“So, you’re a bit worse for wear there, mate. Been a rough patch of sea you’ve traversed? Be sure to stop by and share some of your rum with me. Savvy?” Jack Sparrow will be with us for years to come – his laughable antics while searching for his stolen ship, saving the girl, and proving his moral worth have given us memories we will not soon forget – and Disney has taken these experiences to a new level for us in the form of Pirates of the Caribbean Online.

Earlier this week, I had an opportunity to sit down with Mike Goslin, Vice President of Disney’s VR Studios, and was immersed in the depths of Tortuga and Port Royal through the eyes of the developers. One of the highlights was discovering that your character is in the scenes played out to lay the groundwork for your story. In other words, you become a MMO movie star in your own eyes as you watch yourself interact with Jack Sparrow, Mr. Gibbs, or other characters familiar to us all in a cut scene leading into your next sequence.

What is unusual is that this title is not attempting take a unique spin on an old favorite. Rather, they are seeking to preserve the integrity of the movies, and allow us to forge our own way in the world initially brought to us on the big screen. Naturally there are some aspects that are unavoidably different, but the fact remains that Disney is staying true to the storyline, and thus keeping us enthralled with the antics of our favorite pirate through it all.

Of course, if it were possible, everyone would want to play Jack Sparrow. I mean, who wouldn’t? So, in order to drive a more diverse world, that option was removed. However, in exchange, you are provided with an extremely wide range of character creation tools. Rather than just a long or short nose, you can choose to give your character a broken nose – and have it crooked in a way that appeals to you. This gives the world more visual diversity. Not everyone has the same model since the same look doesn’t appeal to everyone. While busty blondes and buff boys are all fine and good, it’s not really what every boy and girl aims for. Is it? Realistically, Pirates of the Caribbean has some soft ground to cover in terms of sacrificing some aspects of gaming for others. The graphics themselves are fairly simplistic in comparison to other titles out there, however what you are provided with in return is a fair trade, all things considered. With lower graphics, you gain more playability – less lag. The biggest question is whether or not this gamble will pay off. So far, they seem quite enthusiastic in their belief that it has, and will continue to do so. Aside from basic graphics and the overall feel of the title, some of the other factors normally seen in a traditional MMO are also absent. PotC is moving toward a market that is not aimed at the mature male in his late teens or early 20’s. Rather, they are focusing on the early teens – while still providing content they believe to be enticing to a wide range of players.

Therefore, in keeping with the reputation of Disney, their latest endeavor is also one lacking a large amount of violent animation. In other words, when you swing at a scorpion on the desert floor, you will do damage – but you will not see the physical manifestation of that damage. Yes, that’s right. No blood. No gore. No dying scream of a creature in the throes of agony as it taunts you with its parting words. I don’t think so. The animation in this game is definitely intense, and I was enthralled with that aspect more than I was dismayed at the lack of “realism” during the encounter. Keep in mind, violence can be entertaining, but it’s not for everyone. So here is a title where you are able to engage in the activity of playing an MMO that’s more than just characters interacting in a house, on a raceway, or through a store transaction while avoiding the blood and gore that isn’t always suitable for everyone. While you may or may not agree that this is either possible or productive to the growth and expansion of the industry and its far-reaching impact in the 18+ player base, you must agree that young kids should be allowed something more appropriate to their age-range that will not bore them to tears. I think that Pirates of the Caribbean has achieved that. In the making of this title, consideration was given to the diversity of the players out there… so it is entirely possible that while the lack of realism may offend your gaming sensibilities, you may be strong enough to break the mold and try something new. And you may just like what you see.

At this point, here is a list of the features that are available (as provided by Disney):

Key Game Features

• Create your own Pirate character - Choose from millions of combinations to fully customize your character (body type, face, hair, clothing, names, etc.)!
  
• Set sail on your own Pirate ship - Purchase and captain your own ship. Recruit your crew and set sail for the adventure of a lifetime.
  
• Quest for adventure and treasure - Embark on ship and land-based missions using secret maps to locate buried treasure. Explore lush jungles, volcanic caves, and vast tropical islands. Keep your wits about you though, as traps, ambushes, and double-crosses are an everyday occurrence when keeping company with pirates.
  
