View source for Black Sails: The Ghost Ship

{{Use American English|date=June 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox video game
| image       = Black Sails.jpg
| developer   = [[Deck13|Deck 13 Interactive]]
| publisher   = [[Astragon|Astragon Software]]
| engine      =
| series      =
| platforms   = [[Microsoft Windows]]
| released    = {{ubl|{{Video game release|EU|Apr 22, 2010|}}}}
| genre       = [[Adventure game|Adventure]]
| director    =
| producer    =
| designer    =
| programmer  =
| artist      =
| composer    =
}}
'''''Black Sails: The Ghost Ship''''' is an [[adventure game]] developed by [[Deck13|Deck 13 Interactive]] and originally published by [[Astragon|Astragon Software]] on April 22, 2010 for [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]].
== Plot and gameplay ==
In the year 1884, the player is an investigator trying to solve a mystery. When her ship capsizes, she and another survivor are rescued by a strange abandoned ship.
The game uses the game engine as that used for ''[[Ankh (video game)|Ankh]]'' and ''[[Jack Keane (video game)|Jack Keane]]''.
== Development ==
The game was released internationally onto Steam in September 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamewatcher.com/news/2015-10-09-deck-13-will-release-creepy-point-and-click-adventure-black-sails-the-ghost-ship-internationally-this-month|title=Deck 13 will release creepy point-and-click adventure Black Sails: ... {{!}} GameWatcher|website=www.gamewatcher.com|language=en|access-date=2019-04-15|archive-date=15 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415001953/https://www.gamewatcher.com/news/2015-10-09-deck-13-will-release-creepy-point-and-click-adventure-black-sails-the-ghost-ship-internationally-this-month|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://games.tiscali.cz/datum-vydani/po-uspechu-v-nemecku-k-nam-miri-adventura-black-sails-the-ghost-ship-266302|title=Po úspěchu v Německu k nám míří adventura Black Sails - The Ghost Ship|last=Tiscali|website=Games.cz|language=cs|access-date=2019-04-15|archive-date=15 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415001958/https://games.tiscali.cz/datum-vydani/po-uspechu-v-nemecku-k-nam-miri-adventura-black-sails-the-ghost-ship-266302|url-status=live}}</ref> Jan Klose, creative director for Deck 13 revealed that due to the newfound popularity of adventure games, they felt it was the right time to bring ''Black Sails: The Ghost Ship'' to a North American audience.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/253231/Popular_Horror_Adventure_Black_SailsThe_Ghost_Ship_Embarks%0Afor_North_America.php|title=Popular Horror Adventure Black Sails-The Ghost Ship Embarks for North America|website=www.gamasutra.com|language=en|access-date=2019-04-15|archive-date=15 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415001954/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/253231/Popular_Horror_Adventure_Black_SailsThe_Ghost_Ship_Embarks%250Afor_North_America.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Critical reception ==
{{Video game reviews
| AdvGamers = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="AdvGamers">{{cite web |last=Ehrenhofler |first=Courtney |date=October 9, 2015 |url=https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/29395 |title=Review for Black Sails: The Ghost Ship |publisher=[[Adventure Gamers]] |accessdate=May 22, 2022 |archive-date=15 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415001950/https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/29395 |url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
4Players deemed it a "truly interactive thriller".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/PC-CDROM/Test/18753/68128/0/Black_Sails_-_Das_Geisterschiff.html|title=Test (Wertung) zu Black Sails - Das Geisterschiff (Adventure) - 4Players.de|website=4Players|date=30 April 2010 |language=de|access-date=2019-04-14|archive-date=15 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415001953/https://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/PC-CDROM/Test/18753/68128/0/Black_Sails_-_Das_Geisterschiff.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Adventure Treff praised the title for not artificially extending its run-time with unnecessary sidequests.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.adventure-treff.de/test/11377-black-sails---das-geisterschiff7|title=Black Sails - Das Geisterschiff|last=Stein|first=Michael|website=Adventure-Treff|language=de-de|access-date=2019-04-14}}{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> ComputerBild praised the game<nowiki>''</nowiki>s three alternate endings that allowed the player to have agency.