Game Details
Price
  • $9.95/mo
Available on
Genre
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Pirates of the Caribbean Online (Windows, Mac)

common sense media says

Become a pirate and join Jack Sparrow in a MMORPG.


parents & educators say
  • 50% say there are positive role models
  • 33% say there are positive messages

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is a massively multiplayer online game in which you become a pirate and that the pirates in this game are violent. There is no graphic blood, but you may be asked to kill crabs and wasps. You can fight with cutlasses and pistols, but opponents simply fall over. Cannons can be fired from ships which break masts and cause ships to sink, but you don't see bodies flying. Your major opponents in this game are other humans, not fantasy monsters. There is a Voodoo theme in the game where you wave a funny looking ragdoll and throw "hexes" which produce a greenish grey smoke effect. The game can be played for free in a frame which contains advertising for age-related product. In the free version some game content will be restricted. For the ad-free version, you must pay $9.95/month, but since this is an online game, content is constantly added. This game is one age bracket up from Toontown Online and carries through all of Disney's original child-protection and security settings, such as the ability to lock down free chat and a profanity filter that cannot be turned off. Many families play this game together and naval combat actually requires cooperative play as one person has to sail the ship, while others can fire cannons. Quests often also are more easily completed in a group and some require several players to play cooperatively in order to succeed. As with any MMORPG, kids can get sucked in and find they want to spend a tremendous amount of time in this world.

Educational value: The game promotes cooperative gameplay requiring planning, communication, and coordination.
Positive messages: It's a Pirate game. You are doing Piratey behaviors such as breaking out of jail, stealing things, killing men from the British Navy and the East India Company, and playing Poker and Blackjack. Voodoo is also practiced in the game.
Violence: There is piratical person-to-person combat and naval combat. Cartoonish rather than realistic combat with lots of "Hollywood" style flourishes but no graphical blood or gore. You can use pistols or cutlasses but opponents simply fall over. Cannons can be used to sink ships but no bodies are blown up.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Clean. Profanity filter cannot be turned off.
Consumerism: There are two versions. The ad-based game contains banners advertising products aimed at children: from Disney's own products such as their latest DVD releases, to other children's games such as Pokemon on the Nintendo DS. There is also an ad-free version that costs $9.95/mo.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: It's a Pirate game and although there are taverns, with barrels of grog and barmaids, there is no overt depiction of alcohol or tobacco consumption.

More on Pirates of the Caribbean Online

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about how important cooperation is within this game. Do you think the naval battles were realistic of what pirates used to experience. Who is the most famous pirate you have heard of? What did Pirates really do? Does Voodoo really exist?

What's the story?

What's the story?
This game is based on Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean movies; your ultimate aim is to assist Jack Sparrow in recovering the Black Pearl. Along the way, players create their own pirates, dress them, and advance their characters by acquiring reputation in various skills such as swordplay, voodoo magic, sailing, obtaining treasure, and acquiring larger ships.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
The game actually leads the player through the storyline with well crafted quests and directions. The in-game tutorial is friendly, and the game is simple enough to play that an in-depth instruction manual is not required. First time players will be amazed at the quality of the cut scenes, which actually place your created character in the "movie," where you interact with familiar characters like Jack Sparrow, Tia Dalma, Elizabeth Swann, and Will Turner. To keep to its family friendly motto, players are defeated, but do not die. Instead they fall unconscious and wake up in jail. Another aspect of this game is the Player versus Player gameplay: players can go head to head with another player in an "arena" but when this occurs, they are not human. They are "cursed" and transformed into skeletons.

Young fans of pirates in general and Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean will be pleased with Disney's effort to craft an online game for the tween population who have outgrown ToonTown Online. The game is a fun romp and sailing on the high seas looking for enemy ships to lob cannon at with your kids can be a blast. Younger children may get frustrated at the more difficult quests or fights, but rest assured that in an MMORPG, there are many things to do. From playing cards to searching for treasure, from fighting with cutlass and pistol to using voodoo magic and naval battle.

A free version of the game supported by advertising in the form of a framed window is available for families to check out before committing to the full subscription membership.

