Latest News

Developer Diary #10 - Partying Up & Parlor Games

Joe Shochet, Creative Director, Disney's Virtual Reality StudioSamir Naik, Senior Programmer, Disney's Virtual Reality StudioJune 25, 2007

As you probably know, one of the things that set MMOs apart from other games is the socialization that players engage in. The bottom line is… it's just more fun to play with friends! So, in designing Pirates of the Caribbean Online, all aspects of in-game socialization have been top-of-mind with our team.

Usually when players form a group in an MMO they "party up." Similarly, in our game, players "crew up" since they are, of course, pirates. A player's crew accompanies them on various high-seas adventures. In this team-like environment, the Captain mans the helm and the crew stands guard at the cannons, keeping a lookout for enemy ships. Any gold earned at sea is split fairly amongst the crew and Captain. A crew can also stick together on land taking part in quests and entering the PvP (pirates vs. pirate) arena together.

We've designed the crewing-up experience to be convenient and as easy as possible for players. While on land, players can click on another player and, via a drop-down menu, ask them to join their crew. It is to a player's benefit to have as many crew members as possible - the seas of the Caribbean are not safe for lone travelers! There is safety in numbers, not to mention more opportunity to earn gold. There is, however, a limit to the number of crew members a player can have, and this is determined by ship size. Smaller boats can hold 2 or 3 pirates while bigger ships hold between 6 and 8 crew members.

A list of crew members is viewable in a drop-down menu alongside your list of friends and your Pirate Band. Crews are somewhat temporary and consist of other players that you interact with for only one or two adventures at a time. A Band of Pirates, similar to guilds in other MMOs, represents a group of players that are together for a longer term. Within Pirates Bands, players can share resources and lean on each other for help when needed. In Pirates of the Caribbean Online, tapping into a Pirate Band is also a great way to crew up when first entering a game-play session. Just as you clicked on another player to ask them to join your crew, you will do the same to add members to your Pirate Band. While anyone can join a band of Pirates, only Members with Unlimited access can create them. Additionally, a Pirate can only be a member of one band at a time.

In addition to embarking on exciting land and sea battles, players can participate in parlor games alongside crew members. At launch there will be three parlor games available — blackjack and two variations of poker, what we call Tortuga Hold 'Em and your basic Seven-Card-Stud. In addition to playing these for fun, we have also built them into some of the quests.

To add a unique pirate twist to the card games, we've designed them so players can cheat! In addition, we've incorporated a system of poker "tells." Poker is a game of bluffing, a skill pirates can definitely excel at. By stashing cards up their sleeves and whipping them out when needed, a player can increase their chances of winning. Be careful, though, because there is a penalty for getting caught, and for falsely accusing someone of cheating - cheaters are promptly sent to the local jail! If a player makes a good hand or suffers some bad luck, he has the chance to exhibit a "tell," which other players may detect and use to their advantage. Pay attention to the other players' emotions at the table to pick up this useful bit of information to increase your poker winnings.

To kick off a parlor game, players can enter one of the various taverns strewn about the islands for a pickup game. Or, if there is no one to challenge, the match-making interface Lookout System will come in handy. By opening their sea chest and clicking on the spyglass, players can access the Lookout System from anywhere in the game. It can be used not only to find other players to challenge in parlor games, but also to find opponents for PvP combat, to look for crew members, or to find others who share the same quests.

With all of that said, there is no limit to the number of parlor games you can play … the limit comes only when you run out of gold to wager! We've designed both the crewing-up system and the parlor games to be fun and easy for players to use. We understand that even a pirate needs to take the edge off, kick back and hang out at a tavern once in a while. Socializing with mates and hitting the card table is something every pirate will certainly enjoy!

Developer Diary #9 - Battle and Weapons, Sea

Jason Yeung, Game Designer and Programmer, Disney's Virtual Reality StudioMay 2, 2007

While there are plenty of islands and on-land environments to explore throughout Pirates of the Caribbean Online, a large part of the game's action and adventure will take place on the high seas. To give some additional insight into this vast portion of the game, we'd like to share details related to ship-based battle, sea weapons, and skills.

