[[ImageFile:Pirates-front.jpg|thumb|Cover of ''Pirates!'']]
Released '''''Pirates!''''' is a game by [[Sid Meier]], originally for the C64 and released for the CPC by [[Microprose]] in 19881987.
This game was one of the best of its generation, with a depth and replay value far beyond many other productions. You are basically a pirate/privateer/trader in the Caribbean and the goal of the game is to retire rich, influential, and married. There are also abducted relatives of yours you are supposed to track down. The length of the game is primarily determined by the character's health, e.g. if you get wounded in battle too often, you will not be able to sustain a very long career.
This game was one Gameplay consists of setting out to sea, plundering towns and looting ships, also trading, finding the best occasional hidden treasure, etc. Every few years, you divide up the plunder (kill off some of it's generationyour own men before that in battle, with a deepth this will increase their happiness and replay value far beyond share of the loot), then start another expedition. The length of each expedition depends on the morale of the crew (so many productionsfrequently check morale by pressing fire or space, then select "party status"). At some point they will mutiny if you go on too long without dividing up the plunder.
It was ported on most 80Unlike other famous Sid Meier games like 's standards : [[Commodore 64|C64]] 'Railroad Tycoon'' and ''Civilization'' which were strongly influenced by—or one might even say ripped off—existing board games designed by Francis Tresham (looks quite a lot like ''1829''/''1830'' and ''Civilization'', respectively, both published by Avalon Hill in the amstrad CPC versionUS), ''Pirates!'' was a relatively novel concept for its time. (While there is another board game by Tresham called ''Spanish Main'', it has little resemblance to ''Pirates!''.) Notable earlier computer games that feature some elements seen in ''Pirates!'' and could have served as partial inspirations include ''[[AtariWestward Ho!|Atari STOregon Trail]]'' (1971), ''Taipan!'' (1982; ported to the CPC by Ocean as ''[[AmigaTai-Pan]]'' in 1986), ''Broadsides'' (1983), ''The Seven Cities of Gold'' (1984), and ''[[PCThe Wild Bunch]] and more'' (1985, CPC-only). ''The Seven Cities of Gold'' in particular is an influence on ''Pirates!'' Meier himself has acknowledged in interviews.
Some new updated versions were made too : "Perhaps the main problem of ''Pirates! gold" '' was that its arcade sequences were a mixed bag: Battles at sea (both ship-to-ship and the captains dueling) were fun, but land battles were rather boring. Also, with VGA colours land battles, the outcome seemed to be largely predetermined by the numbers on PC) each side, so the exhilarating against-the-odds quality of sea battles—defeating a large, heavily armed galleon with a fast sloop and a modern PC "Sid Meyer's Pirates!" 3D version much smaller crew—was largely absent with land battles. I.e., if you are outgunned and outnumbered in a land battle you will probably lose. The 2004(and later) versions did not really solve this problem with land battles at all and in fact even added more boring arcade sequences like dancing and sneaking into/out of town.
Still, despite of its flaws, ''Pirates!'' with its groundbreaking, highly polished mix of action-adventure, RPG, and simulation is considered a major gaming classic and the CPC version does not disappoint either, at least in terms of playability (graphics are another matter).
==Versions==
The game was ported to most 1980's 8-bit/16-bit machines: [[Commodore 64|C64]] (looks quite a lot like the Amstrad CPC version), [[Atari|Atari ST]], [[Amiga]], [[PC]] and more.
It is notable for being one of the (Some new updated versions were made too) rare 6128 specific game : only disk version "Pirates! Gold" (with VGA colours on PC) and 128Ko Ram were supporteda modern PC "Sid Meier's Pirates!" 3D version in 2004.
In theory, 464 ''Pirates!'' includes a lot of Graphics (+ disk driveMode 0) and 664 with Extra Ram upgrade should workmusic. The game is notable for being one of the (maybe too) rare 6128 specific game: only disk version and 128KB RAM were supported. Even with a RAM expansion and a disc drive the game would not ?run on a 464. This is likely due to differences in the firmware between a 6128 and 464. It has been [https://youtu.be/63pZSCkTtyk confirmed] that upgrading the firmware in a 464 to that of a 6128 (replacing the ROM)will allow the game to run.
It included a lot This port of Graphics ''Pirates!'' is also notable for its underlying structure being written in Locomotive BASIC, augmented with machine code routines for graphics, audio, and the arcade portions of the game. Presumably this is largely the same BASIC code as in the C64 version, although on the C64 it is apparently much harder to access than on the CPC (Mode 0) where the files are not hidden in the catalog and musicsonly protected by the standard ",p" BASIC protected mode).
Games sequencesDespite it's ultimate awesomeness, possibilities the Amstrad CPC port was a bit slow and mechanics graphics could have been a bit better. They were variedsomewhat obvious as a C64 port in that respect.
As a result, most graphics, while not bad, didn't make the best use of the specific CPC palette and most graphics look like having the C64 colour attribute—no more than 4 colours per characters and some bad ink choices.
Despite it's ultimate awesomness, the Amstrad CPC port was a bit slow and Graphics could have been a bit better...As they were probably ported from the C64 version.==Video==
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[http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_Meier's_Pirates! Pirates! on wikipedia]== Game map of the Caribbean==
[http[File://frigatePirates map.free.fr/ The lost taverjpg|thumb|none|350px]] More infos about different versions of the game, manual and map downloads
[http://www.c64-wiki.de/index.php/Pirates! Pirates! on the C64-Wiki] (german)==Links==
== Game map ==*{{CPCPower|1643}}
<gallery caption="Game map *[http://frigate.free.fr/ The lost tavern] More infos about different versions of Pirates">the game, manual and map downloadsimage*[http:Pirates map//www.jpg<c64-wiki.com/gallery>index.php/Pirates! ''Pirates!'' on the C64-Wiki] *{{EnWiki|Sid_Meier's_Pirates!}}
[[Category:Games]]
[[Category:Games 1987]]
[[Category:Extended RAM Software]]
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[[Category:Locomotive BASIC games]]