)Windows, OS X
ReleaseOctober 15, 2012[1]
Genre(s)MMORPG
Mode(s)Multiplayer

Pirate101 is a Pirate-Based MMORPG created by KingsIsle Entertainment. Players assume the role of heroic pirates that set out in search of the treasures of the Spiral, the same fictional universe used in Wizard101. Players can complete quests, sail ships, befriend companions, and battle enemies in a turn-based combat system similar to Board Games.[2]

The game also has a sister game called Wizard101.

Overview

The fictional universe of the Spiral is divided into several worlds, each consisting of multiple areas. The game's content is divided into numerous "Books", which are further subdivided into individual "Chapters". Players may purchase Chapters with "Crowns", the game's premium currency, which grants access to all areas related to a chapter. Purchasing a membership grants unlimited access to all chapters for a limited time. Upon character creation, players are given free access to the "Introduction" and "Prologue Part 1" or the first Book.

As the player progresses, more areas become available. Currently, the maximum level one can obtain, is level 65. The first and only main storyline takes the player through Skull Island, Monquista, Valencia, Cool Ranch, MooShu, Marleybone, and Aquila.

Side activities in the Spiral include Practice PvP, training pets, pet sparring, housing, gear, and spells.

The game holds a rating of E10+ from the Entertainment Software Ratings Board for crude humor and Cartoon Violence.[3]

Known worlds

  • Skull Island - A Safe Haven for Pirates, smugglers, and other malefactors. The world was won by Captain Avery in a bet with the Marleybonian Governor. All current trainers are located in this world and this is the first world where pirates visit. The world is split into four "Skyways": Skull Island Skyway, Tradewinds Skyway, Flotsam Skyway, and Port Regal Skyway.
  • Monquista - A world based on Spain during the Exploration of the Americas, it is home to the Monkeys. This world rose to become a major power of the Spiral by finding gold in their colonies in Skull Island. The Monquista Crown and government changes every single day. Monquista has had feuds with Marleybone and Valencia, and had played a minor part in the Polarian War. This world has one Skyway known as Tierra Primata Skyway.
  • Valencia - A world based on Italy. Valencia is home to Unicorns, Crabs, and Guinea Pigs. Valencia played a major part in the Polarian Wars by defeating the Polarian Army with the Valencian Clockwork Armada (a parody of the Spanish Armada). The Armada took over Valencia and has been seen destroying some lands in the skyway and taken over the Academy of Sivella. There is one Skyway in this world known to players as Aragon Skyway. Another skyway referenced to as "Cadiz" has been mentioned but is not currently available.
  • Cool Ranch - A world based on the Wild West. Cool Ranch is home to the Chickens, Mustang Horses, and the Bison Tribes. Cool Ranch was once home to only the Bison until the Chickens came from "back East" and colonized the area driving the Bison tribes away from their towns. It was also colonized by Marleybone which brought new technology to the world; however, the Marleybonians left due to the scarcity of riches. There are five skyways: Cooper's Roost Skyway, Big Sky, Arroyo Grande, Santo Pollo Skyway, Tumbleweed Skyway, and Haunted Skyway.
  • MooShu - A world based on ancient China and Japan. This world also appears in Wizard101. The exotic realm of MooShu is home to the Cows, Pigs, Goat Monks, and Horses. After the Emperor was put into a deep sleep by a Necromancer named Malistaire Drake, the first antagonist of Wizard101, MooShu descended into chaos. Recent uprisings of the Amber Horde, and tyrannical governors have resulted in this prominent disorder across MooShu. MooShu is divided up into three skyways: Hamamitsu Skyway (the only skyway visitors from other worlds can enter except if you have permits), Khotan Skyway, and Subata Skyway. There is also the mentioned Imperial Skyway, which is where the Wizards from Wizard101 travel in their storyline.
  • Marleybone - A world based on the British Empire. Marleybone is home to the rich Dogs, poor cats, rats, frogs, and foxes. Marleybone is also a world in Wizard101. Marleybone is one of the greatest powers in the Spiral second only to Valencia. Recently some pesky pirates have accidentally started a war between Valencia and Marleybone, which caused Valencia to bring the Beachhead to Westminster Skyway. The Armada plans to destroy Marleybone City to pay for what "they" did in Skull Island. Marleybone is falling into chaos with not only the uprisings of gangs of radical foxes, cats, rats, and frogs, but also the uncooperative tiger army brought from Rajah who was supposed to help the Marleybonians, as well as being at the mercy of Valencia. Marleybone has one skyway known as Westminster Skyway and two other unreleased skyways known as Albion Skyway and Kent Skyway.
  • Aquila - A world largely based on Greek Mythology and Ancient Greece. Aquila is home to the Centaurs, Colossi, Cyclops, Eagles, Ophidians, Trolls and Vultures. Aquila is commonly referred to as the birthplace of civilization: the Aquilan people introduced Windstones (A Stone that is required to travel through stormgates to get from one world to the next) Writing, Language, Philosophy and Science to the spiral. Aquila has two known skyways, Achean Way and the Ithaca Skyway, another is mentioned in game, the Ionian Skyway.

