Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea outlines plans for 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-outlines-plans-for-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-outlines-plans-for-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-outlines-plans-for-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Pirates of the Burning Sea - anchored ships
Remember Pirates of the Burning Sea? Yeah, it's still sailing along after its 2010 free-to-play conversion, and the dev team at Flying Lab Software is gearing up to celebrate the game's fourth anniversary in high pirate style.

Brain "Fodderboy" Taney has offered up a lengthy dev blog detailing what's next for the nautical MMO, and he outlines two main goals: immersion and the desire to "layer" the game.

Immersion is fairly self-explanatory (and in case it's not, Taney says that it entails bringing more authentic 18th century elements to the game). Layering requires a bit more verbiage, but it basically boils down to improving "the game experience for all the different kinds of players we have in our community (e.g., casual, hardcore, PvE-only, PvP-only, etc.)," Taney says. There's quite a bit more, of course, but you'll need to head to the official PotBS website to read about it.

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea outlines plans for 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian-taneydev-blogdev-diarydevelopment-roadmapf2pflying-labflying-lab-softwarefodderboyfour-year-anniversaryfourth-anniversaryfree-to-playhistoricalimmersionlayeringPirates-of-the-Burning-SeapotbssoeSony-Online-EntertainmentupdatesSun, 22 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Sink or swim!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/choose-my-adventure-sink-or-swim/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/choose-my-adventure-sink-or-swim/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/choose-my-adventure-sink-or-swim/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Just when I think I'm out, they pull me back in!

I really thought you all would choose one of the nations to play in my last poll, but no, you clearly signaled that I should stick with playing a pirate! As a result, I fitted my ship and went out to sea as Arienne Sauvage, Woman of Wealth and Taste. (Although that's up for debate)

Read on for a recap of my week in Pirates of the Burning Sea, including ship combat, the community, and some pirate humor!

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Sink or swim!

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Sink or swim! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>choose-my-adventurecmaeconomyf2pfeaturedflying-labflying-lab-softwarefree-to-playftppiratesPirates-of-the-Burning-Seapollpollspotbsship-combatsoeSony-Online-EntertainmentWed, 27 Apr 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Angling coming to Pirates of the Burning Sea]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/angling-coming-to-pirates-of-the-burning-sea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/angling-coming-to-pirates-of-the-burning-sea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/angling-coming-to-pirates-of-the-burning-sea/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

"Teach an avatar to fish," the saying goes, "and he'll flood the auction house with smelly seafood." These words were never so true nor relevant than they are today, as Flying Lab announced that the ancient art of angling is making its way into Pirates of the Burning Sea with patch 2.6.

Scallywags, landlubbers, and buccaneers will be invited to take up a rod and pull slimy gold out of the sea when this hobby hits the game. Designed as a fun way to pass the time, fishing will add a new challenge to PotBS. It makes sense, too, considering just how much, y'know, water is present in the Caribbean.

Expert anglers will need to know and master the different types of fishing lines and lures while criss-crossing the ocean in pursuit of rare and unique species. Haul up a good catch and the local fishmonger will be happy to exchange your chickens of the sea for practical goods. The studio even hinted at a grand prize -- the region-exclusive trophy fish -- but did not elaborate.

Players are welcome to give this time-treasured sport a try on the test server once 2.5 hits.

MassivelyAngling coming to Pirates of the Burning Sea originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.52.6anglingchicken-of-the-seafishfishingflying-labflying-lab-softwarepiratesPirates-of-the-Burning-Seapotbssoesony-online-entertainmenttrophy-fishWed, 13 Apr 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PotBS devs share some cake with Massively]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/25/potbs-devs-share-some-cake-with-massively/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/25/potbs-devs-share-some-cake-with-massively/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/25/potbs-devs-share-some-cake-with-massively/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

How did you celebrate your third birthday party? We imagine that the Pirates of the Burning Sea developers celebrated it a lot like you might have: with pirates, talking birds and the occasional PvP fight. Of course, you probably didn't choose to participate in an interview with the best MMO website in existence, mainly because it more than likely didn't exist back then.

Our trusty eyepatches in place, we waylaid Russell "Rusty" Williams (Flying Lab's CEO) and Jason "Mr Nutty" Gettel (Lead Designer), who answered some of our "burning" questions. So sit back, put your bib on, blow out your candles, and click past the cut to see what they had to say on this special anniversary!

Continue reading PotBS devs share some cake with Massively

MassivelyPotBS devs share some cake with Massively originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3rd-anniversarybeau-hindmaneve-onlineflying-labflying-lab-softwarehistorical-mmohistoryPiratesPirates-of-the-Burning-Seaplayer-versus-playerpotbspvpSOESony-Online-Entertainmentthird-anniversarythird-year-anniversaryTue, 25 Jan 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea: The third anniversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-the-third-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-the-third-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-the-third-anniversary/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Pirates of the Burning Sea just turned three years old, so we decided to take a look back at some of the history, controversy and changes that happened along the way. How do you sum up the history of an MMO, no matter how short? Do you simply make a timeline, establishing landmark events? What about the players -- how do they feel after sailing around the sea for all this time?

Well, we decided to do a little bit of each. What we found was a game that is still rich in its content, still varied in its playerbase, and still moving forward. The game has had its issues like any other, so on this anniversary we decided to showcase how the game has affected people with a series of mini-interviews with the players themselves.

Click past the cut to see what treasures we dug up!

Continue reading Pirates of the Burning Sea: The third anniversary

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea: The third anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanf2pflying-labflying-lab-softwarefree-to-playftpPiratesPirates-of-the-Burning-Seaplayer-versus-playerpotbspower-and-prestigepower-and-prestige-expansionpvpreal-lifeship-to-ship-combatshipsSOEMon, 24 Jan 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea celebrating third anniversary with a new build]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-celebrating-third-anniversary-with-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-celebrating-third-anniversary-with-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-celebrating-third-anniversary-with-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's been a couple of months since Flying Lab Software opted to steer its Pirates of the Burning Sea MMO into free-to-play waters. In the interim, the seas have been smooth and things have been pretty quiet in terms of updates. Flying Lab hasn't been resting on its laurels however, and has just released extensive patch notes for the 2.2.83.0 update that ties in with the game's third anniversary.

