Sid Meier's Pirates! Wii-bound, says ESRB

In 2008, gamers looking forward to the Wii version of Civilization Revolution were hit with disappointment when the project was put on indefinite hold. Now, it appears fans of Civilization creator Sid Meier may be getting a consolation prize. The Entertainment Software Rating Board has issued an E10+ rating for everyone 10 and over for Sid Meier's Pirates! for the Wii.

The ESRB's description makes it all but certain the game is a port of the 2004 game of the same name--itself a reboot of the 1987 classic game called…Sid Meier's Pirates!

"In this adventure game, players build a fleet of ships, explore the high seas, and engage in sword battles on their way to finding a seafarer's abducted family," reads the description. "Players can shoot cannons at ships and fortresses, and engage in one-on-one sword fighting on the ships."

Though Sid Meier's Pirates! is more of a strategy/adventure hybrid, the ESRB description exactly describes the gameplay and plot of the 2004 remake. That game found commercial success on the PC, Xbox, Mac, and PSP, earning high marks from critics on all platforms.

Whether the Wii Remote will be used in the described swordfights--or Pirates' dancing minigames--has yet to be announced. As of press time, reps for publisher 2K Games, which owns Sid Meier's studio Firaxis Games, had not responded to requests for comment.

To learn more about Sid Meier, creator of Pirates! and the upcoming Civilization V, check out his keynote address from the 2010 Game Developer's Conference.