At sea, players will spend a lot of their time seeking treasure and attempting to sink enemy ships. The owner of a ship, the Captain, steers the course while members of the crew fire at enemy ships. Captains get a bigger cut of whatever loot is gained at battle but there is also more risk - if their ship is damaged, they have to bear the cost of repairing it. That said, players may prefer to join a friend's crew, saving themselves the risks associated with captaining a ship while getting the chance to build up their cannoneering skills on deck and taking home a part of the booty. Regardless, this team-based cooperative battle design is one aspect of Pirates of the Caribbean Online that makes it stand out from battles in other sea-based games.

At sea, Captains and their crew will encounter many different types of enemy ships ? those of the Navy, Eastern India Trading Company, and skeleton crews. To enter battle, players simply sail within cannon range of the enemy and fire away! In addition, players will cross paths with Flag Ships which are usually escorted by a fleet of enemy ships. In order to defeat Flag Ships, players must first sink all the escort ships, shoot the hull, and use grappling hooks to pull it closer. Once it is within range, crew members jump on a plank and climb aboard for some hand-to-hand combat. Flag ships are a challenge to defeat, but the loot is well worth the effort!

So, how do players defend their ships? With cannons, of course! Below deck cannons are controlled by the Captain and a large ship can hold up to 16! On deck, players can have between 2 and 10 cannons, which crew members manually control. In addition to cannons, there are different types of skills that contribute to a player's success in sea-based battles ? sailing skills, cannoneering skills, and passive skills.

As a Captain sinks enemy ships, their reputation is increased and they earn sailing skills. "Full Sail" gives ships a burst of speed and "Come About" lets a Captain make quick U-turns. The "Ramming" skill allows them to steer their ship into other enemy ships, causing a HUGE amount of damage. Captains must be particularly careful while sailing though and avoid running into rocks or even an island because this would cause significant damage to their own ship.

Crew members, on the other hand, level up in cannoneering skills (as opposed to sailing skills) as they improve at using cannons in battle. With experience, crew members unlock different types of cannon ammunition that they can choose to purchase. At first, players begin with Round Shot, a basic cannonball that has pretty good range and inflicts a decent amount of damage to enemy ships. Grape Shots are a step up and are particularly effective against enemy crew members. Then there are Chain Shots which are great to use against enemy masts and sails. In addition to these, players can also unlock explosive cannon ammunition, flaming cannonballs and magical thunder bolts?enemies better watch their back (or should I say stern)!

In addition to cannoneering and sailing skills, players can also learn passive skills for sea-based battle. For example, a Captain can level up in their ability to maneuver the ship or they can increase the rate at which they load their broadsides (which usually takes longer than loading on-deck cannons).

In Pirates of the Caribbean Online, Captains use these sea weapons and skills as they travel through the Caribbean in search of a plentiful bounty of treasure. Players can't be too greedy, though, because they will run into monstrous sea creatures and skeletons, the Navy, and the East India Trading Company along the way - enemies that can easily sink a player's ship and steal their treasure. With the right teamwork, strategy, and skills, however, players are likely to succeed and may even have a chance at becoming one of the most legendary Pirates on the high seas!

Developer Diary #8 - Land Battle and Weapons

David Paris, Developer and Designer, Disney's Virtual Reality StudioMay 2, 2007

The Pirates of the Caribbean films and theme park attractions have had a very broad-reaching appeal, attracting a range of ages, from kids and teens to adults, males and females equally. One of the greatest challenges in making Pirates of the Caribbean Online was how to translate this popularity into a MMO game. In order to accommodate a broad audience, we wanted to create a combat system that's both easy-to-use, yet also presents a handful of interesting layers that will keep even the most advanced gamers happy. In the end, we were able to create robust weapons and combat systems for both sea-based and land-based battles -- but for today, we'll just focus on the latter.

All land-based battle revolves around a combo system in which players execute a series of timed attacks using a particular weapon. If you click your mouse continuously while using the cutlass, for example, your character will simply swing at whatever enemy is in range. Players can transition into more advanced, skill-based attacks by timing their movements, resulting in even more damage against enemies. Each new attack skill is learned as players advance through the game - completing quests and gaining experience in battle. Bladestorm, one of my personal favorites, is a high-level cutlass skill that players can trigger in the middle of combat, setting off a series of five separate hits. Players can also acquire special abilities that allow you to sweep attack all enemies nearby, taunt and aggravate them, and more.

