HomeLAN - First, it’s been over a year since our last Pirates of the Burning Sea interview. How has the game progressed since January 2003?

Russell Williams - Miles and miles. We are now actively playing the game every week, testing real scenarios like pirate raids and merchant convoys. Many of the core systems -- combat, sailing, commerce, missions, chat -- are implemented and getting refined. Art production is rolling along, with quite a few ships modeled by Akella in the game and looking amazing. Our pixel-shaded reflective ocean is gorgeous, and our day/night cycle is going great. We still have some core systems to code, including skills and reputation, but we are over the hump and firing on all cylinders.