Game Master Chillaura has finally received confirmation from Sonic Team that Maximum Attack G planned to start on August 1st. The event will run until August 22nd. This will also include level cap 140.

Team finally agreed to release update on Aug. 1 with item delivery . This MAG extension will continue 3 weeks because Aug. 15 is our holiday (SOJ office closes). So MAG extension will end on Aug. 22. Item delivery should include MAG rewards and Sonic birthday statues, we are still getting the final details.

Yes this means that the first MAG rewards will take place during the MAG extension, and the 2nd set of rewards will come after. As I said we don’t have all the details quite yet on how this will work, we will try to the final details overnight and make the official announcement ASAP.

-Chill

Also Coming on August 1st

• Mag Rewards
  • 3 Weeks of Holy Luck
  • Weapon / Armor Synthesis Rate increase 20%
  • Treasure Chest Room Decoration
  • Free Makeovers
  • Clothes 50% Off
• Sonic’s Birthday Presents
  • Knuckles & Amy Statues
• New Items
  • Light Festival Décor
  • New Casino Items

A month has gone by with no new content, including the week for July 25. As stated by the Japanese Xbox360 site, there will be regular maintenance this week again. The site has not made mention of any content updates for August 1st though. According to the GM, August first is still planned for a probable content update. We just don’t know what it will be.

Maximum Attack G Extension Starts August 1st

What Shall Be the Fate of Maximum Attack: G Extension?

Maximum Attack G Extension will start August 1st 2008, Even though previously there has been talks about canceling the extension of MAG altogether. By canceling the event, Sega hopes to get back on track with updates. The community appears to be split on the issue. However the event has finally been announced for August 1st 2008 and will run through August 22nd 2008.

On one side, they find MAG extension as a way to level up alternate characters and new players as well. On the other side, players are already fed up with the constant delays. They want MAG canceled so they can receive their just rewards. However, if the extension is canceled, how will players affected by error 065 be compensated for missing a month of gameplay?

GM Chillaura put it simply..

Seriously there is obviously a division of opinion here, and we will see what we can do to accommodate everyone. Until we say otherwise we are still planning for a MAG extension in July, but are looking into our options for moving past MAG, getting you the earned rewards (or more), and trying to get back on schedule for August and beyond.

-Chillaura

With this post, we are left to ponder what “more” could truly mean. It will be a tough road ahead for SEGA to figure out a plan to appease nearly everyone. It will be even tougher for them to keep active players from canceling their subscriptions all together. What will be SEGA’s next move?

July 23, 2008
Sega’s Next Move?

After a long wait, the possibility of the extension is now August 1st 2008. Although it has been mentioned many times that the extension is very likely to occur, it appears this August 1st is the new date to anticipate it. Chillaura added this to the current state of affairs:

Anyway, we have been waiting for a decision to be made for this week, as there is still a slim chance for an update. Sonic Team has not ruled it out but we can’t make any official announcements until they tell us.

But assuming that does not happen, everything is lined up for an update August 1st with MAG2, level cap increase, seasonal content and other small changes. Not everything we were hoping for but there is more on the way.

-Chill

So we can safely say August 1st will have MAG. If not, you all know what to do!

GM Question & Answer Session

Also we had a brief Question And Answer session due to the authentication server downtime. As we usually have here on this site, here is a brief list of answers to the questions you have asked.

• Knuckles & Amy Statue Dates will be announced soon!
• The upcoming schedule is getting mixed up.
• Servers will be down July 14-16 for the billing server move.
• Sonic Team (Sega of Japan) will have final decision on extension.
• If extension is canceled content may be boosted ahead 2 weeks.
  Also Sega of America will push for everyone to get last 2 prizes.
• MAG’s Badge Exchange Mission will return!

As everyone should know by now. PS2/PC and Xbox360 servers are back up. The Xbox360 demo server however is still down. Game Master, Ruby Eclipse, mentioned that this server will come back online at a later time. The Xbox 360 Demo servers are back up.

Pre-order Phantasy Star Portable now!

Phantasy Star Portable is expected to release in America on March 24, 2009. Phantasy Star Portable is set between Episode 1 and Episode 2, filling in the gaps of what was left off. Phantasy Star Portable adds two new characters into the story, Vivienne and Helga Neumann. Lets now take a look at new information that has been posted on the japanese site.

Story Mode and Multi Mode

Phantasy Star Portable comes in two modes: Story Mode & Multi Mode. In Story Mode you will play an original storyline alongside Vivienne. Whichever actions you take throughout the story will result in different endings. Story Mode will also include famous voice actors for each character and beautiful dramatic movie scenes.

In Multi Mode, you can have up to 4 people in a party. Unfortunately, Phantasy Star Portable will only allow ad-hoc mode, which currently isn’t a very effective choice here in the U.S. However, if you do plan to import this game, please check out X-Link for PSP.

Types

Phantasy Star Portable starts you off with 3 basic “types” or otherwise known as classes. You will be able to choose your type at the character creation screen. The first 3 types are Hunter, Ranger, and Force. After some playthrough, you can then achieve advanced types which are:

• FighMaster: Specializes in Meelee
• GunMaster: Specializes in Guns
• MasterForce: Specializes in Technics
• AcroMaster: Specializes in Speed and One Handed Weapons
• Protranser: Specializes in Traps?

Certain weapons will tend to drop more based on what the leader’s type is.

Missions and Lobbies

The biggest difference compared to the console version is the lobbies. In Phantasy Star Portable, lobbies are now on a map screen. You can just select where to shop and quickly start missions faster than ever before.

Phantasy Star Portable will also provide a special website to download missions. These missions will appear on the mission select screen.

My Room

My Room will not be customizable as it was on the console version. Instead, it will feature a logbook of monsters and items you have collected. It will also include a dictionary and mission history screen.

The dictionary will explain a a brief synopsis of the characters, items, and storylines that exist within the Phantasy Star Universe Saga.

While playing through the game, a “title” can be obtained by acquiring certain conditions. Having a “title” can help boost experience points, rare drop rates, money, and even boost photon art leveling. At the bottom right corner of the screenshot, you will see the percentages of what has been boosted.

Each monster you fight gets added to the monster logbook. It will display how many monsters of each type that you have killed. My Room also includes a weapon logbook of each weapon you have acquired with a picture and description of it.

You can purchase a certain item that will evolve your partner machinery into a different model including this model already featured in Ambition of Illuminus.

 

New Bosses

Bil Degoras

Phantasy Star Portable introduces the new Boss named “Bil Degoras”. This horned beast is found somewhere in the caves of Moatoob. When it strikes the ground, small creatures will arise from the earth to attack!

Helga

You will fight Helga in her SEED form. But what is her special relationship with the SEED?

Vivienne!?

A shocking twist! Vivienne can also be a boss depending on your actions in story mode. Watch out for her SUV attack!

Weapon System

PSUPedia has compiled a list of new weapons that will appear in the game. These weapons are currently exclusive to the portable version. With all the weapons and items included from both Phantasy Star Universe and its expansion pack, this game will have the most items available.

Rare Drops

Rare items now drop to all players in Multi-Mode. If you are hunting for a certain rare weapon, you will not need to worry if someone else gets your item. All party members will get the same item! Also enemies and boxes will only drop weapons and shields, including photon art disks. To make things even easier, you will no longer need to find materials to synthesize weapons.

Weapon Grinding

The grind system allows you to upgrade the strength of a weapon that you have. In portable, you will no longer ever fail a weapon. Instead, the strength and PP that is added to a weapon is now randomized.

[via JP Phantasy Star Portable Site Translation w/banken and Espio Kaos Translations of Shougai PSO]