Game themes & details

Game Details
Available on: Windows, Mac
Available online
Genre: Massively Multi-player Online Game (MMOG)
Developer: Disney Online
Released on: October 31, 2007
Price: 9.95/mo
ESRB Rating: E10+ for Alcohol Reference, Simulated Gambling, Violence

This review was written by Carolyn Koh
 
 

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What parents & educators say

10
Based on 6 parent & educator reviews:
  • 50% say there are positive role models
  • 33% say there are positive messages
  • 33% say it's educational

Most useful reviews by all members

elnator
parent of 10 year old
 
Has "Outgrown" it's 10+ title. It's a Teen now.
What's sad is this game used to be perfect for it's 10+ rating. But over time it's slowly 'grown up' and is now really best rated as a T rating... Why? Because they added gambling, and actually expect you to know what you're doing so you can win. Several of the quest lines actually force the player to gamble. My 10 year old son actually had to come to me and have me gamble FOR him to get past a quest. This is totally inappropriate and, imo, MSRB should revoke their E10 rating and put a T rating on the game. Any parent with good common sense would probably forbid their kids from playing it if they knew the game encourages Drinking, Drugs and Gambling. Other than that the game is wonderful and I wish they would remove those elements that have been added over the years to make this game age inappropriate. I used to love playing this game with my son and daughter but ever since they added in all the extra drinking/drugs and most especially the gambling I've more and more been inclined to forbid my son from playing it. I don't even like playing it myself.

deborahl2
parent of 9 year old
 
Brings the family together
I wish it was educational but it isn't except for promoting cooperation and requiring excellent and some arithmetic. However, my daughter plays it with her grandfather who lives out of state (she's 7 so they talk on the phone at the same time rather than text)and its the first time she's really had a day-to-day relationship with him. Its actually pretty compelling ffor adults too and I have found myself "hooked" as well.

Almanac8
teen, 14 years old
 
0_o This game is for kids? Really?
This game isn't THAT recommended for kids. Once the free trial(s) ended, it was boring. Pros: The free trial is longer than Toontown Online, it's got some good ships that you have to look up in order to get to know, and that's about it. Cons: You have to be a member to have Fullscreen, as far as I'm concerned, there IS blood in it, it's not very fun, and it's not quite for ages 10+. Overall, I rate it 1/5.

captianreggie
kid, 10 years old
 
it's one of my favroite games, you can shoot undead but not people

Wintray
teen, 16 years old
 
Drinking, violence and gambling not a problem!
I actually laughed when I saw the negative reviews, I'm sorry but I just couldn't help myself. The womens clothes are FINE, the worst things are a tube tops (called "corsets" in-game). There are many family-oriented guilds, such as Ocean Gods. I've met many people on there who I look up to, and who are all welcoming and kind. This game is great for everyone, violence is not a problem and I never felt the urge to drink or gamble in reality. Honestly people. Ocean Gods, for example, has many members who are related each other. We have all become very close, and we all help each other. I have met so many great people, and drinking and gambling are not problems on there AT ALL. I've heard some people mention bad language and lag, that's probably because your going on the A servers - the ones at the top of the list, and the ones that everyone goes on. There are also the default servers, where if you don't choose a server you go automatically to. Consumerism isn't a problem, most websites have a membership option, and unlike those websites you can't buy virtual money. It used to advertise, but now it doesn't. These complaints are out of date. I've been playing for three-four years, and loved every second of it! I have started to grow out of it, though. I have gotten a bit lonely on there, most of my online friends I used to hang out with have left, the downside of being an older member.

Pirate fan
parent of 18 year old
 
Perfect for kids 9+
In this online adventure you play as a pirate.Drinks Drugs and smoking are no problem. There is rum but theyre pirates for peat sakes.Language is not possible in the game. The worst ive ever said in the is crap game but i am open chat so this is only seen to some pirates.Ads are nevver seen in game play when unlimeted acess and on full screen. Safety is probaley the best ever when it comes to disney. The voilence is very little unlees you think killing a navy eitc or undead person with a sword gun voodoo doll dagger bombs or voodoo staff. There is no blood and ive checked, fyi ive played the game almost 3 years and have killed everything twice so there is no blood. The content in this game is sutibale for all ages.

