Joining the Steam library as of right now are EverQuest, EverQuest II, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes and Pirates of the Burning Sea, as well as the latest expansions for EQ and EQ II.

Naturally, Valve and SOE are offering deals on the newest inductees to Steam, selling much of this stuff for as low as $14.99. Make with the questing!

Sony Online Entertainment [Steam]

While ship-to-ship combat in Pirates of the Burning Sea has been well-received by players since launch, the avatar combat, which sees players taken on enemies with swords and guns, has been a bit of a mixed bag. Build 1.11, which went live yesterday morning, completely overhauls the system, adding new skills and skill categories plus new combat animations to keep things interesting.

To help ease the jarring transition, the PotBS folks have posted a rather lovely Swashbuckling guide that explains the nuances of the overhauled system. It seems like they've made it an entirely new experience, to the point where I'm considering popping back in just to see how things have turned out.

Build 1.11: The Clash of Steel Goes Live Tuesday Morning! [Pirates of the Burning Sea]

In order to give lapsed players a taste of what they've been missing, Flying Lab and Sony Online Entertainment are extending their free 14-day trial to returning players as well. Those with canceled accounts in good standing will be able to simply log in to check out the expansive changes made to the MMO since launch, including new classes, revamped ship combat, the dueling system, ship insurance, and an enhanced chat system that includes handy chat bubbles.

Check out the community website for a full list of the many changes that might make Pirates of the Burning Sea worth another look-see.

Rejoin the Adventure!

Free 14-day Trial Extended to Previous Pirates of the Burning Sea™ Captains

Like the capricious winds and waters of the high seas, Pirates of the Burning Sea is continually updating and evolving. Since the game launched in January 2008, there have been countless developments that have propelled Pirates of the Burning Sea to a new level. As such, we are proud to share all of our innovative changes by extending our free 14-day trial to our retired captains! Players who joined us in the early stages, but have yet to navigate the waters of the enhanced Pirates of the Burning Sea, are invited to set sail once again!

Over the last eleven months, the crew at Flying Lab Software has worked tirelessly to make Pirates of the Burning Sea more accessible across the board. From new pirate careers, to new cities with stunning graphics, better tutorials, and new group missions for high level players, all renovations are focused on bringing exciting improvements to the game. Players can enjoy revamped avatar combat and missions, dynamic new sword fighting animations, and an improved user interface. With a bigger effort to incorporate community feedback and support interactive game play, Pirates of the Burning Sea has never been more immersive or dynamic.

Check out the link below to read a more comprehensive list of the new features:

http://www.burningsea.com/page/community/new

We are currently in the last phase of completely revamping Avatar Combat, which combines slashing, tactics, more evenly matched one-on-one battles, and a refitting of the balance based system. Learn more at:

http://www.burningsea.com/page/play/avcom

Former players who wish to be a part of the adventure, should log back in! Their accounts have already been reactivated! Players can manage their Station Account by visiting this link:

https://account.station.sony.com/

We look forward to seeing our returning players on the open sea!

This is the sort of game that should have had a free-trial from the get go, really. The unique flavor combination of ship-based travel and battles with trading and character combat is something you really need to play before deciding if it's the right game for you.

Welcome to the Pirates of the Burning Sea 14-Day Trial! [PotBS]

Back in April, Dan Rubenfield (Ultima Online, Star Wars Galaxies, etc.) ranted, raved, and put MMO developers 'on notice.' And, at the end, admonished developers to "quit making PC games. It’s a waste of time and money." Unsurprisingly, people hit back, and now over at GameSetWatch, Joe Ludwig (producer of Pirates of the Burning Sea) has a snappy little response detailing six reasons why MMOs are just plain harder to develop for consoles versus PCs. Does that mean it won't start happening in greater numbers? Of course not:

There is enough money to be made in console games that future MMO releases there are inevitable. It's just a question of when they arrive.

