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Pirates! Community Dilemma

K

Keith

Guest
Everyone knows about Pirates! its even on Gamespys top 10 games ever! In just about every review of a pirate game the "Like Pirates!" is included and when the remake was announced there was a hell of alot of intrest...........so can someone tell me why when there is only 3 months left until release and about 1 month until the beta there are only 3 fansites? really 2 1/2 as PA! covers all pirate games.

I have my own thoughts about the way atari have gone about community building... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mellow.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":|" border="0" alt="mellow.gif" /> ill keep them to myself though due to my position. But what is everyone else's thoughts for this?

All the material that has been released has been to the big gamesites which i consider to be community killers, the community has recieved a fansite kit, in which im yet to see a single website utilise.

On the other side of the coin there have been a few posts from both atari and firaxis which im sure all of us here are very appreciative of, i know i am as it does make you feel a little closer to where the action is. Though i still dont get why the intrest that has been aroused hasnt trasferred to any real substance. Look at quake, doom and HL communitys, if you want to be picky since they are multiplayer games take for example morrowind, Championship manager more if i could think of them <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" /> They have very healthy communities what makes them different to us? And those games those no where near as big before they were released still had a larger communitys than Pirates!

Dont take this as a dig at Pirates!,Firaxis,Atari its a question ive been pondering for a little while now that i really would like to get some input on

<img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/keith.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":keith" border="0" alt="keith.gif" />
 
As far as I know, just to give you an example, before Civ III came out, the number of members that were registered at Civilization Fanatics' Center were considerably less than they are now (almost 50,000).
The best thing we can hope for is that PA, and the two other fan sites (Cutlass Isle and Addicted to Pirates!) will grow as well. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that we will have 50,000 members as soon as the game comes out, but at least we do want steady growth.

At the moment, we are not seeing steady growth -- we are not seeing new members come in and post. We can hope to fix this after the game comes out by making people want to share their experiences with the game, to the point where this to the new person is not just a simple forum where we talk about simple things about Pirates!.

Creating a Bug Report forum will also be useful, as well as creating a Tech Support forum for people to post problems they might have with Pirates! after its release.
 
Alot of the gamers of today have never played Pirates and many others have forgotten about it...

We also have to have in mind that usually remakes of 'old' and almost 'forgotten' games are very poor so I am not surprised that there is not that much intrest for Pirates 2.

so I dont think the comparison with Half Life 2 and Civilisation is really fair.

If the game will get good reviews etc then the intrest will increase.

However I think that the fansites should get some exclusive stuff. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />
 
Building a community

Hi guys,

Of course this topic of "building an online community" is of very important interest to me as well -- as a representative of Atari, I'd like to see the community grow by leaps and bounds. Keep in mind that many of the fan sites have seen a huge growth from humble beginnings, and that we should expect that growth to continue as coverage grows for the title.

We have not launched some of our online programs to drive traffic to the official website (and, in turn, to these websites when interested visitors click on the Community menu). Some of those will come a lot closer to the product launch on November 16th. Even more visitors will come after the game has launched, to share experiences and strategies. Like civrules said, the Civ site grew more rapidly as the installed base increased. Finally, know that when you're launching a holiday title, there's a lot of "noise" out there for a lot of games vying for each gamer's attention, so we have to save some of our spending until we're close to launch. Think of it as waiting to fire until all your guns are loaded and your broadside can't miss that Spanish treasure galleon. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

The biggest way to show the retail world that there is a healthy, excited fan base ready to hop on to the Pirates! bandwagon is through the `pre-order` program. I think I've put something together that will be pretty compelling for many of you... and I'm considering giving the three main fan sites an "exclusive sneak peek" on some of this information. I've also got a special section of the official website planned that will allow me to give sneak peeks of exclusive screenshots, videos, and other information in advance to all of you on the dedicated fan sites. I'm not sure if I can pull it off yet, but I think it will go a long way to buttressing membership.

Other than that, here's what I can say. We have another announcement coming up in a few weeks, and the first Avast! newsletter with a link to the beta `sign-up` page is coming soon. Despite the normal `non-disclosure` gag orders that publishers must place on beta testers, I'm looking for ways that we can interview some testers and post or aggregate their comments on the forums such that their voices can be heard.

I am of course always interested in other constructive ways to build our Pirates fan base, but I do believe we are well on our way. Hang on, friends, this is going to be awesome!