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.computerbild.de/artikel/cbs-Tests-PC-Black-Sails-Das-Geisterschiff-5254357.html|title=Black Sails – Das Geisterschiff|website=computerbild.de|date=31 May 2010|language=DE|access-date=2019-04-15|archive-date=15 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415012004/https://www.computerbild.de/artikel/cbs-Tests-PC-Black-Sails-Das-Geisterschiff-5254357.html|url-status=live}}</ref> AdventureGamers felt the voice acting was just passable.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/29395|title=Black Sails: The Ghost Ship review|website=Adventure Gamers|date=9 October 2015|language=en|access-date=2019-04-15|archive-date=15 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415001950/https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/29395|url-status=live}}</ref> Gamestar praised the subtle use of soundscape to create a sense of tension and drama.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/black-sails-das-geisterschiff-grusel-adventure-von-deck-13,2314162.html|title=Black Sails: Das Geisterschiff im Test - Grusel-Adventure von Deck 13 - GameStar|date=2010-04-22|website=www.gamestar.de|language=de|access-date=2019-04-15|archive-date=15 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415001952/https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/black-sails-das-geisterschiff-grusel-adventure-von-deck-13,2314162.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Die Hard Game Fan thought he game was let down by its poor plot, presentation, and mechanics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://diehardgamefan.com/2015/10/02/review-black-sails-pc/|title=Review: Black Sails (PC) {{!}} Diehard GameFAN 2018|date=2 October 2015 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-15|archive-date=15 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415001956/http://diehardgamefan.com/2015/10/02/review-black-sails-pc/|url-status=live}}</ref> Spieltipps felt that lovers of Deck 13's [[Ankh (video game)|''Ankh'']] would be disappointed by this title.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spieletipps.de/artikel/2660/1/|title=Black Sails: Deck 13 säuft ab|date=2010-05-23|website=spieletipps.de|language=de|access-date=2019-04-15|archive-date=15 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415001955/https://www.spieletipps.de/artikel/2660/1/|url-status=live}}</ref> Pressa2Join thought the game had a good story, well told.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressa2join.com/pc-news/black-sails-the-ghost-ship-review|title=Black Sails - The Ghost Ship Review|last=Smith|first=Rebecca|date=2015-09-26|website=PressA2Join|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415003458/https://www.pressa2join.com/pc-news/black-sails-the-ghost-ship-review|archive-date=15 April 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> CommonSenseMedia noted the game may not be suitable to children due to a moment of implied rape or sexual assault toward a young girl.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/black-sails-the-ghost-ship|title=Black Sails: The Ghost Ship - Game Review|date=2015-09-17|website=www.commonsensemedia.org|language=en|access-date=2019-04-15|archive-date=15 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415001954/https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/black-sails-the-ghost-ship|url-status=live}}</ref> Tiscali felt that the game's classic-ness meant it also added nothing new to the genre.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://games.tiscali.cz/black-sails-the-ghost-ship-17426/ctenarske-recenze/black-sails-recenze-751/|title=Detail čtenářské recenze Black Sails - recenze|last=Tiscali|website=Games.cz|language=cs|access-date=2019-04-15|archive-date=15 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415001951/https://games.tiscali.cz/black-sails-the-ghost-ship-17426/ctenarske-recenze/black-sails-recenze-751/|url-status=live}}</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101008210453/http://www.blacksails-game.de/uploads/media/PM_Black_Sails_Pressestimmen.pdf Press release]
* [https://www.demonews.de/games/spieletests/black-sails-das-geisterschiff-aufs-deck-mein-freund/ DemonNews review]
* [https://www.deck13.com/games/black-sails/ Modern home page]
* [http://www.gamezone.de/Black-Sails-Das-Geisterschiff-Spiel-19031/News/Black-Sails-Grusel-Adventure-von-Deck-13-954502/ Gamezone.de press]
[[Category:2010 video games]]
[[Category:Adventure games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Germany]]
[[Category:Video games set in the 19th century]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Windows-only games]]
[[Category:Astragon games]]