Pirates of the Caribbean E3 2003 Preshow Report

Bethesda Softworks will partner with Disney Interactive in June to release an RPG based on the upcoming film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, starring Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, and Orlando Bloom. The game, simply titled Pirates of the Caribbean, will provide an open-ended role-playing experience that will allow you to proceed through the game's storyline as you see fit. You'll be able to steer the development of your character in any direction--as a mercenary, merchant, or pirate, for instance--based on the choices you make and the actions you take.

The game puts you in command of a small vessel when you start the game, and by wheeling and dealing or using force, you'll be able to amass a fortune and sail better ships, hire more hands, and generally build your seafaring empire. You'll be able to attack and board other ships, and the real-time combat system will let you enter into duels with other captains. With enough money, you can even buy the loyalty of those other captains and create a small armada with which to flex your piratical muscle.

Pirates of the Caribbean features lush, detailed environments and beautifully shaded water not unlike that seen in Bethesda's previous hit RPG, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Gamers looking for an RPG with an atypical setting and focus may want to check out the game when it releases in June. We'll bring you more information on Pirates of the Caribbean as it becomes available.