• Use advanced weaponry - Jump into battle with a variety of weapons, each requiring a unique set of skills to master. Improve your reputation as a fighter to be reckoned with and unlock more powerful weapons.
  
• Become a legend - Master a variety of skills, including swords, daggers, cannons, and sailing, to become the most notorious pirate in the world.
  
• Work your Voodoo Magic – Use your Voodoo magic to heal, travel, cheat in parlor games, and cast curses on enemies.
  
• Get some Booty - Earn extra loot playing poker and blackjack.
  
• Build a notorious Crew or Guild - Join together with others for expanded adventures and added power. Form your own Crew for a quick battle or join a Guild for longer term strategy.
  
• Grow your wealth with money and rare items - Hunt for buried treasure including gold, precious gems, and mysterious artifacts.

One of the other interesting aspects of this title is how the developers have sought a way to provide both the solo player and the group junkies a way to gain what they need in order to achieve their goals without being forced to go outside of their comfort zone. When you are attacking a mob, and someone else jumps in, there is a sharing of the rewards for sharing the effort. Regardless of whether or not you are in a consensual agreement regarding a joining of your swords, each player will get his/her fair share of experience and the reward of successful battle by obtaining their quest update, or sharing of loot, etc. This removes the competition between players for these aspects of the game, and feeds more into a true community feel in the world.

Another feature that is really cool is that the world of PotC has been scaled down in terms of travel. No more “Go here, zone there, get on this ship, sail to this port, run to this zone, and meet us here” found in many MMOs in order to join a group you may have come into a bit late. In this game, you can actually call to your group from anywhere in the world without any hassle. This is an ability granted to everyone, not just certain classes or races, and thus it makes working together easier in the long run. This is also used when joining any poker games you may be interested in. Yes, I did say poker games. Disney has incorporated pirate poker, and they also encourage cheating! I mean, what pirate plays fair? However, be warned. If you are caught cheating you may land in jail! Regardless, you can play cards against other players, and take a break from the hard work of pilfering and plundering on the high seas. Considering that this is an aspect unlike real-world gambling other than it involves a couple of card games, the rating on the game is able to remain at its current PG rating for the kids. There is a PvP system (and that’s Pirate vs. Pirate, mind you!) in place, yet it is completely consensual among the players. Much like you can join a poker game, you can also join a separate instance where you can either have a fair, one v. one battle with an individual, or you can set up a total mayhem arena, where the last one standing wins. This system involves instancing, so that you cannot be engaged and just have someone come up behind you and take you down.

For those who just cannot stand excessive journeys to reach a location, PotC has reduced your world travel to nothing. Basically, if you are waiting for a member of your team to do something, once they are ready to join you it is a simple matter of porting to you. In other words… the click of a button brings them to you. No standing on a dock, taking a ship, waiting for 20 minutes, running through a zone, and finally arriving at your destination. The philosophy is that if you’re working to achieve entertainment, it shouldn’t be a frustrating series of events in order to get there. Personally, I agree… I don’t want to get so frustrated that I’m so thankful to have finally arrived that I no longer care what we were going to do in the first place.

All in all, for those players more concerned with the storyline than the graphics, this might be worth checking out. I was pleasantly surprised with the versatility of what we saw, and the animation provided for as much immersion as possible. We spent about an hour laughing at the big guns, variety of looks, and the jail vs. death aspect.

Let’s not ignore that part! When you die, or lose at cards (or get caught cheating), etc., you go to jail – well, you are a pirate! This allows for a penalty without the death aspect. Once again, this is a title that is seeking an audience with everyone from the early teens on up. I enjoy this part merely because death carries many penalties and seems so… final. Even though you can revive and start again, death is still morbid no matter which way you look at it.

I’d take jail over death any day!

The bottom line is that so far, Pirates of the Caribbean looks to be a promising title for those searching for a title with some humor, entertainment, and creativity for the casual gamer. I’m anxious to see where this title goes, especially considering they have valid competition in terms of Pirates of the Burning Seas. While PotBS is more based on historical pirate adventures, and PotC is founded in a fantastical story of a slightly off-balance pirate… they both still involve pirates, the high seas, and Tortuga.

And so, until you get an opportunity drop anchor in Tortuga and take a look around for yourself, may the wind fill your sails, the rum be ever-lasting, and the high seas profitable!