Fallout Online Development Agreement Finalized

Interplay sent out a press release late yesterday announcing that their agreement with Masthead Studios is now finalized and that development of Fallout Online is moving forward at a pretty good pace.  Assuming Bethesda's lawsuit doesn't throw a wrench into things, anyway: 

INTERPLAY AND MASTHEAD STUDIOS FINALIZE AGREEMENT TO DEVELOP MASSIVELY MULTIPLAYER ONLINE GAME

LOS ANGELES, CA, January 21, 2010 Interplay Entertainment Corp. (OTC BB:IPLY) announced today that the Company has signed definitive agreements with Masthead Studios concerning the development of Interplay's post-apocalyptic Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG), code named (Project: V13.)

Project: V13 has been under development at Interplay since November 2007 by some of the original Fallout® creators. Masthead joined the project in early 2009 and development continues under Interplay's direction and control. Project: V13 will utilize the proprietary tools and MMOG technology Masthead developed for its (Earthrise) project.

Commenting on the announcement, Interplay Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Herve Caen said, (Masthead's technology is impressive and perfect for our Project: V13. Its team is passionate to bring our vision and game play to the market. This MMOG will have many unique features that we will disclose before launch of the public Beta in 2012.)

Masthead Studios President Atanas Atanasov said, (Project: V13 incorporates many creative and technological innovations. We believe it will be a unique experience. Our technology will continue to evolve in order to realize all the extraordinary content and features Interplay has designed.)

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

About Interplay
Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Southern California, Interplay Entertainment Corp. develops, publishes and licenses video game software. The company has produced and licensed titles for many of the most popular interactive entertainment software platforms in the action/arcade, adventure/RPG and strategy/puzzle categories. Its portfolio of well-recognized Intellectual Properties includes Battlechess, Clayfighter, Dark Alliance, Descent, Earthworm Jim, Freespace, Giants, Messiah, MDK, Run Like Hell, Sacrifice. Interplay is also the original creator of the post-apocalyptic games Fallout®, Fallout® 2, Fallout® Tactics and Brotherhood of Steel video games. For more information, please visit www.interplay.com

About Masthead Studios
Masthead Studios is a growing game development company focused on MMORPG games, founded in 2005 in Bulgaria. Masthead has access to abundant local and international talent, and is employing some of the best programmers and graphic artists in Europe. In addition to its work on Project: V13, the company is currently developing Earthrise, a next-generation post-apocalyptic MMORPG, using its proprietary game engine and platform.