The official Phantasy Star Universe website was updated on Friday with new information and pictures about the Guardians' Colony and Parum. This information includes details about the cities and facilities at both of these locations. Thanks to EspioKaos, you can read translations for location descriptions by scrolling down. Be sure to click on the thumbnails to see larger versions of the images. Also, you can see two potential spoiler screenshots by clicking on the Read More link at the bottom of the article.


Clyez City -- Guardians' Colony:





Clyez City is the city at the heart of the Guardians Colony which serves as the headquarters for the Guardians. Several other similar types of cities exist about the Colony.

Linear Line -- Guardians' Colony:



The Linear Line is an above-ground means of transportation that runs continuously throughout the Guardians Colony. It is not tied just to the Guardians Colony, however, as there is one ship that serves as a portable means of transportation to other colonies as well as internal sections of massive warships.

Holtes City -- Parum:





Holtes City is the economic center of Parum. The city's main focus is on major facilities. In the eastern district is the Parum Branch of the Guardians. The western district is home to the G.R.M. Corporation, Allied Military Force HQ, and a shopping mall. In the central district of the city, you'll find things such as the PPT shuttle and the Alliance conference building, among other such places.

Raphon Plains -- Parum:




This is the plains areas of Parum. There are a large number of beautiful places like this about the planet. Almost all of these places, however, were at one time destroyed, and have since been restored to their original state by artifical means.

Credit goes to LoveJuice for spotting this update and providing images. You can discuss this update in our Phantasy Star Universe forum.

Spoiler Screenshots:


These screenshots seem to depict a SEED take-over of the Guardians' Colony.

The official site was updated yesterday with new information about how a SEED plant grows, spreads, and the kind of damage it can cause. Also, we get to see two new weapons, the "Photon Reflector" and "Photon Eraser." These weapons were designed to help remove the SEED infestation. You can scroll down to read more about SEED and these new weapons.


The Corrosive Methods of Seed:


When the kernels of Seed fall to the ground, they rapidly grow root-like treestumps. They then settle on to the ground, covering it. Furthermore, flower-like things bloom from these kernels. These blooms emit corrosive cells like pollen. These cells have no effect on the bodies of higher-level lifeforms like humans. The SEED core that is attached to the ground develops a special barrier called a Blume (means flower in German).

How to Eliminate a SEED Infestation:


Regular weapons have no effect whatsoever on Blume. Firepower at the level of the A.M.F. is required to be able to destroy a SEED infestation. Accordingly, the Guardians developed special tools called the "Photon Eraser" and "Photon Reflector." However, even these weapons cannot directly attack the Blume. Instead, by exposing a SEED's stem (essentially its roots), these weapons can make the Blume wither. A special attack can then be launched against the real form of the SEED core. Items such as goggles can be used to discover things like stems and Photon Spots that would normally be invisible to the naked eye.

Background:
becomes

The enigmatic life-form known as "SEED" suddenly started flying into the Graal solar system one day. The SEED infestation spread out along the outskirts of the site where they landed. Their flowers started to grow tree stumps and scattering corrosion-causing pollen. The calamity caused by SEED is not only harming the soil of where it landed, but is also causing primitive life-forms to become ferocious.

Credit goes to lostinseganet for spotting the update, Kano-Okami and VioletSkye for the images, and Tycho for the translations. You can discuss this update in our Phantasy Star Universe forum.

According to the official website, the Japanese version of Blue Burst will be updated with several new quests on February 28th. These quests include White Day, Prinicpal's Gift, and an Even More Dangerous Deal with Black Paper. Additionally, Episode 4 will have its drop chart modified. The droprates for items will be lowered and the higher the difficulty you play on, the better the stats on the weapon will be. These changes will remain in effect until March 14th. In a welcome permanent change for Forces, the techique resistances for Episode 4 enemies will be lowed. Finally, Sonic Team is going to be sponsoring a Battle Mode tournament. You can read more about the new Black Paper quest and Battle Mode Tournament below.

An Even More Dangerous Deal with Black Paper:


This is the sequel to the infamous "Deal with Black Paper" quest. It is a timed single-player quest set in Subterranean Desert where only Episode 4 items will drop. It is expected that this quest will be extremely challenging. One of the items you will be able to earn is the previously unreleased Solferino.


Solferino

Battle Mode Tournament:
A Battle Mode tournament using Battle Rule #4 will be held for Human, Newman, and Android characters. The winner will have a screenshot taken of him/her and it will appear on the official site. Also, it appears the winner will receive a prize. The tournament will be held on Ship 8, Block 10. You have until March 13th to register for the event. Here is the Battle Mode schedule:

• March 25 - Preliminary Human Tournament
• March 26 - Preliminary Newman Tournament
• April 1 - Preliminary Android Tournament
• April 8 - Semifinal
• April 9 - Final

Game Masters will be holding special "Free Battle" events where beginners can try out Battle Mode.

Credit goes to Saffran and Dhylec for bringing us this news. If you have any questions about these quests or events, you can post in our Quest or Battle Mode forums.

