Latest News and Updates

The Japanese Blue Burst site announced today that the 5th Anniversary Event for Phantasy Star Online will be concluding with a special double experience points event. You will only be able to receive double experience points from enemies if you are playing in a quest. So if you are wanting to reach level 200 before Phantasy Star Universe comes out, now is the time to do it! This event will run until February 7th. Also, it appears you will now be able to donate points to other teams now using coupons. The details of this system have not been released yet. This feature will be useful for teams that have unlocked all of the available team options and have an excess number of team points. These updates will be made available on January 24th. Credit goes to Saffran for bringing us this news.

Gamefront.de has put up two new V-Jump Scans. PSO-World is mirroring them for your convienence. This issue of V-Jump has revealed new information about a new offline "Extra" mode and the character creation process. The idea behind Extra Mode is that you'll be able to create your own character for the offline mode and use Ethan's friends as your teammates. Scroll down to read more about Extra Mode and the character creation process. Also, be sure to click on the magazine scans to see larger versions of them.

Magazine Scans:


Extra Mode:



In Extra Mode, you'll create a character to fight freely along-side Ethan's teammates in any area you've visited while playing through Story Mode. Also, you will have a Partner Machinery to help you on your adventures. As you give it items, it will eventually evolve into a humanoid-form that will accompany you into battle. Your party can be made up of any of the characters that you've met in Story Mode and from which you have received Partner Cards.

It is speculated that your Extra Mode character will be seperate from your online character (similar to Phantasy Star Episode 3). However, there is nothing in the article that says anything about the issue.

Character Creation:




To create a character for Extra Mode or online gameplay,you will have to go through the following process:

1. Choose a race/gender combination for your character based on each one's strengths and weaknesses.
2. Create a face for your character. You'll be able to customize a number of different facial features.
3. Customize your character's height and proportions.
4. Select your character's outfit by mixing and matching jackets, pants, and shoes. Also, you'll be able to select a voice-type for your character. The voice type can be fine-tuned using a voice pitch slider.

Credit goes to Cowboy_Bebop for first spotting these scans and EspioKaos for translating them. If you would like to discuss this new, please visit our Phantasy Star Universe forum.

The US release date for Phantasy Star Universe on Sega of America's website has been changed from "Winter 2006" (1st Quarter) to "Fall 2006" (3rd Quarter). This means we will be waiting a few additional months for the US release. While the delay come as a severe disappointment to some people, please remember that the game is still in development. The Japanese release was postponed so the developers could add additional content and features to the game.

Credit goes to Nash for spotting this change. If you would like to discuss this news, please visit our Phantasy Star Universe forum.

Today's official Phantasy Star Universe update has revealed new details about the game-creation process for online gameplay. Essentially the way this process works is that you will setup your team in the "lobby" and you will go to a mission counter. At the counter, you'll be able to select from a large number of missions. For a more in-depth explanation, read the comments below each of the screenshots.

Step 1: Making Friends


The first thing to do is to find some teammates. If you are new to Phantasy Star Universe, walk around the lobby and introduce yourself. Keep in mind that Phantasy Star Universe lobbies will be huge! Each one will have shops and be capable of holding up to 100 players.

Step 2: Assembling the Team


After you've made some friends, invite them to join your team. In this screenshot, Sonic is inviting Amitie (the white RAcaseal-looking character) to join his party. It appears that the people you invite will be your teammates for the game you create. If you do find a good teammate, be sure to exchange Partner Cards (PSU equivalent of Guild Cards). You'll be able to send them Simple Mail and locate them on different servers in the future.

Step 3: Selecting a Mission


Once you've got your team together, it is time to create a game. You will be able to select select from a wide variety of missions. The screenshot above shows four selectable missions, all named "Secure an Evacuation Route." The letter after the mission name corresponds to the quest's difficulty. To the right of that, we see the quest description screen. The text for the selected quest says that "A number of people are trapped in a section of the Linear Line as a result of the attack by SEED. All evacuation routes have been blocked off by SEED-forms." Below that, the following information is displayed:

• Free mission
• No requirements
• Level 1 enemies
• Difficulty Level: C
• Party: 1 to 6 Players
• All members must join.

The box in the middle is asking whether you want to accept this mission.

Credit goes to lostinseganet for letting us know about this update, LoveJuice for providing the images, and EspioKaos for translating it. Be sure to read our Online Gameplay guide to read more about Phantasy Star Universe online Mode. You can discuss this update in our Phantasy Star Universe forum.

Sega Direct has updated its pre-order bundle to include a Pete wrist strap. This accessory is modeled after Pete (Ethan's Partner Machinery) and it appears to be around the size of a US nickle. Unfortunately for importers, Sega Direct does not ship orders outside Japan. So if you want a Pete wriststrap, you'll have to find a Japanese resident willing to order a PSU pre-order bundle for you. Credit goes to EspioKaos for letting us know about this information.

Jeux-France.com has posted scans from the latest issue of Famitsu. PSO-World.com is mirroring these scans. These new scans include new information about Moatoob, three new monsters, two Story Events, "My Room" feature and creating an online game.. PSO-World.com has already covered some of this information. You can find translations for the Moatoob and one story event information here. The three new monsters were covered during last Friday's official site update review. Scroll down to read EspioKaos's translations for the sections not covered by previous PSO-World.com news stories. The Story Event information contains significant spoiler information for the offline story. If you would like to read it, please click on the "Read More" button.

