From YPPedia

Information for Pirate Parents

Ahoy, and welcome to Puzzle Pirates!

Puzzle Pirates is an online game that combines adventure with the universal appeal of simple logical puzzles. Puzzle Pirates has been a favorite of thousands of players from around the world for over five years.

This year, in response to player demand, we have launched Puzzle Pirates Family.

Our Family game includes additional features designed to protect younger players while they enjoy the game. Our Family game provides...

• 24 hour live game monitoring
• Stringent language controls
• Game design suitable for players of all ages

If you have any specific questions that you'd like to ask about the game before allowing your family to give Puzzle Pirates Family a try, please feel free to email us using the Puzzle Pirates Support form. We'll get back to you with an answer within 12 hours.

If you're ready to give Puzzle Pirates a try, welcome aboard!

Play Puzzle Pirates

Play Puzzle Pirates Family

More About the Puzzle Pirates World

Puzzle Pirates is an online game. Unlike other online environments, the game does not include simulated violence or gore. There are no guns or other implied physical interactions between players. Instead, competitive interactions between players are resolved using one of 20 interactive puzzles. A player's skill at each puzzle determines how well he or she is likely to do in the game.

Online games can create an enormously fun environment. People are, after all, far more fun to interact with than computers! The challenge comes with making these kinds of interactions a positive experience. Our approach has been to design Puzzle Pirates so that it encourages our community of players to work together. Success in the game comes from learning to work cooperatively: Players are rewarded for forming crews, organizing expeditions, and interacting socially with those around them and not for being abusive or otherwise acting out.

Playing in a Social Environment

The challenge of an online game is that the same features that make it so exciting can also allow a small minority of players to act disruptively or irresponsibly.

As a company, we are committed to supporting a positive playing environment in Puzzle Pirates. We constantly monitor and respond to player complaints from within the game. Our support staff is on call 24 hours a day and is trained to take a "hands on" approach to resolving issues, including the rapid removal of disruptive players from the game.

In addition to this, our Family Server includes additional protections to prevent younger player being exposed to abusive or aggressive interactions with others. We provide continuous monitoring of the language used by players and make updates to prevent disruptive or abusive language being used.

Getting Started

Puzzle Pirates is a free game. You or your children can play the game for free with some limitations for as long as you like.

Generally, the only decision that you'll need to make is which Ocean you would prefer your family to play on (each Ocean is a separate playing environment).

• Crimson is our first Family Server. Players on Crimson play with certain limits on the language they can use in place. They are also unable to play certain more complex aspects of the game. Parents that opt to let their children pay for additional features in the game can create a monthly subscription for their child. The subscription is $4.95.

• The Midnight and Cobalt Oceans are free to play. Optional access to the additional features in the game is based on signing up for a subscription. The subscription may be bought on a one-time or recurring basis. When it expires, the player may continue to play but will lose the privileges gained from subscribing.

• The Viridian, Sage, Hunter and Malachite Oceans are also free to play. However, rather than supporting subscription access to the additional features in the game is based on the purchase of a micro-currency called "Doubloons". Each doubloon allows a player to purchase access to the specific aspects of the game that they wish to use. Because these features are purchased individually, it's possible to spend more than the fixed subscription price on a Doubloon Ocean, but it's also possible to spend much less.

It's important to keep in mind the differences between the Oceans if you do think you or your child might eventually wish to sign-up.

Getting Help Online

Within Puzzle Pirates, it is relatively easy for a player to ask for help if they feel that their situation requires assistance. Click on the "Help" button on from the 'Ye' panel of the game interface. From there, he or she can register a complaint or send a request for help to in-game support.

A complaint will record the interactions the player is currently having. This information is used to determine how best to handle a player's question, particularly in the case of a complaint against other players. The information is forwarded to our in-game support staff, the 'Ocean Masters', who will address the issue promptly. The Ocean Masters are an important aspect of our efforts to ensure that the game continues to provide a positive atmosphere for all players. Members of your family should not hesitate to contact them if they need help.

Will I have to pay?

Puzzle Pirates is a free game for many players. All Puzzle Pirates players are able to interact with those around them and play the basic puzzles required to sail like a pirate. Each player may also play the other Puzzles, although their access is limited to the days on which those additional features are available to all players.

Paying players are able to be promoted in a crew, become a Captain, sail a ship, and can take ownership of items in the game, as well as play all the puzzles. Younger players playing on a Family Server will also receive a special gift each month of their subscription.

Making Sure You Get What You Expect

It is important to us that the payments we receive for Puzzle Pirates are made with the full approval of the cardholder. We have several features in place to prevent unwanted charges, including limits on the totals that can be charged, and a requirement that the credit card be present for each transaction. We also offer a variety of other payment methods, including one-time purchase game cards, that provide additional protection against unexpected charges.