Payment model

The game offers a choice of either subscription or "Free-to-Play" with microtransactions. Free-to-Play customers can purchase access to different chapters of content using in-game currency called Crowns. Chapters only need to be purchased once, but other actions in the game may be necessary before accessing them. Crowns also can be used to buy in game exclusive items and to use the Transportaler system to instantly transport to other worlds.

Players who purchase a subscription may adventure through all playable worlds during their timed subscription days but are also able to gain access to faster Energy regeneration, a larger backpack, larger friends list, and will be able to reset companion talents for gold. Players will also be able to post on the Pirate101 Message Board.

Player interaction

Due to its young core audience, Pirate101 restricts player interaction when compared to other games in the massively multiplayer online genre. There are three different types of chat: Menu Chat, Open Chat and Text Chat.[4] In Text Chat, what a player types can be seen by every other pirate in the area either from a word bubble on top of the speakers head or in the chat box. Private Chat allows for pirates to speak in private to another pirate. The age of the player directly correlates to the communication allowable. When typed, words that appear in white are words that everyone is able to view. Yellow words can only be seen by players who have their account set to "Open Chat". Open chat is obtained once a player uses a valid credit card for a transaction on their account and they are 18 years old or older. Red words are not allowed and can be seen by no one. If an adult chatter types yellow words, young pirates will see ellipses (...) in place of the word. Red words include not only profanity, but also words that would allow players to share real life information with each other including phone numbers, their ages, or real world locations.

Players may also duel each other in an open arena known as the "Brawlin' Hall", which allows for up to four players on two opposing teams to participate in player versus player combat.

Players can also participate in a trading system of Doubloons, which are powers that may be used once within a battle. Doubloons can be reorganized in the ability interface and may be discarded during battle in order to draw newer Doubloons. Pirates cannot trade equipment, housing items, mounts, or pets. However, a system if pet morphing is available for players.[5]

Online safety features

Parents must activate controls for players under 13, including setting levels for interaction with other players in the world. Three different levels of chat are available. At the most restricted level, players select from a menu of pre-defined phrases, and players using this option can only see menu chat from other players. At the next level, players may type what they want, as long as the words are available in the game’s dictionary. If a word is not present in the dictionary, or part of a forbidden phrase, such as asking another player’s age, it will not be visible. The official game forums are filtered and moderated.

Loot drops are provided by chests at the end of battles, all of which are distributed equally among the players in battle.[6]

Other features have been designed with a pre-teens audience in mind, for example opponents in combat disintegrate or vanish, and there is no blood. Names are restricted a pre-selected list that players must choose from. The game does include the use of weapons such as guns and magic; however, the guns shoot electricity rather than bullets.[7]

Reception

According to a KingIsle Entertainment's press release, Pirate101 had 5 million registered users in October, 2013, matching the first year success of Wizard101.[12] In terms of reception, Suzie Ford of MMORPG noted the game's bright aesthetics and commended its use of strategic turn-based gameplay; however, she considered the micromanagement of units overwhelming for kids thus making the combat system too complicated for children.[13] Nick Tylwalk of Gamezebo insists that the helpful interface makes combat very clear and is of great assistance to children.[14] Karen Bryan of Massively also stated that KingsIsle succeeded in making a complex enough system to challenge players without over-complicating it.[15]

2 months after the release of Pirate101, the game won the Player's Choice Award for Game of the Year from MMORPG with 27.8% of the vote, only 0.5% more votes than Guild Wars 2.[16]

References

  1. ^ "IGN". Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  2. ^ Fuller, Garret (2012-04-25). "Pirate101 Combat Preview". MMORPG. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  3. ^ "ESRB Rating". Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  4. ^ "Common Sense Media". Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  5. ^ Reahard, Jef (2014-03-24). "Pirate101 Announced New Advanced Pet System". Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  6. ^ Tylwalk, Nick. "Gamezebo Pirate101 Review". Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  7. ^ Tylwalk, Nick. "Gamezebo Pirate101 Review". Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  8. ^ Ford, Suzie (2012-11-29). "MMORPG Pirate101 Review". Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  9. ^ Tylwalk, Nick (2012-10-31). "Gamezebo Pirate101 Review Rating". Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  10. ^ "RTSGuru". 2012-06-12. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  11. ^ "MMORPH Game of the Year (2012)". 2012-12-24. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  12. ^ "Pirate101 Turns 1 Press Release". Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  13. ^ Ford, Suzie (2012-11-29). "MMORPG Pirate101 Review". Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  14. ^ Tylwalk, Nick (2012-10-31). "Gamezebo Pirate101 Review Rating". Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  15. ^ Bryan, Karen (2013-12-25). "MMO Family:Setting Sail In Pirate101". Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  16. ^ "MMORPG Game of the Year (2012)". Retrieved 2014-10-30.
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