Blackwake is a First-Person pirate-ship shooter in which you set sail on a high-seas adventure, helping your fellow scalliwags defeat other vessels in epic naval battles. You might even get to wear an eye-patch!
The game, now hoping to capture some loot on Kickstarter, is the product of a team of scurvy dogs independent developers, led by one Tyler Newton. He explains the motivation for the project on the game’s Kickstarter page:
“As gamers, we’ve always searched for a pirate game that made you feel as if you were actually part of the crew rather than just commanding AI or playing in an RTS perspective,” he explains. “The results of our search were disappointing as nothing was at the level we were hoping for. This led to the creation of Blackwake.”
The game looks quite ambitious, and will host a variety of potentially-cool aspects if it is successful. Here’s a run-down of what the game will feature:
Team based sailing – players are free to perform any task, there will be value in having a well coordinated team to take on the threats of the seas. The captain will have the ability to broadcast orders, and the crew will have the option to follow them – or rather – collectively vote to over throw the captain in an attempt to turn the match around.
Various ship sizes – multiple different ship types, from cutters/schooners to frigates and possibly man-o-wars. Ships are planned to hold 8-40 players each depending on size. This number may increase.
Melee & ranged weapon combat – an assortment of 18th century firearms, each with their own strengths and flaws of the era. You can expect boarding to be a fun-filled, chaotic experience.
Objective based game modes – Not only will traditional deathmatch modes be in Blackwake, but also modes that focus on various objectives and even scenarios. Assaulting and defending trade ships, capture the treasure, and domination are some possible modes.
Varied weather & Environments – Each match on the open ocean randomizes the weather and time of day. From the calm seas of day to the chaotic storms at night where timing is everything. Rock cliffs, ice bergs and sandbars, you can expect to get a lot of variety every time you play.
Headgear – clothing and headgear will be available, but will not be micro-transactions – “we hate them,” say the devs. Looking cool and adding some flavor to yourself is part of the game.
Sound interesting, matey? Arrrrr… then get yourself down to Kickstarter quick – you’ve got until Wednesday, September 2nd to back this venture, or see it damned to Davey Jones’ Locker forever!