Tag: phantasy star universe

Phantasy Star Universe PC/PS2 Shuts Down March 31st, 2010. Where do we go now?

Ricardo Leave a comment

So for today's shocking, but everyone saw it coming  announcement, Phantasy Star Universe will be closing down it's PC/PS2 servers. Due to low population, SEGA has decided to shift focus to the XBOX servers. The XBOX servers although dwindling in players, still has quite a grip on it's population.  It's expected that the XBOX servers will continue to receive updates including the AOTI+ Supplemental Update. Though the announcement did not specifically say this. Edward posted a message on the official site, quote:

Please note that after January 29th 2010, no new PSU subscriptions will be available for purchase for PC/PS2. Those who are subscribed as of that time will be able to play, for free, until service closure.

The schedule is as follows:

• January 29th 2010: MAG+ event begins for PC/PS2 and Xbox 360 servers.

• January 29th 2010: No new PC/PS2 PSU subscriptions will be available for purchase.

• January 29th 2010: Free play for PC/PS2 PSU begins. No more billing cycles will take place on or after this date.

• March 31st 2010: PC/PS2 servers / service closure, the PlayStation2 and PC versions of Phantasy Star Universe online play will not be available after this date, however, please continue to enjoy the Single Player version of the game.

For those who play the Xbox 360 version of Phantasy Star Universe: SEGA will continue to support, in full & with regular updates, this version of Phantasy Star Universe. This includes bringing currently unreleased and anticipated content to the XBox 360 servers. We will be able to provide more details on future Xbox 360 PSU content over the coming weeks and months.

Son in essence PSU Pc/Ps2 servers will be free for January 29th to March 31st, which I guess will allow everyone to say their goodbyes before they leave. What's interesting to note is what Edward says next..

While we are sad to see the PC/PS2 version of Phantasy Star Universe end, the year 2010 is the 10th anniversary of Phantasy Star Online — and this server / service closure is helping to pave the way for bigger and better things for the Phantasy Star franchise in the very near future!

Sakai also shared a somewhat similar statement during his New Year's message. We should continue to see things from the Phantasy Star Series in 2010, considering it's the 10th anniversary of Phantasy Star Online. Does this mean a new flagship title Phantasy Star will be announced?  Does this mean PSPo2 will soon get an announcement for the English release?  We'll just have to wait and see.

[via psu]

Where do we go from here?

There aren't many games out there like Phantasy Star Online. Fortunately, the market for non-targeting, action RPG systems are slowly rising out of Korea and China.

For now most MMOs focus less on action and more on strategic gameplay. This is where a player clicks on an enemy and engages in auto combat. The player may press a sequence of buttons to use various skills. In these MMOs you never see characters roll out of the way, strafe behind the enemy, shoot and run away from a distance. You are pretty much "attached" to an enemy during the entire combat.

Whatever Sega plans to do with the Phantasy Star series, we do at least have some hope for other games that follow in it's footsteps. Here are a few games coming soon for the PC that provide an action oriented, non targetting system.

  • Continent of the 9th
    • Offers a more graphically realistic approach to PSU.
    • Follows in PSU's footsteps with instanced like gameplay.
    • Battle animation tends to be flashy and mimics PSU's style.
    • Limited Character races.
  • TERA Online
    • Beautiful graphics, serene visuals, open world gameplay.
    • Players aim their attacks at enemies.
    • Character Classes/Races similar to PSU.
  • Dragon Nest
    • Instanced gameplay.
    • Gameplay feels ripped out of PSZero

Of course if you are on the handheld market, you can still play Phantasy Star Zero and look forward to Phantasy Star Portable 2, if and when it does come out.

 

What will Sakai do next?

Shougai PSO posted a quote from Dengeki Magazine regarding an interview about PSO10th Anniversary. In it he says, given that last year's Phantasy Star Portable 2, is seen as the compilation of the series.  The next new thing he wants to do is something incredibly challenging that is "a giant leap", [possibly something extremely different than what we'd expect /something that upgrades the series?] however, he still wants to please the traditional fans.

[via shougai]

Reactions

Ana has blogged her reactions on the current news, also speculates there might be some new Phantasy Star game in development. Kotaku comments section (view the unpromoted comments) has more reactions.  Other player reactions will be posted here.

Christmas '09 DLC in Phantasy Star Portable 2 and Universe!

Ricardo Leave a comment

Christmas has come to the Gurhal Solar System, in all three servers respectively. Phantasy Star Universe Japan and Phantasy Star Portable 2 will receive exclusive Christmas related content. In addition to this, PSUJP will also start a new event with GRM, Yohmei, and Tenora.

