Ubisoft, one of the world's largest videogame publishers, today announced it will publish Puzzle Pirates, the first pirate-themed online game. In Puzzle Pirates, players play fun puzzle games to earn status and prestige. Developed by Three Rings Design, Inc., Puzzle Pirates is playable on PC, Mac and Linux. Puzzle Pirates is slated for release in April with a suggested retail price of $19.99, which includes a free month of playing time, exclusive in-game items, and special single-player, offline versions of the more popular puzzles in the game. After the first free month a monthly subscription fee of $9.95 will apply. Puzzle Pirates is expected to earn a "T" for Teen rating.

"We are excited to add Puzzle Pirates to Ubisoft's growing list of massively
multiplayer online (MMO) games," said James Regan, director of Ubisoft's business development. "Puzzle Pirates is unique in the MMO genre, because players can enjoy non-violent puzzle games while increasing their pirate character's skills and prestige in a user-friendly community."

In the game, players pillage the seven seas with their mates and enjoy countless rounds of eleven fine puzzles, from Swordfighting to Carpentry, Gunnery, a variety of trade puzzles, and even a friendly game of Spades. Puzzle Pirates is a social game in which players sail together in crews and form political alliances to rule the waves. Shop ownership, trade networks, full player-colonized islands and a dense web of Piratey intrigue fill out the higher level gameplay.