Best,
Jeff Foley
Sr. Brand Manager
Atari
 
Thanks again for the info Jeff. Looks like you guys are working hard, not that we didn't assume so.
I'm just interested, will the Pirates! signup for the beta site be similar to the site that was created for people who wanted to test Conquests (one year ago)?
 
<!--QuoteBegin-Civrules+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Civrules)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Thanks again for the info Jeff. Looks like you guys are working hard, not that we didn't assume so.
I'm just interested, will the Pirates! signup for the beta site be similar to the site that was created for people who wanted to test Conquests (one year ago)?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Hi civrules,

Probably very similar, except that it will not be linked from any publicly viewable pages -- you will need to follow the link from the Avast! newsletter, and then we'll do a quick check to make sure that selected names are on the subscription list.

Best,
Jeff Foley
Atari
 
Obviously the Avast! link on the main Pirates! site has been updated. You need to supply more information than we did prior to it being updated (before we just gave out email, and age.
Should we submit again or does it not matter? <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mellow.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":|" border="0" alt="mellow.gif" />
 
Great to hear that we will get some exclusive stuff.... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

It is really a pain to wait for this game but with videos and screenshots the waiting is alot easier to go through....

Pirates 2 is the first game in years that I am really are looking forward to....

Based on what I have seen of videos and screenshots I wont be dissapointed... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pirate2.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p:" border="0" alt="pirate2.gif" /> <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />
 
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->..., and the first Avast! newsletter ...<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Ahh, and I thought I mistyped my Email Address while joining the Newsletter. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mybad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":facepalm" border="0" alt="mybad.gif" />

November 16th. Great. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/par-ty.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheers" border="0" alt="par-ty.gif" />

Is this also the European release?
I'm sure there will be localised versions (even though your Pirates speek firaxian <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pirate2.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p:" border="0" alt="pirate2.gif" /> ), so will there be a simultaniosly euorpean release date?.
I'm going to buy the US or UK version anyway. I'm no fan of lokalised versions.

And thanks for all the Info! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/me.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":onya" border="0" alt="me.gif" />
 
@Keth as i said before i will try to make a fanwebsite for Pirates, but i´ll need help, cuz alone i can´t do shit, i need news admin who would search news ask for interveiws etc. I ca´n buy new domain www.pirates.net(.com etc) but the important thing is will there be anyone who would visit my site use forums (like this) etc..... the website is not a problem, people is the biggest problem cuz i dont want to spend money on nothing just a webiste without members! cuz i know piratesahoy will take all that stuff for pirates to it self cuz you guys rock and over one year online:) i dont think i would have chance vs you cuz you have a nice crew of admins alot of people who would help you! but if we made something like network like www.codenamevice.co.uk! If that was posible i would work on that new webiste projekt! but again no chance vs you <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blush.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":eek:ops" border="0" alt="blush.gif" />: <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/no.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":no" border="0" alt="no.gif" />
cheers mates! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/onya.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":onya" border="0" alt="onya.gif" />
 
We have always been of the opinion of trying to bind the community more than ruling it, we had a lucky break ( good timing ) starting PA! due to the incompotance of bethsoft and their pathetic game support.

But i really see the community of pirates being big enough to warrant a number of sites, POTC was a bit different and the marketing got all screwed up so there wasnt a big community but Atari know what sort of hot potato they are holding.

With what Jeff has said it look promising for new forums to get content, as they is what keeps the website ticking over, the PA! forum wouldnt be half as busy if there were no news reports on the main site bringing people back so when Atari open the pearly pr gates that should help everyone out a bit, plus i have half a mind to start a seperate Pirates! website considering the release dates for all the pirate games is around xmas this year. i dont want to get in a Akella vs Atari thing you know <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/diomed.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":dio" border="0" alt="diomed.gif" />
 
Well, Keith, this has always been a site for pirate game<b>S</b>, so there shouldn't be a need for separate sites - we'll all just go where our interests lie - just keep separate forums and that should be all that is necessary (unless you're worried about bandwidth).

I'd like to make a fansite for Pirates! (2) however at the moment I can't see it happening as I've been so danged busy. If I made a site of my own, I'd have to maintain it, and it's been enough to be in here - and I like it here! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />
 
I'll be doing a fansite for sure. Sometime between now and the game's release. The focus will be on custom skins, quests, etc.
 
