New Blue Mars Client Update May 18, 2010!

--Jasmine Spearing, Marketing Associate

The new Blue Mars release is an exciting one for everyone, implementing many of the features our members have requested from the beginning. We are one step closer to reaching our full capability as a platform, and fulfilling the potential that our faithful devs and members see for Blue Mars.

So what’s new on Mars?

Voice! It’s finally here, the moment you’ve all been waiting for! Voice chat has landed in Blue Mars! Using Vivox, you can now voice chat with your friends! This first release of voice chat will be a basic one, allowing you to speak to and hear all other Martians within a 10 meter radius. In future releases we will add more customizable features.

Your Microphone is OFF by default. Voice sound is ON by default, so you can hear others speaking. Click the Wrench icon in the Blue Mars Client to change this in your Options menu.

Hot Bodies! Yes it’s true! Devs can now upload custom body shapes, beautiful new skins, and custom eyes. Now you can have a look all your own! Personalize your avatar with a new body shape, facial features, skin textures , teeth, and fingernail polish. Who will You be? An beautiful elf, scary alien, handsome hero or....

Other New Features in the Blue Mars Client:

• Blue Mars can now run full screen.

• No more buyers’ remorse! You now can try on items before you purchase them!

• Camera follow has also been added, so now your camera will be behind you no matter where you go. Click the Wrench icon to turn this feature on in your Options.

• Enhancements to private chat, including the ability to create friend groups, copy and paste, and scalable windows.

• You now have a scrollable friends list! Click an online friend and talk with them in Private!

• Avatar turning has been improved with smoother turning.

New Features for Blue Mars Devs:

• The Blue Mars Marketplace is here! Connect with other devs to rent Block, Shop and Shelf space! http://dev.bluemars.com/land/shopblock/

• Wiki Pages about Marketplace: http://dev.bluemars.com/wiki/index.php/Tutorials#Property

• You can also select a specific company to lease your block or shop to.

• Transfer Dev BLU button - Devs can now transfer BLUs from your Dev account to your own Member account without having to go to the Dev MyPage!

Want more information?

For specific information about the Client update, visit our download page after the release. Share your thoughts about this release on our forum.

For details about the new developer SDK, visit your developer MyPage. For release notes, see the Announcements section of the developer forum.

Thanks for all the feedback, and stay tuned for further updates in the near future! We are working with you to give you the kind of experience you deserve!

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