http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31 ... the-highli

Quite a well-done and well-researched retrospective article. I'm happy to share this- I think it's a story of a game that was made by a couple Diablo-heads that really changed a lot for consoles back in the day. They felt netplay was the way of the future.

The newer game, PSO2(Phantasy Star Universe never happened in my mind), is also excellent and holds to the old PSO standards. Japan-only Alpha right now, but crazy good. So good I got in trouble for posting that junk, but I don't even care since the workaround was so simple.



Yeah, I suck at playing Rangers(gun-users). But ah well!

The Alpha is surprisingly easily to understand, with a basic knowledge of Japanese. That means knowing your hiragana and katakana, but I know a quite a few people here know that and quite a lot more. I'm limited in my Kanji especially, so I speak from the whole mid-level view that it's doable. I say this especially since if the game doesn't get worldwide servers(think FFXI), then I'll probably be playing the Japanese version. Sega tends to half-ass it anymore with US releases of their games(aside from Sonic). I can definitely see the US servers closing much quicker than the JP ones. Then there's the fact that the JP version takes US credit cards, and doesn't block any IPs(as evidenced in alpha even).

I highly encourage you all to try the open beta when it hits, if you like this sort of game. It's in alpha now, closed beta should be here by spring... and then open beta, I imagine, will be in summer.

PSO! I loved that game!
Really, it was my first online gaming experience and one that I cherish fondly. Now that I have a more decent pc, there is no way that I'll pass PSO2 up. I just can't.

I actually was never a good Ranger either. I usually went for FOmarl/HUnewarl (or anything that allowed me to go both melee and tech-ranged like FOmar later) Can't wait for this one!

I think this is almost the beginnings of a Mag PSO crew. I'm almost definitely buying into this.

Awesome!

The Alpha concluded this morning at 9 AM. I fell asleep early and slept in a bit(haven't been feeling good asthma-wise the past couple days, some pleuritic pain and all that. Apparently, the PSO forum I go to had a "end of alpha" dance party, and here's that:



It's looking like from even the Alpha(mags aren't even back in yet, but are confirmed), and a total of 7 missions available within 2 areas... even with that people were on so much. I ended up getting 3 level 20s(max level for alpha), and one level 18 for kicks. They encourage grouping by giving a ridiculous exp boost while you have more people killing things, called PSE. As a result, you always level faster in groups rather than alone. And everyone gets their own drops, so no drama there. People can hunt their uber rares and compare finds, while keeping the idea of an economy solid by making certain items pretty rare no matter what. There's player shops and the like, and it seems money will actually be valuable since people will need to buy grinders and mag feeding stuff.

Though, especially since shops and community are dependent on not having expoliters and script kiddies, I still think I'll be playing the JP version through the life of the game sadly, if the servers aren't unified like the original PSO. There's also the fact that no matter how good this is, it isn't going to drag typical everyday Americans from WoW or KoTOR. Which is sad, but their loss in my opinion. A couple of my friends left from college, for example, have never really heard of PSO and just follow whatever is the most hyped and popular WoW-clone at any given time. Heck, I'm excited for Guild Wars 2, but the constant pressuring to join KoTOR(I won't even start on a Bioware rant in general), is just frustrating. So it's nice to know people that are legit excited about a PSO game. Lost my train of thought, but, my point was that for elements of this game to shine it'll need good moderatorship, and a community that is thriving. I am definitely thinking that because of those two things... Sega of America isn't going to have the resources to keep the game healthy. It's frustrating, though, because a lot of people are down on learning a miniscule amount to play this game in the JP version, and will stay on the US version and get jaded even more.

I put up with Sega of America's antics through PSO BB and PSU. Script kiddies abound, bad hacks, lack of content updates(PSU on the 360 here is now two years behind the Japanese version of PSU in updates, and has forced a lot of the English community to go play PSU PC JP since at least their PC game is still up), and yeah. I even tried to come back to PSU a smaller while back, and found that the game had been closed for good after not even 5 years on the PC/PS2. NEVER having that happen again.

It's pretty easy apparently, since a lot of the community is playing PSU's JP version on PC. You just have to have a credit card(same for the US one anyways), and then sign up and download the client.

HUGE news!!!

Today, it was found that PSO2 will be coming to Playstation Vita and PC as its platforms. From what I can gather, the two versions WILL be able to interact with one another.

