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*Announcement:POTCO Closing*
A sad day for pirates everywhere
Disney has announced they are shutting down pirates online on september 19th. Avast there, mates! Pirates of the Caribbean Online will be closing on September 19, 2013. From now until September 19, 2013, ALL Pirates can log into Pirates Online and enjoy full Unlimited Access for free! Here's what you need to know: Pirates Online Unlimited Access Memberships are no longer available for purchase. All Pirates now play as Unlimited Access Members for free until Pirates Online's closing date. As of August 20, 2013, paid Member accounts will no longer be charged a recurring payment for Pirates Online. Emails will be sent to all current paid Members with further information about Membership including refund details. If you do not currently have a Pirates Online Unlimited Access Membership, there is no need to cancel your free account. Any currently open in-game codes can still be redeemed in your Sea Chest until Pirates Online closes on September 19, 2013. If you have questions regarding your billing or Pirates Online Membership, please contact us. For additional information and details, please visit the Pirates Online Closing FAQs. Keep a weather eye out on our Current News posts for all the festivities and swashbucklin' surprises sailing yer way during Pirates Online's final month! http://piratesonline.go.com/#/closing.html |
So all the rumors were true then. :(
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It is a sad day indeed for all pirates everywhere. However, this pirate is still hopeful that another company would come, perhaps buy our beloved game, reinvest in fixing it and making it better. I know that was the case that happened with another Pirate game (Burning Seas).
I will make the most of this last month with my friends and guildsmate. I still have 2 more pirates close to noto 50. It's the friendships that I've made through the years that has made this a wonderful experience for me. That being said, I welcome my forum friends to join me in celebrating this grand adventure to the very last minute :pirate91: |
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It's sad to see POTCO and Toontown Online closing. I'll miss the games dearly, but neither of them ever had the attention by Disney they deserved. Unlimited potential wasted, but that doesn't change the fact that I have great memories of both.
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I love both Toontown and POTCO. I'm so sad to see them go :(
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So sad that both Toontown and POTCO are leaving us... :(
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They finally got their Infinity. They want all the kids who played their online games to now buy Infinity. They don't want their developers to waste any of their precious time with games that are no longer profitable let alone deal with other issues.
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It's quite sad to see the only MMORPG from Disney I play be gone, POTCO. It is also sad to see TT and PH go as well. I find it funny that only after two days since Disney Infinity is released they decide to close 3/4 of their MMORPG's...
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What TOONTOWN IS CLOSING?
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I'm not the least bit surprised. The way they wrote that Blog about why they were reducing the oceans to 15 was a red flag that most if not all did not find it bone chilling. The words, ' Moving Forward ' should have made that quite clear that it was something their boss intended on doing once Infinity debut. Yet, players wanted to believe that the game would still be around since there were two more Pirate films to come. Now ye know that their boss would rather those movie fans, especially the little ones, to buy a toy box set instead with those films.
I'd like to think they have to do this so they can bring back a better online version of Pirates, Toontown, and Pixie Hollow. Closing them now ends all existing Terms and Conditions. But, I'm no fool. It's over folks plain and simple. |
They're closing Pirates, Toon Town and Pixie Hollow to make room for CLUB BLOODY PENGUIN!?
... I hope Club Penguin goes down. Maybe not now, but sometime down the road. What makes it any better than these games? I'm sorry if I sound bitter, but... ... It's deja vu all over again. :( |
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WoC: 2013 PH: 2013 TT: 2013 PO: 2013 Club Penguin: Never even made by Disney and they are making mobile apps for it. Disney Infinity: Out for one day and they then throw everyone else under the bus. |
What does WoC stand for?
EDIT: World of Cars? Quote:
:Pirate4::zu02ol: ... :( |
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Club Penguin never had a name change. It was always named Club Penguin, even before Disney bought it. They need to get their money worth from their purchase, that's the only reason, in my opinion, for it staying open. |
I'd like to think they needed to get rid of the old way of doing things so they can make something better. But they're not even stating that. They're pretty much saying to buy Infinity, subscribe to Club Penguin, and download their mobile apps instead. They think they're doing us a great favor by not spending our money on TT, PH, and PO. You know what? It would have been greater if they had been forthright with us since last year instead of pulling a fast one on us like they did today.
That's just plain cold. |
There was so much money on the table to be taken a hold of if Disney would overhaul POTCO. The game engine badly needed an update considering it's 11 years old. So much content that was promised never came such as the long-awaited Krakken and the sequel to the Black Pearl. It seemed just yesterday I created my account and started the story line.
