Official:Pricing
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Puzzle Pirates Payment
You can play Puzzle Pirates for free. There is no limit on your ability to board ships and play any of the basic ship puzzle games (sailing, carpentry, bilge, and gunnery) for as long as you like. We offer days of free play for the remaining crafting, parlor, and social puzzles on a rotating basis.
However, there are certain features in the game that may require payment if you wish to try them. Generally, you are able to pay for these features in one of two ways:
- If you play Puzzle Pirates on Midnight or Cobalt, you must buy subscription time before you can take advantage of the for-pay features.
- If you play Puzzle Pirates on Viridian, Sage, Hunter or Opal, you must buy doubloons, our ingame micropayment currency, before you can take advantage of the for-pay features.
You can log onto the Account section if you'd like to make a payment now. Otherwise, the FAQs below provide more detail on our payment options:
How to Pay
How do I pay with a Credit Card?
You will find the Billing options on the Account section of the website.
We accept VISA, MasterCard and American Express cards. Debit / ATM cards with the VISA / MasterCard logo should work fine. This is the preferred payment mechanism as it gives you instant access and keeps things simple for us and inexpensive for you.
Something to keep in mind: if you are subscribing to Puzzle Pirates you should be aware that the subscription will reoccur next month. If you wish to avoid continuing the subscription, you can cancel immediately after your first payment.
Is your Credit Card server secure?
Absolutely. Our credit card server is secured with 128bit industry-standard SSL encryption. You can verify this by looking for the golden padlock in the bottom corner of your web browser window.
What appears on my credit card statement?
Your credit card statement will show a billing for 'Three Rings'. We would like to change this to Puzzle Pirates but it's too long! Arrgh.
Can I pay via PayPal?
Yes, there is an option to pay using PayPal in our automated billing system, and your account will be instantly credited following payment.
If you wish to make a gift subscription using a PayPal account, visit the Paypal website, choose Send Money, and send your payment to paypal@threerings.net You can use your credit card via PayPal or transfer money from your bank account if you setup an account with them. Be certain to include the account name you wish to credit in the note and that it is a gift. We will send you a confirmation email shortly after your payment is received and processed.
Can I pay via Check or Money Order?
By all means, send us a check or money order denominated in US Dollars (you may need to get an International Money Order in US Currency).
Payable to: Three Rings Design, Inc.
Three Rings Design 612 Howard Street #500 San Francisco CA 94105 USA
Please ensure that you include your Account name. Please send us the correct amount so we're not in doubt of what you're buying (see prices below). And by all means include a piratey missive or an interesting envelope. We love receiving mail!
We will send you a confirmation email when your payment is received, so you'll want to have an email address registered on your account!
If paying by Check or Money Order direct to Three Rings, pricing for Puzzle Pirates subscriptions are as follows:
- Monthly: $9.95 / month.
- Quarterly: $19.95 / first quarter, $24.95 / subsequent. [ $7.90 / month average over a year ]
- Annually: $74.95 / year. [ $6.25 / month ]
Pricing for Puzzle Pirates doubloons are as follows:
- $2.95 for 12 Doubloons (~$0.25c per Doubloon)
- $9.95 for 42 Doubloons (~$0.24c per Doubloon)
- $19.95 for 90 Doubloons (~$0.22c per Doubloon)
- $49.95 for 240 Doubloons (~$0.21c per Doubloon)
- $99.95 for 500 Doubloons (~$0.20c per Doubloon)
Can I pay via Text Messages (SMS)?
We are currently offering players in the following countries to buy doubloons and subscriptions via text messages: UK, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Germany and Austria.
Not all phone providers are supported, so have a look at your account page under billing system and the TXT option to see if yours is.
If your phone provider is available then follow the instructions on the billing page to send a text message and wait until you get a text message back with a 6 digit code you can enter on the billing page to receive your doubloons. Subscriptions may also be bought by buying doubloons and converting 42 doubloons for a months subscription, which can be done here.