Several console MMOs have already launched. The most successful of these by far is Final Fantasy XI on the PlayStation 2. Everquest Online Adventures and Phantasy Star Universe (and Phantasy Star Online before it) are two more examples. There are probably more that I'm not coming up with. All of these games have seen some modest success, but none of them are either major console hits or major MMO hits.

... Eventually MMOs are going to come to consoles. It's just going to take them a while to get there, and they will probably never emerge in the same numbers as they do on PCs. Buck up, Dan. We'll get there some day.

He also points out that according to NPD, developing for PCs is anything but a waste of money. Overall, it's a really reasonable response to a sometimes reasonable, sometimes really not rant.

Why Aren't There More Console MMOs? [GameSetWatch]

Buccaneers are pirates too, but a bit subtler than their burning-bearded brethren. They steal and loot, but also manipulate the black markets. Some would call them gentleman adventurers, though few are true blue bloods. Buccaneers do not have the raw power of cutthroats, but they work well in groups and can help friends and cripple enemies.

1.4 Skill Changes: The Buccaneer [PotBS Community Site]

Release Notes for build 1.2.67.0 [Flying Lab Software via Strategy Informer]

I have a confession to make: Nowadays I find it heard to retain interest in a massively multplayer online game for more than an hour or so. They just bore the crap out of me. They're all so transparent, so same, the sameness, I think is what really kills the experience for me.

So the only reason I started checking out Pirates of the Burning Sea was because I'm reviewing it for Variety. What I've found so far is a game, that while still suffering under the yoke of World of Warcraft, manages to introduce at least a few unique elements to the thread-worn mechanic found in nearly all MMOs. I speak of the ship-to-ship warfare which I find very reminiscent of the Ancient Art of War at Sea a game I simply loved.

Ship-to-Ship combat isn't the entire game, for most people at least, but cutting through the water, minding the wind direction and cannon reload times, all in real time mind you, is a pure joy and makes me want to play through the rest of the game, no matter how familiar it might be, just to upgrade the ship to something improbable and monstrous. I'm told, I shit you not, that you can have battles between entire flotillas of these amazing Tall Ships too, up to 25 a side. I haven't experience that yet, but I may actually stick around long enough to try.

I'm not 100 percent sure, yet, if I'd pay the full $15 a month to play the game, but you can figure that out yourself now that it has gone live, effective today.

[Thanks to Luke for the bit of photoshoppery on that image, arrr]

YO HO HO! PIRATES OF THE BURNING SEA SETS SAIL TODAY

SAN DIEGO, CA - Jan. 22, 2008 - Grab your parrot, raise the gang plank and ready the cannons with Pirates of the Burning Sea™ (PotBS), the hotly anticipated online PC game where players can clash on land and sea. This new title from Sony Online Entertainment LLC's (SOE) Platform Publishing label, and Flying Lab Software LLC (FLS), is available today at participating retail outlets worldwide and as a digital download through www.station.com and www.direct2drive.com for a suggested retail price of US$49.99, with a monthly subscription fee of US$14.99 plus applicable taxes.
"After years of hard work by our top-notch crew, we are thrilled to announce players can now conquer the virtual Caribbean, circa 1720, in Pirates of the Burning Sea," said Russell Williams, CEO of Flying Lab Software in Seattle. "Working together with SOE's Platform Publishing, we are able to launch this game simultaneously in the U.S. and Europe and release localized versions in English, French, Spanish and German, allowing players from all over to captain a ship in this world full of swashbuckling and high-seas adventure."
Players start by joining the French, Spanish, English or Pirate nations as a naval officer, freetrader, privateer or pirate. At sea, players can blow enemy ships out of the water. On land, players can engage in a world of action and peril rife with sword fights. A unique economy lets players become captains of industry, running mines, lumber mills, shipyards and other large-scale operations. Players produce all the various goods needed to supply others with the raw materials to conquer the Caribbean, one port at a time. A player-generated content system lets gamers create their own sail and flag designs and even model their own ships.
Set in the New World circa 1720, PotBS recreates a dramatic time of conflict and riches with action for every play style, from epic ship combat to building an empire. With more than one thousand missions per nation, dozens of ports to explore, and the entire Caribbean as their domain, players will find an online experience like no other.
Pirates of the Burning Sea game features:
• Join one of four nations (Pirate, English, French, or Spanish)
• Every player is the captain of their very own ship in massive naval battles
• Duel other players to control more than 80 conquerable ports in the Caribbean
• Explore the world and make a name for yourself with more than 1,000 missions per nation
• Economy driven by players, who manufacture and sell all ships and equipment found in the game
• Take command of more than 50 historical ships
• Design your own flags and sails
• Build your very own or customize any of the ships in-game to your liking
• Choose from three different combat styles - deadly and formal Fencing, flashy, dual-wielding Florentine or rowdy and treacherous Dirty Fighting
• Participate in epic PvP sea battles with up to 25 players per side

