S2 - S5 items coming... eventually? (Other things, too.)

[EspioKaos]

Check this (http://moemi.mithra.to/~psu/uploader/src/psu4180.jpg) out. This image comes from one of the Japanese PSU image uploaders. Obviously, the user here was able to do a little hacking to unlock one of the icon texture maps and then apply it to their room floor. Now, of course I don't condone the whole hacking thing, but in this case, it gives us a little new info of some things to possibly expect down the road. (By the way, going by the user's yellow name, this seems to be from the Illuminus beta.)

OK, let's start from the upper left of the texture block, identifying each icon.

The red up and left arrows. These are used on the map when you open it up from the menus. Nothing new here. The golden star burst: Photon Fortune, Holy Light, etc. The next icons are basic ones used in the 360 and PC versions. Shift, control, backspace, L-bumper, headset, no headset, etc.

Next row, nothing new here. We start off with the E icon saying that a weapon, line shield, PA, etc. is equipped. Then the red X saying you can't use something followed by S, A, B and C item ranks. Then we've got party and partner card icons. Moving on.

Next row, we see manufacturer icons. TENORA WORKS, GRM, Yohmei, then more icons we already know. I'm not certain about the small red X's, though. I don't recall seeing those or the one directly to their right and before the speech bubble. Can anyone ID those, or are they currently not in use?

Next row down, we have more manufacturer icons. GRM: SHELL (SHELL-CAST and SHELL-CASEAL), Kubara, ROAR ROARS (ASFA, monivan and Do-GAIM), CUBIC DESIGN (CUBIC STAR, CUBIC MODE and CUBIC GIRL) and MIYA-B (MUTAN, MINAMO and MATOI). Those are followed up by more party icons; two rows to the right of the MIYA-B logo. The top row of these I don't recall seeing. I'm not too sure what they would be for. On the bottom row, the first and second identify who is currently in a party. The green and yellow icon identifies your party members while the grey one identifies other parties in lobbies. Next is the locked party icon, but then there's an unlocked icon. That's new to me.

Next row down, we'll start with Ethan's avatar. If this image is from the Ambition of the Illuminus trial, then this could mean we'll get Ethan's partner card eventually. Or not; it could mean a number of different things, I'm sure. Originally, I was thinking it could just be from story mode, but if this is from the expansion... Well. I guess we'll find out when the game comes out. Moving on, we see a "?" block. It's the same size as the manufacturer icons, so this could be a new unknown weapon and item maker. Below that we see the PC icons for the down and right arrows, enter and back space. Move back up and to the right of the "?" and we'll get to the good stuff: S2, S3, S4 and S5 icons. As I'm sure some of you remember, a while back someone dug up a BIN file with item names in it. There were a ton of unknown items like Paural, Metaceran, Omega Gel, Hibalera, Par Ork, etc. It was hypothesized that these would be used to make high-ranking weapons and line shields. If this is true, these S2 - S5 icons would back that theory up even more. Moving on, however, we'll see the gold, silver and bronze Vol Coin icons from Casino Volyale as well as some new icons used for the auto-run and follow commands. The five icons directly to the right of the Vol Coins I don't recognize. I'm sure they're for new party commands, though.

Alright, that's it. Discuss!

[Rashiid]

wow...

like...Cyber PSU....awsome!!!

i knew it would go past S2+

*sensing Sounomi smartassness coming*

[omegapirate2k]

Could you host the image somewhere else? I have massive problems seeing images from the jp uploader.

[Sychosis]

Picture isn't working for me :/

[jayster]

the picture confuses me. Too much to look at.

[jayster]

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h284/jmido8/psu.jpg

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: jayster on 2007-05-26 09:48 ]</font>

[Sychosis]

Hmm, they seem to be placed near more party related icons. It may be more indicative of S2-S5 missions if the level cap goes to 200 or more.

Maybe ST had/has planned to stick an icon in the game list to indicate which difficulty a game is so you can check it at a glance? At the current 3*s per grade set up that would mean 24* items for S5s.

[Kent]

Directly to the right of that S5 icon... What is that? It looks a bit like the Friend icon for Xbox Live. http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/8739/xboxlivefriendtr8.gif

[Rashiid]

Par 1337 drops on S4; confirmed. http://www.pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_lol.gif

[DurakkenX]

all of those are recognizable... the 5 icons to the right of the coins are part invite icons that are new to the AoI expansion...i don't know which each one means but they are for what type of party or what not you are looking for

the small red Xs i have no idea about but given the line that they are in and size they are prolly a status symbol or chat symbol as the ones to the right of them are a chat symbol used for typing or talking, and the yellow and green shield was used in the jp ver when it first launched but noone knows what it means at all..

