Thinking about returning.

[Allison_W]

I played vanilla Phantasy Star Universe on PC in mid- to late 2008, before Ambition of the Illuminus came out, and ended up leaving the game due to burnout about the time AotI debuted.

Now, it looks like several updates have taken place and new story missions added since I left, and beyond that, I've been away for long enough that the gameplay might be reasonably fresh again. Unfortunately, I also don't know if any of the people I used to play with are still around.

So I suppose my questions are threefold:

* One, is it worth coming back? I wouldn't be disappointed if it only kept me occupied for a few months before my next hiatus, which tends to be my nature anyway.

* Two, do any of the people I used to know still play PSU? I know of at least one that's now a mod (Congratulations!), but I don't know about others.

* Three, since I left, the househould has come into acquisition of an XBox 360 (but, I also now have an Exceedingly Good computer that would probably run PSU at tip-top specs). I already have the PC version of the base game, as well as time investment in characters (one of whom is mid-level, and I did leave some decent vanilla-PSU gear behind when I left), but I could be swayed to the XBox 360 version if the community there is better--I'm not afraid to solo, but I don't like to do it all the time. Any recommendations?

I appreciate any advice I may receive on this matter--and, hello again.

[Ryna]

1. A lot of new content has come out since AotI's release. This includes hundreds of new items, dozens of missions, and the release of the Master classes. There is enough content to keep you busy for a while.

2. The PC population is smaller than it used to be, but there are still a lot of veteran players left.

3. With the current event going on, it wouldn't be too hard to level a character on a new account. You should also be able to find rare items easily and cheaply. As for the debate on where to the choose the PC/PS2 or Xbox 360 servers, I'd suggest doing a forum search. Those debates come up quite often on this forum. To briefly summarize the most popular points:
-The PC/PS2 servers have less people (one full star at peak times), but some people feel the community is easier to get into.
-The Xbox 360 servers have 8 full stars at peak times, but you'll run into rude people more often.

Now is a good time to renew your account, the Summer Event is in full swing and there is one week left on the Shred the Darkness rewards. Those rewards include 2x Photon Arts leveling exp.

[Yunfa]

Are there no other fun online games where people are tempted to come back to PSU? What is the world coming to.

[Criss]

I think Ryna summed it up pretty well. I'd like to add that X360 has voice chat (which might or might not be a good thing depending on your point of view), while PC has the advantage visually with configurable graphics and fully reconfigurable controls (I play with my PS3 controller even), plus the ability to take screenshots with the press of a button. Of course, how well you'll get to run PSU depends on your computer.

[Tetsaru]

Are you a masochist?

Do you like running the same mission over and over again (because the population is so small, everyone flocks to the newest one) with little to no difficulty to get drops that don't synth or have low %'s?

Do you enjoy having to put up with Sega/Sonic Teams constant screw-ups, failures, and overall lack of knowledge to properly run and program an online game?

If so, sure, play PSU... -_-X

[Neith]

Are you a masochist?

If so, sure, play PSU... -_-X

Just because you don't like PSU (you won't be needing your stuff then, right?) doesn't mean someone else won't.

Although PSU does need some tweaks and fixes to be a better game, you're not going to do the population any good by talking it down all the time- let them decide from popular opinion and by checking the game for themselves. We all know PSU has had problems, but there's no need to put new players off.

To the OP: In the time you've been away, a lot has changed, and much has been added. It's well worth starting again, since we have an event with boosted EXP plus increased synth/grind/PA rates. If you're going to start, now is a great time. Ignore the naysayers and try it for yourself. If, at the end of the first month you don't enjoy it, at least it hasn't cost you much.

[beatrixkiddo]

Just because you don't like PSU (you won't be needing your stuff then, right?) doesn't mean someone else won't.

Although PSU does need some tweaks and fixes to be a better game, you're not going to do the population any good by talking it down all the time- let them decide from popular opinion and by checking the game for themselves. We all know PSU has had problems, but there's no need to put new players off.

To the OP: In the time you've been away, a lot has changed, and much has been added. It's well worth starting again, since we have an event with boosted EXP plus increased synth/grind/PA rates. If you're going to start, now is a great time. Ignore the naysayers and try it for yourself. If, at the end of the first month you don't enjoy it, at least it hasn't cost you much.

He refuses to follow my simple 3-step program for people unhappy with PSU.

1. Quit playing PSU
2. Quit paying for PSU
3. Quit posting on PSU forums

[Tetsaru]

He refuses to follow my simple 3-step program for people unhappy with PSU.

1. Quit playing PSU
2. Quit paying for PSU
3. Quit posting on PSU forums

I've got the first two down. =/ I may stick around just to try to get a Killer Elite (something that SHOULD'VE been out a LOOONG time ago, and you're a fool if you think I'm wrong because that item was available on the FIRST DISC IN OFFLINE), but come August 5th when my subscription ends, I'm gone. I'm pretty sure my friend red_ghost's sub also ends around July 28th... we're both just tired of how the game is being run, and there's no challenging endgame content for veterans like us - stuff games like FF11 and WoW have TONS of. I figure the OP would've liked to know that before deciding to spend whatever money to try to get back into the game. Of course, that's entirely his/her decision...

And no Neith, I'm not GIBBING RARZ, especially after all the bullshit and pure luck I went through to get most of em, so don't even try. That goes for all the rest of you guys too... -_-X

[Magus_84]

So you hate the game, but you're sticking around long enough to get an item that's a marginal increase over other items that have been available for far longer?

And not gibing ur rarz because it took you too long to get them?

And yet there's no content to challenge anyone.

...makes perfect sense.

Note: This post should not be misconstrued as me approving of everything ST does. They're the biggest trolls I've ever seen. But occasionally, there's value. It's those occasional bits of value that someone who plays intermittently (as the OP stated they do) will get the biggest benefit from.

Even without being the type of masochist that hates a game and yet sticks around to bash it.

[Tetsaru]

FYI, I've wanted that rifle ever since I laid eyes on it because it was the best rifle in the game, save for the Edil Fusil which was released much later (and trust me - we ain't getting it anytime soon... it looks like shit anyway). Think of it as one final goal for me to accomplish before I finally go. It's not my fault Segac was retarded enough to give a version 1.0 weapon to a PM first and not us. =/