For more information on Pirates of the Burning Sea, log onto www.piratesoftheburningsea.com or the community site at www.burningsea.com

No More Heroes (WII)
Suda 51's surreal cel shaded adventures of Travis Touchdown.

Advance Wars: Days of Ruin (DS)
The follow up to the wildly popular Advance Wars hits with a new storyline and wi-fi.

Pirates of the Burning Sea (PC)
Arrrgh! Live the life of a pirate on land and sea in this new MMO.

Burnout Paradise (PS3, X360)
Drive, crash and burn!

Endless Ocean (WII)
Explore the mysterious world under the sea.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (DS)
Pit Mario against Sonic on your DS.

One Piece: Unlimited Adventure (WII)
Search for booty with Capt. Monkey.

Iridium Runners (PS2)
It's a space race!

Rainbow Islands Evolution (PSP)
Bub and Bob are back again in a new old adventure again.

Pirates of the Burning Sea, the best piratical MMO I haven't played, is launching its worldwide beta this Friday. North American players can sign up for access to the beta through File Planet, with FP subscribers getting priority access. The open beta is set to go live at 5 p.m. on Friday.

Meanwhile pre-orders for European players is scheduled to start on Dec. 12. Yurpeens who pre-order the game will get:
An invitation to the "Pre-Boarding Party" allowing them access to the live game up to 15 days prior to launch, and the ability to keep their characters, skills and equipment after launch with purchase of game and paid subscription. (characters will have a level cap of 20 during this time)
Captain's Best Friend - a blue and yellow parrot
Mighty Blades - Swedish Rapier, Old World Steel or Musketeer's Matching Blades (depending upon which fighting style is selected)
Original Game Soundtrack CD - 60 minutes of pirate themed music (comes in pre-order box)

I really need to check this game out. I think I must have some sort of mental block after playing through a chunk of one of the early betas for the Pirates of the Caribbean MMO.

Pirates of the Burning Sea

Pirates of the Burning Sea, the only pirate MMO that I've liked to date, is scheduled to go live on Jan. 22, Sony Online Entertainment announced today.

"We are eagerly anticipating the day we can raise the anchor and set sail with Pirates of the Burning Sea. Our team's hard work and dedication, and that of our partners at SOE's Platform Publishing group, is going to result in a fantastic gameplay experience for PC gamers," said Russell Williams, CEO, Flying Lab Software. "We are looking forward to bringing this game to fruition, and appreciate the support from our dedicated community in helping us to develop a top-notch game."

Pre-orders or the game are set to kick off on Oct. 23. Gamers how buy early will get access to the pre-boarding party which kicks off 15 days prior to launch. During that time those lucky few get to level up to 20 with characters they can keep when the game officially launches. Better still, pre-orderers get a free virtual parrot, a weapon and an original game soundtrack CD. That parrot sure as hell better say Fuck you one eye!

