Whether you're a current Pirates of the Burning Sea player or someone who's considered trying out the game, we have some exciting information to share with you. We got the chance to speak with Associate Producer Janice Vonitter and Game Designer Greg Hanefeld at the Penny Arcade Expo and they gave us all sorts of details on "Power and Prestige," the upcoming free expansion that should be released in 2010. Keep an eye out for the full interview on ZAM.com tomorrow, but until then here's a sneak peek at some of the features the expansion will add to the game.

According to Vonitter, the expansion is "centered on influence and control over the Caribbean, and parts in it." Players will be able to run to be a governor of a port and be elected to the position if they garner enough support. Governors will actually be able to affect the performance of a port; for example, they can adjust the tax rates for each nation or adjust the port defenses. Stay tuned for our interview to find out many more details on the governor system, including how players will be able to kick a governor out of office.

As for some of the other features of the expansion, the level cap will remain the same. New faction rewards and content will be added and players will be able to specialize in the brawler skill line. "Power and Prestige" will be given free to anyone with a subscription, so new players will be able to jump right in. Read our interview tomorrow for more details!