SonicTeam unveiled their new site for the upcoming Japanese PC/PS2 event Maximum Attack G earlier today!

Here's a brief synopsis of how the event will play out.

• The event is set to begin mid-December.
• The PSO fields will be released.
• Certain lead PSO characters such as Ash, Rupika and Jean Carlo Montague will make appearances, and even join you in battle.
• The event missions will feature enemies with low HP, 250% EXP payout and a 250% increase to their chance of dropping a rare item.
• Earn points by killing enemies to go toward the total server-wide point tally which will uncover event prizes. 100,000,000 is the mentioned goal, but the prizes don't stop there!
• Collect "Weapons Badges" to use as currency in a special trading mission where you can receive PSO weapons and other prizes such as SEGA merchandise.
• Even more special items will be given out to high-ranking individuals at the close of the event. (A leader board will be kept to track individual top scores.)
• The first mission for this event will take place in a VR simulation of PSO's caves.

Stay tuned, as we'll have more information on this event as it arises. Also, feel free to join in the discussion of Max Attack G over at the forums.

"Presidential Assassination," the fourth chapter of SEGA's moving comic, Shadow of the Arkguard, has been released. Has Ethan really turned to the bad side in this latest installment? Find out for yourself!

This Friday, we'll be seeing our very first content update for Ambition of the Illuminus. Translated from the Japanese 360 site:

Episode 3 begins
Chapter 1, entitled "Despair and Hope," will be released to kick off PSU: Episode 3. The GUARDIANS have begun to crumble as an organization, and individual members are looking for work wherever they can. In the midst of all of this, one day Maya calls on you to discuss certain matters.
New fields

Pavilion of Air: Top

Pavilion of Air: Bottom
New missions

"Sacred Stream" sends Guardians into the Pavilion of Air to take down the COG's latest weapon, Shiowa Hidoki, which is running amok due to terrorist sabotage.

"White Beast" is a co-op mission which takes Guardians through the upper levels of the Pavilion, purifying escaped native creatures until finally confronting the deadly Alterzgohg!
New lobbies

Pavilion of Air: Upper District

Mt. Ohtoku: Shitenkaku
New items

Many new weapons and line shields will be added.

New clothes and new CV parts will be added.

New room decorations will be added to Variety Shop in Clyez City.

The Casino Voloyal prize counter gets its first update with new room decorations and music discs.

Shitenkaku's offertory box opens.
1Up Platinum Cup rewards

All rewards from the Platinum Cup will be issued beginning with this update. As mentioned before, they will last for three weeks due to the 360 server's rollback. It is unknown currently if the extra week will apply to the English PC/PS2 servers.

[B] Twin Fluor. Bulbs will be issued to everyone through their common box. Make sure you have an open spot so you don't miss out! Also, this prize must be claimed from your box by January 31, 2008. (In other words, just log in before then.)

Thanks to Phetty for pointing out the update. Please feel free to join in our discussion of this update at the forum!
Update: The official English site has updated with details on our upcoming maintenance. Interestingly enough, it seems that more clothes and parts will be made available than we thought.

As the North American (and worldwide for 360) release of PSU: Ambition of the Illuminus is only hours away, we regret that we must bring forth some sad news for players of PSO: Blue Burst. The English PSOBB servers will be closing for good early next year. From the Sega Billing web site:

"We regret to announce that you will no longer be able to purchase Hunters’ Licenses for Phantasy Star Blue Burst from January 9th 2008.

All subscription-based services will be terminating on Jan 9th, 2008.

If you have an active subscription terminating between January 9th 2008 and February 9th 2008, your Hunters’ License will be valid until February 9th, at which point the game servers will be made available free of charge to all previous Hunters’ License holders.

Phantasy Star Blue Burst game servers will be closed down on March 31st, 2008."

According to a post on Sega's official message boards, Hunter's License sales for PSOBB will actually cease on December 06, 2007, and all subscription-based services for Blue Burst will terminate on January 09, 2008. Any subscriptions that expire between December 09, 2007 and January 09, 2008, will be valid until January 09, 2008, at which point, the servers will be made available for free until they are take offline forever on March 31, 2008.

Please be sure to check out Clumsyorchid's post at the official forum for further details, including reasons for the closure.

The official English PSU site has been updated with information regarding this Friday's update to the PC/PS2 servers and next Tuesday's update for the 360 servers. Check out the link above for full details! Also, feel free to join in our discussion on this update over at the forums.

Only a few days into the final week of the 1Up Platinum Cup and we've moved on and above the 3,500,000 Gurhal Check Points mark. Reaching this milestone has earned everyone a free synthesis board for the Twin Fluorescent Bulbs which will be given out at a later date following the close of the event. Our next stop is not too far off at 4 million points. Let's make the most of the few days we have left, fellow Guardians! Get out there and show everyone what you're made of!

The Japanese 360 PSU site has been updated with what we can expect to see in this Friday's update.

New co-op mission
A new mission entitled "True Darkness" will be added. Residual A-photon energy at the HIVE has given birth to a new Dulk Fakis. Guardians are asked to report to the HIVE to take down the creature once and for all!

New photon arts
A new batch of PA Fragment-traded photon arts will be released. These arts include Dus Majarra, Twin Penetration, Regrant and Megistar, among many others.

Thanks to pikachief at the forums for pointing this out!

Update! The official English PSU site has been updated with this information.

SonicTeam recently announced a slight delay on the merging of the Japanese World 1 and World 2 servers. The reasoning behind the delay is fear that the merge could potentially have caused issues with the 1st Anniversary Thanks Festa that begins on August 31. A specific date has not been rescheduled for the merger, but plans are still in place to have the process done before the release of Ambition of the Illuminus on September 27.

The official Japanese Xbox 360 site has been updated with what we new missions can expect to see this Friday.

• New co-op mission
  • Duel in the Ruins C-S2
• New S2 missions
  • Satellite of Darkness S2
  • SEED Awakened S2

And of course with these new missions come new high-ranking board drops. Special thanks to NavAtsuvy for pointing this out at the forums.