JosieGrl
teen, 14 years old
 
pay to play!!!! AGAIN!!!!
Fun, similar to toontown ( but for more mature players ). You can't get very far in the game without paying. UUUGGGHHH

Beachgurl
kid, 11 years old
 
Please read all it will really help =)
I really enjoy this game! (once you get to lvl 30 it starts to get really fun 20-29 is kinda boring im adding this on and im level 31 now & im an officer in my guild))There are 2 types of chats 1 is open chat it includs a bigger dictonary if words u can asy another chat is called speed plus chat its filtered so if someone says something bad it will just show up as yarrr or garrr. They just recently added and updated some stuff. My favorite weapon so far is the dagger but i am just lvl 27. The lamest weapon would have to the the grenade alot of people quit playing once they unlock the grenade because its a really lame weapon in my opinion(you shouldn't quit though). Another one of my favorite things are guilds there is a guild master (gm) and that is the person who created the guild they have the ability to invite people to the guild kick someone out of the guild and promote someone in the guild. There are 4 ranks member,veteran.officer and guild master(you can be promoted to guild master but its very rare). when your a member you don't really have any special things you can do. when your a veteran you can invite someone to the guild. when you become and officer you can invite someone and kick anyone out except other officers and the guild master of course. you have the ability to chat with the guild and every guild has their own special rules. (I am a veteran of the guild i am in.) I really recommend this game it gets better the higher level you get. You are able to make up to 4 pirates. My pirate is Meg Seawalker say hi if you see me!

Jackiskool
kid, 12 years old
 
free accounts cant do anything and disney sucks
No concerns. But the game sucks overall and the free accounts cannot even unlock the same weapons and even go in the same rooms. the 10 bucks is a rip off. Then again we are talking about rip off stupid old disney

swfan123
kid, 13 years old
 
Great game!
I really like this game! It may be a little too violent for little kids. When you kill a animal enemy, it writhes around in the dust, but no blood and gore. The reason I put consumerism in there is because...you probably guessed it, It's Pirates of the Caribbean! How much more product placement than that! It does require some thinking, like when you are trying to solve a story quest. I LOVE the character customization!

TwilightChicaXD
kid, 11 years old
 
Just a little un-modest
I love this game!! I just started playing it but so far it rocks. I just think some of it is a little lame, like having to be a member to use some gear/weapons, The girls NPC clothes are a little un-modest, but overall it's fun!!! ... I'm Charlotte Daggerskull if you see me say hi! :D

angel63b
kid, 11 years old
 
well....
well if you ask me, safety isnt an isue,the cloths arent modest,but its not inaproppriet eather.If you ask me,its pretty awsome,they talk about it on disney channel a couple of times,and everyone pretty much has a positive review on the concept.Now im a member myself and I havent gone on it in a long time,so today I just noticed the changes they have made,good cganges if you ask me.well,saftey isnt a problem because they moniture you.So if you would say something bad,it would just come out as arrrrggg,so thats good.Its pretty easy to play if your 10+,so if your 9,it could be alittle difficult to understand,anything below I wouldnt recommend.The only concern I have is the achohol,but I think that the children who play this games would be responsible enough to realise that this is all fake and it is just all for fun.So overall I give this website a good review,and hope that the changes that they make in the future,will be the same,and not take the game to a whole new direction.

gamerkid660
kid, 12 years old
 
Extemely flawed
don't mistaken a basic enemy for a lvl 18 vetran. Its a pretty harsh punishment when you die. you have to have your health lowered once you respawn in jail. And the last flaw I am going to say is it's a problem finding the sweep icon in the tutorial. BEGINNER GAMERS SHOULD NOT PLAY!!!!

KinbJune
teen, 13 years old
 
Pirates Arrrr Suckers
This was a very bad game for me. I never got passed the intro because it kept lagging, and the graphics are terrible. Disney really screwed up this time.

ilikechess
teen, 14 years old
 
perfect for older tweens and up
I think this game is a very fun game with a small amount of violence but no inoproporiot grafics and as for drinking in the game, there is no direct drinking, the worst is some people holding mugs. i give this game a thumbs up.

BellaBelle
kid, 11 years old
 
Good
Safety is not a problem u can get a chat where it is safe. The worst I have heard is dam. U can report and ignore people 2. The girls clothes are not always very modest. Overall it's a very fun game that I look forward to playing at the end of the day.

way245
teen, 14 years old
 
Awesome swashbuckling game for kids.
This is a fun swashbuckling game where you can do anything. You can fight humans, bees, or giant aligators. No language, and you use a pistol and a sword to kill your enemies but its not bloody. Disney, youve done it again!

Cm20014
teen, 16 years old
 

robot kid
kid, 12 years old
 
ONE PROBLEM
Safety isn't a problem? It wouldn't be if it wasnt online. it is good and clean without people being able to chat with you. When i was playing, I heard someone blurt out an f bomb!! It does expell you if it happens twice, but people from all around are playing, there gonna hear more.

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