[EspioKaos]

On 2007-05-26 10:03, Kent wrote:
Directly to the right of that S5 icon... What is that? It looks a bit like the Friend icon for Xbox Live. http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/8739/xboxlivefriendtr8.gif

I'm not 100% certain, but I think that was used in the Illuminus beta. I believe it was used when you were selecting a party member to "attach" yourself to so that you could use the auto-follow feature. I never messed around with it that much, however, so I may very well be mistaken.

[EspioKaos]

On 2007-05-26 10:06, DurakkenX wrote:
all of those are recognizable... the 5 icons to the right of the coins are part invite icons that are new to the AoI expansion...i don't know which each one means but they are for what type of party or what not you are looking for
Oh, the "AFK," "going solo," "looking for a party," etc. options. I never messed around with those, unfortunately.


On 2007-05-26 10:06, DurakkenX wrote:
and the yellow and green shield was used in the jp ver when it first launched but noone knows what it means at all..

That's a sign that (as far as I know) means "beginner." It was probably going to be applied to new characters for a set period of time to identify them to those who had been around for a while, maybe so that they could be shown the ropes by those who knew the ins and outs of the game. Of course, tagging a new guy as such is not really nice to do, so it's probably a good thing it didn't carry over to other regions.

[Golto]

Wow nice find and I do think those S2-S5 icons are for items. I don't recall seeing any icons for mission rank. Anyone who got that 13* monster mat in the beta take a pic of it in their inventory? I'm curious to see if it used the S icon. Kinda disappointed they didn't start using Ultimate after S3.

Now the real question is will each one be 3 star ranks worth of items. Like S2 would be 13-15*? Or S2=13*, S3=14*, S4=15*?

Maybe this could shut up a certain someone who says there will never be an S2 of anything.

[Trey_Winters]

The small red Xs, I believe, are found at the bottom of melee, ranged, and TECH weapons that you cannot use as a certain class. The big red X is displayed in shop lists, but on the weapons themselves, they'd need to be smaller, which would explain having smaller red Xs...I guess.

So like, I'm now a Fortefighter since I maxed Fighgunner out. When I look in my PM, I see "X Double Saber", but on the Double Saber info screen, it has "x Cannot equip: Type"...

[Kimil]

you know what I find wierd?

IN the bottom right of the screen ( not on the texture mats, but the regular screen ) there the menu opinions right? and its represented by a little man with his arm up... Why isn't this texture on the mat?

Makes me wonder if theres another texture mat that they could find, that would give us futher info

[EspioKaos]

On 2007-05-26 10:27, Kimil wrote:
you know what I find wierd?

IN the bottom right of the screen ( not on the texture mats, but the regular screen ) there the menu opinions right? and its represented by a little man with his arm up... Why isn't this texture on the mat?

Makes me wonder if theres another texture mat that they could find, that would give us futher info


I'm sure there are many others. For example, there are all of the weapon, element, TECHNIC, status effect and attack icons; I'm certain those are all on a few other texture maps. I'd love to see them, though.

[Kylie]

S5 weapons or missions? Either idea seems awesome. ^_^

[Umberger]

On 2007-05-26 10:49, Kylie wrote:
S5 weapons or missions? Either idea seems awesome. ^_^



I think those are weapon/armor icons...I don't remember seeing the colored icons anywhere on missions.

Sweet stuff.

[Eleina]

Coming soon in 2050 ><...

[AC9breaker]

I really don't think its going to be for weapons. Like Sychosis said, there wouldn't be enough space to fit the stars on the item. That is of course if it continues the same trend of being 3 stars for each weapon grade. The Del rol li parts where 13 stars and took a good chunk of space. I've prepared some sample images that I took from the beta so we can discuss the plausability of s2+* weapons.
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12* 11* item Sinowline

http://www.apocalypse-tribe.com/ac9breaker/Videogames/PSU/psu_shop_01.jpg

Some 10* Double Saber.

http://www.apocalypse-tribe.com/ac9breaker/Videogames/PSU/psu_shop_02.jpg


Side by side comparison

http://www.apocalypse-tribe.com/ac9breaker/Videogames/PSU/psu_shop_03.jpg

and a simple cut and paste job.

http://www.apocalypse-tribe.com/ac9breaker/Videogames/PSU/psu_shop_04.jpg

We should see here that the limit of stars if anything should be 19

I have an image of the Del rol li part which I know is 13* I'll have to look at it to see how the menu is effected by the additional star. Anyway, I'm still unsure that we will see weapons ranked s2+ but I'm also very doubtful of mission being s3+ as well.