First up is a new mission and series of minigames (and a new coat reward item) accessible from the Royal Society NPC in your nation's capital. Treasure Aisle, the game's item shop, also features time-limited extras in the form of a black cockatoo and a celebratory monkey (yes really).

In other patch-related news, San Juan has been given an extensive graphical overhaul, a new live event chat channel has been added, and a boat load of stability and performance fixes have been introduced. Read the rundown on these -- and many other -- tweaks, additions, and fixes at the official Pirates of the Burning Sea website.

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea celebrating third anniversary with a new build originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.2.83.0black-cockatoof2pflying-labflying-lab-softwarefree-to-playnew-coatpatchpatch-notesPirates-of-the-Burning-Seapotbssan-juan-updatesoeSony-Online-EntertainmentupdatesWed, 19 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea now sailing the free-to-play seas]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-now-sailing-the-free-to-play-seas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-now-sailing-the-free-to-play-seas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-now-sailing-the-free-to-play-seas/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The time has come for freewheeling free-to-play fun on the seas of adventure. Today marks the official relaunch of Pirates of the Burning Sea after a long period of bug fixing, tons of beta testing, and a series of upgrades to the game. If you're in the mood for some seafarin' scalawag scuffles, you risk nothing beyond a download and some gaming time. Definitely can't beat that pricetag for pirate goodness.

For those who haven't been keeping up on the news from Pirates of the Burning Sea, have no fear! We've gathered up a handful of articles behind the break that offer a look at dev blogs, interviews, and even our own super-secret tests of customer service. Click on the link, mateys, and get ta readin' while Flying Lab finishes patchin' the servers against Davy Jones' evil.

Continue reading Pirates of the Burning Sea now sailing the free-to-play seas

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea now sailing the free-to-play seas originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pflying-labflying-lab-softwarefree-to-playPirates-of-the-Burning-Seapotbsrelaunchroundupsoesony-online-entertainmentMon, 29 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea delays F2P conversion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/22/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-delays-f2p-conversion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/22/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-delays-f2p-conversion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/22/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-delays-f2p-conversion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We haven't heard much out of Flying Lab Software since its announcement of Pirates of the Burning Sea's impending free-to-play conversion. Early this morning, Flying Lab producer Michelle "Misha" Williams posted on the game's official forum, confirming that the transformation will be pushed back.

In an email originally sent in late October, PotBS account holders were informed that the F2P switcheroo would occur "on or around November 22." Williams relates that both SOE and Flying Lab determined that a delay was in everyone's best interest. "While some of us had visions of tons of new players spending their entire Thanksgiving weekend doing their Christmas shopping in Pirates of the Burning Sea's Treasure Aisle, we've had to measure that against the risk of putting out a build with too many bugs on a short week when many folks crucial to responding to potential problems aren't available to do so," she writes.

Williams goes on to outline a few of the reasons for the delay, including the account-level gymnastics that SOE will be performing apart from Flying Lab's game code. Check out the full report on the o-boards.

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea delays F2P conversion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>delayf2pflying-labflying-lab-softwarefree-to-playfree-to-play-conversionPirates-of-the-Burning-SeapotbssoeSony-Online-EntertainmentMon, 22 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should multiple accounts be policed?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/the-daily-grind-should-multiple-accounts-be-policed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/the-daily-grind-should-multiple-accounts-be-policed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/the-daily-grind-should-multiple-accounts-be-policed/#commentsFiled under: ,


Pirates of the Burning Sea recently amended its in-game rules to reflect an official stance on the practice of "alt-flipping," a tactic used by players with multiple accounts to manipulate the game's Conquest system. In a nutshell, Flying Lab devs have labeled certain uses of the tactic as griefing and stated that it will be policed as such (including possible bans).

Interestingly, Flying Lab also goes out of its way to state it has no problem with multiple accounts per se, saying that in most cases multiple accounts are a perfectly acceptable gameplay tactic. This seemingly opens up a can of worms over what is considered legitimate and/or acceptable gameplay, particularly when the game's design intentionally features a "cutthroat, competitive [...] system that drives players to find any edge they can get over the opposing forces."

Dual-boxing is nothing new in MMORPGs of course, and games like EVE Online even advertise it and run discount promotions for alt accounts. What about you, Massively readers? Do you dual-box, and more importantly, do you feel alt accounts should be policed?
Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of our readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's The Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Should multiple accounts be policed? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alt-flippingalternate-charactersaltsdual-boxingeve-onlineflying-labflying-lab-softwareopinionPirates-of-the-Burning-Seapotbstdgthe-daily-grindTue, 19 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Community Detective, Issue #9: Pirates of the Burning Sea]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/28/community-detective-issue-9-pirates-of-the-burning-sea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/28/community-detective-issue-9-pirates-of-the-burning-sea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/28/community-detective-issue-9-pirates-of-the-burning-sea/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Yarr! Hmm, not really. YARRRRRRR! That's a little better. Ahoy, mateys. Talk Like a Pirate Day may be over, but that isn't stopping me from navigating the rough waters of Flying Lab Software's Pirates of the Burning Sea for this week's issue of Community Detective. The game's a fair bit of fun, and since it recently joined the F2P bandwagon that all the cool kids are jumping on these days, it's likely to become more popular in the near future.

As such, much like I did with Turbine's Lord of the Rings Online, I wanted to get a look at the game's community and customer service apparatus both before and after the payment model switcheroo. So how are the social aspects of the SOE-published title shaping up? Well, the customer service is pretty spot on. The community? Well, I'll be kind (for now) and simply say that it leaves a little something to be desired.

Sail past the cut to learn more.

Continue reading Community Detective, Issue #9: Pirates of the Burning Sea

MassivelyCommunity Detective, Issue #9: Pirates of the Burning Sea originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communitycommunity-detectivecommunity-pollingcustomer-servicefeaturedflying-labflying-lab-softwarehistoricalopinionpiratesPirates-of-the-Burning-SeapotbssoeSony-Online-EntertainmentyarrrTue, 28 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flying Lab details Pirates of the Burning Sea F2P conversion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/20/flying-lab-details-pirates-of-the-burning-sea-f2p-conversion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/20/flying-lab-details-pirates-of-the-burning-sea-f2p-conversion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/20/flying-lab-details-pirates-of-the-burning-sea-f2p-conversion/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Flying Lab Software, makers of the Pirates of the Burning Sea historical naval MMORPG, recently decided it was time for the subscription-based business model to walk the plank. While Flying Lab CEO Russell Williams penned an introductory devlog breaking the news late last week, the piece was light on the details, setting the stage for a more in-depth look at the decision from a gameplay perspective.

