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Phantasy Star Online 2's western release isn't a lost cause
Did you lose all hope of ever seeing Phantasy Star Online 2 in the west after it launched in Southeast Asia last spring with nary a peep about its arrival on this side of the Pacific? We did too. But a tweet sent by SEGA earlier this week gives us reason to doubt our doubts: PSO2 is still delayed. SEGA is currently working on bringing PSO2 to the West and will update as soon as we know more. It's not a launch date or even much of a promise, but at least it's confirmation that the western version hasn't been abandoned.
PSO2 English servers launching in SE Asia, SEGA can't talk about the game
MMO Culture reports that Phantasy Star Online 2's first English server will launch this week. Don't get too excited, though, because Asiasoft is aiming the service at players in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Phillippines. SEGA refuses to talk about what's next in terms of a possible western PSO2 client, even going so far as to list the game on its "things-we-can't-answer" slide at a recent convention. [Thanks alleomurand!]
Phantasy Star Online 2's beta ends in Southeast Asia
While Phantasy Star Online 2 is unreleased here in North America, the residents of Southeast Asia will soon get to experience the game in English. The servers for this version of the game are region-locked, but it's still as close as the game has gotten to a local release thus far. Curious about how it went? The team working for local publisher Asiasoft shared thoughts regarding the beta experience in a recent interview. The team states that while the game already has new race/class options available in Japan (as it has been out for some time), releasing these options in the localized version will depend partly on player progress. Tie-in events such as those found in the Japanese version are also nixed, as most of those cross-promotional events are strictly for Japanese marketing and wouldn't make much sense to the audience. For more details, take a look at the full interview.
Phantasy Star Online 2 still out of sight for North America
Here's a question for the audience: Why isn't Phantasy Star Online 2 released in North America yet? The game is fully translated into English, it's going to be released in Southeast Asia in that language very shortly. It's been out in Japan for two years. About a year ago, Sega announced that the game's release in North America would be delayed with no further elaboration; as it stands, the company is still offering no rationale or explanation for the delay. The most obvious culprit would be legal issues, but Sega hasn't made any statements to indicate that there might be some sort of legal barrier to launching the game here. All that fans know is that the game is still unavailable, despite now having every sign of being ready for launch. So what's holding it back? We haven't the slightest idea. [Thanks to Dengar for the tip!]
Perfect Ten: Game franchises that became MMOs
Popular franchises have been known to jump between various entertainment media, from games to television to movies to comic books and even to pogs. We should not gasp in utter amazement that this is also the case with many of our beloved MMOs; we should nod sagely and accept the terrible truth. There are several video game franchises that have culminated in -- or at least have taken a detour through -- the land of MMOs. For gamers who wanted more and especially did not want to see their journey end, an MMO continuation is a welcome answer that's usually hiding its own problems. But nevermind that; let's march down the halls of history and see the yearbook photos of these franchises when they were young!
Free for All: MMORPGs for your new console
Consoles and MMOs do not have the stand-offish relationship that they used to have. In fact, there are so many different MMOs to choose from on consoles that it's seriously tempting to pick up one of the new ones -- the Xbox One or PlayStation 4 -- even though I wasn't planning on it for a long, long time. I enjoy using a controller with MMOs so much that I plan on covering the subject more in the future. So let's get to the list of MMOs that are currently on consoles or that will be coming out on consoles in the near(ish) future. Massively's own Mike Foster put together a fantastic list last summer, but I thought I would update and pass it on. After all, the new consoles are officially here... so be sure to reference the list when you need a new MMO to play on your shiny new console!
Rumor: PSO2 may not be heading to the West, despite being 'fully localized'
It looks as though Sega has no plans to bring Phantasy Star Online 2 to Western markets after all. TSSZ is reporting that a source close to the publisher has revealed that while the game has been "fully localized" for an English release, that localization is aimed at English-speaking regions in Asia and not European or North American audiences. The source speculated that Sega may be concerned about PSO2's potential profitability in the West but was clear that whispers from its contacts in the company in no way represent an official cancellation of a Western release. Phantasy Star Online 2 has had no visible presence in the Western games community since it was shown at the 2012 Penny Arcade Expo. [Thanks to BGO for the tip!]