<img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/william.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":will" border="0" alt="william.gif" /> Cool!! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/william.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":will" border="0" alt="william.gif" />
 
Hi. This is my first post on this forum although I've been lurking for a couple of months. I joined the site a few weeks ago, but didn't know that there was a seperate registraton for the forum. Last week I was going to post something but then I found out that I had to register for the forum so I didn't. I have finally taken the time to register so here I am. First off I want to say that this is a great site. It is very informative and has a nice layout. I played the original Pirates years ago and can't wait to play the new version. I think once word gets out about it you will find a lot of older players out there will be excited to play Pirates again. Why is there a seperate registration process for the site and the forum?
 
Welcome to the only Pirates! fan site which has more than 100 registered users! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheers" border="0" alt="cheers.gif" />:

The two registrations are so one is for posting comments on the main site when there are news and the other so you can post in the main forum.
 
So... I'm a tad slow with this. I managed to loose my pass to PA a few months ago, as well as forgetting what email addy I signed up with. Keith just fixed this problem for me, so I hope you guys won't mind me putting in my 2 cents a little later. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

I've been wondering the same thing as Keith described.

Part of the problem I think is that the older gamers, those who have played Pirates! and/or Pirates! gold the first time around, will all be unanimous about how cool it is to have a remake. However, gaming back then was nowhere near as big as it is now and the older gamer is a minority on the web. It's up to the oldies to get the newbies excited about this, as they will go "Pirates!? What the heck is Pirates!?".

Our dedication is *not* going to blow them away. We can pull as hard as we can but it's almost impossible to get the newbies interested until the game hits the market and a whole new generation falls in love with the concept too.

However, it may not ever really take off. Gaming concepts have been 'improved' (note the 's) miny times over since the last Pirates! came out. Today's gamer has much higher expectations. There is a chance that the press (online and offline) will herald the game for staying true to the original and give it high marks, but the game not takling off at all. You see, our esteemed members of the gaming press, are almost all older gamers who HAVE played the original. The younger writers won't even get a chance to write about their view of the game, because the older ones will want to bask in the nostalgia of the good old days. Nostalgia is a powerful thing.

That doesn't mean the game will fail though, but the chance exists. I'm sure both Atari and Firaxis are aware of this. So for now, the fansites will have to wait for their competition to arrive on the scene until the game arrives itself. My site has been in the air for over a year now, it's got 125 registered members and that's about 1/4 of what I had expected. It's picking up a little now, but I don't expect to see more than 250 or so by the time of release. I think we're all holding out breath for the (hopefully) upcoming storm. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />
 
<!--`QuoteBegin-Falconer`+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Falconer)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->So... I'm a tad slow with this. I managed to loose my pass to PA a few months ago, as well as forgetting what email addy I signed up with. Keith just fixed this problem for me, so I hope you guys won't mind me putting in my 2 cents a little later. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

I've been wondering the same thing as Keith described.  

Part of the problem I think is that the older gamers, those who have played Pirates! and/or Pirates! gold the first time around, will all be unanimous about how cool it is to have a remake. However, gaming back then was nowhere near as big as it is now and the older gamer is a minority on the web. It's up to the oldies to get the newbies excited about this, as they will go "Pirates!? What the heck is Pirates!?".  

Our dedication is *not* going to blow them away. We can pull as hard as we can but it's almost impossible to get the newbies interested until the game hits the market and a whole new generation falls in love with the concept too.

However, it may not ever really take off. Gaming concepts have been 'improved' (note the 's) miny times over since the last Pirates! came out. Today's gamer has much higher expectations. There is a chance that the press (online and offline) will herald the game for staying true to the original and give it high marks, but the game not takling off at all. You see, our esteemed members of the gaming press, are almost all older gamers who HAVE played the original. The younger writers won't even get a chance to write about their view of the game, because the older ones will want to bask in the nostalgia of the good old days. Nostalgia is a powerful thing.  

That doesn't mean the game will fail though, but the chance exists. I'm sure both Atari and Firaxis are aware of this. So for now, the fansites will have to wait for their competition to arrive on the scene until the game arrives itself. My site has been in the air for over a year now, it's got 125 registered members and that's about 1/4 of what I had expected. It's picking up a little now, but I don't expect to see more than 250 or so by the time of release. I think we're all holding out breath for the (hopefully) upcoming storm. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />[/quote]

I hope that one forum could be created instead of three.... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

We have three forum to post in, Pirates ahoy, Addicted to pirates and Cutlass Isle. It's basically the same people in the different forums just that we have to go through all three to read all intresting posts.

Whats your opinion about this?
 
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