Sid Meier's Pirates! sets sail on Xbox

2K Games today announced that its Xbox port of the PC game Sid Meier's Pirates! has hit North American store shelves, with a European release set for later this month.

Sid Meier's Pirates! was originally released on the PC last November, but it has undergone some changes on its way to Microsoft's console. Beyond adding a new multiplayer mode and minigames, the Xbox version of the game supports Xbox Live leaderboards, content downloads, HDTV resolutions, and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.

Pirates! puts players in the pantaloons of a pirate captain looking to exact revenge on a Spanish nobleman who imprisoned his family. The game combines role-playing, action, and strategy to bring the life of a seafaring bandit to gamers. The original Pirates! was released on home computers in 1987.

Developed by Firaxis (of Sid Meier's Civilization and Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri fame), Sid Meier's Pirates! is the company's first foray into console development. It's also the first product to come out of a publishing agreement between Firaxis and 2K Games; the next announced title included in the agreement is Civilization IV on the PC, set for release in November.

Sid Meier's Pirates! is rated T for Teen and retails for $39.99. For more on this game, check out GameSpot's full review.