SEGA releases three new PSO2 videos and a roadmap for the future
It seems like just last week that SEGA launched Phantasy Star Online 2's Episode 2, Chapter 1, and that's because it was literally just last week. Expansion continues at a breakneck pace, with Episode 2, Part 2 receiving a reveal trailer today outlining the new costumes, maps, and gear to be added when that update goes live August 7th. But that's not all. Episode 2, Part 3 is already in the works, with an expected launch window of December 2013. SEGA also released two new commercials for Phantasy Star Online 2, one for the regular game and one for the Vita version. Both are weird. Check out the new trailer and commercials after the break.
Coming soon to a console near you: MMOs
Remember E3 2013? That huge video games conference thing from earlier in the summer? Weeks have passed since Microsoft and Sony squared off in the Los Angeles convention center (while Nintendo posted up at Best Buy and Ouya sulked in the parking lot), but the news made there continues to reverberate through the games industry. One curious trend seems to have been missed amid the clashing of proverbial titans: There sure are a lot of MMOs and online-focused games due on consoles this generation. And since MMOs are the business of Massively, we thought it might be fun to compile a quick list of all the ones we can find that are either already available on our current consoles or set for launch on the next batch. The list, as it turns out, is pretty extensive.
Phantasy Star Online 2 launches Episode 2, adds new race and class
The latest update for Phantasy Star Online 2 is officially live on Japanese servers, and with it come the game's fourth playable race and an all-new class. The new race, the Duman, are a natural mutation of humans with strange origins and seem to all be afflicted (or blessed) with heterochromia. The new class, known as the Braver, can choose between Katana or Bullet Bows as its primary weapon. Check out the seven-minute launch video after the jump, and bring along a Japanese translator. [Thanks to Dengar for the tip!]
The Perfect Ten: MMO commercials that take us back
I don't see a lot of commercials these days. I like to imagine that I'm a one-man force out to frustrate advertisers, ducking and weaving whenever they try to wing a 30-second spot at me. A lot gets through, but I've long since canceled cable, and the only traditional commercials I sit through are the ones for the occasional YouTube video. But there's something about a good commercial that can take us back on a wave of "remember whens?" and community bonding. I hear more discussions about creative ad spots the day after the Superbowl than the game itself. Commercials can even be a time capsule that unlocks memories for us of favorite movies, toys, and experiences. But what about MMOs? Well, they have commercials too, although not as many have made it to the standard airwaves. They're out there, though. Lurking. Emitting nostalgia rays from the past. And I've been hunting them down, looking for commercials that take us back to a simpler, goofier time. A few thousand dead brain cells later, I've got 10 of the margh make it sop pleaze pleaaa... Enjoy.
Phantasy Star Online 2 Episode 2 trailer shows new race, planet
SEGA has released a high-def trailer for Phantasy Star Online 2's Episode 2 update. The clip introduces the Duman race, a new planet, and new weapons, too. The trailer runs for a solid four minutes, buy you'll need to bring your mad Japanese language skills if you want to understand the voiceovers and the UI. There's plenty of combat footage on display as well as glimpses of the game's character creation and various environments. Check it out after the cut.
Sega delays Phantasy Star Online 2's North American launch
Phantasy Star Online 2 boasted some impressive user numbers late last year, but that's apparently not enough to keep the title from being delayed in the West. Publisher Sega "can officially confirm that PSO2 has been delayed," according to Polygon. The game was originally given an early 2013 North American launch window. Sega says that it does not have "any specifics but will update everyone as soon as there are more details to share." Phantasy Star Online 2 has been playable for over a year, and was even showcased at PAX Prime 2012.
Jukebox Heroes: Christmas music
Merry Christmas and happy holidays from the staff at Jukebox Heroes! When it comes to the season, I have to admit that I'm a bit of a Christmas music junkie. Not nearly as bad as some I know, and I'm totally for a ban of hearing such music in public spaces before Thanksgiving and after New Year's Eve. I just love how it's so cheery and makes me feel warm in my tummy. A couple of months ago when I realized that this column would fall on Christmas day, I entertained the notion of just featuring MMO Christmas music. That seemed a bit silly to me; there's no way that there could be more than a scarce handful of tunes, right? It turns out that there's quite a bit, actually. So whether you're celebrating, taking some time just to game, or bored out of your gourd, why not hit the jump and see how MMOs have contributed to the enormous library of Christmas music?
