Sid Meier's Pirates! charts Wii course in fall

The Entertainment Software Rating Board flew the flag for Sid Meier's Pirates! on the Wii a couple of weeks ago, and it now comes as no surprise that 2K Games has made it official. The publisher announced today that it will bring Firaxis' classic action strategy game to the Wii this fall.

Pirates! on the Wii is in development at 2K China, and just as in Firaxis' original, it sees gamers taking the helm of a 17th-century vessel to conquer the Caribbean. Gamers can take the wheel of 27 customizable ships as part of their mission to rid the Spanish main of the nefarious Marquis de la Montalban. All the while, gamers will collect treasure, explore the open seas, and engage in wanton acts of piracy.

In addition to battling pirates and colonial powers using the Wii Remote, the game incorporates a variety of minigames, ranging from swashbuckling sword fights to wooing the governor's daughter through dance. 2K China has included two Wii-specific minigames--bombardment and lock picking--as well as other exclusive character and ship-customization options.

For an idea of what to expect from Sid Meier's Pirates!, check out GameSpot's review of the Xbox edition from 2005.