Passive skills are another branch in our combat system. Given the fact that pirates don't wear armor, they must rely on their own agility for defense. "Parry" is an example of a passive skill and one that helps players fend off hand-to-hand attacks, eliminating the need for bulky armor that most likely would lead to chafing...eh.

In Pirates of the Caribbean Online, players gather a "crew" (the equivalent of a group in other MMOs) to engage in both land and sea-based battle. Players can even get hard-hitting team combos by working alongside friends in battle.

Now, as far as weapons are concerned, every player starts off with the cutlass, the basic pirate sword used for hand-to-hand attacks. Most of the basic weapons available to players are awarded through a quest where someone teaches them how to use it. Through additional quests and shop visits, players can purchase higher quality versions of their weapons as they advance through the game.

In addition to the cutlass, there are daggers and grenades ? both useful when fighting from a distance, as they can be thrown at enemies. Grenades come in several different varieties, everything from smoke bombs to fire bombs. We've also built pistols into the game, which are ranged weapons that players can load with a variety of ammunition such as venom, steel, or silver -- each administering a varying level of damage.

If you've read previous developer diaries, you may have heard about the voodoo doll weapon. After getting a lesson on voodoo from Tia Dalma, players can use this weapon in battle by approaching an enemy, then selecting from a variety of supernatural attacks. This weapon does take a little longer to use than others, but it also gives players the ability to attack from a range. Voodoo dolls can also be used to heal members of your crew or to fix other lingering problems such as removing a curse. When players level up, they'll also learn how to use their doll on more than one target at a time!

Each player has a treasure chest in which they store weapons as well as other important items like clothing, maps, and treasure collections. In battle, players are limited in the number of weapons they have equipped, but there is no limit as to how many weapons a pirate can carry in their trusty treasure chest.

These weapons, skills, and special abilities were designed to serve as entertainment to both the beginner and advanced gamer. We're particularly excited to see player reactions to the voodoo and magic elements of Pirates of the Caribbean Online, which bring a new twist to combat in this MMO genre.

Check back soon for the other half of this Developer Diary which focuses on sea-based combat?

Developer Diary #6 - Building and Outfitting Ships

Jason Yeung, Game Designer and Programmer, Disney's Virtual Reality StudioMay 2, 2007

In Pirates of the Caribbean Online, players can purchase and captain their own ships to go on high-seas adventures -- battling, boarding, and sinking enemy ships, all while fighting off sea monsters along the way! Ships are a primary means of travel and allow players to sail from island to island to meet new players, explore new lands, conquer enemies, and participate in quests.

Players are first introduced to sailing in a tutorial that takes place in Port Royal early on in the game. After learning the basics of this essential pirate skill, Jolly Roger makes an appearance and destroys the tutorial ship, leaving players washed up on shore. At this point, players are directed to a shipwright who gives them a quest to earn enough gold to buy your own ship.

Shipwrights play an important role in Pirates of the Caribbean Online, as they are the key means for players to purchase and outfit their ships. Players go to shipwrights to purchase their first ship as well as all future ships. All ships are destructible and can be damaged by enemy fire or even sunk during battle on the open seas. Shipwrights can fix damaged ships, however, if a ship has been completely sunk, players will have to earn enough money to purchase a new one. With all that can happen in the Caribbean, it is a good thing that shipwrights are easily accessible to players and available on every island!

Once players complete the first quest and accumulate some gold, they return to the shipwright where they can view each of the different ship classes and sizes and purchase a ship of their choice.

In Pirates of the Caribbean Online, there are three main classes of ships: Interceptors, Merchants, and Warships. Interceptors are the smallest of the ships and have triangular shaped sails. They're the fastest and most maneuverable out of all the other classes, but since they are the smallest, they cannot carry as much fire power. Merchants, on the other hand, have square sails and are quite large in size, which slows them down but also makes them tougher and able to take one more enemy fire. Lastly are the Warships -- which have the most firepower. Warships can be outfitted with the most broadsides, and are in between Interceptors and Merchants in terms of size.