I will miss those days of being with the guild after the game closes its doors. |
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One thing that bugs me about this all is their Q&A about the matter. You'd think that someone out there would have asked the question, "Will the game ever return/reopen?" To be honest, I've just lost respect for Disney. There's no long, well thought out ending speech or any sort of apology for the game's sudden ending or lack of maintenance. And a month-prior notice of the game closing? In my eyes, that just says they really want the games off their hands as soon as possible. At least a three month notice would've been nicer. What's even worse is they do this after a nice weapon giveaway. It was great and all, but if the game was so close to closing anyway, what was the point in even wasting the effort? And not only that, but Club Penguin wasn't even created by Disney? And they're closing a bunch of their other games just to support this game (and Infinity, I know), that they didn't even create? I'm not saying Club Penguin is a bad game - I don't play it, but it looks alright, but I find this all to be absolutely outrageous. I hope in the coming weeks before shutdown, they'll give us more insight on specifically why, from their words and not computer-generated code, they decided to close several of their games. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~ On another note, I don't understand these bonuses Disney is giving us. I understand they're some sort of compensation for the game's closing, but come on, what's the point? All the gold and plunder will be gone in a month anyway. Just doesn't seem like enough for me. Oh well. I'm going to miss everything I own. Especially my warships, the Riptide Cobra Storm Chaser War Brig, Dark Cobra Skull & Bones War Sloop, and my prize, the Shadow Cobra Fortune Hunter War Frigate. But most of all, I'll miss my pirates, William Goldwalker, Werner Von Croy, Serpentine Cobraltus and Venomous Vorpent. Quote:
And the way they made their news article did strike me the same way. I felt as though they were telling me to deal with it, forget about POTCO and buy their other junk. I wonder if Infinity will even be worth it. |
The whole concept for Infinity does seem interesting at least, what with the characters you can play as. But I also feel that there will be opportunities with that game that they won't take.
For example: That game is all about playing as any Disney Character. Unfortunately, they'll probably only have a small handful of Disney Characters to play as. We'll only be given a small portion, when there is gigantic selection of Disney Characters that we would absolutely love to see in the game that probably'll never even make it onto the game, like the Horned King from The Black Cauldron(1985). I can see Disney Infinity having potential, but I can also see Disney wasting said potential away. Just like Pirates. So many opportunities... :( And all that aside, I'm not gonna be able to play Infinity anytime soon. :( |
It's interesting. I've seen so many people online today that I thought had disappeared forever. Of course, I'm not surprised. This news is spreading like wildfire to all those who ever played this game. I suppose it shows how truly shocked, hurt, or angry we might be over this news.
While I'll probably post something more thoughtful later, I feel the need to say something here and now. I, like most, am not surprised that POTCO is finally coming to its end. I think we all knew in our guts that the game wasn't going to last too much longer, but just days after the release of Infinity is still shocking. You'd think that they would at least wait a few months to see how Infinity is doing before deciding to shut down all of their other online games (minus Club Penguin). Not only is it insensitive and uncaring to those that play these other games, but it seems a bad business move to me. I'm sure some will switch to Infinity, but I'm fairly sure that many players, if not most, will simply get annoyed and move on. As cold as it sounds, I almost hope that Infinity ends up being a bust just so that Disney can realize what a silly move they made. I for one, will not consider playing it. I probably will end up staying away from Disney games from now on completely. Quote:
In regards to the second part, I almost wonder if the POTCO team wasn't told. It sounds unlikely, but everything was normal business until today. There was almost nothing to show that the game would suddenly be shut down so suddenly. But alas, the decision is made. I doubt that any amount of petitioning or protesting will change this... infuriating decision. I decided to go online today, to see my pirates again. At least now that I have UA again, I can dress them in their finest garb and see them as they were at their peak. I had the opportunity to visit some of my favorite spots in the Caribbean and do a bit of plundering, which felt nice. It's hard to believe that I won't be able to do that again. I had even planned on returning for next summer and spending a few months playing the game that had meant so much to me. So much for those plans, then. I had imagined for a while how POTCO would finally go. I always imagined that it would be more peaceful. Instead, it and its fellow Disney games are simply being tossed aside like trash. "Trash" that meant so much to so many of us. |
I think that the sad part is that they didn't even try to keep the game going. There hasn't been an update for over a year, even though it's clear that people are still willing to play this game.