AHOY MATEYS!
PIRATES OF THE BURNING SEA™ SCHEDULED TO
SET SAIL WORLDWIDE JANUARY 22
Gamers Experience Action and Adventure on the High Seas Circa 1720 in New Online PC game

SAN DIEGO, CA & SEATTLE, WA - October 5, 2007 - Sony Online Entertainment LLC's (SOE) Platform Publishing label and Flying Lab Software LLC (FLS) announced today Pirates of the Burning Sea™, is scheduled to launch worldwide on January 22, 2008. The hotly anticipated MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) game, featuring high seas action and swashbuckling adventure in a bold world of pirates and plunder, is being developed by Seattle-based FLS and published by Platform Publishing.
"We are eagerly anticipating the day we can raise the anchor and set sail with Pirates of the Burning Sea. Our team's hard work and dedication, and that of our partners at SOE's Platform Publishing group, is going to result in a fantastic gameplay experience for PC gamers," said Russell Williams, CEO, Flying Lab Software. "We are looking forward to bringing this game to fruition, and appreciate the support from our dedicated community in helping us to develop a top-notch game."
As a captain in Pirates of the Burning Sea, you can choose among the French, Spanish, English, or Pirate nations, playing a naval officer, a freetrader, a privateer, or a pirate as you like. Action-filled ship battles take place at sea, where players can destroy or board and seize their competitors' ship. On land, a world of swashbuckling adventure awaits full of sword-swinging action. The unique player-driven economy means players can be a captain of industry too, running mines, lumber mills, shipyards and other large-scale operations to produce the tons of goods needed to supply every player in the game with what they need. Through the player-generated content system, players can create their own sail and flag designs to display in game and even model their own ships.
"The vast amount of player-created content and the intense strategy required in Pirates of the Burning Sea sets it apart from any other MMO on the market," said D Tim Granich, Sr. Global Brand Manager, Sony Online Entertainment. "Gamers will be donning their captain's gear and eagerly awaiting their next battle on land or sea."
The game takes place in the New World circa 1720, a dramatic time of conflict and riches that features action for every play style, from epic ship combat, to piracy, to building economic empires or sword-swinging adventure. With more than one thousand missions per nation, dozens of ports to explore, and the entire Caribbean as their domain, players will find an online experience like no other.  
Pre-orders are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, October 23rd. Players that pre-order will receive an invitation to the "Pre-Boarding Party" giving them access to the live game 15 days prior to launch. During this time, players can level up to 20 and keep their characters after launch, with a purchase of the game and paid monthly subscription. Players who pre-order and purchase the game will also receive a "captain's best friend" - known to any good pirate as a blue and yellow parrot - as well as a powerful weapon suited to their fighting style and an original game soundtrack CD complete with 60 minutes of pirate-themed music.

Pirates of the Burning Sea game features:
• Join one of four nations (Pirate, English, French, or Spanish)
• Every player is the captain of their very own ship in massive naval battles
• Duel other players to control more than 80 conquerable ports in the Caribbean
• Explore the world and make a name for yourself in more than 1,000 missions
• Economy driven by players, who manufacture and sell all ships and equipment found in the game
• Build, capture, and customize more than 50 historical ships
• Design your own flags and sails
• Choose from 3 different styles of swashbuckling combat - deadly and formal Fencing, flashy, dual-wielding Florentine or rowdy and treacherous Dirty Fighting
• Participate in epic sea battles with up to 25 players on a side

ARRR MATEYS! PIRATES OF THE BURNING SEATM RETAIL PRE-ORDER TO START OCTOBER 23

WHAT: Pirates of the Burning Sea, the MMORPG featuring high seas action and adventure in a bold world of pirates and plunder, is scheduled to be available for pre-order starting Tuesday, October 23rd at participating retail locations.

PRE ORDER FEATURES:

Players who pre-order the game will receive the following:
• An invitation to the "Pre-Boarding Party" allowing them access to the live game up to 15 days prior to launch, and the ability to keep their characters, skills and equipment after launch with purchase of game and paid subscription (characters will have a level cap of 20 during the pre-boarding party)
• Captain's Best Friend - a blue and yellow parrot
• Mighty Blades - Swedish Rapier, Old World Steel or Musketeer's Matching Blades (depending upon which fighting style is selected)
• Original Game Soundtrack CD - 60 minutes of pirate themed music (comes in pre-order box)

WHEN: Pirates of the Burning Sea is scheduled to be available for preorder in North America on Tuesday, October 23, 2007. A European pre-order date has not been set at this time.

