To commemorate the launch of the Vita version, players can participate in 3 Huge Campaigns!
New Registration Campaign
Everyone that registers a new account during the campaign period will receive a Rappy Mini Doll room item.
Campaign Period
February 27th @ 11:00 JST through March 20th, 11:00 JST
Prize Conditions
All you have to do is register a new SEGA ID account, and register for Phantasy Star Online 2.
Distribution Date
Mid April
Level Up Campaign
During the campaign period, if you have a character level 10 or higher, you'll receive a present. In addition, if you have a character level 20 or higher, you'll receive another present.
Campaign Period
February 27th @ 11:00 JST through March 20th, 11:00 JST
Prize Conditions
Characters level 10 or higher
Two (EXP+50%)
Characters level 20 or higher
Two (EXP+50%) + Two (Rare Drop Boost + 50%)
Item Distribution Date
Mid April
You will also qualify if you've leveled up before the campaign started, however, you must login during the campaign period to qualify.
Buy AC Campaign
During the Campaign Period, if you purchase 2000+ AC you will receive a present. In addition, if you purchase 5000 or more AC you will receive another present.
Campaign Period
February 27th @ 11:00 JST through March 20th, 11:00 JST
Prize Conditions
If you purchase a total of 2000 or more AC
Two "Grind Success + 10%"
Fifty Grinders
Four Grind Risk Reduction (-1)
If you purchase a total of 5000 or more AC
One Yellow Rappy Suit
Prize Distribution Date
Mid April
Webmoney Campaign -5-
If you purchase 5000 or more AC using WEBMONEY during the campaign period, you will be entered into a drawing to receive 1000 Webmoney Points.
Campaign Period
February 27th through March 31st, 2013 @ 23:59 JST
大当たり If you see this page, you've won.
Campaign Conditions
At the Arks Cash Payment page, select 5150 AC and use Webmoney as your payment method. After you type in your code or use your Webmoney Wallet, upon entering the payment completion page, you may see a yellow treasure box with a prepaid serial number.
Campaign Prize
500 Winners will be selected to receive 1000 Webmoney Points. You will be notified if you won upon entering the payment completion page.
You qualify for this campaign by doing a 1 time purchase of 5000 AC or more though Webmoney. You do not qualify for this campaign if you purchase a cumulative total of 5000 AC or more.
Back from Vacation, the pics will be posted on the twitter account since it has nothing to do with Phantasy Star. Maybe one day they'll invite people from this community.
So, Sakai is very sorry about what happened during the Feb 20th update. The equipment set effects weren't really apart of the game balance changes, it was actually a bug. This particular bug didn't show up on their test servers, so they needed some time to verify and correct the problem.
As compensation for these bugs, if you logged in during Feb 20th through Feb 25th prior to maintenance, you will receive one (Rare Drop Boost + 250%), one (Grind Success + 20%) and six (Grind Risk Reduction (-1). It's difficult to release a bug-free update, but they'll try to improve their methods on discovering them beforehand. These items will be delivered to your storage box sometime in the future.
"Our Fighting" performed by Eri Kitamura Composed by Hideaki Kobayashi
Speaking directly to the Japanese community, Sakai thinks that having a song written in Japanese would be more familiar to the ear compared to PSU and PSPo2's themes.
The Chrome Dragon
The Chrome Dragon can power up as he preys on other enemies. When he's powered up, his attack power and speed will increase, allowing him to perform a wider variety of attacks. Since the Chrome Dragon can call upon other enemies, it becomes of utmost importance to defeat them as quickly as possible. The Chrome Dragon can appear on any field and will be coming first to the PlayStation Vita.
Under certain conditions, the Chrome Dragon will appear as an interrupt event on the Vita and Vita/PC shared blocks. Players who encountered him on those blocks can make it possible for him to appear on PC exclusive blocks as well. This could even spread to other players who have not yet met those conditions.
This boss will be arriving February 28th, 2013!
New Story Quests
A new story quest will be arriving on each platform on February 28th, 2013. The Vita version will first receive story quest Chapter 9 titled "The Beginning of the End." It centers around Kuna and a "mysterious girl" who is pursuing "Hadred" the Chrome Dragon. Players on the PC version who completed Chapter 8, can immediately start Chapter 9 on the Vita version.
As for PC players, you're getting a side story quest called "Arks Battle Tourney." Depending on which NPC you choose, you'll see some new developments unfold.
These quests will be released on both platforms in the future.
White Day Event
The White Day Event begins from March 6th, 2013 through March 27th. Shii will be back, handing out White Day client orders for a limited time. The Lovey Rappy will take center stage as the new rare enemy while dropping exclusive items.
