Some exciting news about PSO BB. Formal service will start on May 21st, 2004.There will be a new map, as well as a new enemy that will appear for the first time on PSO BB! Shown below are the production sketches. The new map and enemy addition are part of the new storyline exclusive to PSO BB.
PSO BB will be available through the following ways:
1. Free May 21st game magazine addition,
2. Free download on May 21st
Both ways will only let you play the game for gree for up to Level 20.
3. Special package edition sale starting June 3rd at 1,980 Yen (2,079 including tax) with 30 days play free
4. June 3rd download at 1,200 Yen (1,260 including tax) with 30 days free
Hunter's License fees are at (payable through credit card or Webmoney):
1. 1,200 Yen (1,260 including tax) for every 30 days or
2. 1,000 Yen (1,050 including tax) for every 30 days with automatic renewal.
ST posted announcing that there will be a new quest coming to Ep 3! "Game Informer" is a 1 person download quest and will be available from Thursday, April 22nd until May 6th. This is a special quest sponsored by the popular North American game magazine. Reiner tells you to go out and find Andy, Mac and Lisa, who have been missing for weeks. The special reward for this quest is the "Game Informer" card, with the "Stall" ability which restricts the MV of surrounding characters. There will be a server maintenance for this quest on Thursday, April 22nd from 2pm til 6pm (JP time). Please do not connect to the servers at this time and please end all games before the scheduled maintenance. Also, the winning Haiku from the last event was published in the recent edition of Nintendo Dream magazine. The winners receive some cool Ep 3 promo items.
**** IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ALL USERS ****
From 9th June 2004 the PSO Episode I&II players will no longer be able to play online using the 50Hz TV display option. SEGA recommends that any player using the 50Hz option immediately change their PSO settings to the 60Hz TV display.
This change does not affect players who are already using the 60Hz TV display, who do not need to take any action.
To switch to a 60Hz display, place the PSO disc in your Gamecube and press the 'Reset button'. Hold down the 'B button' whilst the Gamecube restarts. A message asking 'Would you like to display in 60Hz mode' is displayed. Select 'Yes'.
Further instructions can be found in your PSO Episode I&II manual. Alternatively, please contact SEGA Product Support, who will be happy to help.
ST announced that the new Nintendo Dream download quest "Beautiful Ino'lis" is going to be available from 4/20 to 4/27 (JP only). ST thanks you for the successful turn out of the Nintendo Dream event. The selected best Haiku's will appear in the 4/21 issue of Nintendo Dream. Very likely to be another JP version only quest, and the reward card is as of yet unknown. But it is an item from an old friend from Ep 1 & 2. We are guessing it's the flower bouquet but don't kill us if it isn't (say we kick ass if it is though). Ino'lis is taking over for Kranz in one of his jobs. She wouldn't normally do this, but it's Kranz that needs help. It may be a dangerous job, but this little Fomarl can take on anything if it's for Kranz's sake. Watch out for intense enemy attack!
ST announced that 2 new EP 3 maps, Dolor Odor and Via Tubus, will be added. There will be a server maintenance on Tuesday, April 13th from 2pm til 5pm (JP time). Please do not connect to the servers at this time and please end all games before the scheduled maintenance.
ST posted about the new JP Nintendo Dream Guild Card event. Between April 9 and April 11 starting from 9pm til 12pm JP time, look for two people by the name of "kAYAYAN"and " kei-TAISA." These 2 people will appear on ship 64. Discuss this in our forums.
ST and Nintendo Dream have got together to hold the Guild Card Haiku Competition. it is literally what it says on the tin. You have to write a Haiku (In Japanese presumably) on your Guild Card.
The editors of Nintendo Dream will be around on Pioneer 2 to gather Haikus (by collecting people's Guild Cards)
If they manage to get 640 lines worth of Haiku from the Guild Cards, then a new quest (Beautiful Inolis) will be added. Here's how to order:
*1. Haiku's must fit the standard pattern.
1st line=5 syllables
2nd line=7 syllables
3rd line=5 syllables
Haiku's must be written about 1 of the following:
PSO
Nintendo Dream
Springtime
*2. When you're done, write your Haiku and penname on your Guild Card
*3. You must then go and find the Nintendo Dream editors! It seems there's been an "event" option added to Choice Search to make it easier
Remember, there's 2 of them, named KAYAYAN and Kei-TAISA. They'll be easy to spot due to their orange names.
IGN posted this interesting news:
"Big Phantasy Star News Shortly
You will be shocked, according to Dorimaga
April 07, 2004 - Perhaps the biggest news out of the latest issue of Japan's Dorimaga involves a preview of what's to come in the next issue of the magazine. The magazine promises a new development in the world of Phantasy Star Online that will shock you.
We admit to being totally clueless on what's up, so we'll have to wait, just like you, for further details. The next Dorimaga isn't due out for a month, but it's possible that some other magazine will reveal the big news earlier."
Could it just be PSOBB news, since there hasn't been any in the US nor in JP game magazines?"NGS killed this franchise
Open world is a trap meme Sega fell for.