MMO Gamers

     I logged in to Pirates today for the first time in a few days. I’d made some money on the Auction House (finally) and I needed some motivation to keep playing so I bought a new ship. I actually bought a warship because there were no merchant ships at my level (shipbuilders take note). Anyway, I logged in, and entered the shop (load screen #1). I checked out the Auction House and purchased my ship. I was in Grenville and my ship was in Matthew Town so I had a little distance to travel. I left the shop (load screen #2) and headed to the coxwain to board my current ship (load screen #3). I hit the open seas and sail to Matthew Town, dock, and enter town (load screen #4). I enter the shop (load screen #5) and retrieve my ship deed. I leave the shop (load screen #6) and visit the coxwain to board my new ship (load screen #7). I hit the open seas.

     I’m excited about my new ship so I find some low level pirates to test it on (load screen #8). I sink three pirates and exit ship combat (load screen #9). It’s now time to replenish my stocks on the Auction House. First stop is Tampa to make some limestone. I’m sailing past Grenville through the Florida Keys and get jumped by some pirates (load screen #10). There’s two of them and they sport twice as much firepower each than I do so I turn into the wind and sail away from them. I have no doubt I’ll get away, it’s merely a matter of waiting out the combat timer. I escape and enter the open seas again (load screen #11).

     I sail down the coast heading for Tampa. I’m getting pretty impatient now so I run the gauntlet and try to race through the numerous pirates that loiter outside the port. Alas, I fail (load screen #12). Again, I stand no chance of winning so I sail away from the pirates and wait for the combat timer to run down, returning to the open seas (load screen #13). I sail the last few hundred yards to Tampa and enter port (load screen #14). I make my limestone and put it in my ship’s hold. Now I need to take my limestone to New Orleans where my main production line is so I can make new cannons but frankly I can’t be bothered.  

      I really wanted to like this game.  I’m just not sure I do.  There are bits I love about it and bits I hate.  Unfortunately I think the hate bits are winning.