Category: Phantasy Star Online 2

Today Sakai talked about the "World" of Phantasy Star Online 2. This is more of a conceptual post but it clears up some things. Here's what I got so far.

 

Phantasy Star Online 2 Setting Concept

PSO2 Concept Images placed on the wall.
More images will be placed on there later on.

We said several times that this time the stage is not set in Ragol. However, in P-Spec we mentioned how there might be some connection to Ragol somewhere in the world. This "space fleet"? What is their purpose for traveling through space. The name of the ship, "Oracle" has a significant meaning. Pay attention to this. What about the "stars", what about these "unknown planets" what could this be? 

In addition, players are not "Hunters" nor "Guardians" nor "Little Wing".  The text in the promo movie said  "The Arks" . (Please keep in mind this Arks is not related to the Arkz from PSO Episode 3)

The existence of this "enemy" that is hostile to players; This adventure that takes place in Infinite space, what awaits us here?

And within the promo movie, new costumes were drawn in PSO's likeness. We aimed at having a new setting  coexisting with some PSO nostalgia. Now certainly there will be character creation. All the characters you saw in the screenshots were made in Character Creation. Because recent online games have you create characters even to the finest detail, we are working hard here too.

And the screenshots, it seems people were shocked when they saw it.  The impression gave off this "airy feeling" or "realistic" quality.  Even though many of our staff members weren't from the PSO era, many of  the visual elements are different from Gurhal. The screenshots were to give off the impression of a new, PSO-like game. We wanted viewers to feel "adventure" and if you saw the promo video and you felt that, then our goal has succeeded.

As a reminder, we have said many times that what you've seen so far is only one part of the whole picture. There's more information to be revealed in the future, and we can't show what that is at the moment until it's ready

PSO2 is on the PC platform, with that you can expect jam packed fun! I think now I can increase all of your expectations! Remember the deadline to submit your alpha test applications is coming up on May 20th, so get those entries in!

[via pspo2iblog]

2ch speculation

オラクル→ラクオル→ラグオル
Oracle > Racol > Ragol
?

Today at Nico Nico, Game no Jikan, Sakai showed off the previous promo movie that you all saw. Except this time, the text was translated into English. I'm not going to speculate anything at the moment but it was very surprising to see. We'll update the previous PSO2 news information to reflect what's said in this translated trailer.

Star Fleet "ORACLE" voyages through infinite universes

New adventures await players at unknown planets

An invading "evil" fills space.

Confronters, "Arks" is their name

Will the universe be saved? Or be invaded?

Only heroes can prevail their future.

• Original Combo System
• Randomly generated fields, always bringing you to unconquered fields.
• Third Person View
• New Jump Action
• Hybrid Customizable Actions
• Dynamic Weather Change System
• Abrupt cut-in events, brings you more surprises
• Infinite Adventures
• Setting out for endless adventures, again.

Read More

Good morning! Phantasy Star Online 2 had a minor website update featuring the screenshots from 4gamer albeit smaller. A small notice states they are development images.

 

With PSO2, Sakai wants you to feel "surprised" and a sense of "discovery"  just like you did when you initially played PSO. As you all know, PSO2 is still for PC, it is a platform they chose for its high flexibility. As for trying to get as many people to play, so far we know this isn't a game where you absolutely need to buy a new PC to play.

"The elements you have seen in Phantasy Star Online 2 so far is just one of the many new pleasures you can experience. I think we may have a chance to talk about more details in an announcement before the alpha test starts. " ~Satoshi Sakai

You still have some time to sign up for the alpha test until May 20th, 2011. Afterwards Sega will announce the winners chosen sometime in mid-June.

I also signed up, so lets hope we all make it!

Notes from Sakai

Sakai posted a blog post about PSO2, it's more conceptual information than actual information, but regardless the game is currently before the alpha stage. Here are some selected notes. ( My Personal Commentary is in this color.)

• These are development images. There still some more time until the alpha test, with many elements not in it (as of yet).  (So if you are thinking, "well they removed this aspect/feature" just be patient until the final version.) There's still more information about PSO2 to be revealed, right now you've only seen just one portion of the entire thing.
• This project was started to allow many people with PCs to readily play this game. There's no need for you to think that you need the latest PC to play because the game's graphics can be adjusted.
• Yes the PC allows for the game to be better graphically, and certainly graphics are important. However, we aren't making this game to show off a tech demo, we want to make a game for everyone to enjoy.
• In addition, I cannot say that I am satisfied with this, it is currently in a stage before the alpha. I want to continue polishing it up in the future.
• PSO2 faces many challenges and one of the challenges is to focus on those who don't play PC games. More challenges will be revealed in the future. (Since people are misinterpreting this, it means to convert those who are unwilling or afraid to play PC games. This has nothing to do with a console version.)

Once the high resolution movie comes out at the official site, he's going to talk more about the "world" of PSo2. So maybe we'll learn more about the Arks, Oracle, and this evil.

[via pspo2iblog]

Higher Quality Movie

View Phantasy Star Online 2 Teaser Movie

 

TPS Style

 

You can see icons more clearly for now.

 

PSO2 has seamless weather!

 

(Dinal) makes a crash landing during an "Interrupt Event."