I'll miss this game and my pirates of course, but hopefully I won't have to miss my friends and guild-mates. Hopefully we can still find other ways to keep in touch. |
My two Toontown accounts and one POTCO run $240 a year. There's no other MMOs I'd be willing to pay for, so that's money Disney won't be getting. I hope they understand that pulling the plug on these games won't make a lot of us buy Disney Infinity, Club Penguin, or some other Disney game. I payed for these games every year because I enjoyed them and saw limitless potential. It's sad to see all of that time and effort go away forever. I'll miss the players I've met and the joy that these games brought me.
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NO Infinity or Club Penguin for me. I tried Club Penguin once and found all of it very boring and pointless and Infinity also looks like it will be boring.
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In light of how they handled this without any true measure of class whatsoever, I won't buy Infinity. To buy that or any of their mobile games is to betray Pirates itself. I was open to buying Infinity when I believed that POTCO would still be around. But now that their true colors have shown themselves for what it is, I won't buy in to their new way of virtual entertainment.
As for those who love everything Club Penguin, expect them to roll out a toy box set for that and shut down that game for good, too. They're not interested with online games period. Much easier to deal with you directly as a customer with their device you own. We never owned anything with their online games. Heck, it's true for all online games. You simply have the right to play online with others, most of whom, are complete strangers to you personally. Up to you as their customer whether you care to Even if you do it so you can continue to play with your online friends, how soon will you become distraught with it anyway? Haven't you been paying attention to what's going on with the gaming industry? They're losing money. Players are fed up with their business practices. All those old timers will tell you how the game is no longer the same. Company is there to milk you for all your worth. Don't expect them to fix bugs, to truly punish hackers, to consider your ideas to improve it, or to appreciate your own efforts to keep it interesting for other players. Like any new game, it's fun... at first. Then you learn the ugly truth. Well, no need to find out the hard way. We're already being warned from those gaming communities and publications. For example, WoW didn't just lose a few hundred subscribers recently, they lost over a million and counting. Who really left? The old timers. Each new content is a plain rip off. When it comes to buying new games for your PC or game console, they're not that good either. If the annoying security measures doesn't get on your nerves, the lack of overall quality content will. Take Bioshock for instance. It is one good game. Freaky world but well done. Its sequel though is a disappointment. Same is true for the Command & Conquer universe. They were great when Westwood was in charge. Then their new ones were a rip off after they sold it to EA. Tropico met the same fate. I admired the developers for what they accomplished as they told it in their documentaries. They did much to shed light on how the gaming industry rolls and debunked their logic. In the end though, they sold out. Such a shame. I don't see them admirable anymore. When it comes to POTCO, perhaps, if our community was far more vibrant, things would have turned out differently. So I would like to think. I won't have to the day they make Club Penguin into a Toy Box and shut that baby down for good. Buyer Beware. :SkullBullet1: |
I knew the rumblings of POTCO closing, but I never, ever, thought it would really happen. Guess that makes me naive. I'll write something more long winded and thoughtful later. D:
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Haven't been here for a while but I really do hate that POTCO is shutting down. I wasn't playing regularly but I would occasionally pop in and see what was going on. In its heyday, POTCO was a lot of fun for just about everyone. It was a good franchise that was just allowed to die on the vine. A shame, really...
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It's a terrible shame. Truly, it is... |
It truly is their own fault. Had they given these games some care and actually update them, these games would probably be teaming with life.
I mean, I won't deny the fact that I had eventually "Gone Turbo". After some time, I had ventured off onto Lord of the Rings Online, and into the realm of Middle-Earth; and let me just say, the world there was GINORMOUS in comparison to the Caribbean(which you could hold in the palm of your hands). There are so many things you can do there in Middle-Earth; but no matter how occupying it was, my heart still belonged to the Caribbean seas. I would visit on occasion, but I would always tell myself: There is so much more they could do with this game. They could have learned so many things from other games - maybe incorporate it into Pirates, while also staying unique. We've even told them ourselves, have we not? We have offered them feedback; suggestions; but they never listened to us, had they? Kinda makes me wonder why we even had that 'send feedback' button to begin with, as it has been completely useless, as it turns out! There was so much potential in Pirates - Not just pirates, but the other games as well - but they were too careless about these games, and now they're pulling the plug on us all yet again. I wonder if things would have been different, even if these games were more abundant? I had thought VMK was pretty popular. Then they closed it down. Would they have closed these games as well, if they were more popular? Had more players? Would they have pulled the rug out from under us, if these games were at their prime? They probably would; although you never know. We won't be able to know now anyway. :sadmh9: But as I said: There was so much potential from these games, and now it's all wasted. :sadmh9: |
ok, but....
what is going to happen to the forums? Will they shut down as well?
