Phantasy Star Portable 2: To Love-Ru, Gravure Japan, Fanta Collaborations

Another somewhat jam packed update. This time we'll go through 2 brand new collaborations and yet another Fanta collab. Also we'll take a look at the concept character artwork for "Amelia" (wink wink.)

To Love-Ru Collab

to love ru

Kentaro Yabuki of "To Love-Ru" brings us the 6th manga collaboration. The outfit is called "Magical Princess" and the weapon is "EcoEco Stick-kun". Oh my, this outfit is even more revealing than the Casino Voloyal set.

to love ru1

It sure looks magical…

 

Gravure Japan

bikini

If you are like Kraz and can't get enough of looking at bikini clad women while you're supposed to be working….  Gravure Japan Grandprix models will make an appearance as pinup posters you can place in your room!

quiz

Nene Matsuoka as well as four other bikini models will use their seductive poses to trap you inside your room. Sakai also mentions how Emilia and Lumia might appear in bikinis as well. You can obtain these posters by inputting a password which will be revealed December 3rd in a Young Jump magazine (of all places…)

bikinis

Only in Japan, 13 yr olds pose in bikinis…

[via 4gamer]

Fanta Quiz Battle!

fanta cans

Fanta is back, but this time in a collaboration mission called Fanta Quiz Battle!. This "extra mission" can be downloaded for yours to keep! It's a quiz mission where  1 to 4 players compete and must answer questions related to Fanta. In addition, the Athletic Chance is a field where you must avoid several traps to reach the goal. The scan also shows off the showtime room reform ticket where players can buzz in and answer questions.

  • Prizes from Fanta Quiz Battle
    • Showtime Remodeling Ticket
    • Graline Answer Chair
    • Fanta Can
    • Fanta Seal
    • (Two other unknown prizes)

The Chevalier Fluge parts for Casts can be downloaded  December 9th.

 

Emilia's Concept

amelia

The development of Emilia. Artwork by Mizuno.

Did you know, Emilia's original name was "Amelia"? (Ironically, when we translated the first Famitsu scan of PSPo2 we called her "Amelia".) The name was eventually changed to Emilia for whatever reason.  Emilia's signature "wing" can be seen on all three concepts. They decided to keep the nanotranser on her leg for the final version.

hair color

In the next stage of concepts, Sakai found that having a sad heroine was kind of difficult to advance the story. He decided her character description should be, "a typical careless girl, who doesn't want to reveal the truth about her past." Thus Sakai transformed Emilia again, removing the grim sad look upon her face.

emilia new

In Phantasy Star Universe, the color "blue" was used to represent the Guardians. To contrast this, Emilia has a red outfit. Mizuno also added little headphones with wings to the outfit. At this time it was still undecided on how the hairstyle should be.

emilia hairstyle

They went through several different hairstyles before finally deciding upon the final one.

Emilia of course still has that strange secret seen in the demo and the opening movie. Her body has line patterns when "something" happens to her…

emilia transformation

What is the true purpose of this transformation?

Sakai hopes to show the concepts of other characters. but it appears those may be featured in a future art book. However we do have one other art concept to show you.

magashi concept

Magashi is back in Phantasy Star Portable 2 under a side story mission. It appears he has replaced his old body with a new one.

destruction

The old Magashi is left to rot…

  • Chelsea's original name was Sandy.

 

PSPo2: Fun Fan Episode 4, Registering for Internet Multimode Lottery

Fun Fan Episode 4 was released early this morning. I haven't had the chance to go over it in depth but by tomorrow everything pertinent should be up. The video showcases a behind the scenes look at the development studio, and also a mission played by Sakai, Captain T, Rappy Child, and Arisa Noto. In the development studio footage you can see Ethan's new  Guardians Uniform, Karen's head, and a new mystery guy with a cane (Hyuga's relative?).

This post will increase over time…

Fun Fan Episode 4

 

Playing through Seabed Relics, this location is included in the demo!

 

 

A Tour of the Sega Studios! Catch Ethan, Karen, and pimp guy!

[via fun fan]

 

Concept Images

Click Images for Larger

Karen's head

All Guardians wear Uniforms. Karen is wearing one.

 

ethan design

Ethan's Guardians Uniform.

 

pimp cane

The guy with the cane. We thought it was Hyuga at first…

 

nanotranser shizuru

Shizuru's nanotranser is crazy.

 

yuto art

Yuto looks much more youthful in concept drawing.

 

Registering for Internet Multimode Lottery

Mike posted a video on how to register for your chance to win the Internet Multimode Lottery. Please remember once again that you do need a Japanese Playstation Network Account.

 

 

Phantasy Star Portable 2: Getting Online, Simple Mail, Grinding System Details, Item Trader

Sakai updated today with another long post. This time we'll take an in depth look in Phantasy Star Portable 2 online process. He covered each step of the way getting started online!

