Paragon City, I’m going on a Caribbean vacation.
Tomorrow, Sid Meier’s Pirates! hits the shelves ($49,99; CompUSA offering $10.00 instant rebate). First review is up at IGN; 9.2 out of 10
I’m old enough to remember the 1987 classic and have been anticipating this FAR more than Half-Life 2 (which I will still get and play once I upgrade my aging PC).
All you governor’s, hide your daughters and your valuables, because Captain Jim Beam is coming to plunder booty! 
You and me both, brother!
Taking a cue from Mel Brooks, my French pirates were always named de Monee. Yeah, I know, it was really de Monet but that joke works better my way.
Was there a Sega version of this game? I have a memory of playing navigator for Ivylad, helping him keep track of his tasks and figuring out what the pieces of map meant while he actually worked the controls.
We learned a lot of Caribbean geography playing this game, even if our island names were not correct (Pacman Island, Traffic Light Island, etc.)
We will miss you.
Me, I’ve got carpal tunnel surgery coming up. So while I won’t be playing Pirates, you don’t have at least Jim and Eliza will still be level 30 something.
Yes there was a Sega version. Added color to the black, white, brown and red classic (as did the PC version).
I won’t quit totally, just reduce my time spent there. Of course, with Jim’s leveling speed, plus my desire to play different ATs, I’ll still be in my 30s this time next year (if only I could say the same about my age).
If this is half as good as the original, I’ll be well pleased. Any thing else is gravy (on the turkey?).
You can guess at the name on my Letter of Marque, but I doubt you’ll get it on the first try! Oh wait… 
Yeh, I remember fondly the Commodore 64 version, swapping those 5-1/4" floppies in and out. They came out with a slightly updated Pirates Gold for the PC, but I never had time to get into it.
Playing Pirates! taught me a lot: the geography of the Carribbean; some surprising things about sailing ships (who knew the hopeless tub called the galleon could do 15 knots with a strong tailwind?); and the near-infallible battle position of staying upwind and astern of your opponent- this game illustrated that battle sail tactic better than a dozen novels.
Ah, and the retirement rankings. I once came up with a ranking system for a hypothetical Masochist’s Version of Pirates! based on how spectacularly you failed in an impossibly unfair version of the game. Based on your career as a pirate (in negative points), you would retire as:
Manure shoveler
Town drunk
Prostitute
Slave
Amputee
Madman
Lost Soul
Oh man I loved that game. The Amiga version was definitive. Anyone remember the manual? 'Twas a classic much like the game. Full of pirate and Caribbean trivia, really setting the scene well. I doubt the manual will be topped but hopefully the game will. Got to wait a couple of weeks more in the UK until I find out.
Damn! I just realized that my in-need-of-upgrading computer only has 128 MB and the system min is 256. What’s the chances of this working below the requirements?
I need a new computer so bad, but alas, I have no money.
Can anyone spare $3,000? (I can’t get a new computer unless Mrs. RickJay gets one too.)
You don’t need $3k to get two new computers. I paid 600 last time round, though my new one came sans monitor and hard drive, and was limited to integrated graphics. But it was also built up with a careful eye to being upgradeable, and while it’s now nearly two years old, it will still be capable of running new games with ease just as soon as I get around to putting a proper graphics card into it, which would have happened already if I weren’t being anal about finding one with totally passive cooling.
RickJay, I’d love to help, but I’m busy building my own so that I can play Half-Life 2 in all its glory. Pirates, however, should be fine for me. So today, lunchtime, I trundle off to CompUSA to get my copy.
Unfortunately RAM is the one thing you can’t have below the requirements. Expect very long loading times and probable fun-killing stuttering.
Thanks for the advice Silentgoldfish. Not that I’m happy about it… 
CapnPitt, one stick of 256MB RAM should run you less than $40; just make sure it is compatible with your computer. It will likely improve every aspect of your computing.
One of my fondest memories of Pirates! was forcing a buffer overflow in my ranks and titles – I hadn’t disbanded an expedition in ages, and had methodically sacked every city until the governors fled and I installed a new French governor in each. Ultimately the entire Caribbean was French, and my rank climbed from Ensign to Captain, Major, Colonel, Admiral, Baron, Count, Marquis, Duke, Dukee, E e, and into gibberish from there.
I still didn’t get a good final ranking as I didn’t have any ranks or titles from the English, Dutch, or Spanish.
I’m glad I saw this thread. I can now pre-order the game for it’s Dec 3rd release in the UK!
Arrrr!
Avast Ye Scurvy Dogs!!! Popping in another 128 was deceptively simple! Out to CompUSA, home, and installed and back on the SDMB in less than an hour. And as predicted, the price came in at $39.99.
Problem is my CompUSA didn’t have the game yet :mad: . I’m assuming it was in a box in the back even though they distinctly said it wasn’t. Oh well, I’ll try Best Buy on my way into work.
Now I’m :mad:
CompUSA: “Huh? Worlds of Warcraft is downstairs”
Gamestop: “Computer says we have the deluxe edition, but I haven’t seen it. May still be in a box” (pointing to nearly two dozen unopened boxes - this is NY: retail space costs such a premium, there are no “back rooms”)
D_Odds: Going to find a cutlass, a big floppy hat and a parrot, and show these stores a Pirate!
Best Buy and MediaPlay both gave me the same story. :mad:
Worlds of Warcraft is a barnacle on the gaming world compared to anything made by Sid.
I’m sure ready to burn something to the waterline, whether it’s a pinnace or a barque, I care not!