We had the opportunity to ask the guys and gals over at LEGO a few questions about their LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean Video Game. Here is what they had to say!

1. What are the differences between formats? PS3, Wii, DS, etc

All versions of the game share the same basic design principles and level concepts – but we obviously
have different opportunities to take advantage of the particular capabilities of each platform. We use
the touch screens on the DS and 3DS to give you an easy way to switch characters, and to add some fun
new gameplay mechanics like taking control of parrots, lighting explosives and using mystic powers.
We’re proud of the 3D effect we’ve been able to achieve on 3DS, which we think adds a new level of
immersion in the game; and the Street Pass pirate battles are a great new extra unique to that device.
The Wii version looks great, but on 360 and PS3, we’re able to take the graphics to an even higher level
of quality in HD.

2. How were you able to fit all of the movies in one game?

Working in the world of LEGO gives us a special kind of freedom to re-tell stories in our own way. By
restricting ourselves to action rather than dialogue, condensing scenes, and dropping certain peripheral
elements entirely, we can distill the essential elements of a movie into a handful of key action scenes,
linked by fast-moving, fun cutscenes. There was a great deal of brilliant material to work with across the
full set of four Pirates of the Caribbean movies – but thanks to LEGO, we managed it!

3. Did you get to meet some of the cast from the movies?

It was a great privilege to show the game in person to the awesome Ian McShane in New York. And in
London, Sam Claflin and Astrid Berges-Frisbey, who play Philip and Syrena, were knocked out to see
LEGO versions of themselves!

4. How many characters can you play in the game?

There are 70 characters in the game plus 2 slots for custom characters.

5. Will there be any online play?

We’ve focused on the local co-op experience – making sure that two players in the same room together can have fun and play together.

Q&A with Jonathan Smith, Head of Production at TT Games

More about the game:

Disney Interactive Studios and TT Games are bringing the popular Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise home with LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game. Based on the popular Disney theme park attraction and film franchise, consumers can now take on the role of their favorite characters including Captain Jack Sparrow, Captain Barbossa, Davy Jones and many more. The game sets sail on May 10, 2011 across Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, 3DS and PC, just days before the release of the new Walt Disney Pictures movie “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger’s Tides”.

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