Flying Lab game designer Jason "Mr. Nutty" Gettel checks in with another devlog designed to address introductory questions that current players and tire-kickers may have about the title. While there's nothing revolutionary about Flying Lab's take on RMT (it features the standard item shop, along with the equally standard no-game-breaking-items-for-sale mantra), it's good to see it spelled out after Williams' somewhat cryptic announcement.

One interesting wrinkle that bears watching is the way Flying Lab is implementing perks for Captain's Club members (the new name for monthly subscribers). Among other things, subbers will enjoy an experience bonus as well as increased loot and faction gain over their F2P brethren. Read the full article on the game's official website, and be sure to look for Massively's exclusive Flying Lab interview in the coming days.

MassivelyFlying Lab details Pirates of the Burning Sea F2P conversion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>captains-clubf2pflying-labflying-lab-softwarefree-to-playjason-gettelloot-bonusmr-nuttyPirates-of-the-Burning-Seapotbsrussell-williamssoeSony-Online-Entertainmentxp-bonusMon, 20 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea to go F2P with next expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/16/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-to-go-f2p-with-next-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/16/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-to-go-f2p-with-next-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/16/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-to-go-f2p-with-next-expansion/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Having just cranked out the shiny new expansion Power & Prestige for Pirates of the Burning Sea, the team at Flying Lab Software has opted to set a course for another uncharted destination -- the free-to-play waters! Indeed -- it appears that the company has been planning this move since the tail end of last year, and what's more, it has already coded in the free-to-play elements -- currently in testing. While no specific date has been given, the hope is to release this change in the fall along with their next expansion content pack.

Russell Williams, CEO of Flying Lab Software noted the change in a statement: "Since we launched Pirates of the Burning Sea in January 2008, players have been battling on the high seas to control the Caribbean. With Power & Prestige's Port Governance, we've added a whole new level of immersion to the struggle for power. Players also have access to a wealth of new content, and have a whole new fighting school to master. We're also excited to make Pirates of the Burning Sea even more accessible by making it free-to-play in the near future so that even more players can enjoy the amazing ship battles, in-depth missions, and the rich Caribbean setting."

More information regarding the decision can be found on the Pirates of the Burning Sea website, for those curious. In the meantime, good thing that Talk Like a Pirate Day is coming! We can get to practicin' on our piratin' talk before it be time to weigh anchor and set sail on the F2P sea, mateys.

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea to go F2P with next expansion originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingexpansionf2pflying-labflying-lab-softwarefree-to-playpirates-of-the-burning-seapotbspower-and-prestigerussell-williamssoesony-online-entertainmentThu, 16 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea expansion launches tomorrow]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/14/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-expansion-launches-tomorrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/14/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-expansion-launches-tomorrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/14/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-expansion-launches-tomorrow/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Flying Lab Software has announced the new live date for Power & Prestige, the first expansion for their Pirates of the Burning Sea MMORPG. The update, originally scheduled to sail in August, is bringing quite a few new features to the high seas title, including ship revamps, port governance, and new mission content.

Community manager Tom "Rhaegar" Atkinson-Edwards checks in on the official website to give us the low-down on what to expect with the patch. Due to the expansion's extensive content and complexity, the folks at Flying Lab are estimating a 12-hour downtime tomorrow as they work their magic. You can view the full update notes for the expansion on the official Pirates of the Burning Sea support website.

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea expansion launches tomorrow originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansion-launchflying-labflying-lab-softwarePirates-of-the-Burning-Seaport-governanceport-governorpotbspower-and-prestigepower-and-prestige-expansionship-revampssoeSony-Online-EntertainmentTue, 14 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Where's the rum gone?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/10/one-shots-wheres-the-rum-gone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/10/one-shots-wheres-the-rum-gone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/10/one-shots-wheres-the-rum-gone/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The crew at Flying Lab is still hard at work polishing up the upcoming Power & Prestige expansion to its game, Pirates of the Burning Sea. Meanwhile, devoted seafarers are checking out the new adventures on the test server, as the new expansion has gone into open beta and is set to launch soon. This fun screenshot of freebootin' adventure comes to us from regular contributor Steven K., who has been enjoying some privateerin' fun lately and writes in: "I've just been accepted into the Bretheren of the Coast. More importantly, I've been gifted a shiny new frogsticker and a pistol I call 'One-eyed William.' Here I am at the dock's of Morgan's Bluff. I'm certainly finding the old saying true so far... 'A pirate's life for me!' "

Have you been enjoying some time in a game we don't see that often? Are niche titles your favorite type of MMOs? Well, don't be shy! Send your images in to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll post it out here for everyone to check out and give you the credit for being adventurous.

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

MassivelyOne Shots: Where's the rum gone? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flying-labflying-lab-softwareone-shotspirates-of-the-burning-seapotbspower-and-prestigepower-and-prestige-expansionscreenshotscreenshotssteven-kFri, 10 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea expansion delayed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/24/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-expansion-delayed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/24/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-expansion-delayed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/24/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-expansion-delayed/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Those of you looking forward to the graphical improvements, ship tuning, and assorted extra features coming your way in Pirates of the Burning Sea's first expansion will have to cool your heels for a couple of weeks. Flying Lab Software community manager Tom "Rhaegar" Atkinson-Edwards posted official word on the Power & Prestige delay on the game's official website yesterday.

While no firm timetable has been set, it's not time to walk the plank just yet, as Atkinson-Edwards states that the team is currently shooting for a revised date in early September.

The expansion brings skill revamps, ship revamps, port governance, and a boatload of new missions to the world of Pirates of the Burning Sea. If you absolutely can't wait to see what the expansion has to offer, check out the open beta via the official website.

