The  Maximum Attack リトルウィング Cup is officially up. I had the chance to play with a few Japanese players who spoke some english. A very interesting feature about this event is how it’s tied into the Internet servers. Every monster you kill, gets added to a total kill count. This kill count actually unlocks new routes where you can obtain better special tickets to receive items. Also another Fun Fan was posted today, it will appear on youtube at a later time.

Maximum Attack Update

Several new items highlighted in orange can be seen below. You can recieve your Madoog by playing the exchange mission in story mode. Instructions at the bottom of this post. If we reach 10 million kill count EVERYONE gets a free extend code.

Maximum Attack Outline

To play Maximum Attack Little Wing Cup you must either download the missions from Sega or connect to Internet Multimode. Please note, only Internet Multimode counts towards the total kill count. While online, select Extra Mission (エクストラミッション) > Clad 6 (クラッド６)  > Famitsu Maximum Attack  (ファミ通マキシマムアタック)

At the start of the mission, you will arrive in  Seabed Plant. You may optionally speak to Tonio or Liina. Liina will inform you that you can exchange tickets in Story Mode. You will then head to a blue gate and click on a switch to select a route.

The party leader can select a route here!

Within the Mission you can obtain Special Tickets スペシャルチケット; C, B, A, S and  EX. Based on which route you chose, you will receive different Special Tickets as an S rank reward. There is also a small chance you may receive Photon Boosters and Photon Codes.

Routes

Various Routes are unlocked based on the total number kill counts.

• Route 1: Ancient Forest (古代果樹林)
• Route 2: Forgotten Sand City (忘却砂岩都市)
• Route 3: Evil Front (悪意ある戦地)
• Route 4: Frozen Road (凍てつく世道)
• Route 5: The Great Water Source (偉大なる水源 ) 

Mission Rewards

For now, mission end result grades depend on the amount of enemies you kill. Killing all 40 enemies nets you a S rank Grade. Items marked by the word (Chance) indicate you may randomly receive this item. This information may change at any point.

^^ Information is updated based on both Japanese Wikis

Exchange Tickets with Liina

You can exchange Special Tickets スペシャルチケット with Liina to receive items. Once the total kill count is 1,500,000, the exchange mission will be updated with more items. This exchange mission is listed under Story Mode.

Select: Exchange Mission (交換ミッション) > Maximum Attack Clearing House (マキシマムアタック交換所) to start the mission.

Weapons may ask you to choose an element before purchase.

火 = Fire    氷 = Ice 
雷 = Thunder  土 = Ground
 光 = Light   闇 = Dark

[via malw]

*Exchange Mission will update with new items after the next maintenance.

“Resonance of Fate” or “End of Eternity” depending on where you live, will have two free download content items for Phantasy Star Portable 2. You can download these items only in the Japanese Playstation Store. Resonance of Fate is an upcoming game from Sega that is a ATB turn based RPG, expected to release in the US on March 9th, 2010. Now you can dress up like Leanne (Reanbell: JP) and use her signature weapon.

Viju Skyline
(Female Clothes and Parts)
Free of Charge: 2/3/2010

B-84
(Single Handgun)
Free of Charge:  2/3/2010

Blog Updates

• The number of players simutaneously logged on during the MALW CUP is almost the same amount of  players during the release of PSP2.

If you are keeping track of the Maximum Attack Little Wing Cup, please refer to the previous post for information when it is available.

Read the rest of this entry »

What’s this? An event in a portable game? Strange…

Maximum Attack Little Wing Cup

Alright! Our first event! Maximum Attack Little Wing Cup, is an event anyone can participate in. It takes place within Internet Multimode where all players will contribute to a score based on the total amount of enemies defeated. Within the event,  players will be able to see brand new routes and items.

The ancient power of the Karsh clan was lost due as it was overrun by monsters in Moatoob. To investigate the secrets of the Karsh clan, we will be collecting research data as you defeat monsters in a simulation program. I encourage all Little Wing employees to collect this data and bring it to me! Of course, you will be rewarded handsomely based on the total amount of monsters defeated. ~Ursula

The details of the mission are not yet available but expect new items, an exchange mission to trade tickets, and a brand new enemy!?

[vi malwc]

This event mission can be played in Internet Multimode and Multimode. Be advised that playing in Multimode does not contribute to the total amount of monsters killed. The mission will also introduce a brand new boss Dol Vabeil.

[via pspo2blog]

Phantasy Star Universe Japan

Egg Blaster from Eggman
A Sonic The Hedgehog Collab!

• Supplemental Update: Unknown Date
• PSU Japan will receive another Supplemental Update.
  
• This update includes brand new hairstyles, items, and clothing.
• PSU Japan will also inherit the Titles system like PSPortable.
• This week’s Update: January 28th, 2010
  
• New weapons include the Egg Blaster and Ignis
• Rebalancing of 13 Photon Arts  will take place, for example:
  • Splender Crush: Power increase in 2nd combo
  • Assault Crush: Power increase in 2nd + 3rd combo
  • Cross Hurricane: Power Increase

[via psujp 4gamer]

*anyone refers to those who purchased the game with official firmware outside of Japan. They can participate, unlike Little Wing Grand Prix which you’d have to travel to Japan to play.

