One of the “kids” I work with told me that he plays Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean online game. Not knowing much about it other than it was a corporate-giant-backed MMORPG and that it follows the movies and theme park attractions, I looked into it.

I found out that it was developed by Disney Online Studios and was launched in October 2007. The game software is free to download, and players can choose either “Unlimited Access” for a $9.95 monthly subscription fee, or a free-to-play “Basic Access” version which restricts most of the game content and displays advertisements in part of the game window. The game is officially available to players in the United States only. Disney has announced plans for an United Kingdom release in early 2008, though I am not sure about that part.

Of course, being a geeky gamer, I signed up for a six month commitment. Heck, for $49.95, it is a bargain considering I spend that much in one night of drinking.

But for a first time user, Disney was brilliant in setting up the front page of the web site. “Free to Download - Free to Play” is right there in the center of the page. EVERY Game / EVERY Virtual World need to do this. Limited access, but give people a chance to check it out.

Now for the game. I was surprised by a couple of things including the game graphics, ease of use, the story line and finally about the level of fun.

As a graphics snob, I have started to come around to the thinking that ease of use / speed is more important than the visual aspect, especially if you want to capture a mass audience. So while the graphics with the game are not on the par of World of Warcraft, the images are good enough but I was hoping for more “game ride” visuals like the dude sitting with the pigs or real cool looking taverns that were featured in the movie.  I have seen treasure in a cave nicely done.

As for ease of use, the movements are standard key-board. ( Aw, I dream for the day of that the keyboard has been declared DEAD! ) And the on-screen hints and instructions are well done though it would be interesting to watching a novice start up the game.

The initial storyline has Jack and gang in it, so users get the thrill” of hanging with Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley and the rest. The adventure is centered around helping Jack Sparrow retrieve the Black Pearl. You wake up in the same jail as the rogue pirate. Together you take advantage of cannon fire assaulting the Caribbean town of your incarceration to escape and begin your exploits. Those include meeting Wil Turner, the voodoo priestess Tia Dalma and a new villain, Jolly Roger among others. Not to mention facing down the British Navy, hungry crocodiles, rampaging zombies, pirate-eating giant plants and cut-throat card players. The “quests” are interesting and easily explained in the quest log. When you die, you end up back in jail, which gave me a good laugh.

There are two basic “play features”, the ship and battling on land. Since I have been in World of Warcraft for some time, I spent the bulk of my time in my ship trying to sink the British Navy.

The game also has similar (yet slightly reduced) safety features as Toontown Online, with a “Speedchat” chatting system and controlled naming of characters and chips. You can connect with other players world-wide and chat with them. Similar to online game, Pirates Online has many weapon features.

There are no classes, servers or banks as in World of Warcraft. This game isn’t about inventory management, but is action-based about being a pirate. No tradeskills, either. The scourge of the High Seas don’t craft, they take. The number of weapons available is small, but the skill ups for them are numerous.

If you are looking for less strategy and more action in your pirate MMOR{G, this is your game. So overall, I give Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean four (4) our five bananas rating. And when I find the dude sitting with the pigs, it may get another banana!

More Info -

If you are interested on more info on Disney Online aspirations, please read Dan O’Halloran from Massively wonderful blog posting about Disney and MMO. The blog post “The future of Disney Online: An Interview SVP Steve Parks“is chalked full of information.