For more pre-order information on Pirates of the Burning Sea log onto www.piratesoftheburningsea.com

The medusa reps Gods and Heroes: Rome Rising and the pirate girl was... inspired by Pirates of the Burning Sea. Okay, okay, I realize that this is a total cop-out and that having two outfits created by professional costume makers kind of disqualifies these two. Plus, I realize there are reasons why these two won't appeal to you—I'm referring to your predilection for console gaming, of course.

Also, boobs.

Anyway! I'll have a full gallery of Comic Con cosplayers later, but in the meantime, check out these gloves!

"Working with top notch developers like Flying Lab Software is at the heart of Platform Publishing's mission to market and distribute a portfolio of games like Pirates of the Burning Sea that stand shoulder to shoulder with our SOE flagship franchises," said David D Christensen, Vice President, Business Development and International Operations, Sony Online Entertainment.

PIRATES OF THE BURNING SEA FINDS A HOME PORT WITH PLATFORM PUBLISHING
Platform Publishing to Work with Flying Lab Software, Add to SOE's E3 Title Lineup

SAN DIEGO, CA AND SEATTLE, WA - June 26, 2007 - In an agreement reached today, Pirates of the Burning Sea, the hotly anticipated MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) game developed by Flying Lab Software LLC featuring high seas action and swashbuckling adventure in a bold world of pirates and plunder, will be published by Sony Online Entertainment LLC's Platform Publishing label. The game will be added to SOE's title lineup for the E3 Media and Business Summit, July 11-13 in Santa Monica, CA.

Pirates of the Burning Sea will feature action for every play style, whether it's epic ship combat, piracy, building economic empires or sword-swinging adventure. Burning Sea takes place in the New World circa 1720, a dramatic time of conflict and riches. Choosing one of four Nations - France, Spain, England or Pirate - players can set sail as a valiant naval officer, a devil-may-care privateer, a savvy merchant adventurer, or a fearless, rampaging pirate. With one thousand missions to play, dozens of ports to explore, and the entire Caribbean as their domain, players will find an online experience like no other.

Virtual buccaneers can engage in fierce ship-to-ship combat in real time, complete with the roar of cannon fire and the crunch of timber as masts and hulls are shattered, sending foes to the bottom of the briny deep or leaving them helpless and ripe for looting. Pirate games aren't complete without the clashing of swords and Pirates of the Burning Sea delivers with three swashbuckling styles, from the deadly and formal Fencing, to the flashy dual-wielding Florentine, or the rowdy and treacherous Dirty Fighting. The combat system is fast and fluid with awesome swordplay and powerful finishing moves.

Pirates of the Burning Sea also features an economy completely run by players, who build their own empires across the Caribbean. Build your own forges, quarries, and rum distilleries and manage large-scale production and distribution in a cutthroat world of gold and galleons where profits are the dream and desperate measures the reality.

The game's Conquest system turns any port into a battleground, as rival players rack up points through PvE (Player vs. Environment) missions and combat culminating in a period of intense PvP (Player vs. Player) gameplay to determine who takes the port — and the valuable resources it provides for economic gameplay. If you want the cannons, you have to capture the iron, making the Conquest system something that impacts the career of every single player.

"Platform Publishing and SOE possess a level of expertise and success in sales, marketing and distribution that makes them the perfect co-publisher for Pirates of the Burning Sea," said Russell Williams, CEO, Flying Lab Software LLC. "This relationship will allow us their world-class expertise in marketing, distribution, and billing so we can focus on developing an amazing swashbuckling adventure for the pirate in all of us — and building a community of players who will live that life for years to come."