Phantasy Star Online 2 will be free-to-play on the Vita in Japan
Japanese audiences will not be hurting for ways to play Phantasy Star Online 2 when it releases next year. Forget consoles or PCs; if you have a PlayStation Vita, you can jump right into the game for free. A fan translation of information presented at this year's Tokyo Game Show confirms that the game will be free-to-play on the Vita. Of course, there are restrictions to using the free version. Vita players will be limited to only certain shared areas with PC players and will also be unable to play the game in any sort of offline mode. Players will also need to swap memory cards to change accounts, as the free version is tied to the PSN account information stored on a memory card. Will this be true of the Western version as well? It's unknown, as Sega has yet to officially announce that Phantasy Star Online 2 will be on the Vita in the US. Keep your eyes peeled as the game gets closer to its Japanese release and more information comes out about localization.
PAX Prime 2012: Hands-on with Phantasy Star Online 2
I'm sure I'm not the only one around here who has fond memories of sitting in front of a Sega Dreamcast (a moment of silence, please), hacking-and-slashing my way through the original Phantasy Star Online, and I'm also sure that I'm not the only one who's positively giddy for Sega's upcoming Phantasy Star Online 2. So of course, when I found out I'd be able to get my hands on the game at PAX, I was pretty ecstatic. But nostalgia can only go so far, and I'll admit I was somewhat nervous as I stepped up to the demo station. Would this new iteration in the PSO series live up to my rose-tinted memories of the title? I stepped into the boots of a Human Hunter to find out for myself.
Phantasy Star Online 2 tops 700,000 users, 91,000 concurrent
MMO companies are usually pretty secretive about their user numbers. Sega bucked that trend recently when it announced that 730,000 players had registered for Phantasy Star Online 2. The registration metric is pretty fluffy when it comes to actual player numbers, though, and fortunately the company also announced that PSO2 achieved a peak concurrent user number of 91,513 on July 7th. These numbers are solely the result of the recent Japanese launch. The game is slated to debut in Europe and North America sometime in 2013.
Ask Massively: All deckbuilders, all the time edition
Lately I've basically been unable to get enough of board games. I am sadly at the point that all I need to get excited about a game is the promise of cards and possibly some sort of combat. I'm going to blame Matt Daniel for introducing me to Thunderstone Advance because that introduced me to deckbuilders as a whole, and now I'm sitting here seriously considering buying a Japanese card game about assembling a maid harem. This is not a position I needed to be in. And now for something completely different: this week's Ask Massively. This time around, we're tackling the curious issue of Phantasy Star Online 2's slow process of translation, one that could be described as "glacial." If you've got a question you'd like to see answered in a future installment of the column, leave it in the comments below or mail it to ask@massively.com. Questions may be edited slightly for brevity and/or clarity.
Phantasy Star Online 2 hacked, NPCs clock flight time
There's out of reach, and then there is literally out of reach. Players trying to talk to NPCs in Phantasy Star Online 2's ship02 area were unable to do so yesterday because of an alleged prank by hackers that put the NPCs out of reach. Some NPCs in the free-to-play game were dangling high above players' heads, while others were placed behind glass barriers or atop high structures, preventing player interaction. Sega stated it knows of the hack and is currently investigating; it assures customers that no player data were leaked in this hack. However, the company does ask players to move to another area if they notice NPCs moved to strange locations. Players can also report any cheating they discover in game.
Phantasy Star Online 2 coming to NA and EU early next year [update: it's official!]
Looking forward to getting your grubby mitts on some hot Phantasy Star Online 2 action? Those in the west may have to be patient, but there's now a finish line in sight: Sega announced that PSO2 will hit North America and Europe in early 2013. According to the PR, producer Satoshi Sakai says that the wait will be worth it: "The number one thing we want to provide players in Phantasy Star Online 2 is an adventure that changes every time they log in. Just as great table-top RPG experiences revolve around imaginative and unexpected encounters, we want players to consistently be surprised as they explore dungeons and undertake quests." Phantasy Star Online 2 launched in Japan this past week. [Thanks to Tom for the tip!]
