Pirates of the Burning Sea- OPEN BETA!

[BigBlack]

It's only in the Caribbean.  The ports look somewhat different but mostly variations of the same theme.  But I didn't get to see all that many ports, to be fair.  Maybe 4 or 5.

Anything like hidden lagoons or some-such?  How does the land portion of the game figure in, exploration wise -- could you carve yourself out a little village deep into the jungle of some uninhabited island?

With whatever teleports and whatnot they've got going on, roughly how long does it take to cross from one side of the game world to another?  Is there any sort of 'no man's land', in the sense that it's not just a high level hunting ground or something like that, but actually relatively uninhabited?

I play MMOs to re-enact Deliverance, and the encroachment of civilization into all corners of the game world is 

[Bokonon]

There is a more fantastical area in the Bermuda Triangle, supposedly.

[Modern Angel]

It's only in the Caribbean.  The ports look somewhat different but mostly variations of the same theme.  But I didn't get to see all that many ports, to be fair.  Maybe 4 or 5.

Anything like hidden lagoons or some-such?  How does the land portion of the game figure in, exploration wise -- could you carve yourself out a little village deep into the jungle of some uninhabited island?

With whatever teleports and whatnot they've got going on, roughly how long does it take to cross from one side of the game world to another?  Is there any sort of 'no man's land', in the sense that it's not just a high level hunting ground or something like that, but actually relatively uninhabited?

I play MMOs to re-enact Deliverance, and the encroachment of civilization into all corners of the game world is 

Teleports are handled by getting to a port and leaving a spare ship at the harbor master. So any two points where you have docked ships you can teleport between.

As for no man's land there's this nice, vast area of open sea in the middle of the map south of Cuba and Dominica. There's also the Gulf of Mexico. You could make a living by pirating there.

[lamaros]

Someone hook me up with a beta. I can't wait a week or two!

[Tmon]

Is the avatar combat stuff required or can you capture other ships without boarding in person?

[Prospero]

You can generally avoid boarding and just smash people to little bits.

[Falconeer]

I want to know, and I am dead serious, if there's any reason to play this over Bounty Bay Online / Voyage Century (which is free).

[Hellinar]

I want to know, and I am dead serious, if there's any reason to play this over Bounty Bay Online / Voyage Century (which is free).

PotBS is supported by a monthly subscription. Voyage Century is item sales supported. Thats at advantage for PotBS right there to my mind.

Angband is free to play. VCO and the like are a paid MMOG baited with a free hook.

[Falconeer]

Not sure you are right. Voyage Century involves RMT while Bounty Bay (same game but serviced by a european publisher) works on a monthly fee.

Still, my question was about gameplay fun and hypotetical overall value.

[Hellinar]

Sorry. I'm just allergic to shopping, and prone to challenge the idea that a game funded by buying stuff in a store is "free".

There was quite a bit of discussion on the beta boards comparing VCO to PotBS, but I didn't follow all the details. Being RMT supported would take VCO out of the running for me.

Anyone tried both and can comment?

[WayAbvPar]

Jumped into a group last night to help someone with a mission- it was the first time I had been in a group combat with more than 1 opposing ship (did a bit of PvP gankage in a group last stress test). It was really fun, although the AI holds aggro too long. Our group leader had to run away and repair, and all 11 ships we were fighting followed her. The rest of us followed along shredding the riggings of the bad guys. Either I am a much better sailor than I thought, or I was playing with a bunch of n00bs (far more likely), because I boarded and captured more than half of the enemies myself, and helped to sink the others. Even got a nice ship upgrade from it- I had been out on the OS looking for a Jamaica Sloop to steal, since that is the best ship for me at my level. Couldn't find one, so I joined the group instead, and boom- 2 Jamaicas among the bad guys 

[bhodi]

Is the beta open yet?

[WayAbvPar]

Opens for Fileplanet subscribers Friday, and for the rest of the unwashed masses next week sometime.