We may not get Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity officially, but I believe Vita is region free. This means being able to have PSO2 on the go.

http://www.4gamer.net/games/120/G012075/20120309079/

Here's the official what is known:

"Here is what we know so far:

* The game is less than 10% complete. It is scheduled for release in 2013.
* It will use the same servers and character data as the PC version.
* Gameplay will be online only.
* It is possible that cross-platform parties between PC and Vita clients will be allowed.

This is briefly shown in the video."

YES! Hopefully, there will be a way to transfer your character between platforms as well.

The current thing on the table for them is that will be possible. You keep the same character/items across platforms. I think it'd be back and forth, capitalizing on the whole portable market in Japan.

I think I'll end up getting both. XD
I probably have until 2014 to get Vita.

The character creator is online!(It has been for a while, but hey, better late than never.)

http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/psa-p ... /#comments

The source link in that article has the direct download, and is convenient for that. I'm happy they put this out- a great art reference tool as well as avatar source.

http://www.destructoid.com/phantasy-star-online-2-s-free-to-play-currencies-revealed-225785.phtml



Sounds like they are going at it in a way similar to DC Universe Online's current system. I'm for this.

(also, could the topic title be changed to something more generic, like "PSO2" )

It is cool, but their idea of microtransactions thus far are kinda "what". Like having to pay to use whispers and stuff.

Though, I was hoping they'd do this sort of thing for clothes and all that kinda stuff. I never played PSU JP, so I have no idea of what to expect. I do know that they should take US credit cards, though.

Closed Beta apparently started! On the 19th. *smacks forehead*

I'm DLing the client now, it runs through the 28th. Though on the 27, GW2 CBT starts. TOO MANY GAMES.

ALSO. I have 3 invites for PSO2's closed beta as a part of their program. If you want in, give me an email via pm... it only lasts until April 28 moon time.

I doubt more than 3 people would be interested, but yeah.

You need a working knowledge of Japanese, very basic, to most likely register an account. Even less so with Google Chrome since it has a nice auto-translate feature for the Sega JP site. There's also a WIP-sorta English patch with basics translated. Use at your own risk, I haven't tried it, they may ban for it. Dunno.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/606336-p ... 2/62584537

I don't know how I feel about the beta. Seems like they're taking a lot of steps backwards, making a "matter board" required, a series of mini-quests in like, a sphere grid to unlock further general story. One of the "matters" is grinding for a gun drop. Meh. Seems like PSU garbage. The maps also feel a lot more closed in beta-wise. Alpha felt a lot more free. Yay mags though? Just don't know.

I would have loved an invite, but there's Mag work to be done. Keep playing and let me know how the beta turns out.

Fair enough! They extended the CBT to April 30th, JST... I think it's JST.

I probably won't play much more since I actually hit level 12(you get an item for reaching level 10 in the Closed Beta, a room decoration I believe).

The more exciting news is that Sakai has said that the open beta is coming "soon"(will probably get dates announced a short time after the closed beta ends), and open beta is going to roll right into the actual release of the game. AND, apparently- I believe it has been said you can keep your open beta characters. If that turns out to not be true, I'm sure they'll have some other kind of headstart thing.

Thus far, I am impressed. The Matter Board is more intricate than it seems- there's different objectives to pick and do. You don't really got the full gist of that until level 10, though. Also at level 10- you get your mag. I think that's something I'll do if I have some time still during closed beta. You get a client request(someone on the ship besides the quest woman) who gives a mission in which you need to find a Rockbear(boss) horn. Once you get it, you get awarded a mag. Of course, right now in the cash shop you can buy "extra" mags, so perhaps you can get your first one there as well. I'm unsure if the client order unlocks the ability to have one or what, but I bet it's something like that.

It's already been mentioned that the game is F2P. This is quite possibly the best idea Sega has ever had with the property- subscription-based games are stagnating everywhere. You can still pay the fee and get a good deal if you wanted a ton of cash items anyways, but they've made things pretty reasonable. One of the most popular items I'd wager will be bought are the exp boosting cards. There's also raffle tickets in which you can win unique costumes, and if you get all of them on a checklist for the scratchcards, you get a prize. The prize in this beta round is a Rappy character costume. You can also buy tickets for some "my room" functions, and also for the makeover shop which gives you just about full customization of your character again, in-case you ended up not liking how they came out. I forsee a lot of people being able to just play strictly F2P without much impediment at all, but for the diehard fans they will still have premium to get numerous services- and a la carte Ark's Cash items for those in-between.