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I doubt the forums will close, but I hope the closing of the game will give us players something to hope for. Perhaps Disney will open a new POTCO, buy all the same, all my time spent on my pirate will be gone. I'm hoping to master him before they close the game. So I will try to play as much as possible, but they decided to close right as school started. So I can't be on as much.
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You would think, if they have a heart, they did consider and intend to do something along those lines. Then imagine the big surprise we would receive in our emails to come back to a brand new Caribbean. If you were a tester, you obviously would be the first to get wind of this. These forums would light up fast as news would spread forth far and wide. I know I would be among those knowing I'll have my pirates back who would be willing to subscribe once again. Those who never cared of course, same ones who are clueless that this game is shutting down now, their pirate files will be deleted at that point in time. Perhaps 90 days after the new game debuts on October 31st. Clever marketing to be sure. The kind of Disney I'd like to believe it to be. They had to and they're banking on us that we will return with a greater appreciation for what they had given us originally. If that were so, I would estimate that it would happen between the 5th and 6th sequels of Pirates of the Caribbean. 2015/2016 isn't that far away when you think about it. And even if that cutthroat boss of theirs has no intention of doing that, at least there would be some bit of mutiny among his crew. Someone would save those files believing that they will develop a better Caribbean someday. Shouldn't take that much space on a flash drive to liberate in broad daylight if not in the [Un]dead of night, right? A nice thought or two I raise here for you, me Hearties. |
It would be indeed nice to know that the pirates that we all worked hard leveling/questing throughout the years would be saved somewhere instead of being trashed or forever deleted. I would love the idea that we can resurrect them down the road like Platinum stated. This game has soo much more potential if only they'd listen to us and our pirate community rallied together as one.
We are pirates indeed:degen: However, our swords won't be any use in this instance. The pen is mightier than the sword. But Cy, couldn't we just send them emails? Flooding an e-mailbox would be useless specially when someone can just trash those too. Send them actual letters. Take at least 5 minutes of your time and drop a note to Corporate Disney. Let them know how POTCO is truly one of the best pirates game for the family for all ages. Tell them how much you've enjoyed your pirating experience and ask them to please bring it back so others can enjoy it. The Walt Disney Company c/o Pirates Online 500 S. Buena Vista St. Burbank, CA 91521-769 We've all spent a lot of our $ to play this game. What's another $.46 for postage specially if it means getting the attention of Disney executives and perhaps new life for POTCO? |
Alas, I'm sure letters written on paper are all just the same to them. Trash, in their eyes. :(
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You never know what one action can do. Nothing venture nothing gained.
What I offer is just another option for our fellow pirate community to act NOW! Time is precious. Where ever ye are, just think where Corporate Disney is located. I'm all the way in the East Coast. It would take my letter 5 days to get there and probably another week to get to their desk. Making it a total of 10-12 days depending when you mailed it. There are three types of people in this world: 1). those who make things happen, 2). those who watch things happen, and 3). those who wonder what happened. What type of person or pirate would you be? Take 5 minutes to write that note and send yer letter. The Walt Disney Company c/o Pirates Online 500 S. Buena Vista St. Burbank, CA 91521-769 At least you know, ye did something about it instead of just wondering what if...? |
After playing the game with my family and friends for the last few years, this is extremely disappointing. We feel like it was a waste of time now. We worked hard to be on the leader boards and searched countless hours for famed, legendary loot upgraded ships to Level 6 Skull and bones, Etc... To see it all just go away is very sad. Try to explain to my kids that all they worked for is just gone with nothing to show for it. I won’t let them fall for the next Disney online game. No chance I will shell out any cash for a membership that can just be pulled away. Fool me once… I expected more from Disney. They should be ashamed.
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Very sad news. :( It looks like I have to find a new game to play :/
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Still can't believe this is really happening! Didn't play very much nor did I spend much time on these forums and deeply regret it. Hopefully one day this game can come back in some sort of way.
