Earthrise is approaching its third month of operation and developer Masthead Studios has released a new development roadmap that details the planned content and improvements for the game. Included in the release are plans to implement a resurrection mechanic, quest hints on the minimap, shared battle points between party members, item and vehicle customization and guild diplomacy, which will allow guilds to ally or declare war on each other. The release also details a number of improvements to current features and you can check them all out after the break.

Masthead Studios Releases Further Development Plans for Earthrise

Advanced gameplay features and enhanced mechanics coming in April and May

SOFIA, BULGARIA – March 31, 2011 - Masthead Studios, a leading independent developer of MMOs, today released its expanded development roadmap detailing upgrades and enhancements that will soon be implemented within its MMORPG, Earthrise.

New features for integration in April and May of 2011 include:

• Resurrection mechanics – The first feature chosen in February by the Earthrise community as part of the “Choose your game feature” official forum.
• Quest hints on the minimap – Players will have a clear indicator on the minimap as to where they need to go to work on their quest task.
• Parties will share battle points, levels of contribution and karma from a killed enemy.
• Item and vehicle painting – Crafters will be able to produce paint and sell/give it to other players so they can personalize their armor, weapons and vehicles.
• Guild diplomacy – Guilds will be able to declare war on other guilds and build allies. Guilds at war with each other will be flagged red and the affiliation of their members will not change if they kill each other. Guilds that are allies with other guilds will be considered one entity and all mechanics will work as if they were one guild.

Additional enhancements include:

• Improved chat window with customizable tabs, font and messages.
• Friends/ignore list.
• Improvements to the monster AI.
• Force attack toggle on and off.
• Resurrection points will have an affiliation.
• Inverse kinematics of the main characters.
• Improved shadows.
• Continued client and server performance improvements.

“We are very excited about the new items that we are currently finalizing, and appreciate all of the constructive feedback that we consistently receive from our dedicated community,” said Atanas Atanasov, producer of Earthrise and director of Masthead Studios. “We will continue to seek player input to conduct future developments and could not be more energized about the future of Earthrise.”

Earthrise is available for digital purchase at www.play-earthrise.com and through select distribution partners, including Direct2Drive. A box version is available exclusively in Europe via Iceberg Interactive.

Earthrise is a post-apocalyptic, sci-fi MMORPG set in the distant future. Featuring a unique skill-based advancement system and player-driven economy, as well as extensive, meaningful player-vs.-player combat, Earthrise gives players countless options to forge their destiny through its sandbox-style game mechanics. Whether a noble soldier in the raging conflict between the Continoma and the Noir, a criminal hiding from the law, or a world-renowned engineer whose power extends into intricate trade and politics, players’ actions will echo throughout the game world. Visit www.play-earthrise.com to learn more.

About Masthead Studios

Masthead Studios is an independent game development studio focusing on innovative, next-generation MMORPGs. The company is currently developing Earthrise, a next-generation post-apocalyptic, sci-fi MMORPG, integrating its own proprietary engine technology that is specifically designed to handle dynamic, persistent online worlds while providing top-notch graphics and realistic physics. Masthead Studios is located in the emerging technology hub of Sofia, Bulgaria, enabling the studio to leverage local and international talent. For more information please visit  www.mastheadstudios.com.