Be aware that some phone service providers charge you for sending a text message, so take this amount into account so there are still funds available for the doubloon cost. Otherwise it may fail and you are still charged for sending the text message.
Can I pay at the Grocery Store?
Simply go to a Coinstar machine. There are nearly 65,000 worldwide. Search here to find the one nearest you.
Place coins/bills in the machine and get a Green Dot TM Prepaid MasterCard® that you can then use at Puzzle Pirates.
We are also introducing several new exciting ways to pay without a credit card. Check here in October for updates.
Can I use my bank's Electronic Bill Pay?
Certainly. Simply go to the Bill Pay section of your online bank account.
Payable to: Three Rings Design, Inc.
Three Rings Design 612 Howard Street #500 San Francisco CA 94105 USA
Please ensure that you include your Account name in the memo section. Please enter the correct amount so we're not in doubt of what you're buying. You may refer to #Can I pay via Check or Money Order? for pricing information.
Can I pay via another method (Cash, Debit Cards, Splash Plastic, etc.)?
If you don’t currently have a credit card or other online means of paying for Puzzle Pirates, there are four options available:
- Get credit online using a check or money order
- Get credit online at your local supermarket
- Three Rings Game Cards
- Send us a check or money order directly
The first two services listed above will involve some additional fees that will be charged to you. They will, however, be processed more quickly than a payment sent directly to us.
Using PayByCash (Online check or money order)
- Certa-Pay
- Check via Postal Service or FAX
- Cyphermint's PayCash System
- Direct Debit
- e-gold®
- Easecard
- eNets
- GoldMoney®
- hyperWALLET
- INSTADEBIT®
- Money Order via Postal Service
- moneybookers™
- NETeller®
- Paymate
- Paynova
- paysafecard®
- Splash Plastic
- TravelersExpress MoneyGram
- Virtual Check ("E-Check")
- Western Union QuickPay™
- Western Union SwiftPay™
- Wire or Bank Transfer
- WebMoney Transfer
For a complete and updated list of the payment options PayByCash offers please see the PayByCash payment options page.
Using PaidByCash (at your local store)
Search HERE to find the location nearest you.
- Get a Payment Code from the PaidByCash website, then go pay cash at one of the locations.
- Receive a Virtual MasterCard loaded with the amount you've paid cash and use that MasterCard for your online purchase.
- Enter the MasterCard number in the credit card number field and select the option you wish to buy.
Keep in mind that your MasterCard may retain a balance after your transaction (depending on the cash value you put into the card), so don't lose it!
For more information on how PaidByCash works, click HERE.
Three Rings Game Cards
Three Rings game cards can be used to pay for any of our current games. Our current denominations of $10 and $20 have the same value as cash for the purchase of either doubloons or a one or two month subscription. The cards are for sale at Target stores nationwide. The first cards released have Puzzle Pirate art on the front. If you have trouble finding the cards, you can ask the helpful Target staff for product number 012/15/0176 for $10 denominations, and product number 012/15/0177 for $20 denominations.
Click here to find a Target store near you.
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Using Your Game Card
The Three Rings game cards are easy to use. Each card has a unique code that, once activated at the store, can be used to redeem the full value of the card for use in the game. Card redemption can be completed from our website. To redeem a card for use with Puzzle Pirates use the following methods:
If you're new to the game, you should first create an account. You can do this by downloading Puzzle Pirates here
From the Puzzle Pirates website
- Click "Account" and log-in with your user name and password
- Next, click "Go to Billing System". You will be prompted to re-enter your user name and password for security reasons
- If this is your first time buying from us, you will be prompted to select a payment method for buying a subscription or doubloons. To use your gift card, select "Game Card" from the list of options for either Subscriptions or Doubloons
- Type the game card code (located on the back of the card) into the interface and click to enter.
- After clicking, you will be shown the current value for the valid code you entered. You can then click "Redeem Card" to add the value of card to your account. Remember that the value is added to the account for which you have logged on. The card will retain no residual value after it has been redeemed.