<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: AC9breaker on 2007-05-26 12:18 ]</font>

[Golto]

I think my theory of each rank above S being only 1 star seems doable. BTW that sinow line is only 11* http://www.pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_razz.gif

If the current trend of new drops every 20 monster lvls 9* and above continues there has to be higher rank than S2 for missions.

[natewifi]

what a way to find things out...



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: natewifi on 2007-05-26 12:21 ]</font>

[AC9breaker]

Found the screenshot of del rol li part. 13* but if you notice the bar has more room for more stars. At least 3 more stars can fit so i guess its safe to say that we will see at least 16 star items.

http://www.apocalypse-tribe.com/ac9breaker/Videogames/PSU/psu_shop_05.jpg

If golto's Guess on s2 rank and up adding only 1 star for the grade then I guess we may just see s5 rank weapons.

[PALRAPPYS]

o.O

Interesting...

What I find weird is the GRM logo has 2 signs it seems... and the 2nd sign it appears with text underneath.

[Allison_W]

As far as we know, these "S2, S3," etc. icons will be used for items and mission difficulty levels. If they're used for mission difficulty levels, you'll notice there are no separate icons for lower-ranked difficulties--this would suggest they're going to use the same icons for C-S ranked missions as they do for C-S ranked items.

The full run of those S# icons are probably there for mission difficulties; it makes sense that mission difficulties will go that high if they keep increasing the level cap, and one of the things they intend to do with the expansion is make useful interface changes--being able to see mission difficulty at a glance would be convenient. However, this doesn't mean that we won't see some of those S# icons also used for higher item ranks. We may not see S5 items, given that the current star numbering scheme doesn't really give enough room for it, but items up to S3 or S4 would fit (though assuming there's no change in the amount of room available for stars, the size of the stars, or the numbering scheme, all S4 items would be "only" 19 stars).

Sorry if I'm a little hard to read today. I'm writing while dizzy.

EDIT: I just read the friendly neighbourhood socialist's last post. I forgot that only 16, maybe 17 stars would fit into that little window that pops up when you stand over an item. A little counting-on-fingers action demonstrated even to my fogged-up, mathematically illiterate brain that the guy's right--if each star above the twelfth is a new rank, then S5 could be reached within 16 stars. Of course, that's a material "if," and I'm pretty sure it's unnecessary. I'm picturing distribution of access to S5 rank sabers right now, and I'm imagining fTs with A-rank sabers, WTs with S-rank sabers, fFs with S2-rank sabers, FGs with S3-rank sabers, etc. No, I doubt we'll have all those ranks. More likely is that we'll see S2, maybe S3 weapons using the current three-stars-per-rank scheme; even S3 would be stretching it a little bit. Even S2 weapons would be three different levels of access to a given weapon type; S3 would be four. Definitely more reasonable than trying to distribute six different levels of access (between A-S5).

Woob woob woob, wall of text, brain spinning.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Allison_W on 2007-05-26 12:46 ]</font>

[Aralia]

so according to the theory of 24* items... the weps we have now are conceivably gonna have upped drop rates, just as I predicted.

hehe, so all this hunting for s ranks we're all doing is virturally worthless... since sometime in the future these things'll be as common as handguns =p

Cause if not... then we'd NEVER see the 24's drop... since the 10 star ones barely drop as it is.. =p

[EspioKaos]

On 2007-05-26 12:32, PALRAPPYS wrote:
o.O

Interesting...

What I find weird is the GRM logo has 2 signs it seems... and the 2nd sign it appears with text underneath.

The one with the text under it is GRM: SHELL. They manufacture CAST parts.

[Getintothegame]

Still, PSO had all that room and didn't go over 12 (?) stars. I just don't see a 24 star item in PSU's future...

[Allison_W]

On 2007-05-26 13:01, Getintothegame wrote:
Still, PSO had all that room and didn't go over 12 (?) stars. I just don't see a 24 star item in PSU's future...



Me neither. I'm gonna guess that all those tiers of S ranks is more an indication that they'll add difficulties above S2 and that they'll be adding icons to the join party and maybe mission select screens, and that we might see S2, maybe S3, weapons.

EDIT: Nonetheless, good work, EspioKaos. I may disagree with your sources on exactly what the textures suggest, but you made a wonderful, informative, and provocative find.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Allison_W on 2007-05-26 13:06 ]</font>

[-Shimarisu-]

HAY GUYS THIS CANNOT BE RIGHT, THERE IS NO HACKING ON PSU JP!

[Mystil]

On 2007-05-26 13:01, Getintothegame wrote:
Still, PSO had all that room and didn't go over 12 (?) stars. I just don't see a 24 star item in PSU's future...



