WaysouthSetting Sail with Puzzle Pirates
September 20th 2008 17:00
Yar, matey, adventure awaits!
Puzzle Pirates is an online Java game, where players create a Pirate Persona who can interact with other pirates while playing games in the Inn, battling Brigands on the high sea, or just buying some fancy new clothes.
There is a free to play option for those who just want to try it out. If you decide you want to play the game with more features, you can and pay a monthly fee for full access. The other payment option is Doubloons, a micro-payment system that allows you to "unlock" paid features that you want to use. One interesting facet of this game is that you can trade in-game currency (Pieces of Eight, or POE) for Doubloons (which basically represent real life money). This is a unique gaming element, since it effectively puts "real world trading" into the hands of the game's owners. You can buy your advantage in the game with real money, and it is part of the game design.
Alternatively, you can also "buy" your subscription or premium services with game currency. This means you never have to put real life money into the game, if you can raise enough game cash.
There are many interesting aspects of Puzzle Pirates, including a complete Wiki with game history and tips, and an active player community forum. Last year players were even allowed to compete to create new games to be part of the game. Three Rings also runs Game Gardens an "open-source" game creation template which encourages community members to try their hand at game design.
None of those factors are important to new players however. You will wash up on an island as a "greenie" a new player with a green name. As you acquire ingame play time, your name will slowly turn yellow. You will start with a set of rags for clothing.
There are tutorials to get started. You can do navy missions which will teach you the shipboard puzzles, and they will also reward with some new clothes as your Navy rank advances.
Once you have some basic skills, you can join crews onboard their ships, where the basic puzzles (Carpentry, Sailing and Bilge) keep the ship moving. The captain of the ship determines how the voyage will go, and it can include attacking other ships (either players or AI). A "sea battle" ensues on a chess style board with moves and cannonballs. If the ships grapple, a swordfight between the two crews will determine a winner. There will be booty!
There are many simple games to play in the pirate world, including swordfighting duels, crafting puzzles, and a selection of card games like Hearts, Spades, and Poker. This is one of my favorite online poker and card games, because in addition to the standard interactions on the card table, the Inn is filled with interesting characters selling booty, hiring crew members, and chatting. Everyone is encouraged to use Pirate Jargon.
This is the part of Rich Noob where I generally tell you how to make loads of game cash. Sadly, I have never been a Rich Noob on Puzzle Pirates. This is one game where my skill level at the puzzles is high, but my money making skills are limited.}
Another drawback of Puzzle Pirates (for meself at least) is that it is a cooperative game, onboard the ships at least. There are strict social norms that state that you can't just leave the game at any time (But!!! My toast it done!!). For myself, an adult with a household and a job, this is a bit incovenient for me. I hate jumping off the ship and abandoning my crew when the phone rings. I also hate logging back in to find that I've been fired from my crew for not "wating until battle is over."
That's part of what limits my money-making skills. To be a big earner, you need to be captain of a ship on a long pillage (two hours). This requires people skills, to manage your crew, game skills to win battles, and of course . . . unlimited free time. I think a lot of the big crew captains (Rich rich rich) are likely in prison with unlimited internet access, or possibly living in their parents basements.
That doesn't stop me from going back to Puzzle Pirates occassionally for the big tournaments (you can win Monkeys and Octopus pets, only available from competitions), and I also love to jump into the poker table. (Many of the ultra-rich have gotten that virtual cash from their poker playing skills, so if you can do that, you might out-rich me).
Join the adventure today! I will try to offer some more good money making tips for Puzzle Pirates in the next update of Rich Noob.
http://www.puzzlepirates.com/
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