Is anyone else playing this? I find myself hopelessly addicted, and I've never even played a game like this before.

I must say, I'm getting better and better with my cutlass. :lol:

Is it free? Do you have a link?

You can play for free but for some reason I'm not able to copy the link.

Go to www.disney.com and then choose the "games" tab. Pirates is the top one in the upper right corner (look for Captain Jack's likeness).

The differences between free and pay-play don't sem to be huge. If you go into a pub under free mode you can only play blackjack, whereas under pay mode you can play Hold 'em poker also. (You have to earn gold somehow - either by winning card games or defeating opponents).

Apparently you can acquire skills in the "pay" mode that you can't in free. But I played free for quite a while and had a very good time.

To me it's very fun because they've used the characters from POTC and the likenesses aren't too shabby. And I've been trying to decide if Johnny actually did Captain Jack's voice - it sure sounds like it. If not, it's a VERY good impersonation.

The beginning of the game, where you're "building" your pirate is very funny. You start out in a jail cell with Jack and he has a LOT to say about your clothing and hair choices (you're able to customize your pirate quite a bit).

You also interact with Barbossa, Tia Dalma, Gibbs, Elizabeth, Will and Scarlett, as well as other "friendlies" who weren't in the movies - bartenders, gypsies, townsfolk and the like. I cracked up over the fact that you get a pistol from Barbossa and practice shooting on Jack the undead monkey! :lol:

Additionally, it's a real-time game so that you can interact with other "pirates" like yourself - assemble a crew for your ship to attack EITC and Navy ships for plunder, etc.

As you progress through the game you're given quests which, the further you go along, the more difficult they get. You're almost always killing undead skeletons of one sort or another - gravediggers, bandits, pirates, witch doctors, brigands...you get the picture.

Like I said, I've never played a game like this before, but to me it seems very well done. I'm enjoying the devil out of it.

I had done the pre-order to subscribe, but I have yet to play it due to everything going on right now in my life. Is this a different game? I'm surprised that it is being offered for free. If I could have played it for free, I'm confused as to the benefits for subscribing? Guess I should check it out soon...glad you are having so much fun!

I was finally able to copy the link this morning:

http://apps.pirates.go.com/pirates/v3/inde...urrentnews.html

Here's what it says about pay-play vs. free-play:

Unlimited access to all weapons and skills
Create and lead your own Pirate Guild
Get first priority entrance into the game...no waiting in line!
Captain bigger and better ships
Embark on expanded quests and storylines
Unlock numerous other exclusive game features

I know with pay play you can create 4 different pirates, whereas with free it's only 1 or 2. Good for families, so each member can have their own pirate.

Also, in free mode it can sometimes take 5 minutes or more to actually access the game - I don't know if it's overcrowded or what, but it pay mode it takes less than a minute.

It says you can create a guild in pay mode, but not in free. A guild is people you know, & it allows you to assemble a crew quickly. I'm more of a loner, so that doesn't appeal to me much.

I had a great time playing in the free mode also. Really, my main reason for paying is so I could play Hold 'em poker - I've been playing poker for a couple of years now & it was the easiest way for me to earn money in the earlier stages of the game, when my fighting and sailing skills weren't good & I was constantly getting "killed" which lands you in jail. I wanted money to upgrade my weapons so I wasn't a jailbird all of the time.

I want to play, but I don't have a video card, just an integrated chip on the motherboard, so my computer won't run the game at all. Hopefully I'll be able to afford a video card sometime next year and can start playing!

Joy

Becca I'm glad you're enjoying the game. I was part of the Beta test group for the game, but quite as it froze my computer too much. However, if you were part ot f the test group, I keep getting emails about playing, etc., but I just don't have time. I have to admit, I'm not very good at it either-lol! Glad they got the kinks worked out and it's working so well! :thumbsup

-Donna

I wasn't involved in the beta testing. But I kept checking back for when it was released. They seem to have worked out most of the kinks, but if you play for more than 1-1/2 hours it starts to lag pretty badly. But I've found if you shut the game off and log back in it runs fine.

I've worked up to level 18. I found out today, one of the differences between "pay" and "free" is that you can never advance past level 2 in anything (overall level, weapons, skills, etc) on "basic" or "free" play. I'm such a sucker, I've paid solely to interact with Cap'n Jack as often as possible. I'm convinced now that Johnny provided that initial voice, although you don't hear it after you're done creating your pirate.

After that it's scripted text with no "vocalisations". But that's okay. Because, to me, it's a really fun game and the likeness of Cap'n Jack is none too shabby. And they've done a really good job of incorporating the story we're all familiar with. You're fighting undead skeletons, the EITC and the Navy. There are locations and characters that are from the movies. And it's pretty user-friendly. It would have to be for me to be able to play it.

That's interesting that you can play for free until Level 2. I still haven't even played yet...just too much going on right now, but my credit card was just charged $9.99 for my second month...ugh. I'd better get my act together and start playing! Thanks for the report! :thumbsup

I saw a really nice-looking ad for this piratesonline.com game on TV yesterday. They really seem to be promoting it heavily.

Neat! Do you recall what channel you saw it?