Within the three main ship classes, there are also three size variations ? small, light ships, medium battle ships, and large warships. The bigger the ship the more expensive it is and the bigger the crew it can hold. In addition to size, the class type also has an effect on price (Warships are the most expensive, for example.). Players purchase their ships using gold, with prices ranging from 150 gold pieces for the smallest ship, to 1,500 pieces for a medium ship, and 15,000 pieces for a large ship.

As with most MMOs, a large part of the player experience revolves around interacting with others. In Pirates of the Caribbean Online, we've created a built-in socialization feature with our ships. Unlike other games where a ship is manned by only one player, each ship will have a crew, which makes for more of a community-based experience. Aboard a ship, the owner takes on the role of captain - standing at the helm, steering the ship, and giving orders ? while the crew that the captain has gathered man the deck and take aim at enemy ships using on-deck cannons.

Another interesting difference between Pirates of the Caribbean Online and other pirate-themed MMOs is the absence of wind and the disturbance it can cause. Although wind can create a realistic experience, it can also make sailing less fun and efficient! With wind influences, players can be pushed off course and end up far from their intended destination. We tried to make sailing more accessible by taking the wind factor out of Pirates of the Caribbean Online. To add a sense of maneuvering when operating a ship, we've incorporated different sailing "skills" instead.

That's all for now! You'll learn more about these sailing skills as well as the use of ship weapons and sea battles in a future diary, so climb up to the crow's nest and keep watch!

Developer Diary #5 - Voodoo and the Supernatural

Mike Goslin, Vice President of Disney's Virtual Reality Studio March 9, 2007

In the third Developer Diary, we shared a portion of the Pirates of the Caribbean Online backstory with you - revealing the importance of the supernatural and voodoo within the game. In that entry, we left off with the Caribbean in a state of struggle between the "old ways" - the supernatural - and the European order of the New World. To make matters worse, the undead pirate, Jolly Roger, haunts players while he seeks revenge on the infamous Jack Sparrow.

In this entry, we'll pick up with Tia Dalma, who should be familiar to you as one of the main characters in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. In our game, she provides players with a gateway to the world of voodoo - an important weapon in the struggle against Jolly Roger and other enemies lurking throughout the game. Players will encounter her early on in the game's storyline and will very quickly learn that she is an important asset and ally on your journey.

During the first encounter, Tia Dalma enlightens players with knowledge of the supernatural state of the world and hints that they can come find her to learn more about the mystical powers that govern this portion of the game. At launch, players will have access to several key voodoo weapons, such as the Voodoo Doll and staff, that can be used in enemy battle as well as within PVP (Player-vs-Player) arenas.

Tia Dalma coaches players through crafting their own Voodoo Doll then teaches them how to use basic spells or attacks. Players can use the Voodoo Doll to summon a variety of curses, from conjuring a bustle of vines that entangle enemies' legs to swarming them with insects, or setting them ablaze. (Definitely, a handy weapon.) Additional and equally awesome, voodoo skills can be used to cure fellow players or members of your crew. This mystical power will be gradually introduced to players as they advance through the game.

In addition to weapons and healing spells, voodoo comes in the form of abilities as well. For example, players will have the supernatural ability to carry their ship around in their pocket wherever they go - which makes traveling from island to island a WHOLE lot easier. There is also the Compass which acts like a radar for players and points them to where their "heart most desires."

Throughout the game, Tia Dalma will help guide players through these mystical elements. Some players may take even more advantage of her lessons than others. Depending on personal preference, players can use voodoo almost exclusively in battle while others will use a combination of voodoo and powerful traditional weapons to fight.

We'll leave you with a glimpse of an important supernatural quest that players will experience when the game launches:

As a pirate, all Jack desires is his ship. To find it, he first must obtain an ancient artifact that allows its owner to control the wind. This artifact will not only provide Jack with his ship, but with his freedom as well. As a player, you can help Jack find the artifact, but as a Pirate you yourself have an eye on the prize as well...