Phantasy Star Online 2 Vita will be having a Closed Beta Test. 50,000 users will be selected to participate and will receive special items for their time. You can sign up now with your PlayStation Vita! Please note that if selected, you will need a SEGA ID to participate. You can create a new one or use your existing SEGA ID to connect to your SEN Account.
PSO2 Vita Closed Beta Test Starts:
Mid January 2013
Signup Period:
12/4/2012 ~ 1/7/2013 @ 23:59 JST
The exact date and time the Closed Beta Test will start will be announced in the future.
Testing Purposes:
Synchronous play of both PC and Vita version
Server operation and load
The Closed Beta Test will use its own data and will have no effect over the existing PC version. New ships will be created for this test which means even PC players will have to create a new character. Once the test is over, game data will not be transferred over to the official release.
Everyone who participates in the PlayStation Vita CBT will receive special items. In order to receive these items you must let your character reach level 10 in any class.
PSO2 Vita Participation Items:
Aライザー/ナハト A Riser /Nacht (Gunslash)
フォトンスフィア 1x Photon Sphere
FUN500獲得チケット 1x FUN 500 Ticket
Closed Beta Test Sign Up Process
Before you begin, you will need a Japanese PlayStation Network Account (aka SEN ID). You can only attach ONE SEGA ID to this account when you start the game. You can sign up for the game through your PlayStation Vita,.
On the Japanese PlayStation Store on your PlayStation Vita, you can press the search icon at the top right corner of your screen. Alternatively you can press the ファンタ シー スター オンライン 2 link underneath the What's New panel. In the next area type PSO2 in the search box.
Type PSO2 Press [X] or 探索 to confirm.
Press [X] to confirm selection as it appears in this screenshot.
You should see four buttons on this screen. Press [今すぐ入手] to automatically sign up.
When you completed this process, you should see a pink shopping bag icon next to the PSO2 CBT image. After signups are over, winners will receive a product code in their email associated with their Japanese PlayStation Network ID.
At this point, please be sure to register for a SEGA ID. If you already have a SEGA ID, you do not need to register again. Wi-Fi and a memory card are required to download the game. You can play through Wi-Fi or 3G connections.
PC users can also participate in the Closed Beta Test. First sign up for the Closed Beta Test on your PlayStation Vita. If you are selected, you may proceed to download the client. When you first login, input your existing SEGA ID. This will enable you to access the PC client used exclusively for this CBT.
Sakai plans to introduce brand new content Next Year
Sakai was interviewed by THIS IS GAME a while back at the G-Star event in Korea discussing the current concerns and future of the game. Within SEGA, they consider the game a miracle hit as more and more people connect and play. But he feels the game hasn't reach satisfaction yet. Several months after the game's release, he's heard many complaints. Since the variety of content appears to be limited, in future updates not only will we "Search through planets, defeat enemies, etc." like we usually do, but he plans to introduce something completely new. After we reach the story's conclusion we will move onto a "New Story."
(Shougai believes this new story is a hint towards PSO2 Episode 2, and that this new content is a clear departure from what we've been doing so far. If you place both stories together I guess you could draw conclusions as to what we're getting.)
The December update is split up into multiple parts, the first half arrives December 5th, however Dark Falz himself is coming December 12th.
In this new Emergency quest you will battle Falz' Arms. As you repel his many arms and succeed in lowering his strength, you will then proceed in facing Dark Falz Elder himself.
Upd: This emergency quest is kind of different, basically everyone on the ship will participate in a combined effort to weaken Dark Falz in his first form. The ship as a whole has 30 minutes to weaken Dark Falz by defeating his arms. Announcements will be made every so often about his status. If Dark Falz is weak enough, then you can proceed onwards to Phase 2, Dark Falz Elder! Everyone can participate in the phase 1 battle, from Level 1 in Normal Mode up to level 50 in Very Hard Mode.
Dark Falz' true form was sealed on Planet Naberius. This time he's massive with many arms and said to be like the size of a planet. Defeating him will be an extremely difficult task if we do not concentrate all of our power!
His many arms that sprout from his body can attack with overwhelming power. With the bonds of power and friendship we can overcome this formidable opponent.
Latent Ability System
In the item lab, there's now a new menu where you can unlock abilities hidden within certain weapons when you grind them to +10.
DuDu will have a new menu that you can select: "潜在能力解放" where you can spend Meseta and Photon Spheres to unlock your weapon's hidden ability. When it's unleashed, your weapon's grind value will return to zero. You may once again grind that weapon back up to +10. If you choose that same menu, you can increase the level of your weapon's hidden ability.
Upd:Since grinder prices in the player shop have increased, starting from December 5th, there will be several ways to get more grinders. Firstly, you would be able to exchange for Grinders in the Recycle shop, and the chance of receiving a Grinder in the FUN Scratch will increase. They'll have even more plans to make it easier to receive grinders, one of them will be in an upcoming campaign later on.
When you unlock a weapon's hidden ability, the ability's name and icon area will turn yellow. You'll see a yellowish effect applied as you equip the weapon.
Parallel Areas (Parallel Universe)
During a regular quest, under certain conditions, you may see a special transfer device that will transport you to 1 of 3 kinds of random Parallel Areas. In this place, you'll see a higher chance of rare enemies.
Parallel Area: Forest
Parallel Area: City
See Parties in Other Blocks
On the quest counter screen there is now a new menu option to see other parties in different blocks. When you choose a party in another block, you'll automatically move to the quest counter in that block.
Soloable Time Attack Quests
Now you can do Time Attack Quests solo!