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea expansion delayed originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansionexpansion-delayedflying-labflying-lab-softwarePirates-of-the-Burning-Seapotbspower-and-prestigepower-and-prestige-expansionTue, 24 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Buckles need swashin']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/one-shots-buckles-need-swashin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/one-shots-buckles-need-swashin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/one-shots-buckles-need-swashin/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

One of the things that's especially fun for me, as the person who writes One Shots every day, is having regular contributors who like to touch base every so often and show off what they're doing. It's kind of like catching up with a friend you haven't seen in a while. Today, I got a note from one of our regular contributors, Stephen K., who has sent in several screenshots of Ryzom. He's decided to throw us a curve today by sending in a screenshot of Pirates of the Burning Sea, and writes in:

"Cap'n Svven Svensson has only just arrived, but you can easily discern the disgust on his face. Nothin' worse than an empty cage! 'Hmmph,' snarls Svensson as he stares at the British soldier slumped in the one cage that is occupied. 'Me thinks we need to find you a friend!!' He's arrived in the Burning Sea just in time to help elect the new Governor, and pamphlets championing various 'candidates' lay trampled on the docks or swirl high above the rooftops in the stiffening western breeze."

If you'd like to share your adventures from time to time, we're always looking for regular contributors! All you have to do is email a screenshot to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a note to tell us what's going on in the image. To be a regular, just send them in every so often and keep us in the loop on what you're up to. We'll post your images out here on Massively and give you the credit for sending them in!

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

MassivelyOne Shots: Buckles need swashin' originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flying-labflying-lab-softwareone-shotspiratespirates-of-the-burning-seapotbsscreenshotscreenshotsstephen-kThu, 19 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea exchange shops detailed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/29/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-exchange-shops-detailed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/29/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-exchange-shops-detailed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/29/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-exchange-shops-detailed/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We know what you're thinking, because it's the same thing we thought when we heard the words "exchange shop" uttered in concert with Pirates of the Burning Sea. Surprisingly, this isn't yet another free-to-play conversion announcement but rather a look at one of the new features sailing your way in the forthcoming Power and Prestige expansion.

The new content, scheduled to launch August 24th, will enable Collection Exchange Shops on every junk buyer in a particular game region. In a nutshell, the shops streamline the loot collection and turn-in process, and a new dev blog over at the official Pirates of the Burning Sea website has all the details. "We have done some number crunching and decided to increase the value of low level loot in order to give new players another way to generate capital while roaming the open sea," the post says.

Furthermore, Flying Lab has also added Career Reward Exchange Shops to the expansion. Due to the extensive ship changes coming with the patch, it's quite probable that many veteran players will want to respec their previously earned career rewards. Many career mission NPCs will now feature the ability to swap ship outfittings free of charge.

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea exchange shops detailed originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>career-reward-exchange-shopcollection-exchange-shopsdev-logflying-labflying-lab-softwarePiratesPirates-of-the-Burning-Seapotbspower-and-prestigepower-and-prestige-expansionrespecsoeSony-Online-EntertainmentThu, 29 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea confirms expansion release date, extra features]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/25/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-confirms-expansion-release-date-extr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/25/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-confirms-expansion-release-date-extr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/25/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-confirms-expansion-release-date-extr/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Get ready to return to the high seas, as Flying Lab Software and Sony Online Entertainment have announced the official release date for Pirates of the Burning Sea's first expansion. Power and Prestige will sail on August 24th due to Flying Lab's desire to polish and perfect.

The expansion, which already features quite a list of game improvements, will also debut with a new career rewards exchange shop, a junk buyer exchange shop, and client-side preferences for auto-facing targets in avatar combat. When we add these to the previously announced port governance, skill revisions, career revamps, ship tweaks, avatar skill revamps, and hefty doses of new mission content, the result looks to be a premium expansion that will keep captains busy for quite some time.

You can view all the details via the official press release and expansion feature list.

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea confirms expansion release date, extra features originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansionflying-labflying-lab-softwarePirates-of-the-Burning-Seapotbspower-and-prestigerelease-dateSOESONYSony-Online-EntertainmentSun, 25 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PotBS's Power and Prestige expanion enters open beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/09/potbss-power-and-prestige-expanion-enters-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/09/potbss-power-and-prestige-expanion-enters-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/09/potbss-power-and-prestige-expanion-enters-open-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Flying Lab Software has announced that the first expansion to their Pirates of the Burning Sea MMORPG has officially entered open beta testing. The new features, titled Power & Prestige, include Port Governance, a new fighting school called brawling, and over 60 new missions.

"Power & Prestige's closed Beta has been a great success," says Flying Lab community manager Tom Atkinson-Edwards. "The feedback from our testers has been fantastic and we're excited to show Power & Prestige to the world."

Closed beta testers as well as anyone sampling Pirates of the Burning Sea via its 14-day trial are eligible to participate in open beta activities from now through the launch in early August. Players may log into the Testbed server and experience Power & Prestige with no level-cap, as well as take part in weekend events hosted by Flying Lab.

MassivelyPotBS's Power and Prestige expanion enters open beta originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabrawlingexpansionflying-lab-softwarenew-missionsopen-betaPirates-of-the-Burning-Seaport-governancepower-and-prestigesoeSony-Online-EntertainmentFri, 09 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea dev blog details expansion graphical tweaks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/05/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-dev-blog-details-expansion-graphical/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/05/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-dev-blog-details-expansion-graphical/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/05/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-dev-blog-details-expansion-graphical/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Flying Lab Software is ramping up for the first expansion to its Pirates of the Burning Sea historical MMORPG, as the August launch of Power and Prestige is just around the corner. In a new blog on the official site, the developers talk about some of the graphical tweaks in store for ship captains everywhere, focusing in on the new avatar lighting system.

The blog talks about the technical wizardry behind the new lighting system, as well as the decisions that went into creating the system itself. "The new lighting system had to be designed within several constraints. First, the new lighting system couldn't require much artist time, because ArtCo was busy with other expansion work. Second, the new system couldn't be much more resource-intensive than the old lighting system. Third, the new system couldn't add huge amounts of data to the game's size," the blog says.

Check out the full article on the official website.

