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Phantasy Star Portable 2's digital release delayed in Europe
PSP Go owners living in Europe who've been anticipating the launch of Phantasy Star Portable 2 will have to stick tight for a little bit longer -- Sega has announced the game's digital version won't launch in Europe until October 6. We'll save some rare drops for you guys!
Colonel Sanders returns from the grave to help you in Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity
How could Sega top its outrageous ad integration campaign for Phantasy Star Portable 2? What could entice you to buy the upgraded version of the PSP action RPG? The answer to both of those questions is Colonel Sanders. Famitsu snapped images from a Sega stage presentation during TGS, revealing a Kentucky Fried Chicken partnership for Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity that puts a Colonel Sanders partner character in the game. In addition, more KFC partnerships will be revealed, though we can't imagine how they'll top this. Perhaps you'll get a blend of 11 herbs and spices with which you can attack Rappies.
Sega announces Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity in Japan
Though North America's still a few weeks away from getting its collective hands on Phantasy Star Portable 2, Sega's Satoshi Sakai announced to Famitsu that a fancy, extended version of the game will be released in Japan this year. Subtitled Infinity, the expansion will feature new visual lobbies in online multiplayer modes (similar to the original Phantasy Star Online), a respeccing tool for lower-level characters, a new playable race for advanced players, and a completely new campaign storyline which takes place after the events of the original PSP2. The new edition is slated to arrive in Japan some time this winter. The non-Infinity version of Phantasy Star Portable 2 is set to drop in North America on September 14. For more info on Infinity's super esoteric changes and improvements, check out 1UP's overview of the Famitsu reveal.
Phantasy Star Portable 2 headed to North America and Europe this fall
Here's the best news for PSP owners who love futuristic co-op dungeon crawling since, well, Phantasy Star Portable: Sega has announced that it's localizing Phantasy Star Portable 2, with a fall release planned in both North America and Europe. Taking place after the events of Phantasy Star Universe, Portable 2 features the people of Gurhal facing a new, less easily defeated threat: scarcity of resources. We'll have to play the game's story mode and some online quests (that's right, unlike the first Phantasy Star Portable, this one's playable online) before we discover how that issue is resolved, though we do know how Sega of Japan acquired the resources it used to produce the game: advertising tie-ins! We really hope the Pizza Hut box item makes it into the Western version. %Gallery-93480%
Valkyria Chronicles 2 DLC announced, some requires Phantasy Star Portable 2
Phantasy Star Portable 2 is already filled with questionable marketing partnerships. So it comes as no surprise that Sega's going to take it another step further, by making Valkyria Chronicles 2 content specially for Phantasy Star Portable 2 owners. Eight DLC packs have been announced for the Japanese release of VC2, and some will require save data from Sega's other PSP game. The listing, as translated by Andriasang: 1/21: Melfair's Crisis - Free 1/21: Request From the Guardians - Free* 1/21: Challenge from Little Wing - Free* 2/4: Strategy Battle Drills VS F Group - ¥100 2/11: Tough Battle Melfair City EX - ¥100 2/18: Kokugen no Tani - ¥100 2/18: Teisatsuhei Urakatei Shuryou Shiken - ¥100 2/25: Ultimate Challenge - ¥100 *requires Phantasy Star Portable 2 save data
Phantasy Star Portable 2 launch DLC is soda strange
As we reported back in September, Sega struck a deal with soft drink maker Coca-Cola to feature the latter's Fanta soda in the just-released (in Japan) Phantasy Star Portable 2. (Phanta-sy, Fanta, geddit?) Well, it turns out that the deal has resulted in more than just giant Fanta cans littering the game's lobbies. The first round of DLC, launched alongside the game, includes a mission featuring a quiz focused on -- you got it -- Fanta soda. In "Fanta Quiz Battle!," four players compete to answer questions correctly before embarking on a proper adventure. As noted by Andriasang, the second DLC mission, Sasurai no Seikan Gyoushounin, appears to have no such deep-rooted product placement. We can't argue with the fact that the DLC is free (likely because of the sponsorship) but any sort of in-game advertising tends to give us a sour stomach. Probably nothing a nice, fizzy Fanta won't help, though.
Phantasy Star Portable 2 product placement is getting ridiculous
Oh, come on. Come on. The incorporation of Fanta products into Phantasy Star Portable 2 was bad enough; though we could almost excuse it for its appropriately futuristic-sounding name. There's little we can do to reconcile the addition of Pizza Hut branding into the title, though -- especially when said addition includes a pizza box shield and pizza peel sword (seen above; no photoshopping necessary). Other in-game products include literal pizza huts, dolls of the company's Japanese mascot, Mr. Cheese, and an epic boss encounter against the Noid, who attempts to ruin delicious pizza pies regardless of their corporate affiliation.Okay, so we made up that part about the boss fight -- sorta -- but the rest is totally for real!
