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Interesting Review from E3
admriker444
Member Posts: 1,526
His review...
Hidden away at the Nvidia booth this year, PotBS is based primarily on the conflict between English, French, and Dutch sailors, as well as pirates and privateers, in the Caribbean circa 1720. The game features both PvE and PvP elements, where actions taken by players in game on both types of missions directly affecting control of the game world. Unfortunately, the game seems to be about ship battles, ship battles, and more ship battles, and not a whole lot else. Currently in beta test, the game looks like it’s a lot of fun, but I have my doubts on whether or not it can keep subscribers playing over the long haul. This game should compete for market share with both Uncharted Waters Online and Pirates of the Caribbean Online, but the latter two don’t appear to be coming out any time soon, so it should have the advantage of being first to market
That part highlighted concerns me
Comments
I think that would be the current hold up on the game. They have the ship combat in and functioning correctly. However, someone along the way decided that would not be enough. That lead them to add missions and an economy. Now they are chunking through that as quickily as they can, but creating that much content takes time. The remaining question comes down to avatar combat. Right now, they are leaving that option open, but if they go down that route, expect further delays.
Captain John Matin
Royal Red
On their site the announced they are hiring -
Lead Animator
We are seeking an experienced animator to bring our online computer game of swashbuckling pirate action to life in classic Errol Flynn style. This is a full-time, staff position with benefits. The ideal candidate is an experienced action animator ready to contribute real work to the project while also leading our small, dedicated team of animators. You will need a thorough understanding of animation principles and knowledge of Maya.
Subtle hint.... I guess they are working on it.
Blackjoke - They said they were working on it at E3 too. Hopefully, this will make it for release. I watched the demo, and honestly the ship battles are a bit too ponderous. . . I can't imagine myself having fun with them for more than an afternoon.
They also claim that they're going to add player owned land properties as well. The example they gave was of a secret pirate cove that other players could find and attack.
So, there's potential. But, like all MMORPG's, that potential won't be fully realized at launch.
If they can generate all the stuff they say (ship combat, avatar combat, and ship-land combat), than this could be an extremely well rounded and immersive game. "If" being the important word there.
They are going in th right direction. The core experiance of the game will be ship combat thus their actions of fine tunning the mechanics which would govern ship to ship combat.
The studio is also hiring content designers for quests and scenariors. This game has potential to be a sleeper hit. They may have difficulty capturing 100k at launch due to the niche genre this game supports but I for one am very optomistic and enthusiastic about this game.
It's hard to deny that the ship combat is absolutely stunning! Reminds me of the greatness of EVE Online. I only hope it's as dynamic.
Speculation:
50k-60k subscribers upon launch. 100k after 1 year with 150k after 2 years.
Envinronments. They will have to open up character environments if they want a competing MMO. Focus should remain towards ship combat although facilitating an alternate means to "engage" within the environemnt through political endeavours, character/avatar espionage and building of player ports will propel this game into a league of it's own.
I'm hoping there is something besides combat in the game. I envisioned myself playing a merchant class delivering cargo and setting up trading posts and such.
Im definitely not writing the game off though. The developers here seem to actually listen to the community
I covered the game at E3 for Ten Ton Hammer. Article here.
Personally, I liked the game. Ship to ship combat looks fun. I'm not saying I'd make this my next full-on game, but I'm definitely going to play it. As for combat, I was told that avatar-to-avatar combat is in the works. Yep, there'll be sword fights.
Flying Lab doesn't have a publisher for this title right now. They were going to launch it using Steam (online), but that's changed. (The FAQs at the PotBS site, last time I looked, were pretty outdated.)
I don't know if I'd slam the game until you have more information about it. I've got nothing to gain by saying this--I could've given a scathing review of the game if I'd been so inclined--but I honestly liked what I saw. Give PotBS a chance...it looks fun.
.: Shayalyn :.
PR & Community Relations
Ten Ton Hammer
LOL, I aint the only guy that's older than Pong?
The element of UCW that will be missing in POTB are borders. There are none in UCW. If you sail east lomg enough, you end up back where you were. It was a globe, the only global game I can recall playing. It was also my first economy driven game.
As far as no Avatar combat, welcome to Eve in the water. Their is a debate but the point is it isn't unprecidented and I hope they stay with the ship being uyour marker.
Obviously PoTBS is going to be about ship battles and ships as avatars, duh.
There may be land options for character avatars down the road, but not at release, and it has always been planned that way.
No different than EvE Online's design.
If that doesn't appeal to you, then it's a good thing you are realizing it, and you shouldn't play.
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Brad McQuaid
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Executive Producer, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes
www.vanguardsoh
I think it looks interesting and quite refreshing for the MMORPG 'scene'.
Been monitoring it for some time now.
The highlited part isnt true anymore, they now have it so you can go to shore buy stuff sell stuff and make stuff. I read in one of their dev reports that you can own mutiple busnissus, so its not just all about fighting on a ship, theres an enconemy to play with too. The one thing that they need to add is land fights, it just isnt a pirate game with out a good sort fight.