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea dev blog details expansion graphical tweaks originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avatar-lightingdev-blogdevblogexpansionflying-labflying-lab-softwaregraphical-upgradePirates-of-the-Burning-Seapotbspower-and-prestigesoeSONYSony-Online-EntertainmentMon, 05 Jul 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PotBS devs detail ship tuning, new expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/21/potbs-devs-detail-ship-tuning-new-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/21/potbs-devs-detail-ship-tuning-new-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/21/potbs-devs-detail-ship-tuning-new-expansion/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Flying Lab Software, developers of the historical naval combat MMORPG known as Pirates of the Burning Sea, have released a new devblog detailing the ship-tuning options soon to be available in August's Power and Prestige expansion. The blog zeroes in on ship archetypes, including discussion about the considerable changes in store for scouts, warships, and merchants.

Flying Lab are serious about leveling the playing field and bringing balance to the game's ship combat, but they're also taking into account historical and authenticity concerns. "Before everyone mentions warships going 35 knots, please remember this key fact: we've added stacking penalties on ship outfitting. We've tuned ships (and skills) with this in mind, as we expect ships to be outfitted more reasonably, and less to one extreme or another," the devblog states.

The piece goes on to talk a bit about the desire for "vanilla" ships on the open sea as opposed to the relatively common high-end ships that most veterans possess. You can view the full article on the game's official website.

MassivelyPotBS devs detail ship tuning, new expansion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaexpansionflying-labflying-lab-softwaremerchantsnaval-combatPirates-of-the-Burning-Seapotbspower-and-prestige-expansionscoutsship-combatship-tuningtradersMon, 21 Jun 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: A pirate's life fer me]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/27/one-shots-a-pirates-life-fer-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/27/one-shots-a-pirates-life-fer-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/27/one-shots-a-pirates-life-fer-me/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Yarr, mateys! It be summer in the northern hemisphere, and that'll be meanin' that it's hotter than a freshly fired cannonball in a Spaniard's foredeck. But ha'e no fear, ya barnacle-laden landlubbers! If th' acrid winds a' summer be beatin' ye down, ye can always climb inte' ye fav'rite chair and set sail for the breezy seas in Flying Lab's Pirates of the Burning Sea like today's One Shots privateer, Cpt. Shadowind! Here's what th' salty dog had to say for 'imself and th' nice image 'e sent in te' us: "[It's] Cpt. Shadowind from Pirates of the Burning Sea sailing into summer -- hey there is no tax on wind!"

If ye be readin' this site, then we know ye must be a tried an' true MMOer. If yer' readin this second paragraph, ye must be bleedin' bored! If yer' that bored, then ye should dig through yer screenshot folder, pick out a right tasty one for arr' right fair Massively crew, and send it o'er to oneshots AT massively DOT com along with yer name, th' name of th' game in yer screenshot, and a right fair tale about 'et. If 'ye do that, we promise 'te never make ye walk th' plank, matey.

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

MassivelyOne Shots: A pirate's life fer me originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 May 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capt-shadowindflying-labflying-lab-softwareone-shotspirates-of-the-burning-seapotbsscreenshotscreenshotsshadomaxsoesony-online-entertainmentThu, 27 May 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PotBS: Power & Prestige sails this summer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/potbs-power-and-prestige-sails-this-summer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/potbs-power-and-prestige-sails-this-summer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/potbs-power-and-prestige-sails-this-summer/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Flying Lab Software today announced the feature list for Power & Prestige, the upcoming expansion for their Pirates of the Burning Sea MMORPG. The expansion, the first for the historical high seas title that originally set sail in 2008, is due to be released this summer.

Power & Prestige looks to build upon the game's Conquest system by allowing players to become Port Governors and wield significant strategic and economic influence over the game world. Additionally, the expansion will have over 60 new missions, four new Privateer factions, and a bevy of tweaks to combat gameplay.

For starters, Avatar Combat skills are being overhauled by moving Brawling into its own fighting school. Additionally, every ship in the game is being revamped, including tweaks designed to offset outfitting stacking. Finally, each of the game's five career paths will receive some love in the form of new skills and additional tactical play options.

Check out the official Pirates of the Burning Sea website for more details on the game, and be sure to sign up for the expansion beta, currently slated for Spring 2010.

MassivelyPotBS: Power & Prestige sails this summer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabrawlingexpansionflying-lab-softwarePirates-of-the-Burning-Seaport-governorpower-and-prestigepvpWed, 14 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea celebrates 2nd anniversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/14/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-celebrates-2nd-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/14/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-celebrates-2nd-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/14/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-celebrates-2nd-anniversary/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Can ye hornswagglin' scalawags believe it? It's been two years since Pirates of the Burning Sea cast off for the open oceans of MMO adventure. Since their initial launch two years ago, the team at Flying Lab have been busy refining the game, leading to an impressive bevy of changes from large to small.

Now with their second anniversary looming, the Pirates of the Burning Sea crew have announced their intent to hold a rousing Second Anniversary party on January 23rd. Players who log in that day will be treated to PvP combat against the Flying Lab development team, as well as some choice anniversary finery for players to enjoy.

If you've been considering checking out all the changes since launch, it sounds like a good time to weigh anchor and set sail for the PotBS site. They've got a 14-day trial for those who wouldn't mind fittin' in a little freebootin' adventure in their day-to-day.

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea celebrates 2nd anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2nd-anniversaryflying-labflying-lab-softwarepirates-of-the-burning-seapotbssecond-anniversarysoesony-online-entertainmentyarrThu, 14 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: We think they have rum detectors]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/20/one-shots-we-think-they-have-rum-detectors/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/20/one-shots-we-think-they-have-rum-detectors/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/20/one-shots-we-think-they-have-rum-detectors/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


When it comes to holiday celebrations, nothing goes better with eggnog than rum. Of course, when you're playing a game like Pirates of the Burning Sea, breaking out the rum will inevitably bring around every stray pirate for hundreds of nautical miles. One such occasion happened recently on the EU server, Roberts, and was captured by today's One Shots contributor, Matt. We'll let him explain what went on: [Taken at] the recent Christmas event that was held. [Here's] a small part of the event description: "Nicholas Noël is known across the Burning Sea for his annual Junkanoo feast, however this year his rum shipments have drawn the attentions of De Zeetrekkers pirates, and he needs assistance!" Hope you like it. I thought it was great to see so many of the fantastic character designs in one spot.

If you manage to catch a screenshot of a holiday event going on in your MMO of choice, why not mail it in to us! All you have to do is email them to us at oneshots [at] massively [dot] com along with your name, the name of the game, and a quick description. We'll post it out here and give you the credit for sending it in.

