Pirates Constructible Strategy Game Online
I never got to play the Pirates Constructible Strategy Game Online version released by SOE (Sony Online Entertainment). I have learned a lot about it from the radio show hosted by RedDragon and Captain Ron.
Available for Download
You can actually grab the game here if you want to mess around with the basics a bit. I finally downloaded it just now to see what it looked and sounded like. Made me miss a game I never even played! Don’t get too excited though – as far as I can tell, you cannot actually play the game at all, just access the fleet builder.
I had some trouble at first. You can get an error message like the one I got (shown below) if you try to run the wrong file.
Luckily someone at the Pirates CSG Facebook group was able to help me out. You need to go into the directory of files from the download and run “pirates.exe”. For me the chain was Windows (C:)>Program Files (x86)>Sony>Worlds Apart>Pirates CSG Online>pirates.exe. Last edited 10/26/2006! O_O Very cool! 😀
Flaws Evident
Although the game looks better than the current way to play Pirates virtually, it wasn’t without some flaws. From the aforementioned podcast/radio show (really good – give it a listen!), it sounds like there were numerous bugs. Some tactics that were made illegal in the tabletop (“TT”) version were some of the best ways to win in the online version – reverse pinning with a ship that can’t be hit by ships within S of her, getting more than 2 full actions for one ship during a turn, etc. That would definitely provide a learning curve for someone like me, who has played the main version extensively but without such overpowered tactics being legal. In addition, the game was flawed due to the lack of sets. Not all of the sets were available, so fleet building and combos would be limited compared to having the full scope of game pieces available either in the physical version or on the VASSAL module. Finally, there was a timeout system where you could win the game by taking your turns faster than your opponent, similar to how a chess clock works. That is definitely an aspect that I would not like to see, so although I wish I had gotten involved (I didn’t know about anything to do with Pirates CSG in the virtual/internet world until early 2011), I love playing on VASSAL due to the freedom it allows.
Check out the trailer for the game here: (not my video of course)
Did you ever play Pirates Constructible Strategy Game Online? Did you like it? What is your favorite memory of the game? Please comment below your thoughts! 😀
Cool write up ben
you mentioned that the basics are accesible, does that mean any sort of gameplay as well?
i only can access the fleet builder without login.
cheers
@juulm: Thanks! Sorry, I should have made that more clear and I will edit the post. Impossible to actually play even a demo/solo game as far as I can tell. The fleet builder is neat but there’s not much you can do.
Have fun,
Ben
How odd to have just found this! I was curious and looking up the game, it’s nuts to see some comments in the last 12 months about this!
I’ve got about 400 of the original tabletop/physical ships and their cards in a box in the closet and stumbled into them this week, got curious to see what others have done with them. Never played the online game but it looks identical just digital… man those were fun times!
@PH: Ahoy there matey! If you think the site comments are nuts, check out how active the Forum has been lately! 😀
A lot of people are still having a lot of fun with the game. The official online version has been gone for a while now, but the VASSAL module is a suitable replacement. It can be used to play massive campaign games that are really fun, like CG4.
Perhaps you could play again soon!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Ben
Red dragon and capt Ron was friends of mine on that game I so miss that game and the people who played it my game name was mongoevil my wife was ladyevil this game did have its flaws but if it was still working today we would be sailing and pillaging with my mates
@Mongo: Mongoevil!? Ahoy there!! I have heard a lot about you from them via the podcast they had that you can still listen to.
I invite you to try an alternative – the VASSAL module allows for virtual play over an online server. Myself and others have used it extensively, and VASSAL Campaign Game 4 gives an idea of how capable it is. 😀
I miss this game so much! I still reminisce about it now and then, even after all these years.
Glad to hear it! I have a lot of fun playing the tabletop version nowadays, just finished up a tournament this month.