Max in PSO was 13.

24* sounds a bit over the top. We might top 16.

[ThEoRy]

16 sounds logical. 24? Not so much.. Although as I've said all along.... 6 lvl 150 characters + S2 missions = baby mode. S3 - S5 missions does not surprise me in the least. Now if only we could get endless nightmare missions.....

[Mystil]

With that said, it appears lvl200 is indeed going to be the end cap.

That kind of grinding is going to be interesting.

[Soukosa]

The info window listing stuff about the item on the ground will adjust its size to fit the name of the item and the number of stars it has. Other windows in the game are a fixed size though, so if you really want to look at that for a star max but I don't think that's a good idea.

There is gonna be a limit on the amount of stars, purely because there's no purpose to go too far up. Much like there's no purpose to increase the grade/rank of the item every additional star it gains... There really is no proof that any of those S# icons are for items either as was stated. Along with how enemy drops follow the 20 level range after 80. ST has already gone against the enemy level pattern that was set up with the release of the game. So there's no way to really know what they will do past lv 110.

[Mewn]

Interesting find, wonder when something will come up that explains this, so we can dispense with the inevitable rumour-mongering.

[Tycho]

*looks for c-mode icon among the other stuff*

To anyone that believes in 8347587345* items, keep in mind the S-weapons have unique looks. Now imagine ST making 4 (manufacturers) * 4 (difficulties) * 3 (stars per difficulty) * 20 (weapon types, ?) new designs, if they're going to get exactly one for each combination. Yeah, right. http://www.pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_wacko.gif

Edit:


On 2007-05-26 10:06, DurakkenX wrote:
the yellow and green shield was used in the jp ver when it first launched but noone knows what it means at all..
Actually, the Japanese would recognize it; it comes with new driver's licenses over there (iirc -- not like I have one), to indicate they're still new to it or something. So, a newb tag basically.


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Tycho on 2007-05-26 17:15 ]</font>

[Helly]

I find S2 missions to be a chore and going above that just won't be any fun for me. I'll always love PSU but the difficultys are way broken and serve only to further splinter the small playerbase.

[Allison_W]

On 2007-05-26 17:24, Helly wrote:
I find S2 missions to be a chore and going above that just won't be any fun for me. I'll always love PSU but the difficultys are way broken and serve only to further splinter the small playerbase.



You either don't have enough people or you're missing some key role for the missions you're doing (i.e., doing Jarba-heavy missions without an SE-dealer).

[Niered]

As much as I love the prospect of the final cap hitting something like 150-200, S3 missions would hella piss me off.

ORPG's are repetitive enough just based on there gameplay style. By making us do the same gahdamm mission we were doing at level 1, simply with tougher baddies, were basically paying Sega to spoon feed us rehashes.

If I had my way, Id say they should make missions that even at C rank require you to be a high level. Like, oh say 65. That way i can look forward to new areas at my high-levelness.

There are few things that could make me want to stop playing this game, but S3-S5 missions would be one of them.

[Isabella]

S2-25
.....I don't really care

[Hrith]

The maximum stars for items should be 15, because there is no 16-star ore >_>

13-star ore: Terseline
14-star ore: Uranseline
15-star ore: Chronoseline

And also 13-star metals:
Single-handed melee weapons: Barlian
Two-handed melee weapons: Gachnium
Single-handed ranged weapons: Exanite
Two-handed ranged weapons: Gurtite
Casting weapons: Paural

14-star catalysts:
Parum: Nanoceran
Neudaiz: Ortaceran
Moatoob: Metaceran

14-star wood:
Parum: Par Ork
Neudaiz: Neu Ork
Moatoob: Mot Ork


Everything seems to be going towards a 15-star limit.

[PrinceBrightstar]

To me, this kind of hack has always been acceptable, it's really just a re-skinning and does no damage to other player's games as the file itself is contained within the game of the one doing it. This also gives me hope that removing the HUD may one day be possible on PSU for machinima purposes.

To put it in another perspective, it opens the door to do what Sega did to PSO Ultimate Episode 1 graphically. Just a re-skin.

I know of a similar file like this one. I saw this pop onto my screen one day when my graphics got corrupted in game and my compy bluescreened shortly after.

http://www.phantasystarmonthly.com/psutextures2.JPG
Now granted this opens the question of just how many expansions there are planned for PSU now. I believe Sega said there were 5 years of content planned. Could it be 4 expansions in total?

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Jonathan_F on 2007-05-27 02:06 ]</font>

[Arika]

I dont think that S2-S5 is weapons rank icon
it should be sth else because the position/arrangement of it not same as C,B,A,S