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: We think they have rum detectors originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>christmas-2009flying-lab-softwaremattone-shotspirates-of-the-burning-seapotbsscreenshotscreenshotssoesony-online-entertainmentSun, 20 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flying Lab offers 6 months of Pirates of the Burning Sea to military personnel]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/28/flying-lab-offers-6-months-of-pirates-of-the-burning-sea-to-mili/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/28/flying-lab-offers-6-months-of-pirates-of-the-burning-sea-to-mili/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/28/flying-lab-offers-6-months-of-pirates-of-the-burning-sea-to-mili/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Flying Lab Software announced this week that they're offering six months of free Pirates of the Burning Sea gameplay to military personnel and exclusive in-game items. In addition, the promotion waives the standard $19.99 purchase cost of the game. Sign-ups for the promotion require a military email address to qualify and will last through November 30, 2009. The promotion is open to all branches of the military. Current Pirates of the Burning Sea subscribers who are in active service are also eligible to get six months of free play time.

Flying Lab Software CEO Russell Williams issued a statement about the Care Package, which was originally proposed by community members on the game's forums. Williams wrote: "One of our players posted about serving in Afghanistan, and it got us thinking about the challenges of trying to play an MMO in an unpredictable situation like active service. We feel a special gratitude towards the members of the armed forces who take the time to get involved and play our game, in the face of the very difficult job they have to do to keep us all safe."

[Via Gamers Daily News]

MassivelyFlying Lab offers 6 months of Pirates of the Burning Sea to military personnel originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>care-packagefantasyflying-labflying-lab-softwarehistoricalmilitarymmo-industrypirates-of-the-burning-seapotbspromotionsWed, 28 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea announces "Power and Prestige" expansion, adds more staff]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/17/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-announces-power-and-prestige-expans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/17/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-announces-power-and-prestige-expans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/17/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-announces-power-and-prestige-expans/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The guys from Flying Lab Software are busier than ever, as they have announced that they will be creating their very first expansion to Pirates of the Burning Sea and hiring to boot!

Power and Prestige, the first expansion for PotBS, will focus on expanding the game's conquest system, allowing players to take on the role of Port Governor. Governors control how the port is built up, and can work towards building a bustling trade port or perhaps one that is more militaristic. Past that, the details list is being kept hush hush until the early part of 2010. Power and Prestige will be a downloaded expansion, freely offered to all players of the game.

In the mean time, pirate enthusiasts have two things to look forward to. The first is that Flying Lab is hiring, and anyone interested in a job in the game industry should head on over to their careers page to see what they're looking for. The other is International Talk Like A Pirate Day, coming up on September 19th! Pull out your grog, your pirate hat, and set sail for a day of yarrrr!

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea announces "Power and Prestige" expansion, adds more staff originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flying-labflying-lab-softwareinternational-talk-like-a-pirate-dayitlapdpirates-of-the-burning-seapotbspower-and-prestigesoesony-online-entertainmentThu, 17 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea to introduce 'Roleplay Rooms' in upcoming patch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-to-introduce-roleplay-rooms-in-upco/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-to-introduce-roleplay-rooms-in-upco/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-to-introduce-roleplay-rooms-in-upco/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Pirates of the Burning Sea is a bit of a departure from some of the other MMO titles on the market since its setting is rooted in history rather than built upon pure fantasy. Given this backdrop, it stands to reason that some players would enjoy logging in for some anachronistic 1700's-era roleplaying in Pirates of the Burning Sea as privateers and pirates. Flying Lab Software has decided to give PotBS's roleplayers a dedicated venue for their player-run events, "Roleplay Rooms", which is the subject of a devlog written by Xenobia.

The devlog is all about the repurposing of old interiors; some altered color and texture here, a motif changed there, and you've got spaces ready to be used solely for RP events. It seems simple, but these changes proved to be tricky in some cases given the objects incorporated into such rooms, and Xenobia describes how the interior revamps were done, illustrated with before and after shots. Check out Xenobia's "Roleplay Rooms" devlog for more info about this feature that's coming to national capitals in patch 1.16.

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea to introduce 'Roleplay Rooms' in upcoming patch originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>devlogflying-lab-softwarehistoricalpatch-1.16piratespirates-of-the-burning-seapotbsprivateersroleplayingroleplaying-roomsxenobiaThu, 04 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea introduces skirmish system and treasure hunts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/27/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-introduces-skirmish-system-and-treasu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/27/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-introduces-skirmish-system-and-treasu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/27/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-introduces-skirmish-system-and-treasu/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


By the time this post goes live, Pirates of the Burning Sea should be updated to build 1.15: "Black Bart's Gold", across the North American, European, and Australian servers. Black Bart's Gold (which introduces treasure hunting to the game) is a continuation of the Black Flags and Dread Saints story arc, which will also bring both new and altered game mechanics to PotBS. We've mentioned a few of the changes that are coming to Pirates of the Burning Sea, namely skirmish warfare and a sweeping change to loot drops. These are only a few highlights of what Black Bart's Gold will introduce to the game. The full patch notes give a much more complete picture of what build 1.15 brings, including two new ships -- the Poseidon (level 50) and the Alymer (level 1).

Pirates of the Burning Sea community manager Rhaegar gives a timetable for the expected server downtime: "We will be upgrading our North American, European & Australian SOE live servers to build 1.15: Black Bart's Gold during the usual maintenance window (1:30am - 5:00am Pacific / 9:30am - 1:00 pm British Summer Time) on Wednesday, May 27th."

Update: Rhaegar writes -- "We have unfortunately had to delay the patch until tomorrow. It will happen during the normal outage window of 1.30am-5.00am Pacific (9.30am-1.00pm BST). We apologize for any inconvenience caused."

Gallery: Pirates of the Burning Sea core gallery

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea introduces skirmish system and treasure hunts originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 May 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>community-managerflying-lab-softwaregame-mechanicslootloot-dropspatchespiratespirates-of-the-burning-seapotbsrhaegarserver-downtimeskirmish-warfaretreasuretreasure-huntingWed, 27 May 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea takes bold step to curb mission farming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-takes-bold-step-to-curb-mission-farmi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-takes-bold-step-to-curb-mission-farmi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-takes-bold-step-to-curb-mission-farmi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The latest devlog for Pirates of the Burning Sea is written by Lum and focuses on improving the game's mission system, particularly fixing the problem of mission farming. Lum writes, "When we create big mission arcs, we design them to be a fun, engaging, and most importantly, a linear experience. We want players to get a sense of story and to do something interesting. We also want to reward players who accomplish the goals for those missions."