[Mrbloodworth]

Opens for Fileplanet subscribers Friday, and for the rest of the unwashed masses next week sometime.

/em Stops washing to get that pirate-y smell.

[Hoax]

Sorry. I'm just allergic to shopping, and prone to challenge the idea that a game funded by buying stuff in a store is "free".

There was quite a bit of discussion on the beta boards comparing VCO to PotBS, but I didn't follow all the details. Being RMT supported would take VCO out of the running for me.

Anyone tried both and can comment?

The sooner people drop the kneejerk anti cash shop shit the better...

It can be done terribly but many games do a fine job of balancing the cash shop items and making it viable to play for free or play for much less then $15/mo without feeling gimped or being gimped at all.

On the PotBS front:
I have a FP sub I cannot for the life of me cancel so if my machine upgrades are in this weekend I'll be sure to try this out.

[HaemishM]

Just got an email that I've been accepted to the open beta. Why I got this early, I don't know, but I'm glad to finally try the thing out.

[Venkman]

It can be done terribly but many games do a fine job of balancing the cash shop items and making it viable to play for free or play for much less then $15/mo without feeling gimped or being gimped at all.

The problem, at least for me, is that none of the cash-for-goods games in the West seem to be built with the same amount of care given to the immersive properties that retain players. There may be a bunch coming, but what today has the same level of polish and dynamic action of a WoW. And yea, that's the baseline a cash-for-goods game is up against.

I'm the first to note the scores of millions of accounts microtrans-based games like Audition and Maplestory have. But neither one of them can hold a candle in terms of quality immersion to anything from CoX on forward as far as I'm concerned.

I'm just a market of one of course.

[WayAbvPar]

Just got an email that I've been accepted to the open beta. Why I got this early, I don't know, but I'm glad to finally try the thing out.

If you make a pirate give me a holler. Or PM me whatever you are playing and I can start up another character if needed.

[HaemishM]

I think either a Pirate or a pissy Frenchie is what I'll be making.

[WayAbvPar]

Are there any other kind? 

[Hoax]

I think either a Pirate or a pissy Frenchie is what I'll be making.

If we're playing as the French I think we should all have Senegalese character names, fucking French...

The problem, at least for me, is that none of the cash-for-goods games in the West seem to be built with the same amount of care given to the immersive properties that retain players. There may be a bunch coming, but what today has the same level of polish and dynamic action of a WoW. And yea, that's the baseline a cash-for-goods game is up against.

I'm the first to note the scores of millions of accounts microtrans-based games like Audition and Maplestory have. But neither one of them can hold a candle in terms of quality immersion to anything from CoX on forward as far as I'm concerned.

I'm just a market of one of course.

Yeah but that has nothing to do with the actual model, or at least it doesn't have to.  I agree with you but the person I was responding to was just another western gamer going "OMG RMT SUXXOR" which is basically total bullshit.  GW would work better w/ some cash shop options to ease people into fully kitted pvp chars who don't mind throwing 5-$20 at the problem to make it go away.  Doesn't WoW's CCG basically work as a lottery cash shop now?  Only achiever, my character needs to be better then everybody elses, catass morons get so bent out of shape about the very mention of a cash shop system.  Besides it cuts out the fucking IGE middleman nicely if you let your players trade in-game money for cash shop currency inside the game.

[Venkman]

I agree that in theory it could be good. But I pointed out what I did because the total type of game we're looking for, including theme and delivery, seems to not work well with microtrans. It might simply be an audience thing. We're so used to thinking of RMTing as profanity that as an entire generation of MMOGers, we're out. So the only real way to bring that here is to do so for a new audience that doesn't have any preconceived notions of "right" or "wrong", on any element, from graphics to fullscreen to theme to business model.

[Falconeer]

The problem, at least for me, is that none of the cash-for-goods games in the West seem to be built with the same amount of care given to the immersive properties that retain players. There may be a bunch coming, but what today has the same level of polish and dynamic action of a WoW. And yea, that's the baseline a cash-for-goods game is up against.

