Phantasy Star Online 2
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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.
Phantasy Star Online 2 is free-to-play on Vita
Phantasy Star Online 2's Vita version will also be free-to-play when it comes to Japan next spring. The PSO2 team revealed this information during a presentation at Tokyo Game Show, translated by the Phantasy Star Fan Blog. Vita players will be able to play with users of the PC version, but only certain lobbies will be available to both.Sega hasn't announced whether the Vita version will be free-to-play in the West, as Sega has yet to announce any availability for the Vita version in the West.
Relapsing with Phantasy Star Online 2 for Vita and mobile
Back in early 2001, my last year of high school was laced with an addiction: I just couldn't stop playing Phantasy Star Online. I know, it's not exactly the sort of thing worthy of an after-school special or a heart-warming episode of Blossom. Still, I churned away many, many hours with friends – some I knew personally, others I'd only met online – slaying dragons with my Lavis Cannon and grinding my HuCast all the way up to level 100.Playing Phantasy Star Online 2 on the PlayStation Vita and Android at the Tokyo Game Show instantly evoked those old memories and, honestly, it's a little terrifying. As someone who works from home, the fact that a game like this could always be within arm's reach is deeply worrying.%Gallery-159973%
SEGA releases three new Phantasy Star Online 2 trailers
Phantasy Star Online 2 is making waves in Japan, particularly after SEGA unveiled three new trailers at the recent Tokyo Game Show. The game's PC client is currently live and playable in the region, with the North American version due sometime next spring. SEGA is also prepping a PlayStation Vita version for 2013, and its users will share the same server as their PC client counterparts. Head past the break for the new PC trailer, the new Vita trailer, and a mobile devices trailer.
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.
Monster Hunter 4 playable at TGS, Capcom and Sega unveil lineups
A playable version of Monster Hunter 4 is coming to this year's Tokyo Game Show, Capcom announced on its newly launched TGS portal.The company also unveiled its current lineup for the show, with Resident Evil 6, DmC, Lost Planet 3 and EX Troopers joining the 3DS Monster Hunter. Meanwhile, Sega also unveiled its current line-up, which features Yakuza 5, Yakuza 1 & 2 HD, and Phantasy Star Online 2. So, no surprises there – yet.The show runs through September 20-23, when lucky attendees can see for themselves if Monster Hunter 4 really does have a whiff of the Dragon's Dogma about it.
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.
Sega won't confirm Vita or phone Phantasy Star Online 2 for the West yet
Today's announcement of a North American and European release for Phantasy Star Online 2 named only the free-to-play PC version, with no mention of the announced PlayStation Vita release or the connected smartphone apps.We asked Sega if the announcement also referred to those versions. "We can't confirm any details about the final platforms for the North American and European versions of PSO2 at this time," a company representative told Joystiq.Both the Vita and phone versions are due in Japan after the PC version, so we expect information about those to be a bit delayed from info about the PC game.
Run through Phantasy Star Online 2's Western announcement trailer
It's official, y'all: Phantasy Star Online 2 is headed West, and we've got this announcement trailer to prove it.
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!]
Phantasy Star Online 2 launches in Japan this week, new vids abound
Phantasy Star Online 2 isn't getting a lot of attention here in North America (or Europe or much of anywhere outside of Japan, for that matter). Still, the open beta has delighted fans of the original game, and the game's official Japanese launch has been set for July 4th. MMO Culture has posted a few gameplay videos that may well whet your appetite for SEGA's console MMO sequel. The site features the game's July update trailer as well as vids that show off the Ranger, Hunter, and Force class trailers. Check them all out after the cut.
One Shots: Signs and portents
We're deep in the throes of The Secret World's pre-launch weekend, and here to celebrate the game's arrival is Massively reader Sharvis, who sent in several potential One Shots of the game, including one of his character puzzling his way through a quest. He writes in, I found this map of Kingsmouth with a strange symbol on it. It only served to mystify my character Cole. Something sinister is underfoot in Kingsmouth, but what could it be? The plot thickens after the cut! Well, not really, but we do have a few more user-submitted screenshots to show off!
