Yes, I know I just posted a blog piece on Sea of Thieves, but I still feel the need to go deeper into my concerns, because it seems some people out there just don’t get it.
The depth of content and the simple mechanics aside, Sea of Thieves has two glaringly large factors going against it that no one seems to be talking about.
The Marketing Is Misleading
From the get-go, Rare and Microsoft have been pushing Sea of Thieves as a fun, lighthearted adventure game fit for everyone. Whether you’re a seasoned, hardcore gamer or a casual weekender, everyone can jump in and have a swashbuckling good time on the high seas. The reality of the matter, however, is that the PvP-only nature of the game makes it fit for one type of gamer and one only; the hardcore gamer. Anyone under the illusion that they’re going to hop in with their 7-year old and do some pirating will have it shattered the first time they come across another group of pirates, only to be murdered, their treasure stolen, and their ship sunk. We, as gamers, have to take a step back and un-learn everything we know about this game, and take a look at the marketing of the game. How is it represented to an uneducated consumer? Cartoon-y visuals and a jaunty, merry attitude covers up what is actually a laborious and brutal game.
The Game Lacks Checks and Balances
This is a pirate game, full of pirates. Is someone acting like a dick? Well they’re a pirate, what did you expect? The biggest complaint I’ve seen on the Sea of Thieves forums (and my own biggest gripe as well) is that the PvP aspect of the game is unavoidable, and it’s ruining the experience for a lot of people. Some people just want to sail and have fun without getting pillaged and plundered by every dickbag on the internet. The biggest counter I’ve read, and received, to this complaint is, “Well, they’re pirates, DUH!” But here’s the thing; Games need checks and balances. Even pirate games. Even real-life pirates back in the day had the British Royal Navy to contend with. They couldn’t just run rampant, there were places they had to avoid, and waters they risked sailing in. There was also camaraderie between pirates, sort of a… code. Just because two ships had two crews of pirates didn’t necessarily mean they were going to go at it like rabid dogs at the first sight of each other. Nor did it mean a pirate crew could sit on the docks of a port and murder every merchant and sailor that walked up. The ports wouldn’t allow it. It’s just bad for business.
Sea of Thieves doesn’t understand this. There is no consequence for any action, and the “I’m a pirate,” excuse just doesn’t hold water. It’s unfathomable that a developer as experienced as Rare would create a game that had zero consequence for being an asshole, and no benefit for acting otherwise. The very freedom this game offers is defeated by a persona you’re forced to portray. Why can’t I be a scurvy buccaneer adventurer with a heart of gold? “Because it’s pirates! DUH!” Well, shit.
Apparently being a pirate means you’re just a piece of shit, and if you don’t shape up and start acting like a piece of shit, then this game isn’t for you. All that fun and laughter and merriment that you’d see in a commercial for Sea of Thieves, well that’s just people laughing at someone else’s expense, as they troll and spawn camp and just be an overall douche. Congrats, Rare. You created a game that’s the perfect receptacle for every piece of filth on the internet. At least on the high seas, they can be who they are, and be rewarded for it.
I guess in the end, we should be thanking them. Maybe all these bottom-dwellers will be too busy fucking each other over in Sea of Thieves, and we’ll be left to play other games in peace.