The US/EU Blue Burst servers are currently going through a brief maintenance phase so two new quests can be uploaded. These two new quests include Principal's Gift and White Day. If you were able acquire a Valentine's Day Chocalate, you'll be able to get a Magic Rock "Heart Key" by playing through the White Day Event. Also, you will be able to make a Flower Bouquet weapon by playing Principal's Gift and Towards the Future. The lobbies will be updated for the White Day Event on the 28th and run through March 14th. If you need help finding a partner for these quests, you can post in our Player Matchup forum.

White Day and Principal's Gift are also confirmed for Gamecube Episode I&II from February 28th to March 21st

The voting period for the 5th Anniversary Fan Artist Contest has ended. Due to the oustanding quality of the entries, the voting was fairly close in several of the categories. However, three winners have emerged in each of the categories based on the number of votes each entry received. Without further ado, here are the contest winners:

	First Place Arist: TeeBee Title: Idola Rico
	Second Place Artist: azjazo Title: Grants and Megid
	Third Place Artist: AzureBlaze Title: JetPlatinum Sculpture

According to the official website, the Japanese release date for Phantasy Star Universe (PC & PS2) has been changed from March 30, 2006 to just "2006." The statement on the website says that the game is being delayed so more time can be spent polishing the game and improving the stability of the online network. Sonic Team apologizes for the delay and understands the frustration of the fans.

Credit goes to EspioKaos for spotting this news. You can discuss this news in our Phantasy Star Universe forum.

The official Phantasy Star Universe site was updated on Friday with new information about Partner Machinery and the "My Room" feature. In the "My Room" section, we learn there will be a dressing room, shared bank, decorations, and video phone. Also, it gives us some additional information about Partner Machinery. This information includes details about Item Synthesis and Partner Machinery Evolution. Scroll down to read more about each of these topics. Also, you can click on the thumbnails to see larger versions of the images.


Raising Your Partner Machinery:


By giving your Partner Machinery weapons and items, it will transform into various forms. As your Partner Machinery transforms, it will be able to create better and more useful items. The items it produces can also change depending on how it was raised. Once the Partner Machinery has transformed into its humanoid form, it will present you with its partner card. You will now be able to summon your Partner Machinery and take it with you into battle.

Item Synthesis:


As you progress through Story Mode, you will eventually receive a "synthesis kit." This will allow your Partner Machinery to combine and create new items for you. The items your Partner Machinery is best at making will change as it evolves. However, it is possible for item synthesis to fail, which may give undesirable results. Also, you will be able to use item synthesis in Network Mode. You will need to do some experimentation since there will be a few minute differences.

Video Phone:


In your room, you will be able to find an information and intelligence terminal called the "Photon Wave Communications Device." It is more commonly referred to as a "video phone." In Story Mode, you can use the video phone to read mail from the Guardians and receive information on free missions. For Network Mode, it is used to transport other players' rooms, search for shops, and invite others to your room.

Dressing Room:


You will be able to change your character's clothes by either visiting the clothing shop within the cities or the dressing area within your own room. Only the clothes that you've purchased in shops will be available in your dressing room. You can change your character's clothing in all modes of gameplay. However, you will have to complete a certain portion of the story before you have access to this feature in Story Mode.

Decorating Your Room:


When you first get your room, it will look fairly generic. However, you will soon be able to customize your room by placing various items around it. In Story Mode, Ethan's room only has three item spaces. The room you have in Network Mode will have more spaces available. Additionaly, if you possess a "reform ticket" in Network Mode, you'll be able to change the design of your room.

Shared Bank:


In Phantasy Star Universe, you can have up to four different characters on a single online account. Each character will receive their own room and Partner Machinery. In your room, there is something called a "linked storage box" which allows different characters from the same account to share and exchange items that are deposited into it.

Credit goes to lostinseganet for finding the article, VioletSkye for the images, and EspioKaos for the translations. You can discuss this update in our Phantasy Star Universe forum.

It appears that Play-Asia.com is offering the Sega Direct Exclusive Deluxe bundle on their website for $109. This bundle will include the following: Phantasy Star Universe (PS2 version), a T-Shirt, an artwork book, a soundtrack CD, and a Pete phonestrap. Previously this bundle was only available to people living in Japan. Even though the price may seem to be rather high, this is probably your best chance to get the bundle's extras. Credit goes to Nash for spotting this pre-order.

Ancient writes, "In the latest issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly, the Quarter Man (rumor) section of the magazine is quoted as saying:

Roughly 250 hours - that's how much time The Q has logged on all the different versions of Phantasy Star Online. So yeah, you could say that I'm a tad bit excited for this summer's full-fledged sequel, Phantasy Star Universe. And now it seems that PS2 owners won't be the only ones losing their social life to this off-and-online role-playing game, as PSU will also arrive on the Xbox 360. Oh, one more thing: If you start playing the game on Sony's console, you will be able to transfer your online character - thanks to all stats and items being saved on Sega's servers - to the Xbox 360 version (which will hit a few months after the PS2 installment).

True, the Q is devoted to rumors and deep inside scoops. But I cant remember the last time he was wrong about things. I suppose you could hold off the celebratory parades untill Sega officially announces it, but I think the chances are looking very favorable now."