Top Project (Nov 05 Semester) – Diploma in Internet Computing

Developed by Song Weizong and Joycelin Poh from the Diploma in Internet Computing, Black Sail is a fun strategy game set in the Straits of Malacca. The player is able to choose the character of Captain, Hunter or Merchant to represent him in the game. Each character comes with a special set of abilities and privileges.

With more young people playing games on their mobile devices, the team wanted to create a Flash-based adventure game suitable for both PCs as well as mobile devices that would have high entertainment as well as educational value. They wanted to create a game that not only parents and teachers would approve of, but even encourage the young ones to play!

To this end, they came up with three exciting playing modes:

• Quest mode-In this mode, the player will be given a task to fulfill. The task sets the player off on an adventure, and the story provides a context for exciting game-playing.
• Battle mode-In this mode, the player has to fight off and defeat pirates who are ready to pounce on him. Tactical planning and strategy are needed as the player needs to manoeuvre his ships close enough to the pirates’ vessels in order to sink them and not be sunk in the process!
• Trading mode-In this mode, the player needs to exercise his business acumen in order to reap the most profits. The player has to conduct a comparative pricing of goods in various towns in order to maximise profits when trading the goods. In addition, the player is able to compare the interest rates offered by the banks in the different towns. To simulate real-life situations, the prices of the goods are dynamic and made to vary.

With Black Sail, the team hopes that young people can have fun while playing games on their mobile devices, and at the same time, develop their critical thinking skills!