This time it's the guys turn in the new Emergency Quest "White Day is Very Hectic!" In this quest, you'll catapult through the sky, meet up with several male NPCs as you gather 314 White Day Points.
Universe Star Collection
The Universe Star Collection scratch will be arriving March 6th, 2013. Everyone's favorite Phantasy Star Universe outfits can be worn by all races.
New Advance Quests
Tundra, Mines, and F. Continent Advance Quests will be released on March 13th, 2013. Expect to see new weapons drop from here too.
Vita Release and Maintenance Change
PSO2 Vita launches February 28th, 2013! Vita players will be able to see Toro and Kuro in the Arks Lobby. If you do their client orders and get their partner cards, you can bring them along in quests with you on the PC version as well.
This week's maintenance has moved to Thursday, February 28th, 2013 @ 2:00 ~ 12:00 JST. After this maintenance, the Vita servers will go live and you can start your adventure.
PlayStation Vita players will be able to download the update early in the morning on the 28th, but you can begin downloading the game sometime around noon. Sakai will also be at Yodobashi Camera Shop Akiba in Akihabara around 18:00 JST signing autographs. If you just so happen to be there, you'll get a PSO2 clear foil for playing at one of the kiosks.
Hot Springs Spoiler
Sakai plans to announce future game improvements by the end of this week. In the meantime, you can check out this new area which will be released in a future update.
Edit: Sorry for jumping the gun. Sakai didn't specify what kind of area this is exactly. For now it's only a hot springs area.
Possible Theory:
I’m thinking that it may be a team room design. When Agrajag found the icon in the datamining, he said that it wasn’t in the same section as the my room sceneries, plus there’s the team room expansion planned for late March.
Today Sony announced the Japanese PlayStation Vita 3G and WiFi models will be reduced to 19,980 Yen. In addition, Sony will be releasing a new PlayStation Vita Ice Silver Wi-Fi model that comes bundled with Phantasy Star Online 2.
JP: PlayStation Vita Ice Silver Details
Title: PlayStation®Vita Ice Silver WiFi Model
Model Number: PCHJ-10007
Release Date: February 28th, 2013
Price: 19,980 Yen
PlayStation Vita Ice Silver Contents
(1) Playstation Vita WiFi Model
(1) Phantasy Star Online 2
(1) 1000 AC Ticket
(1) Power Cord
(1) AC Adapter
(1) AR Play Card Set
The item codes contained within the Special Package version are not included in the Ice Silver bundle.
As we prepare for the launch of PSO2 Vita, here's a quick FAQ on several things you need to know.
How much space does the game take up? Which Memory Card should I buy?
At launch, the Vita version is approximately 3.2GBs. In addition, you will also have to download a 1.2 GB update. In anticipation of future updates, Sakai recommends purchasing an 8GB or higher memory card if you are planning to download the entire game. If you purchase the special package version, you can choose to play with the 4GB memory card, but this is not recommended.
Where do you purchase Arks Cash? Can I use PlayStation Store Points?
It will be exactly like purchasing Arks Cash on the PC. You'll have to open up your browser and login to the SEGA ID Management page.
You can not use the PSN (SEN ID) Wallet to purchase Arks Cash.
You can not use the PlayStation Network Card/Ticket to purchase Arks Cash.
They will be making preparations to purchase ARKS Cash through Japanese cellphone carriers, which is of no benefit to us international players. This should be coming along sometime in the Spring.
When are we getting those items for participating in the Closed Beta Test?
Players who qualify will receive their item codes on February 27th, 2013. These will be sent to the email address registered to your SEGA ID, not your PSN/SEN ID. (That is unless you used the same email address for both accounts.)
What about Item Codes and Product Codes?
Item codes that are bundled within magazines (we'll get to that in a future post), the special package version, or Vita models, must be entered within the game at the VisiPhone. Product Codes are a separate entity and can only be used at the PlayStation Store.
What Can I get in the Special Package Version?
You can choose 2 out of 8 default Phantasy Star Portable 2 outfits.
In order to purchase these costumes you will receive Eight Yellow Arks Badges アークスバッヂ黄. Each costume costs four badges which only enables you to purchase two out of the 8 costumes. Since cast parts are separated — Head, Arm, Body, and Leg — each of these will cost one badge.
One Costume = Yellow Arks Badge アークスバッヂ黄 x4
One Cast Part = Yellow Arks Badge アークスバッヂ黄 x1
These are all-class weapons that can be equipped at level 1.
Other Stuff
A Clarita Mag
You can change the ARKS logo stickers to the Little Wing Logo
Two BGM Discs of the Phantasy Star Portable Opening and Ending themes
30 Day Premium Set
1000 FUN ticket
You can use these item codes on the PC version too!