Of course, outside of Japan we don't get all this cool stuff, but at least we have an incredibly hard story mission to S rank. Unfortunately for you, Karen needs to stay alive, making you wish the PSP2 AI system could be ported over…

 

Ghost of Christmas Cash!

Amy practicing her pedobear stance.

Do you have money to spend? Wanna join in on the holiday spirit? Now you can with 4 brand new Christmas related items and outfits for both Phantasy Star Portable 2, and Phantasy Star Universe Japan! Each game has a different method of obtaining these items which will be discussed below.

 

Santa Dress, (Female Clothes and Parts) 300 Yen
Show them you're the real Mrs. Claus with this new Santa Dress.

 

Reindeer Costume (Male Clothes and Parts) 300 Yen
Feel and warm and fuzzy inside as you carry Mrs. Claus on her sleigh.

 

Merry Christmas (Grenade) 200 Yen
Show your enemies the true meaning of Christmas with this festive grenade.

 

Christmas Tree (Spear) 200 Yen
Show the kids who's boss with this Christmas Tree spear!

  • PSP: To obtain these items in PSP2 head to the Playstation Store!
  • PSP: Purchasing these items do not add to your collection rate for weapons and costumes.
  • PSP: Only those who download the items can see them within the game. 
  • PSP: Cash Items will be used to maintain servers so that they remain free.
  • PSUJP: To obtain these items enter the Guardians Cash Mission,
    (Legacy of Light)  星霊たちの遺産!

 

How to Download Items from PlayStation Store

Before you actually see any download items in the game, you must first import them from the Title screen. After you purchase and downloaded the item from the PlayStation store, start up your game and select 'Import"

Select the third option, "ダウンロードアイテムインポート" Download Item Import, to start the process.

 

Select the first option, "インポートアイテムの選択" Import Item Selection.

 

Select the items you want to import. The first page will list weapons, the second page will list clothing. When you select an item, its name will grey out.

 

After selecting the items you want to import, Select the second option "インポートの実行"  to start importing. It will pop up another screen which will say that the save data needs to be updated, select はい to start.

 

New Vision Phone Code

6590 0864 ポリタン Politan (TCSM)

[img via tyreek]

Phantasy Star Portable 2: Update and Bug Fixes: Room Goods Disappear, Trap Damage

Ricardo 9 Comments

This Post is Only Japanese Phantasy Star Portable 2

Merry Christmas, and I'm back just as promised.. Sega released a Christmas Present for all those affected by bugs in the game. This Christmas present includes bug fixes, compensation for lost items, and game balancing changes.

Bugs? In my Phantasy Star Portable 2?

Lumia and Emilia under the mistletoe

Oh yes there are bugs in Phantasy Star Portable 2, but as Sega has dealt with bugs in the past, they strive to fix them as quickly as possible. They apologize for any inconvenience  Mirei caused for any of your room goods disappearing from the game…

  • Phantasy Star Portable 2: Version 1.01 Update
    • Fixes a bug where the "Mimic Doll" クチマネ・ドール caused room items to disappear. You can re-obtain lost items after the update by going to your vision phone and typing in the passwords or using the "Title Receipt" function to reacquire your Title prizes.
    • Fixes a bug where room items may rarely change.
    • Fixes a bug where the damage shown upon an enemy was not updated due to lag.
    • Fixes a bug where the offensive power of Photon arts was added to traps during a combo finish. This allowed traps to expel a extremely high amount of damage breaking the balance of the game.

The Mimic Doll is a room item in the shape of the divine maiden. For some reason it caused room items to disappear. Because of this, for those who can not update the game at this time, please do not place the Mimic Doll in your room.  (Mirei was upset by this crude caricature of her likeness  that she caused a curse upon all the Little Wingians…).

As for the lag damage, it seems this only applies to Internet Multimode. This correction does not exist in Multimode (adhoc gameplay)….

 

Downloading the update

To update this game please update to the latest Playstation Firmware 6.20 (or higher). First highlight the Phantasy Star Portable 2 Game Icon in the PSP Menu.

Press the Triangle button then press the word "Update" アップデート, then connect to the internet as the game update downloads. You will need 19MB of space to download this update.

After you complete updating the game, open the game and confirm the version number "Ver 1.01" shows up in the top right corner.

Once you are there type in ITEM GIFT in the vision phone to receive a compensation gift of 5 photon boosters!