The Sign In Process

Internet multi mode

Once you obtain the game, you'll be able to sign into Internet Multimode on November 9th to play the Demo. Otherwise Retail version players can sign in on December 3rd. You will absolutely need a Japanese Playstation Network account registered to your PSP and that same account should be used to sign into the Playstation Store whether you are doing it from PSP, PC, and PS3. Remember Internet Multimode is free, don't let anyone tell you  that you need a pay subscriptions. {I've seen people ask this again on forums and blogs…}

 

sign in process password save

After choosing Internet Multimode and your access point is set, Sign in with your Japanese Playstation Network Login ID and Password. You can set up if you want your password to be saved so you don't have to retype it. You will need to AGREE to the terms of service agreement to reach the "Match Counter".

 

download missions automatically

While you are here, you can read updates and automatically download new missions. Ad-hoc only players can download them manually at the official website.

 

Match Counter

match counter stars

The Match Counter starts as you select a Universe to play. Each Universe will display a number of stars that represents how many players are currently playing that server. Select a Universe to begin!

 

parties

The party list displays up to 20 parties at a time. You can enter any party except the following:

  • Party is Full.
  • Party is Currently in a mission (This party will not be displayed on the party list)
  • You do not meet the conditions set by the leader.

 

create party

Party Creation allows you to be a leader and set any condition you want. At this time you can also set a password. Once you create a party you will be transported to the city and anyone can join as long as you don't start a mission.

 

party search

Party Search allows you to search for parties under certain instances:

  • Various Search: Find parties by setting up conditions, like in the screenshot above.
  • Friend Search: Find parties by partner card.
  • Name Search: Search for the exact title of the party's name.
    The title of the party must match what you inputted concisely.

 

Simple Mail

simple mail2

Simple Mail allows you to send and receive mail from players.  You can transmit the same message to up to 3 people at a time. You can also send mail to friends offline. Simple Mail stores 8 messages locally. The server side will store any additional mail you receive, and will send them to you once you free up your mailbox.

 

Blacklist

Ahh the memories of how so many abused this feature. Blacklist allows you to ban partying with another player. You can blacklist up to 40 people.  You can add players to blacklist through:

  • Blacklisting a player in your party.
  • Blacklisting a player in your partner card.
  • Blacklisting a player through simple mail.
  • Blacklisting a player in your "Play Log"
    The "Play Log" lists the last 10 players you met!

 

Chat

Sakai says he regrets how PSP does not have a USB keyboard. I've seen those concept designs I think it could work… Instead you will input words through a Simple Keyboard. Press SELECT twice to enable this feature. This simple keyboard goes through the Japanese conversion process which I won't go through. You can also implement tiny little emoticons and pictures as you can see in all the screenshots above.

 

Shortcut

shortcut

During any multi mode, if you press SELECT once, the shortcut menu will popup. This allows for quick phrases or words to be typed out on the screen when you are currently busy. You are allowed to edit any shortcut phrases.

 

Auto Words

Auto word during major damage

This Auto Word is activated during major damage!

Auto Words allows your character to say a preset list of phrases automatically based on the situation. In other words, you'll be just as annoying as an NPC. Auto Word is only activated during Internet Multi Mode and Multi Mode.

You're allowed to set up each and every phrase as you see fit. You can also change the text bubble too! Sakai says how it can get annoying if people set up all the Auto Words so he has setup a solution to that. (Reza…) Each Auto Word has a probability, for example, the Auto Word phrase, "When the Mission Begins," will be said more often. However, Auto Word phrase s said during "damage" will be said occasionally. Click for a list of Auto Words!

 

Partner Card

partner card

All your characters share the same partner cards. You can write different comments on each of them too. You can obtain up to 100 Partner Cards. You can also view a "Ranking" among each of your friends. {I believe this is the Rookie thing displayed in the screenshots}. If you party with a friend you already partner carded with, their partner card information will automatically update . You can see various information on the partner card like ranking, rare item collection rate, title collection, etc..

 

Item Trader

item trading

In the Cafe of Clad6, you can trade items with other players you have exchanged partner cards with. When both sides approve the exchange, the item is traded. You can not trade weapons, line shields and rare items of A and S rank. {I believe this was done to prevent exploitation of lag trading, so the impact is much less on the player.}

 

Grinding System

grinding mama

Wait you can get ear piercings now ? :O

Grinding a weapon is done through meseta. You can grind a weapon 10 times. Each time you grind a weapon, it's parameters increase randomly. Once you reach the last step, the weapon will say FULL! At this time you will need an "extend code" to produce a "final grind".

 

special s grade

This allows C through A rank weapons to evolve to S grade. If you do this, the minimum level you can equip the weapon is now increased, be careful of this you one weapon holders. Normal ranking weapons who have been grinded with this method now have an effect applied to it once you equip it.  There is a limited amount of  "extend codes" you can use, so please be careful in choosing which weapons you want to grind! To obtain an extend code, you must clear a challenge mission.

 

New Boss

bosses

Fazuntal and Seguntal are new bosses who appear at Parum Ruins. They work together attacking you in unison!

 

  • Guidebook PDF file
  • Another collab, looks like 3 more are coming
  • Fun Fan 4 tomorrow 😀

[via pspo2 blog]