Sid Meier's Pirates! trailer debut ahoy!

Double-click the video window for a full-screen view. Ever since it was announced, the remake of Sid Meier's Pirates! has had PC-loving landlubbers itching to try out their virtual sea legs. Today, the first trailer of the Firaxis-developed buccaneer sim debuted, giving would-be scurvy sea dogs a two-minute initial glimpse of Pirates! in action.

While not the first footage of the game to be released, the official trailer does showcase the rich and varied aspects of Pirates! In just under two minutes, viewers are treated to shots of ships both traveling on the high seas and locked in Master and Commander-style cannon battles and some intense hand-to-hand combat. Also featured are the role-playing aspects of the game, which will have players' characters wandering through rough-and-ready port towns and attending high-society balls.

Atari used the trailer's premiere to officially launch the Sid Meier's Pirates Web site (although, according to its news log, the site has been up for nearly 10 days). The data-laden online destination sports a galleon-full of information about the game, including screenshots, news, and conceptual art.

Sid Meier's Pirates! is currently unrated, but it is scheduled for a fall 2004 release for the PC. An Xbox version is rumored to also be in development, though nothing official has been announced by Firaxis or Atari. For more on the game, check out GameSpot's pre-E3 preview.