Navigating Phantasy Star Online 2's Japanese open beta
The good news is that Phantasy Star Online 2 is now in open beta, and it's free so everyone can come and check out how this sequel to the hit console series is developing. The bad news is that the beta currently only comes in the Japanese version, so while you can download the client, unless you can read Kanji, you might be a little lost. Fortunately, the Phantasy Star Fan Blog is here to help with a guide that walks you through every stage of the beta process -- even if you're not a native Japanese reader. From registering and setting up the beta to fighting and grouping, this guide has it all covered. So if you're willing to do a little cross-referencing, you too could be enjoying PSO2 in no time at all! Over 41,000 players simultaneously logged on to the beta a week ago, and the developers have pushed the level cap up to 30 as those numbers keep on climbing. Sega plans to release PSO2 later this summer on the PC, PlayStation Vita, and smartphones. There is currently no word as to when an English client will be released.
Phantasy Star Online 2 producer reveals new planet, open beta details
Phantasy Star Online 2's closed beta has caused a fair bit of excitement in the game's fan community. As open beta draws near, Sega is unveiling more of the MMO sequel's features. The next testing phase will feature a new desert planet called Liliipa, not to mention new story quests, new costumes, and something called a time attack quest. Fan site Bumped.org has the details on these and other reveals from last week's live event in Tokyo. PSO2 producer Satoshi Sakai also showed off a new snow zone on the planet Naberius. He told fans that the upcoming open beta will be level-capped at 30, while players at level 20 and above will have access to hard mode quests and encounters. PSO2 is currently in development for Windows, Android, and iOS platforms. The open beta is tentatively scheduled for "early summer 2012." [Thanks to Kassandra for the tip!]
'No regrets': Sega defends Phantasy Star Online 2's F2P model
Sega has "no regrets" about pursuing an aggressive free-to-play strategy for its upcoming Phantasy Star Online 2, according to series producer Satoshi Sakai. Sakai said that the developers were increasingly disturbed by the trend of F2P models promoting a pay-to-win environment and has decided to make PSO2 more fair to all players. "By allowing a well made game like PSO to be accessible [to] more people, we felt that we had a chance to teach people that 'This is what online RPGs are supposed to be like,'" Sakai said. "There is nothing that requires payment that will take away from the intrinsic game experience if [it is] not purchased." The devs have limited Phantasy Star Online 2's microtransactions to areas that are less likely to see abuse from players willing to trade cash for an in-game advantage over others. These areas include player room upgrades, more storage space, and trading features. Sakai sees Sega as a pioneer in this regard: "I honestly think that Sega is the only maker that is willing to go this far. Even if we fail, if we can get people to say 'They were five years ahead of their time' then I'll have no regrets. I believe that there's meaning in the challenge itself."
PSA: PSO2 character creator online, available for everyone
That Phantasy Star Online 2 character creator we caught wind of back in March is now online; ready and waiting to be downloaded, unzipped and utilized to forge a character you'll probably never use if you don't import it or live outside Japan.The character creator can be downloaded by hittin' the source link below, and since it's in Japanese you'll need a working knowledge of Nippon's native tongue to use it. Or, alternatively, you can use this handy guide from the folks at Phantasy Star Fan Blog. Just, you know, don't get too attached once you've made your character.
Phantasy Star Online 2 posts a benchmark and character creator for all [Updated]
If you're an American fan of Phantasy Star Online 2 -- or heck, just a non-Japanese fan -- you're kind of out of luck at the moment. The game is currently not anywhere near a translated state, and testing has thus been mostly limited to Japanese players. If you're in that unlucky boat, however, things are getting at least a little bit better now. The game's character creator and benchmark has just been released for all, whether or not you're testing the game or even able to read the language. A fan blog for the game features both screenshots of the character creator and corresponding benchmark as well as a guide to getting the program to work on your machine. While it's not quite the same as being able to log into the game and enjoy the testing sequence, it's at least a chance to get a taste of what the game will be like when (and if) it comes to our shores. [Update: Thanks to Venova for the original tip as well as the news that there's an unofficial English patch for this benchmark toy!]
The MMO Report: Horsesteak edition
In tonight's ultra-short MMO Report, Casey complains that Phantasy Star Online 2 will launch for mobile platforms ahead of PC, drools all over the integration of DUST 514 and EVE Online, maintains a weirdly neutral face while discussing Anarchy Online's graphical overhaul, and regales us with an explanation of The Secret World's class-less game mechanics. He ends on a high note with a peek into Uncle Casey's mailbag and some mockery of World of Warcraft players' forum campaign to undo the latest round of Warlock nerfs. No one's ever done that before. All this and some tips on Icelandic cuisine in the video beyond the cut!