So for today’s shocking, but everyone saw it coming  announcement, Phantasy Star Universe will be closing down it’s PC/PS2 servers. Due to low population, SEGA has decided to shift focus to the XBOX servers. The XBOX servers although dwindling in players, still has quite a grip on it’s population.  It’s expected that the XBOX servers will continue to receive updates including the AOTI+ Supplemental Update. Though the announcement did not specifically say this. Edward posted a message on the official site, quote:

Please note that after January 29th 2010, no new PSU subscriptions will be available for purchase for PC/PS2. Those who are subscribed as of that time will be able to play, for free, until service closure.

The schedule is as follows:

• January 29th 2010: MAG+ event begins for PC/PS2 and Xbox 360 servers.

• January 29th 2010: No new PC/PS2 PSU subscriptions will be available for purchase.

• January 29th 2010: Free play for PC/PS2 PSU begins. No more billing cycles will take place on or after this date.

• March 31st 2010: PC/PS2 servers / service closure, the PlayStation2 and PC versions of Phantasy Star Universe online play will not be available after this date, however, please continue to enjoy the Single Player version of the game.

For those who play the Xbox 360 version of Phantasy Star Universe: SEGA will continue to support, in full & with regular updates, this version of Phantasy Star Universe. This includes bringing currently unreleased and anticipated content to the XBox 360 servers. We will be able to provide more details on future Xbox 360 PSU content over the coming weeks and months.

Son in essence PSU Pc/Ps2 servers will be free for January 29th to March 31st, which I guess will allow everyone to say their goodbyes before they leave. What’s interesting to note is what Edward says next..

While we are sad to see the PC/PS2 version of Phantasy Star Universe end, the year 2010 is the 10th anniversary of Phantasy Star Online — and this server / service closure is helping to pave the way for bigger and better things for the Phantasy Star franchise in the very near future!

Sakai also shared a somewhat similar statement during his New Year’s message. We should continue to see things from the Phantasy Star Series in 2010, considering it’s the 10th anniversary of Phantasy Star Online. Does this mean a new flagship title Phantasy Star will be announced?  Does this mean PSPo2 will soon get an announcement for the English release?  We’ll just have to wait and see.

[via psu]

Where do we go from here?

There aren’t many games out there like Phantasy Star Online. Fortunately, the market for non-targeting, action RPG systems are slowly rising out of Korea and China.

For now most MMOs focus less on action and more on strategic gameplay. This is where a player clicks on an enemy and engages in auto combat. The player may press a sequence of buttons to use various skills. In these MMOs you never see characters roll out of the way, strafe behind the enemy, shoot and run away from a distance. You are pretty much “attached” to an enemy during the entire combat.

Whatever Sega plans to do with the Phantasy Star series, we do at least have some hope for other games that follow in it’s footsteps. Here are a few games coming soon for the PC that provide an action oriented, non targetting system.

• Continent of the 9th
  • Offers a more graphically realistic approach to PSU.
  • Follows in PSU’s footsteps with instanced like gameplay.
  • Battle animation tends to be flashy and mimics PSU’s style.
  • Limited Character races.
• TERA Online
  • Beautiful graphics, serene visuals, open world gameplay.
  • Players aim their attacks at enemies.
  • Character Classes/Races similar to PSU.
• Dragon Nest
  • Instanced gameplay.
  • Gameplay feels ripped out of PSZero

Of course if you are on the handheld market, you can still play Phantasy Star Zero and look forward to Phantasy Star Portable 2, if and when it does come out.

What will Sakai do next?

Shougai PSO posted a quote from Dengeki Magazine regarding an interview about PSO10th Anniversary. In it he says, given that last year’s Phantasy Star Portable 2, is seen as the compilation of the series.  The next new thing he wants to do is something incredibly challenging that is “a giant leap“, [possibly something extremely different than what we'd expect /something that upgrades the series?] however, he still wants to please the traditional fans.

[via shougai]

Reactions

Ana has blogged her reactions on the current news, also speculates there might be some new Phantasy Star game in development. Kotaku comments section (view the unpromoted comments) has more reactions.  Other player reactions will be posted here.

The cute and green Ocha-ken toys are now in Phantasy Star Portable 2. Head to your vision phone to enter these passwords! Select the fourth option to input these passwords into the system. You can get your very own fashionable TCSM to go along with your Force. 

Ocha-ken Doog: TCSM
お茶犬ドゥーグ
3485 0502

Ocha-ken Doll: Room Item
お茶犬ヌイミ
7545 4663

Shincha-ken Doll: Room Item
新茶犬ヌイミ
4864 1356

Pa, Panda! Table
パ、パンだ！テーブル
3453 2321