Pirate101 Announced, New Poll, and Swordroll's Skyway!
KingsIsle isn't giving us a break in new things to be excited about - they've announced their second project - Pirate101! Pirate101 is an extensive online world where young pirates will choose between one of five classes and endeavor on a perilous journey to stop the evil of the Spiral... the same Spiral from which their wizard is from! Pirates will fight with an all-new turn-based combat system, and gather crew members and companions as they fly their personalized ship through the worlds of the Spiral.
LOS ANGELES (April 25, 2012) –Today, KingsIsle Entertainment formally revealed the exciting online world of Pirate101. The new game delivers heart-pounding, swashbuckling excitement as players take the helm of their very own pirate ships and pursue a storyline of epic adventure filled with intrigue and mystery.
With approximately 14 million unique visitors to Wizard101.com each month, KingsIsle Entertainment’s hit game Wizard101 has grown to become the most popular online game for kids and families in the country. With the announcement of Pirate101, KingsIsle extends its leadership in the online family entertainment space by giving players a vast, pirate-inspired universe to explore; from breathtaking cloud-top skyways, to ancient ruins filled with lost treasure.
"Pirate101's announcement is a seminal milestone for KingsIsle's already strong growth trajectory,” said Elie Akilian, Chairman and CEO of KingsIsle Entertainment. "We believe, based on early indications, Pirate101's appeal will further strengthen KingsIsle's leading position as the online family entertainment company. With the huge success of Wizard101, the introduction of Pirate101, and with multiple other projects already in progress, KingsIsle is a creative force poised for accelerated growth."
“We’ve created a world of treacherous pirates, faithful companions, tactical battles and gorgeous environments,” said Todd Coleman, vice president and creative director of KingsIsle Entertainment. “Pirate101 fuses the key lessons we’ve learned from Wizard101 with entirely new design, setting and gameplay mechanics. We’ve succeeded in creating a game that is very different from Wizard101, but remains comfortable and familiar.”Features
Experience adventures as a Buccaneer, Witchdoctor, Privateer, Swashbuckler or Musketeer! Find lost treasure, battle the villainous Armada, and search for El Dorado, the legendary City of Gold!
Visit far-away lands such as Skull Island, Cool Ranch, and Valencia while undertaking hundreds of quests along the way.
Captain your own flying Pirate Galleon and explore the Spiral across dozens of fantastic skyways. Each ship has customizable sails, figureheads, cannons and more!
Adventure with friends and family. Collect a rogue’s gallery of scallywags and cutthroats to form your own Pirate Crew!
Encounter hundreds of whimsical, fully-voiced, characters in your quest to free the Spiral from the yoke of tyranny.
Pricing and Availability
Pirate101 is currently in closed Alpha testing. The game will launch later this year as a free-to-play download at Pirate101.com. As with KingsIsle’s other major title, Wizard101, players will be able to access premium areas of the game by purchasing a monthly subscription or using Crowns, KingsIsle’s popular virtual currency.
Additional information about the game is available immediately atwww.pirate101.com.
About KingsIsle Entertainment, Inc.
KingsIsle Entertainment is a developer and publisher that specializes in creating high-quality massively multiplayer online games which provide entertainment for the entire family. Wizard101, KingsIsle’s first flagship property, received the Parent Tested Parent Approved Media Seal of Approval in 2009 and has been recognized by the National Parenting Publications Awards. Wizard101 was named Best MMO of 2010 by Beckett Massive Online Gamer Magazine, Best Family MMO of the Decade by Massively.com and the #1 Best Family Game of 2009 by MMORPG.com. Pirate101, the company’s second flagship title, will launch in 2012. The company’s experienced and creative team is raising the bar in online entertainment by offering products with rich storylines, friendly navigation, top-quality art and fully-voiced characters. KingsIsle is headquartered in Plano, Texas, and has a development studio in Austin, Texas. For more information, please visit www.kingsisle.com.
KingsIsle and Wizard101 are trademarks or registered trademarks of KingsIsle Entertainment Inc.
To get the full news, visit http://www.home.p101/!