Directly from within the game
- From the "Ye" panel in the game, click "Buy Doubloons" or "Subscribe". You will be prompted to re-enter your user name and password for security reasons
- If this is your first time buying from us, you will be prompted to select a payment method for buying a subscription or doubloons. To use your gift card, select "Game Card" from the list of options for either Subscriptions or Doubloons
- Type the game card code (located on the back of the card) into the interface and click to enter.
- After clicking, you will be shown the current value for the valid code you entered. You can then click "Redeem Card" to add the value of card to your account. Remember that the value is added to the account for which you have logged on. The card will retain no residual value after it has been redeemed.
If you have any questions about the card or how to use it, please send an e-mail using our Support Form.
Sending a Check or Money Order Directly
If you would prefer to avoid all that messing around in Cyberspace, you can also send us a check directly. We normally process each check the day it is received and immediately credit your account. When you mail us, be sure to include:
- Your account name
- A way to contact you (i.e. an email address you use)
- What you'd like to purchase (Doubloons, subscription)
- Anything else you think we should know about your piratical nature
- If you decorate your envelope or include a fun note, we may display it on the office wall!
Please send your mail to:
Three Rings Design 612 Howard Street #500 San Francisco CA 94105 USA
I live outside the US, how should I pay?
Your non-US credit card should work fine if it is a VISA, MasterCard or American Express. Alternatively, use one of the other payment options listed above.
You will be responsible for converting your currency into US Dollars. With a credit card, PayPal, PayByCash or Text Message transaction this will happen automatically. To get a US Dollar check or money order you will probably have to visit the bank, or perhaps your post office.
Subscription or Doubloons
What is the difference between Subscription and Doubloons?
On a Subscription Ocean you may play indefinitely, however, in order to use the for-pay features you must pay a fee to gain access to all those features for a month, quarter, or year. More info on Subscriptions.
On Doubloon Oceans you can play for free indefinitely, individual items and privileges are unlocked by paying with Doubloons, which can be purchased with real money. More info on Doubloons.
Which Oceans are Subscription and which are Doubloons?
Subscription Oceans are named after shades of blue. They are:
- Midnight
- Cobalt
- Ice (test server, available to paid subscribers and doublooners)
Doubloon Oceans are named after shades of green. They are:
- Viridian
- Sage
- Hunter
- Opal (German language server)
How can I tell which Ocean I am playing?
You can tell which Ocean you are on at the login screen, under your password. The window name will also tell you what ocean you're logged into and which pirate you are on.
How can I change Oceans?
You are assigned to a random new Ocean when you create your account. You can change Oceans by clicking on the 'change' button and selecting a new Ocean from the list shown.
Can I move my Pirate between Oceans?
Unfortunately not! The economy of each Ocean is unique and it's not feasible to move Pirates between them. Fortunately you can recreate your Pirate on a new Ocean and re-establish yourself in no time!
What are the subscription and doubloon prices?
If paying with Credit Card, PayPal or other direct methods, pricing for Puzzle Pirates is as follows. If you pay with SMS, PayByCash and other indirect methods the prices will vary according to your country and the payment mechanism used.
Subscriptions are priced as follows:
- Monthly: $9.95 / month.
- Quarterly: $19.95 / first quarter, $24.95 / subsequent. [ $7.90 / month average over a year ]
- Annually: $74.95 / year. [ $6.25 / month ]
Doubloons are priced as follows:
- $2.95 for 12 Doubloons (~$0.25c per Doubloon)
- $9.95 for 42 Doubloons (~$0.24c per Doubloon)
- $19.95 for 90 Doubloons (~$0.22c per Doubloon)
- $49.95 for 240 Doubloons (~$0.21c per Doubloon)
- $99.95 for 500 Doubloons (~$0.20c per Doubloon)
Problems with Payments
My Credit Card keeps being Declined, but I know I have funds?
You are probably entering the incorrect security code. Follow the instructions on the page carefully. If it continues to fail then you should probably consider PayPal or Check payment as described above.
