The ESRB recently outed the highly regarded Sid Meier's Pirates! as an upcoming Wii (or, possibly, WiiWare) title. Originally developed for Commodore 64, MicroProse released the PC version in 1987 and, in 2004, Atari published the Firaxis-developed remake. 2K Games then took the reins, porting the title to the Xbox and the PSP in 2007, with Metacritic scoring the remake's three incarnations a favorable 88, 80 and 82 of 100. The original press release from the game's console debut on Xbox describes the title as follows:
Sid Meier's Pirates!® is the action-packed roleplaying game that lets you live the life of a pirate in the seventeenth-century Caribbean. Choose which exploits and quests to pursue in this Xbox®-customised version of Sid's original, award-winning Pirates! PC game.
Engage in fierce naval battles: Fight single enemies or multiple ships.
Build a fleet: Take the helm of 27 different ship types enhanced with assorted ammo, cannons, and other upgrades.
Integrated melee: Parry and slash your dueling opponents into submission with lightning quick moves onboard ships, in seedy taverns, and even in the Governor's mansion.
Take your crew ashore: Dig up buried treasure or plunder enemy ports in strategic land battles. Sneak in and out of towns, escape from prisons, and avoid guards, or surprise them and knock them out!
A pirate's life: Increase your riches and win the heart of the Governor's daughter to earn gifts and valuable information.
Multiplayer combat: Grab a controller and jump into four-player ship battles in Versus mode.
Make your own story: Challenge and pursue the most infamous pirates in history, including Blackbeard, Captain Kidd, and Henry Morgan. If you prevail, they’ll teach unique skills to you!
Online bonuses: Use Xbox LIVE® to upload scores and compare your pirating prowess with friends and foes alike. Also, download sail emblems, flags, and other content.
Renowned creator: Designed by Hall-of-Fame game designer Sid Meier.
As we have come to expect less of the Wii's downloadable content, we predict that online bonuses are the only feature of those listed above that will probably not make it into the Wii version. While the ESRB does not differentiate between Wii and WiiWare titles, we'll update you as soon as we know more.
2K Games has announced no official release date, but we'll keep you updated on all future developments.
Note: All screenshots are taken from the XBox, PSP and PC versions of the game. While 2K Games has yet to release any Wii screenshots, we'll upload them as soon as we can.
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It was released on the original Xbox as a full-price retail title. It's available on the Marketplace for download because it's available on Games on Demand rather than Xbox Live Arcade.
I own the PSP version, its an enjoyable game this is great news. Considering its age I would be surprised if it was released as a retail title, releasing it on wiiware would appear to make more sense.
"MicroProse released its original incarnation for the PC in 1987..."
The game was originally made for C= 64 and then PORTED to the PC and Apple II...
Anyway, this 2004-remake is really terrible. Hope they could release a port of the original game or perhaps Pirates! Gold, any of those would be better than this 3D for the sake of 3D bs that the 2004-version is such a fine example of...
Yeah, me too, as opposed to Sid Meier's Pirates! v. 2004 "Uncharted Waters : New Horizons" looks really interesting and "pirates!"-like. What a pity I've never played it!
How about virtual console C= 64 or NES? The original C=64 Pirates! were ported to the NES, don't know if it was any good, though... And might be a problem to play the early versions (pre-GOLD) without a printed map.
There's no way Pirates! will be a download titel on the Wii. What's the size limit for WiiWare, about 40 MB? Even the PSP version was easily 10 times bigger than that.
@pixelman..... you will love it my man. This is a game of Epic Proportions. Just something about ruling the High Seas that will make you feel invincible lol.
Yay! Pirates! One of my favorite franchises ever. Loved it on my Amiga, on my PC as Pirates! Gold, and the remake that finally made its way onto the Mac a couple of years ago. Not sure whether I'll bother with this one then, but it'll be nice for others to enjoy such a great game.
I highly doubt it'll be a WiiWare game because even if it is downgraded it'd be still much larger than the 40MB size limit. If they release it as VC title it better be the Genesis one, since I doubt the NES original will hold up favorably.
Awesome!!! I remember playing the NES port Pirates!!! Over at my friends house back when I was in junior high. Never played any of the PC versions since I never had a PC at the time of their release. I will for sure be picking up this one not sure which system yet but I will be picking this one up.
I always found that pirate video games ended up being pretty terrible. Sid's was the only one that seemed okay. The metacritic score has me interested.
I bought the original Xbox just for this game, as my pc's video card was too lame to run it. It is a blast! Since I lost my Xbox in a fit of very poor judgment I think I will be getting this. I just hope they don't stupidly make the price unreasonably high. You can get the PC or Xbox versions anywhere for about 10 bucks.
I have the Xbox version and I loved the game. I still have it so I'm not sure if I'd buy it again for the Wii (depends on the price). I guess we don't know for sure if its the Xbox release or an older port. I think it'd be interesting if they made a new WiiWare version or something.
Anyways, one of my favorite pirate games was Pirates of the Caribbean on the Xbox. It was originally Sea Dogs II and it kind of reminds me of something like the Elder Scrolls but out at sea (it was made by Bethesda so it'd make sense).