Famitsu Magazine Scans:


My Room:


You'll be able to invite up to six other people into your room. Also, there will be a goods shop where you'll be able to buy items just for decorating your room. There is a possibility of there being rare room goods sold at the goods store.

Creating a Game:


If you are new to the online world, here are the steps you will have to follow in order to create your first game:
1. Explore the Guardians Colony and other areas to meet new friends.
2. Exchange partner cards (the equivalent of guild cards) after you've met some people who would like to join your party. Just like in PSO, by having someone's card, you'll be able to send simple mail to them among other things.
3. Go to the mission counter to create your game. Only the party leader will be able to select the mission.

It is mentioned that new missions will be added over time.

Credit goes to Lord_DS for finding these scans. If you would like to read more about Online Gameplay, check out our guide. You can discuss these scans in our Phantasy Star Universe forum!

Story Event:


"It seems that Tylor and Magashi had a little partnership of sorts going on. (From what I can see in one of the pictures, Tylor is handing an A-photon reactor over to Magashi. What Magashi plans to do with this, I've got no idea.) Anyway, Renvolt turns on Tylor all of the sudden. Ethan happens to see this and runs to help the pirate. Magashi decides to flee the scene, but summons a trio of Grina Beats to hold off Ethan and Tylor. Begin boss battle: Ethan & Tylor vs. Grina Beats." -- EspioKaos

Takao Miyoshi is one of the lead developers for Phantasy Star Universe. He maintains a personal blog where he sometimes discusses certain aspects of the game. In one of his recent entries, he talks about where the concept of player-run shops are being tested. EspioKaos has provided a translation of the blog entry:

"The entry explains that an online shop function is currently being tested in the game. Basically, you can set up a shop in your "My Room" on the Colony. From there, you're able to buy and sell items that you've created yourself. There's also a search feature being implemented which will allow players to look for a specific shop by searching for user names and public messages set by other users. "

The rest of the entry explains that the developers are having some doubts about how well this system will work in a game with several hundred thousand players.

Credit goes to Lord_DS for finding this entry. If you would like to discuss this news, please visit our Phantasy Star Universe forum!

Famitsu.com put up an article yesterday with new information about the Moatoob, the desert planet. This information includes some background and cultural information, along with an offline story event. You can read more about the background and environment information below. Since the story event contains spoiler information about the offline story, click on the "Read More" link at the end of the article to read about it.

Background:


Moatoob was once a lush, green planet with abundant water sources. During the war, however, the moon that once orbited the planet was destroyed resulting in the gravitational balance it once had with Moatoob to be thrown off. The oceans soon began to ebb and drought spread transforming the planet into a vast desert. In spite of this, many people with dreams of wealth began to immigrate to the planet because of how rich in resources it is.

Environment:


The stages on this planet include open desert areas, caves, and canyons. Several wild, hairy, and ferocious monsters wander the planet!

Credit goes to Dhylec for spotting this article and EspioKaos for translating it. If you would like to read more about Moatoob, please consult our Planets guide. You can discuss this article in our Phantasy Star Universe forum.

Story Event:


Ethan and his party are investigating the kidnapping of a scientist which ends up taking them to the desert planet. They confront the pirate who they think is the one behind the kidnapping. This is where Liina shows up. Tonnio tries talking to her about the kidnapping, but Liina refuses to respond, and instead just leaves. Ethan's group follows her but soon ends up being captured by a group of pirates.

Another Friday means another official Phantasy Star Universe site update! The site was updated today with news on three additional enemies and character class customization options. Let's start with the new enemies. They include the Grina Beat (mean- looking mech), Cog Nadd (spiky wolf creature), and Bil De Bear (mutant Hildebear)! It is unknown whether these will be regular enemies or bosses. You can read more about each of these enemies by scrolling down. Also, you can click on the thumbnails to read more about each monster.

Grina Beat:



Large machinery used by the military. The Grina Beat has the ability to convert the attachments on its arms into various types of equipment.

Cog Nadd:



A medium-sized native creature that lives in Gallenigalé Canyon on Moatoob. The Cog Nadd uses the spikes protruding from its body to ward off anyone who comes close. Those caught by its body rush attack will take considerable damage.

Bil De Bear:



The Bil De Bear is a large creature native to the Kugu Desert of Moatoob. Considering the size of its body, it is capable of moving very quickly, easily overwhelming a player with its raw power.

Additionally, a new character class customization system was introduced today in a new section called "Battle Type."



The general concept behind the battles you will face in Phantasy Star Universe is focused around three types known as "hunter," "ranger," and "force." Tactics and other information are constantly being sent to Guardians in battle from an automatic support system in the main computer at the Guardians' headquarters. This support system individually identifies each style of fighting one uses.

By changing your type, you will alter the weapons and abilities that you can handle. It is possible to do this at the Type Select Counter, where you can raise your type level by using the points you earn while on missions. In order to maintain the type level you're training for, you are able to select the type of mission contents that would be best suited for yourself.

Credit goes to EspioKaos for providing translations and VioletSkye for the pictures. You can discuss this exciting update in our Phantasy Star Universe forum!