I'm the first to note the scores of millions of accounts microtrans-based games like Audition and Maplestory have. But neither one of them can hold a candle in terms of quality immersion to anything from CoX on forward as far as I'm concerned.

You are definitely right.
Although, I have to say, Perfect World really impressed me. Take a look at it if you can cause its art, world and features are definitely on par with western AAA titles. I would love to know how much it costed to develop, especially compared to western AAA MMOs.

[DarkSign]

Since anyone could see this in open-beta anyway, here's the only shot I have (luckily uploaded to Photobucket, before my rig died) of one of my characters early on.

[stray]

Were those names generated for you?

[DarkSign]

Were those names generated for you?

Yes and no. I mixed and matched the first and last names that were generated for me except for Cadence Dudingston. Her last name comes from a famous British general from colonial times. His blood was the first blood of the American Revolution.

[Venkman]

Although, I have to say, Perfect World really impressed me. Take a look at it if you can cause its art, world and features are definitely on par with western AAA titles. I would love to know how much it costed to develop, especially compared to western AAA MMOs.

Defintiely will check it out. Don't think I've heard of it. Thanks!

[Falconeer]

You are welcome but remember, I never said it is fun! :)

[Signe]

I downloaded it again but it wasn't as fun as watching the cats sleep.

[Tige]

Piratey games falling out of the sky.  I tried VCO several months ago and it was ok, haven't tried this iteration of the game yet but now no reason not to.

Berlin, 06.12.2007: Starting today, it’s even easier to become a world famous pirate, explore the seven seas and collect treasures beyond imagination in the award-winning MMORPG Bounty Bay Online. The game client – previously sold for 20 Pound Sterling or 30 Euros – now is completely free. It can be downloaded from the official website ( www.BountyBayOnline.com) and it also includes a 10 days free trial period.

The change to a “free client” business model is a way to improve BBO game-play by offering a slick, easy way to get into the game. Players who already bought the boxed version of the game will be compensated with a free month playing time.

Also starting today, the first free add-on for Bounty Bay Online called “Storm Island” is available. This add-on will be included in the content update applied automatically when the players log in. It contains a new tropical island close to the North American coast. There, evil creatures wait guarding precious treasures.

Source: Bluesnews

[JoeTF]

EVE would be more casual friendly if you make the gameplay faster and FIX THE UI.

Tangent: EVE's UI gets upgraded tomorrow, along with teh shinee! Not the best time for PotBS to start open beta, really. 

EVE got upgraded with installer_that_bricks_your_PC among of countless bugs and missthough changes (bounties being transfered after 30 mins of playing or major npc ship nerfed to nothingness; I'm sure regular players will appreciate this). This is the right time for open beta.

[Nija]

Alright, I gave it another shot with the X to interact info and I'm enjoying myself.

DrewC, you win this round.

It's pretty close to a good game, and will probably be playable and fun within 6 months of release.

[WayAbvPar]

Alright, I gave it another shot with the X to interact info and I'm enjoying myself.

DrewC, you win this round.

It's pretty close to a good game, and will probably be playable and fun within 6 months of release.

The 1.00.13 and .16 patches really gave me hope. Haven't played with .17 yet. I think group PvP would be absolutely amazing if you could get into semi-balanced groups. That is the big drawback of instanced combat. However, the appeal of instanced combat is that you have a decent chance to run away if you have a quick enough ship, even from a gank squad. Tried to sneak through a pvp zone last week with my privateer. Got caught by a gank squad, but managed to get away through some tricky sailing, luck, and timely use of cooldowns.

[Hoax]

Expect me to be playing Saturday, my new computer parts come Friday but I also have the office xmas party...........   

[WayAbvPar]

I am stuck at work tonight, but can play tomorrow night. Saturday and Sunday are pretty much shot (at least until Sunday evening). Level cap extends to 30 on Monday, so I gotta get some leveling done somewhere along the line!