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And try snail mail, as suggested by CYblade, and let them know it! Let those bigwigs know how cruel they were to pull a fast one on yer kids like that. They are suppose to be pro-kids! That act sure wasn't. This was my first online game, and yes, it will be my last. I expected Disney to be better compared to the rest of those other game companies. I know its so much easier to dump on Disney and all that, but in fairness, the gaming industry as a whole is changing. Mobile apps are being favored over online gaming. I see a ripple effect in other words and do not care to invest anything of myself into something I can't own, nor will always be around for me to enjoy when I can. Make no bones about it, this pirate is going down with his ship on September 19th, 2013. Perhaps, some day, there will be a Green Flash and this pirate will return to sail the waters of a whole new Caribbean world. :SkullBullet1: |
I just got of the phone to Disney about POTCO and they accidently let slip that they may have a private investor or another company buying the game. This sounds like it could be good news
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Regardless, this news warms my heart to the thought that the game may yet survive and thrive in the hands of another company. If this is true, then I have faith that this new company or private investor will do well in keeping the game going and true to the original. |
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I haven't visited POF or POTCO in quite some time. Alas me fellow pirates, I had to move on. I was quite surprised that the game hadn't seemed that much progression over the years i'd been gone. Still I enjoyed visiting my pirates once again, and was surprised to encounter a few guildmates I hadn't seen in ages. I have moved on to other games, but still love and admire how POTCO did ship battles, wish my current interests had similar action.
Too bad this game was not nurtured by Disney, it could have been so much better. Anyhow, my condolences to all ye pirates out there. Its sad that the sun now sets... on POTCO. Take all ye can! Give nothing back! |
Well this is not something I expected to see in one of my rare forum visits…
Gonna let it sit for a while. |
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Had the Game Division and the Parks Division got together for 1/2 an hour, anyone could see that they could of expanded POTCO into their Pirates Ride and had a massive business opportunity - but a chance lost... Had Disney just provided the expansions earlier than they did - it might of been a savoir for many left during the almost 2 years it took before any real expansion came - another chance lost... The Game Division never did grasp the concept of Free to Play and make money with add-ons, not to say I support this, but many others have done it and people buy it up - too many chances lost... So many chances, all gone now So I sail the Vagrant Executioner thru the Caribbean one more time, just like I did when I first got her many years ago, sinking thy nasty Navy Scum, them ETC scoundrel, and the Undead... as soon, we'll be in Davy Jones' Locker To friends and those I have met through here, a toast of Grog to you and hope that one day we sail again on an ocean - as Pirates... Drink up 'me hardys! Yo-Ho! :piratewheelgo2: |
Max!!! hey! do you facebook?? I have a pirate facebook, heard from Olyve??
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Cheers Zep and Max :)
I'm bringing Sarah on for one last hurrah. You better be there, I need to throw some dirt on ya :) |
Perhaps, just perhaps, the news I saw this very morning on GMA [Good Morning America] by Nick Watt will not bode well for Disney. A new film called Cellphone [not sure if the title is correct] is growing in popularity exposing how such devices, all sorts of mobile devices, are becoming more of a nuisance in our lives. A certain backlash of their use is growing. Not good for a company that seeks mobile apps as the way to go...moving forward. :laughks2:
In other words, best keep our online games for a little while longer! :SkullBullet1: |
Very sad news indeed. Although for the most part I can't say I'm all that surprised. There hasn't been a decent update for over a year now. I know Disney has a lot of responsibility, so I respect their decision to close a game for the better.... if what they said over the phone is true about another company taking over.
I still have no plans to log back in to the game. I will, however, try to get back with the community on here (as I know I have said a million times). Since it's been stated that POF will stay open, I will do my best to communicate here. Nevertheless, this game was one of my best childhood memories. Through the rough waves and calm seas, it was always fun. POTCO has several memories that will be left in me 'ol treasure chest. |
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Unfortunately, the game never stood a chance. The game was released in 2007, around the same time Disney bought Club Penguin and started diverting resources to that game. It was more of a sponsor for the movie than anything. I enjoyed the first three years but with no new content it's hard to stick to a game.
It's nice to see old mods and admins returning to say their farewells. It's a shame the game wasn't looked after better. |
Oh, gee. Seeing Sarah, Max and Zep again under these rotten circumstances is very saddening.
While not a shock, this is lousy news. |
I now refuse to fight in invasions in protest over potco. Just wish everyone else would do the same to protect our Pirate lifes
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It may be a lost cause, but here's a lonely little petition - if nothing else Disney might be persuaded to sell it to someone if they see enough interest. Someone who would actually allow it to achieve its potential.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/k...-online-going/ |
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