He says that mission farming and the in-game monetary rewards aren't necessarily the problem, although it's not what the devs had in mind for players. Lum says that since people stop to repeat the most lucrative parts of a given mission arc, they're not experiencing the game as it was intended for the players. Even worse, some players make faction choices on the basis of how lucrative a certain mission with that faction is. Flying Lab Software wants to change missions in Pirates of the Burning Sea so that players are continually progressing through stories rather than motivated to remain in place to reap the gold harvest.

Gallery: Pirates of the Burning Sea core gallery

Continue reading Pirates of the Burning Sea takes bold step to curb mission farming

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea takes bold step to curb mission farming originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 May 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>devlogexperiencefactionsfantasyfarmingflying-labflying-lab-softwaregoldhistoricallootlummission-farmingmissionsnpcnpcsopen-seapiratespirates-of-the-burning-seapvequest-farmingquestsMon, 18 May 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates to get more RvR love from Flying Lab Software]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/05/pirates-to-get-more-rvr-love-from-flying-lab-software/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/05/pirates-to-get-more-rvr-love-from-flying-lab-software/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/05/pirates-to-get-more-rvr-love-from-flying-lab-software/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Pirates are always the underdogs in MMOs, aren't they? That seems to be the case in Pirates of the Burning Sea, where the Pirate nation has been at a disadvantage with the game's Conquest system. While their ports can't be controlled (permanently) by another nation, they're likewise unable to keep the ports they conquer. The latest devlog from Flying Lab's Lum is titled Pirates and Conquest and addresses this disparity between the Pirate nation and all other nations in the game.

One solution they plan to implement is increasing the four points that Pirates gain by capturing a port to five. Lum explains, "Currently, Pirates get four points every time they Raid a port, while Nationals get 10. This means that for a Pirate to keep pace with Nationals, they have to win three port battles in order to get the same amount of points. Since every nation can only attack three ports at a time, this means that Pirates would always have to have their maximum amount of attacking ports at all times, and then they have to win all of those battles." Ouch. However, by increasing their capture points to five, Pirates will only have to win two battles and won't need to maintain constant port attacks to stay on par with other nations.

Continue reading Pirates to get more RvR love from Flying Lab Software

MassivelyPirates to get more RvR love from Flying Lab Software originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capture-pointsconquestconquest-systemdev-blogdevlogfantasyflying-labflying-lab-softwaregame-mechanicsguildshistoricallummartial-lawpirate-nationpiratesport-battleportspotbspvpraided-staterealm-vs-realmrvrSun, 05 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Skirmish warfare coming to Pirates of the Burning Sea]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/20/skirmish-warfare-coming-to-pirates-of-the-burning-sea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/20/skirmish-warfare-coming-to-pirates-of-the-burning-sea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/20/skirmish-warfare-coming-to-pirates-of-the-burning-sea/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


The Flying Lab Software developers working on Pirates of the Burning Sea have done a lot of writing about the avatar combat changes of late, but it's clear that they're still aiming to improve ship-based PvP on the high seas. Pirates of the Burning Sea is going to get a major new feature as of patch 1.4: skirmish warfare, which is essentially a PvP environment where players can experiment risk free with various setups and tactics.

The latest developer log on PotBS is "Enter the Skirmish", which breaks down what this new feature is and what it will offer players: "PvP action is the hottest part of our game, but the difficulty of 'swimming with the sharks' in the open sea has made for a significant barrier to entry. Skirmish gives players the change to learn how to PvP without facing all the dangers involved with conquest. Societies and veterans can use the skirmish system to teach newer players the ropes in a risk-free environment, which means more people who'll be prepared for port conquest and open sea PvP."

For more on this upcoming feature, you'll want to read the "Enter the Skirmish" developer log on the Pirates of the Burning Sea website.

MassivelySkirmish warfare coming to Pirates of the Burning Sea originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>combatfantasyflying-lab-softwaregame-mechanicslearningpatchespiratespirates-of-the-burning-seapotbspvpriskskirmish-warfareteachingFri, 20 Feb 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Brawling changes hit Pirates of the Burning Sea]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/14/brawling-changes-hit-pirates-of-the-burning-sea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/14/brawling-changes-hit-pirates-of-the-burning-sea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/14/brawling-changes-hit-pirates-of-the-burning-sea/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Pirates of the Burning Sea is a title that's been undergoing some major overhauls in terms of game mechanics. Flying Lab Software has been revamping the game's combat systems, both those of ship-based combat and avatar combat. We've mentioned a few of those changes in the past, such as the introduction of new NPC archetypes but the latest issue they've been tackling is how brawling works in PotBS.

A developer log this week, from Isildur, explains the situation with skill lines (as well as optional skill lines) and what was involved with balancing them. The challenge was in creating a system where a given skill line wouldn't be mandatory, giving players choices in how they approach combat, yet keeping each skill line powerful enough that it can remain effective against other combat styles.

Continue reading Brawling changes hit Pirates of the Burning Sea

MassivelyBrawling changes hit Pirates of the Burning Sea originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avatar-combatbrawlingcombatdeveloper-logfantasyflying-lab-softwaregame-mechanicsisildurpirates-of-the-burning-seapotbspvepvpskill-linesskillsSat, 14 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LOGIN 2009 online gaming conference speakers announced]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/11/login-2009-online-gaming-conference-speakers-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/11/login-2009-online-gaming-conference-speakers-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/11/login-2009-online-gaming-conference-speakers-announced/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Over the past few years, the online gaming conferences put together by Evergreen Events have been rather significant ones in the industry. Evergreen Events are the people who organized the ION Game Conference which we covered extensively last year, and the Online Game Development Conference in 2007. As we announced previously, ION has been renamed as LOGIN for 2009 and they're already announcing some of the conference's speakers.

Among the many speakers slated for LOGIN this May are David Ryan Hunt, Senior Game Designer at Flying Lab Software, and Craig Alexander, Turbine's VP of Product Development. Alexander's session will be "Building Online Games for the Console Generation: Challenges and Opportunities" which could certainly prove to be interesting. We'll keep an eye on how the conference is shaping up as we get closer to the four-day event kicking off on May 11th.