With this new game on the horizon, Swordroll's Blog is faced with a difficult decision - face a complete redesign of the site to include both Wizard101 AND Pirate101 news, with links allowing you to read only one or the other, or creating an all-new site with separate content. Here's the issue - while being an official site is a side-goal at the moment, and does not fall within the main set of goals at the current time, it does have to be considered. Great amounts of time are put into Swordroll's Blog for the love of blogging, and so, when considering official sites, will Pirate101/Wizard101 accept sites that cover both? As I explained it in an email to KingsIsle, blogs are like children... you love them dearly, are work for them to do well and be the best that they can. You design and shape them in a way that makes you even more dedicated to continue with them. As silly as it sounds, having two makes me worry about having a favorite... and I want to be equally dedicated in content.
Ideally, KingsIsle replies and says that they will consider sites that include both, the community approves of one site, and I can make one site design work.
For the current time being, content will remain on two separate sites... and so, let me happily introduce Swordroll's Skyway (yes, the header/URL may be changed):
http://swordroll-pirate101.blogspot.com/
I'm still looking for feedback on the entire site design. Let me know if something isn't working right. You should note that it is still a work in progress, and pages are not yet complete. There will also be more pages to come, including guides!
Since one of the major things I'm taking into consideration when dividing sites is the community, I'd like YOUR opinion. I've put up a new poll of the subject, so if you would please vote, it'd make my job a little bit easier!
Any further feedback by comment is appreciated! Thanks for reading, and see you in the Spiral!
I voted "other." I think that you SHOULD have two separate blogs, but if it's possible (I don't know much about Blogger), have Swordroll.com have two headers, that's it. When you click on the Swordroll- Wizard101 header it takes you to the W101 blog, and vice versa. Also, on both sites have an image in the sidebar that links to the other blog (much like Friendly's Happy Dueling link). I don't know it this is possible though. Thanks for considering!
ReplyDeleteDude! The P101 blog looks amazing! God do you like totally change the html or something? :P
ReplyDeleteNick and I started a P101 blog also. thebuccaneerbloggers.blogspot.com and we added your P101 blog to it :)
I really love the idea of one blog including both but it's all your choice. Check out our blog though and please follow ;)
Thanks!!!
-Blaze
Why?! How?!? What?!? Your new blog is AMAZING! When and where did you learn to use Blogger like that?! Like seriously, the layout and stuff is INCREDIBLE and the header is super cool too!
ReplyDeleteWow, eight votes already! You guys must really want to avoid another song like my first poll! :P
ReplyDelete@Evan Shadow - Yes, it wouldn't be too hard. Instead of a header, you upload a single, one pixel, transparent image, so you can't see it. Then you'd add an HTML gadget below where you'd actually have two pictures, but it'd be connected and designed to look like one, but then, they could link to different sites. I could also do one site, and have options to view only posts about Wizard101 or Pirate101.
@Blaze Shadowhorn - Thanks! I only do a little bit of HTML, but I kind of trick blogger. I took a look at your blog, and it looks awesome! That's one thing I'll have to work on with that Pirate101 blog is where to put the followers, other bloggers, etc. I also like the idea of one blog, and I've got a new design in mind, so we'll see. :)
@The Hilarious Thaumaturge - It's basically clever use of a background and sidebars. At the moment, the only real HTML involved is changing blogger so that I can add more page elements in places they usually aren't allow. :)
I like Evan Shadow's Idea.
ReplyDeleteUm, why does the blog have a RS picture in it??
ReplyDelete@Anonymous - Not sure, it certainly isn't my picture. Must be a problem with TinyPic. I replaced the picture, though, and it should be working now.
ReplyDeleteEvan Shadow's idea seems about right, and your reply to his statement, so go along and do something like that - (e.g. Friendly Necromancer - Happy Dueling).
ReplyDeleteEvan Shadow's idea seems quite right, try doing something like Friendly's Happy Dueling website. Try not to stress out over the idea. Perhaps, can redirect to two different sites after all, if you wish. - As KI for approval.
ReplyDelete