My Credit Card was Declined, but it still got Charged?!
Actually, your Credit Card has not been charged if it was declined. However, some Banks (your bank, it has nothing to do with our bank or credit card processing procedures) place a hold on funds when an authorisation is requested even though they have declined the charge. This apparently happens more often with ATM / Debit Cards. The funds are then released again after a few days, when the bank realises that actually no charge was placed (which is unsurprising, as they denied it).
We are completely perplexed by this behaviour, but according to our bank it is commonplace and there is absolutely nothing we can do to prevent it. Our apologies. If this happens to you we suggest you use another payment mechanism (PayPal, check, above).
I paid using PayPal (or sent a check) and my Account is not yet activated.
We have to process PayPal payments sent to paypal@threerings.net and mail payments by hand, so they may take a while to get to. Please be patient. If you have sent a check and desperately want to be more than a cabin person send email using the Puzzle Pirates Support form to check on it.
I sent a Text Message but did not receive a Code back?
If after a couple of hours you did not receive the text message with the code to enter, you will not have been charged by your phone provider for that order. We recommend that you verify that you have not been charged with your phone company, and ask them if they are aware of any reason why you did not receive the reply SMS message. An exception to this rule is Finnish Sonera which will charge upon sending. Also make sure you have room for new Text Messages and sufficient funds to pay for the order.
Other Payment Questions
Why do you have to pay for full access? What about advertising?
Three Rings is a small company and has no major corporate backer. We have funded development of Puzzle Pirates ourselves and with the help of investors. In order to continue operating Puzzle Pirates we need to bring in money, so that we can pay our employees, so that they can eat, and keep making Puzzle Pirates better. Servers and bandwidth are also expensive.
Advertising is not a viable option to support a game like Puzzle Pirates. Neither is donations or other schemes. We have chosen to operate Puzzle Pirates as a paid service and hope that you can see the value it provides.
Can I get a Refund?
Three Rings has an explicit policy of no refunds. Please bear in mind that we do not have this policy to be hard-nosed business people, because we're not, but only because it is necessary to avoid people requesting refunds of long-term subscriptions simply because they've had a bad day pillaging with their crew.
Exceptions to this rule are in cases of fraud, fiscal hardship due to accidental renewal, or if we issue a new release to the game or otherwise modify the software in a way that prevents you from actually playing. If this happens to you please first try to solve the problem on the Technical Issues forum.
If you wish to request a refund in these circumstances please contact us using the Puzzle Pirates Support form and we'll try to help.
I want to change my Account Name before subscribing?
If you want to subscribe under a different account name but have existing Pirates, send an email using the Puzzle Pirates Support form clearly describing the names of the New Account, Old Account and Pirates to be Transferred. This email should be from the email address in the account record for both old and new accounts. This takes some doing manually, so please be patient.
It is not currently possible to change account names, so please subscribe on the account you wish to use.
Ubisoft Box Questions
I have an existing account, how do I redeem my Ubisoft in-box one-month subscription?
Simply visit this page and enter your CD-key to redeem your free included month.
Where do I get my special Ubisoft item?
Once you have redeemed your CD-key and logged in again you will be able to accept a new Mission from the noticeboard to redeem your item!
Can I get more than one Ubisoft item if I buy more than one box?
No, unfortunately you can only redeem one CD-key per character account. Any characters created on that account can redeem one special item and each will get to choose which one they get.
How do I sign up from the Ubisoft box registration without a Credit Card?
It is absolutely possible to claim your free month's subscription without entering a credit card. Here's what you need to do:
- Follow the instructions in the game client to register a new account.
- After your account has been created, visit the redeem CD-key page to redeem your free month with your CD-key.
- You can then login using your newly subscribed account.
You will receive an email before your free month expires reminding you to sign up with a credit card or to send us alternative payments.
Where should I send billing enquiries?
Please address billing inquiries to the Puzzle Pirates Support form. Please include as much information about your inquiry as possible so we can better assist you. Thanks!
Next: Subscriptions
