Yes - I think adding that final tweak of making the pirates sink your ship adds a lot of urgency to the game, making you want to shoot them down as quickly as possible. It was a great idea (suggested by a beta tester).
Do pirates choose their own targets or take the closest at hand? Like say they're nosing up to close to a fully loaded freighter, can I distract them with a little speed boat?
Technically, yes, you can try something like that, although if you're going that far, you might as well just shoot them. The pirates go towards the closest undocked full boat, and away from any docked boats (docked boats are safe).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1r_KUjRRxM With cat-like tread, Upon our prey we steal; In silence dread, Our cautious way we feel. *hiccup!* No sound at all! We never speak a word; A fly's foot-fall Would be distinctly heard *hiccup!* Come, friends, who plough the sea, Truce to navigation; take another station; Let's vary piracee with a little burglaree! *hiccup!* *hiccup!*
I took a 10 minute game break last night before heading to bed, and earned 51 cargo units. Only 173 lifetime cargo units to unlock Cannon Beach. Woot! At this rate I'll be playing Cannon Beach on Saturday. I'm so looking forward to giving my iPhone programming tutorial at OSCON on Monday so I can take the rest of the week off from writing and teaching and have time to play and code more.