MassivelyLOGIN 2009 online gaming conference speakers announced originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conferencesconsole-mmoconsolescraig-alexanderdavid-ryan-huntevergreen-eventsflying-lab-softwareign-vaultionloginlogin-2009lord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrommo-industrypirates-of-the-burning-seaturbinevault-hubWed, 11 Feb 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Got PotBS questions? Ask Rusty!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/got-potbs-questions-ask-rusty/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/got-potbs-questions-ask-rusty/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/got-potbs-questions-ask-rusty/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Flying Lab Software's CEO Russell "Rusty" Williams has been fairly vocal about his company's game Pirates of the Burning Sea in the past, doing the rounds with media outlets and spreading the word. His latest project has just been announced on the PotBS official site, and will allow him to maintain his parlance with the game's community; a new podcast series called "Ask Rusty" will be featured on the site on a regular basis, and players will have the chance to do as the name would suggest and Ask Rusty questions about PotBS.

For the first podcast, questions were taken from the old "Ask an FLS developer" forum, but in the future, the questions will come from submissions to community AT flyinglab DOT com (make sure to use "Ask Rusty!" as the subject line). Russell is joined by lead designer Kevin Maginn and producer Michelle Williams in this first installment. There is a direct link to the podcast for those looking to download it or listen in their browser, and there is also an RSS feed that can be subscribed to if you like what you hear.

MassivelyGot PotBS questions? Ask Rusty! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-rustyceoflsflying-lab-softwarekevin-maginnlead-designermichelle-williamspirates-of-the-burning-seapodcastpotbsproducerrussell-rusty-williamsrussell-williamsrustyrusty-williamssoesony-online-entertainmentThu, 29 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea celebrates its first birthday with style]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/25/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-celebrates-its-first-birthday-with-st/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/25/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-celebrates-its-first-birthday-with-st/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/25/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-celebrates-its-first-birthday-with-st/#commentsFiled under: , ,


It's been a whole year since Pirates of the Burning Sea left its dry dock and sailed out into the vast and sometimes-choppy waters of the ocean of MMOs. While it hasn't been a relatively safe year for adventurous new titles, Flying Lab Software's still got a lot to be happy with: Their game is solid, they're part of the SOE family and now they've got one year tucked under their belt.

To celebrate the occasion, the team is gave all players a new and very stylish anniversary coat to wear. Plus there was an anniversary event yesterday that kicked off a new story arc for players to enjoy. All in all, while the game saw a slow start, Flying Lab has added a good deal of free content and new features that definitely make Pirates of the Burning Sea a title worth looking into for any lapsed or newly interested players. We're looking forward to seeing how the game progresses over the coming year, and wish the development team the best of luck.

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea celebrates its first birthday with style originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversaryflying-labflying-lab-softwarepirates-of-the-burning-seapotbssoesony-online-entertainmentSun, 25 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A nearly complete list of MMO companies on Twitter]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/13/a-nearly-complete-list-of-mmo-companies-on-twitter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/13/a-nearly-complete-list-of-mmo-companies-on-twitter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/13/a-nearly-complete-list-of-mmo-companies-on-twitter/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Not surprisingly, when a complete list of videogame companies and developers on Twitter is compiled, MMO devs and companies take up a large chunk of the list. We would expect nothing less from such online socially-orientated companies.

The list -- created by Sam "QforQ" Houston, community manager GamerDNA -- is a great resource for anyone looking to keep up to date with companies like SOE, BioWare, NCsoft, 38 Studios, ArenaNet, Blizzard, Carbine Studios, FunCom, CCP Games, Flying Lab Software, Mythic Entertainment and many more. It's an impressive list, although being Massively meant we had to double-check it for missing links. As such, we found that there was no Cryptic Studios love in there. So, for the sake of completion, we've gone ahead and provided the link for any fans of Champions Online or Star Trek Online.

MassivelyA nearly complete list of MMO companies on Twitter originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosarenanetbiowareblizzardcarbine-studiosccp-gameschampions-onlinecryptic-studiosflying-lab-softwaregamerdnamythic-entertainmentncsoftsam-houstonstar-trek-onlinetwitterTue, 13 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea offers free trials]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/30/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-offers-free-trials/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/30/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-offers-free-trials/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/30/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-offers-free-trials/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The MMO scene is absolutely dominated by fantasy titles. You may have noticed. Obviously this sits well with most MMO gamers who can't seem to get enough of the genre. But if you've ever wanted to try your hand at something different, something other than sci-fi, there's probably never been a better time to look at Pirates of the Burning Sea. In the past, to even try the game, you had to purchase it and hope it lived up to your expectations. Well, no longer.

Flying Lab has announced that they're offering a public launch of 14-day trial keys. The prolonged absence of a trial was a barrier for some to checking out the game. There are a few conditions though: Only new Pirates of the Burning Sea accounts are eligible for the 14-day trial, existing accounts and Station Access accounts are excluded from the trial offer. If this caught your attention, be sure to check out the full details on their announcement page.

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea offers free trials originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fantasyflying-labflying-lab-softwarefree-trialhistoricalpiratespirates-of-the-burning-seastationtrialtrial-keysTue, 30 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flying Lab Software on Pirates, part 8]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/16/flying-lab-software-on-pirates-part-8/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/16/flying-lab-software-on-pirates-part-8/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/16/flying-lab-software-on-pirates-part-8/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Continue reading Flying Lab Software on Pirates, part 8

MassivelyFlying Lab Software on Pirates, part 8 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dcdc-2008dragon-condragon-con-2008flying-labflying-lab-softwarepiratespirates-of-the-burning-seapotbsTue, 16 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flying Lab Software on Pirates, part 7]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/16/flying-lab-software-on-pirates-part-7/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/16/flying-lab-software-on-pirates-part-7/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/16/flying-lab-software-on-pirates-part-7/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Continue reading Flying Lab Software on Pirates, part 7

MassivelyFlying Lab Software on Pirates, part 7 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dcdc-2008dragon-condragon-con-2008flying-labflying-lab-softwarepiratespirates-of-the-burning-seapotbsTue, 16 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST