Game Insider #28: April '09 Newsletter

[Batleth]

Rewards for All in April
Experience all the Caribbean has to Offer

Unlimited Access for ALL: April 17, 18 & 19
Basic Access players will have a chance to preview all the Caribbean has to offer when we upgrade your accounts to Unlimited Access for a limited time!

Double Reputation for Unlimited
Access: April 24, 25 & 26
When you upgrade to Unlimited, you'll be able to enjoy the items and notoriety you've earned,

plus get Double Reputation! (For paid Unlimited Access members only.) Get all the details here.See all the benefits of Unlimited Access and become a member
of the Crew today!



State of the Caribbean
A Pirate's Progress Report

Three months ago we shared our plans for the year. We told you how, based on your feedback, we were making improvements to the game and why. Having just gotten through a large portion of this work and with your feedback in hand we're plotting a course for the future.



Recent Raids Are a Success, EITC Stands Down
Thanks to Founders and GMs

A tip of our tricorn (hat) to the following Founders:

• Lawrence Swordhawk
• Dracon
• Grace Goldeagle
• Achilles
• Linda Macmorgan
• Nathan
• Ensign Sarah T
• Maggie Wildthorn
• James Seafury
• Pretty Polly
• Trader Sam
• Rachel Mcginty
• Constance Redbones
• Captain Grizzly Blackwater

You and other Founders answered the call to form crews and lead attacks on EITC ships, helping GMs like Captain Walter, Phillipe Gaston and Sandra Tew - your help was invaluable to the cause and as a result the EITC has taken notice.



Jesters and Spies
Tomfoolery, Tricks, Tall Tales

As spring blooms, April brings hijinks and rumors to the Caribbean. The Caribbean is always full of rumors, but there's one circulating now around the islands about Pirate spies! Keep a watchful eye mate, they've been sent by the EITC to disrupt Pirate activity any way they can! Have you been sent on a strange errand with promise of great reward? As a Rule of Thumb - if it sounds too good to be true - it probably is. Read about Caribbean spies here.



The EITC Tax Man
Take What They Can, Give Nothing Back!
In order to make up for all their recent losses, the EITC is taxing Pirates into the poor house and taking those taxes back to the Company's headquarters in London. Every good and able-bodied Pirate should consider it their duty to continue to sink as many EITC ships as they can. Take a stand Pirates - assemble your Crews and attack the EITC! If we don't fight back, expect the EITC to send reinforcements and we don't want that.




Relief for Hard Times
When the Going Gets Tough ...


Times are tough all over, and even the Caribbean is feeling the pinch. With the recent taxes and ships laden with rich plunder fewer and farther between, heck, it's almost getting where a Pirate has to take a second job plundering just to stay afloat! Even in these tight times we know it's important to release your inner-pirate!Want Unlimited Access but can't afford it? We'll be picking 20 Basic Access accounts and upgrading them to Unlimited Access for 3 months. Find out how you can get your Basic account upgraded to Unlimited for FREE!

*Although the Pirates look identical, the Pirate in front has less polygons.

[Bartholomew Foulsteel]

I found this to be interesting:

"Now we know several of you have been playing the game since the beginning - and you want us to focus on new content, Story Quests and raising those Level and Gold caps, we'll talk about that in a moment. Please understand we used player feedback to determine what to work on, and game performance was the main thing that is brought up over and over again. Since game performance is the foundation to everything, it just makes sense that we fix that first before adding new content, Story Quests and raising those Level and Gold caps."

[League]

I've never thought about how cheesy some of this stuff is.

[CaptainGreenGene]

"The Kraken. This beast has proved to be a real challenge. Why? Well, it is basically our next story chapter, many things will be tied to it, such as Notoriety increases, new Story Quests, and so much more."

"New Content. Alright, I can't give away all our secrets - that would spoil the fun! But I can tell you our Crew of craftsmen, shipwrights, and blacksmiths are working on some amazing stuff"


At least they committed to a path. Now the question is when? Shipwrights means new ship classes I would hope and weapons from the blacksmith?

[Kaionai]

As Stated from previous person people "wild goose chase for 2-3 months" knowing this....maybe more....I am glad I must say that they are improveing the game as the game has played out much much better since it was first released, "Yes i was one of those first people since the begining" but the lack of content has killed the game all around...and I must say KILLED IT, but during this hard time in our country and I hear that the parks are not doing so much and disney is big and has many diffrent devision's I HOPE THERE NOT THE NEXT PIXAR STORY! Close to going bankrupt but make a meraculous recovery.

[Cannonfury]

raising gold cap?? I like xD

[MacIronhawk]

They've brought me back from toontown!

I can't believe they gave us in sight on the Kraken, inventory system, and new content. They devs must really care about us players if they're telling us that it takes time to do things.

I can't wait to see what's in store next. This is the best news I've heard since the game came out.

But I can tell you our Crew of craftsmen, shipwrights, and blacksmiths are working on some amazing stuff and other surprises that are going to blow you out of the water!

I really hope this means more weapons and ship classes!

[akamystic]

Sounds good to me.......now must must have patience.......

[Rackat]

Now this sounds cool!

In the past few months, we've also seen events become a vital part of Pirates Online. Not only do these events propel story points (like the recent EITC conspiracy and attacks) but they've really helped to bring our community together. I encourage you to get involved in these events - they're a great way to meet your fellow buccaneers and release your inner-Pirate. In the future, these events will offer some pretty unique Pirate experiences, and we'll be rewarding those that participate in really special ways. As I've said before, while it's great to meet GM Captain Walter, what if he had a Quest for you the next time you met him or what if you came face to face with Captain Jack Sparrow?

[ukebec]

Yes, this is the most hope-inspiring news I've seen in a long while.

And it would be great to get Captain Jack out of the tavern for a change. I'm all for encountering him out and about in the game.

Sounds to me like they're closing in on the second chapter to have been this forthcoming (finally) about the Kraken, etc.!

[Your Gladiator]

they need to make the caps and everything go up i used to be a founder this makes me mad

and alot of my best friends have quit this game because of this..... and the drama and alot of them were founders

[Dr. Zeppers]

Looking forward to the changes. As it is I only play now when a friend asks for help, I do understand new content takes time, but the truth of the matter is, its an extremely boring game as is (once youve gone through it all in a few months time). Im into the questing, the adventure of the storyline this is the appeal of the game to me, not PvP/SvS or simplistic 'guild' games.

[MacIronhawk]

Originally Posted by OFxZeppers

Im into the questing, the adventure of the storyline this is the appeal of the game to me, not PvP/SvS or simplistic 'guild' games.

That's the fun part all right. POTCO and Toontown can get very boring. The tasks and quests end way too soon. I guess all we can do is wait for new content and to not rush our pirates. No sense in making another pirate if there's no new content.

Until the second story quest comes out I'll stick to my first and only pirate.

[Ghostcannon]

Disney is doing a great job, specially when they are offering a 3 month-free of charge for basic users. They know how horrendous the economy is and they are coming with great ideas.
A High-5 for Big D on that and all of great events.

[Dr. Zeppers]

Originally Posted by Ghostcannon

Disney is doing a great job, specially when they are offering a 3 month-free of charge for basic users. They know how horrendous the economy is and they are coming with great ideas.
A High-5 for Big D on that and all of great events.

I dont disagree with what you say about them doing a good job.

How about offering us unlimited players a free 3 month extension on our accounts saving US some money instead of extending it to those thate are not contributing to the game? Havent we 'earned' anything? Certainly more than those that are not paying. I can tell you why, because their purpose is NOT to relieve those having hard times, but to generate MORE unlimited users by hooking them in with free play. The ploy about the economy is PR progaganda.