Premium Set Features Expanded
They've expanded the contents of the Premium Set.
You can accept up to 40 Client Orders at a time.
Increased effects of Medical Center Drinks.
Increased the amount of FUN points you can acquire.
Christmas Event!
From December 5th through December 26th, 2012, Christmas themed client orders, rare enemies, and emergency quests. During that time the Lobby will be transformed into the Christmas lobby with a large Christmas tree in the center. On the outer edges you can see Santa boots stuffed with presents!
Normal rappies will be transformed into (Saint) "Sent Rappies" with the chance to drop an exclusive item.
Shii (Xie) is back giving out new client orders in time for Christmas. If you clear them all, you'll receive a special item!
Merry Christmas on Ice
Now there's a Christmas themed Naura Cake Shop. The Cake sisters will wear Santa themed outfits and sell special Christmas treats! In addition, the Naura Cake Shop will also appear in a new limited time Emergency Quest called "Merry Christmas on Ice!"
A White Snow Christmas Scratch
サンタスーツ＋ひげ付サンタ帽 Santa Suit + Santa Beard w/ Hat
サンタドレス＋サンタ帽 Santa Dress + Santa Hat
The next scratch is titled "White Snow Christmas" where special costumes and accessories like the Santa Dress, Santa Suit, and Santa Hat will make their debut!
フリューネージュ＋フリューヘッド Freux Neige + Freux Head
ファニートレイター＋ファームイヤーマフ Funny Traitor + Firm Earmuffs
ヒュリオン Hurion
ケルビナ Cherubina aka The Snow Queen
Pyroxene Shop
Upd: On 12/12, there will be a 輝石錬成ショップ Pyroxene Shop. You can collect items called "Pyroxenes" to trade for 10 star weapons here. For example if you collect 20 Red Iritista Stones 紅輝石イリティスタ, you can use them to trade for 10 star weapons at this shop like Ruins Gloam. The process in which you obtain Pyroxenes is not made clear however, only that you can obtain them at a certain place.
Toro and Kuro (Vita Version News)
A while ago it was announced that Toro and Kuro (Playstation mascots) will be appearing in the Vita version of the game. If you clear a specific client order, you can acquire them as partner characters. Unfortunately, this client order is EXCLUSIVE to the Playstation Vita version. However, after clearing this client order, you can call on them on the PC version as well.
Some information about the Vita version.
The item codes you receive in the Vita Version's Special Package also work on the PC version. You can use these items on both systems. However, they do not have plans to make any of these items appear in the PC version's scratch.
You can play the same character on the PC and Vita versions, however you can not log in using the same SEGA ID on both of them at the same time.
The SEN ID supports only ONE Sega ID. If other family members want to play and they have their own separate SEGA ID, please note that only ONE Sega ID is attached with the SEN ID. (Add to the fact that this SEN ID needs to connect to the Japanese PlayStation Network.)
Playstation Vita and PC players can play together on special blocks designated for shared use. Depending on the situation, he may also consider adding PlayStation Vita exclusive blocks.
Upd: The mag in the Special Package version that's supposed to represent Emilia is called "Clarita" クラーリタ.
Upcoming System Changes
Currently updating:
Parties in other blocks can be seen from the Quest Counter
Time Attack Quests are soloable
Premium Set features expanded.
Upd:Items added to the Recycle Shop. All ten star rarity weapons and units are targeted for exchange. (The process of what this is referring to isn't made clear yet) (Recycle a 10 star weapon and get a bunch of grinders?)
You can follow party members in quests. Players you have blocked will not be able to follow you.
Only actively registered friends can call upon each other as NPCs. (If you removed the friend then you can no longer friend partner them.)
There's now a function to see an item at market price when listing it at the player shop.
You can sort my shop search results similarly to the item pack.
A new checkbox will allow you to see shop search results of which you can currently equip.
A setting which lets you disable people from calling upon you as a NPC.
A setting on the quest counter to disable NPCs from being summoned.
Matter Board: In addition to acquiring the matter board drop item by chance, if you defeat a certain number of enemies targeted for that Matter, the item will drop regardless.
A new chat shortcut <sk> for skill will be added to the game.
You can adjust the brightness when a cut in chat is displayed. You can also control this brightness by typing t1 ~ t5 after the cut in chat command. t5 is the brightest.
In the symbol art editor "others" menu, there is now a new function to "Copy Color" or "Apply Color." Transparency is also included in that information.
Removed the sort function and added a tab function when displaying a list of client orders.
A "rarity" sort function was added to the item pack' item list menu.
Placed the default cursor position when you throw away an item to "No." You can now confirm a list of items you are about to throw away. After throwing away items, you'll also see a message about it.
There will be three options for taking screenshots with the interface. (Interface On / Off / Off (but with Speech Bubbles). You can choose whether you want to take screenshots with Printscreen, Ctrl+Printscreen, or Ctrl+Shift+Printscreen.
For Mr. Umblla, you can no longer fail the trial if the mag attacks him.
Optimized the collision detection system to reduce the processing within the whole game. Collision areas in some maps will be changed.
Items with rarities 7 star and up will now always have an attribute attached at the time they drop.
Reduce the amount of meseta needed for the tekker.
You won't consume photon water if you log out while receiving an effect from the tree.
For NPC Klotho's Time Attack Client Orders (OH NO!) changed the requirements you need to clear as long as you A rank the TA quest.
Team Level 4 added
Team Storage now holds up to 200 items.
You can raise the effects of the photon tree up to level 6.