Ultra put out the NES version. They also put out Defender of the Crown. Anyway, the NES version was packaged with a map, I probably still have my box and everything. Wasted a summer of my life on the high seas, comparing ranks and scores with friends, constantly trying to court the pretty blonde wench! Ah, the silver train! I believe I've played all the versions of it. I think they're all pretty similar, a must have action RPG. The dancing in the modern versions is kind of a pain, but it's fun the first few times.
Comments 28
It was released on the original Xbox as a full-price retail title. It's available on the Marketplace for download because it's available on Games on Demand rather than Xbox Live Arcade.
I think this game will be a retail title.
I own the PSP version, its an enjoyable game this is great news. Considering its age I would be surprised if it was released as a retail title, releasing it on wiiware would appear to make more sense.
Great! Now give us Pirates: The Legend of Black Kat!!
I love the live the life version on PC
"MicroProse released its original incarnation for the PC in 1987..."
Anyway, this 2004-remake is really terrible. Hope they could release a port of the original game or perhaps Pirates! Gold, any of those would be better than this 3D for the sake of 3D bs that the 2004-version is such a fine example of...
I still want Uncharted Waters : New Horizons released in Europe.
Unless this game is similar in that you can trade at ports (with growing inventories), and make discoveries.
Yeah, me too, as opposed to Sid Meier's Pirates! v. 2004 "Uncharted Waters : New Horizons" looks really interesting and "pirates!"-like. What a pity I've never played it!
Isn't it possible that this could be a VC release of the MegaDrive version?
Retail ==> Instant buy!
Virtual Console (MegaDrive) ==> Instant buy!
WiiWare ==> No thanks!
PS: Since the remake was a Xbox retail release it would be too big for WiiWare's ridiculous size limit anyway.
So gonna buy this! =)
How about virtual console C= 64 or NES? The original C=64 Pirates! were ported to the NES, don't know if it was any good, though... And might be a problem to play the early versions (pre-GOLD) without a printed map.
hmmm... now release mount and blade warband on wii (with full M+ support) and i'll be ready to wet myself
Yay! I've always wanted that game but could never find it on the PSP.
I want it on Wii or WiiWare or VC, it doesn't really matter. The game is great that's all that matters.
If it comes to WiiWare I hope they somehow manage to port it without cutting original content. That's the fear we all have with the WiiWare version.
YES!!! I've always wanted to play this. Perfect.
There's no way Pirates! will be a download titel on the Wii. What's the size limit for WiiWare, about 40 MB? Even the PSP version was easily 10 times bigger than that.
@pixelman..... you will love it my man. This is a game of Epic Proportions. Just something about ruling the High Seas that will make you feel invincible lol.
Yay! Pirates! One of my favorite franchises ever. Loved it on my Amiga, on my PC as Pirates! Gold, and the remake that finally made its way onto the Mac a couple of years ago. Not sure whether I'll bother with this one then, but it'll be nice for others to enjoy such a great game.
I highly doubt it'll be a WiiWare game because even if it is downgraded it'd be still much larger than the 40MB size limit. If they release it as VC title it better be the Genesis one, since I doubt the NES original will hold up favorably.
Thanks to all those who added extra information to this story: I've added your input. You guys are the best
I still play the 1987 game, that was totally groundbreaking, as is all of Sid Meier's stuff.
The '80's title is abandonware, too.
Awesome!!! I remember playing the NES port Pirates!!! Over at my friends house back when I was in junior high. Never played any of the PC versions since I never had a PC at the time of their release. I will for sure be picking up this one not sure which system yet but I will be picking this one up.
Awesome game! I would absolutely freak though, if they ever brought Alpha Centauri to WiiWare. Hopefully this, is a step to that. Pleeeease!
hmm interesting, could be a good game in collection library.
Um... Better late than never, I guess.
I always found that pirate video games ended up being pretty terrible. Sid's was the only one that seemed okay. The metacritic score has me interested.
I bought the original Xbox just for this game, as my pc's video card was too lame to run it. It is a blast! Since I lost my Xbox in a fit of very poor judgment I think I will be getting this. I just hope they don't stupidly make the price unreasonably high. You can get the PC or Xbox versions anywhere for about 10 bucks.
I have the Xbox version and I loved the game. I still have it so I'm not sure if I'd buy it again for the Wii (depends on the price). I guess we don't know for sure if its the Xbox release or an older port. I think it'd be interesting if they made a new WiiWare version or something.
Anyways, one of my favorite pirate games was Pirates of the Caribbean on the Xbox. It was originally Sea Dogs II and it kind of reminds me of something like the Elder Scrolls but out at sea (it was made by Bethesda so it'd make sense).
Ultra put out the NES version. They also put out Defender of the Crown. Anyway, the NES version was packaged with a map, I probably still have my box and everything. Wasted a summer of my life on the high seas, comparing ranks and scores with friends, constantly trying to court the pretty blonde wench! Ah, the silver train! I believe I've played all the versions of it. I think they're all pretty similar, a must have action RPG. The dancing in the modern versions is kind of a pain, but it's fun the first few times.
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