Sega creating a Fanta-sy Star Portable promotion
When was the last time you picked up a can of Fanta? We can't remember either. Coca-Cola isn't giving up on the fruity beverage, though. They're partnering up with Sega to create virtual Fanta items in the upcoming Phantasy Star Portable 2. We can only assume the reasoning behind this campaign is to let bloggers take advantage of a ridiculously easy pun for use in a headline. Thanks, Coca-Cola for making our jobs a little bit easier.Fanta will be present at Tokyo Game Show next week, handing out various goodies for trying out the PSP2 demo at the show floor. It would be really smart for them to give away free drinks -- being trapped in a convention center filled with sweaty otaku is bound to make many dehydrated.
Phantasy Star Portable characters won't transfer into PSP2
Sega's upcoming Phantasy Star Portable 2 is one of the most exciting RPGs coming to PSP. Why? Infrastructure support! We're really intrigued to finally have a real online RPG experience on a handheld. Unfortunately, those of you expecting to import your level 60 characters from the first PSP game will be out of luck: to keep things fair, PSP2 will have you creating your characters from scratch.There are bonuses to be had for players of the original, though. While you won't be able to export your XP or gear, you will gain access to an exclusive item: "exzam weapon," according to Siliconera. Hopefully, news of this bonus will be enough to forgive us for screencapping this horrifying shot from a Japanese promo video for the game. What's with that guy's outfit?!
Sing along with the intro to Phantasy Star Portable 2
There's a lot of reason to be excited for the upcoming Phantasy Star Portable 2. Well, there's at least one reason that stands out quite a bit: online Infrastructure support. The Sega-developed RPG was always meant to be played with friends, but the first game was relegated to local Ad-Hoc support. With the addition of Infrastructure, we can play PSP the way it was meant to be played.The Japanese website for PSP2 has been updated with the intro movie to the game which features a theme song by Hideaki Kobayashi. Don't be surprised if you find yourself humming along to the catchy, English language chorus. Phantasy Star Universe ...[Via PSPHyper]
Sega officially announces Phantasy Star Portable 2
Though it was beaten to the punch by the budget re-release of the original Phantasy Star Portable, and then by a Famitsu article released shortly thereafter, Sega has officially confirmed the existence of Phantasy Star Portable 2 -- a sequel not only imbued with a brand new story and gameplay features, but also with the oft-requested addition of online multiplayer support.The game's official site lists a December 3 launch date for the latest installment in the PSO franchise. It also gives some insight into the new features present in the game -- you can check out a translated version of Game Watch's PSP2 coverage here. We've sent an email to Sega in an attempt to find out if and when the game will be localized for U.S. release. We've got our Meseta-hungry fingers crossed for a favorable response.
Phantasy Star Portable 2 revealed for the second time
Sega looks prepared to announce Phantasy Star Portable 2 not once, not twice -- but three times. The highly successful PSP RPG was first uncovered through a promotional UMD for the budget re-release of the original Phantasy Star Portable. Now, it's been discovered yet again through Japanese mag Famitsu, making it all the more official. Sega will then announce the game one more time through its still-in-progress countdown site.PSO-World has noticed a few details about the upcoming sequel. PSP2 will take place three years after the events of Phantasy Star Universe and the original Phantasy Star Portable.Two of the characters revealed so far are Amelia Percival (not related to PSNation's Glenn, we're afraid), and Yoot. We're sure to see much more when Sega announces the game again in a few days.Update: 1UP reports that the game will support online Infrastructure mode. Finally! [Thanks, Jonathan S.!]
Phantasy Star Portable 2 rumored to make debut in budget re-release
Sega's competitor to Monster Hunter found moderate success in Japan, when it sold upwards of 600,000 copies. Phantasy Star Portable is being re-released in Japan as part of Sony's "The Best" budget collection, and the new release will include a bonus UMD filled with extras.While the bonus UMD is confirmed, an image circulating Japanese blogs and message boards suggests the disc may contain an unexpected surprise: the opening movie for the currently unannounced Phantasy Star Portable 2, in addition to video summaries of the entire Phantasy Star Universe saga. Considering the success of the first game, it's more than likely Sega would be interested in creating a sequel. However, without any other concrete source, this rumor is far from confirmed.[Thanks, John C.! Via IGN]
