JP PC/PS2 - Premium course vs. free course

[EspioKaos]

http://phantasystaruniverse.jp/news/...e=view&id=1093

Here's a rundown of the differences between premium and free course, scheduled to begin on the JP side March 18.

1. Illuminus game key
* PC: Required
* FC: Not required
2. GUARDIANS License
* PC: Required (except during free periods and thanks campaigns)
* FC: Not required
3. Entering your room
* PC: Unrestricted
* FC: Not allowed
4. Universe movement
* PC: Full access to 1-16
* FC: Access only to 1-8
5. Optional billing services (GC)
* PC: Unrestricted
* FC: Unrestricted
6. Item exchange with other characters
* PC: Unrestricted
* FC: Not allowed. In the case of items dropped on the floor mid-mission, they can be picked up only by premium course players.
7. Use of PM storage
* PC: Unrestricted
* FC: Not allowed
8. Use of common box
* PC: Unrestricted
* FC: Accessible only from NPC shops
9. EXP/AEXP acquisition
* PC: Unrestricted
* FC: Unrestricted
10. PA EXP acquisition
* PC: Unrestricted
* FC: Unrestricted
11. MP acquisition
* PC: Unrestricted
* FC: Unrestricted
12. Vol Coin receipt
* PC: 150 per day
* FC: 50 per day
13. Vol Coin use
* PC: Unrestricted
* FC: Unrestricted
14. Vol Coin exchange
* PC: Unrestricted
* FC: Unrestricted
15. Title function
* PC: Titles can be acquired.
* FC: Title cannot be acquired, however the player record will still record your play data.
16. Daily stamps
* PC: 5 per day
* FC: 1 per day
17. Service coupons
* PC: 20% of all GC transactions
* FC: 20% of all GC transactions
18. Hairstyle tickets
* PC: Unrestricted
* FC: Unrestricted
19. Body style tickets
* PC: Unrestricted
* FC: Unrestricted
20. GC Gacha
* PC: Unrestricted
* FC: Unrestricted
21. Boost items
* PC: Unrestricted
* FC: Unrestricted

And now for mission restrictions.

1. Free missions
* PC: Unrestricted
* FC: Unrestricted
2. Story mission (EP2, EP3)
* PC: Unrestricted
* FC: Unrestricted, except where certain side stories are required to access specific subplots.
3. Side story missions
* PC: Unrestricted
* FC: Only [psup]Passport to Subspace[/psup] can be played.
4. Party missions
* PC: Unrestricted
* FC: Unrestricted
5. Partner (special co-op) missions
* PC: Unrestricted
* FC: Unrestricted
6. Event missions
* PC: Unrestricted
* FC: Unrestricted
7. Rare free missions
* PC: Unrestricted
* FC: Can be flagged for one, but cannot play it.
8. GAM
* PC: Unrestricted
* FC: Unrestricted
9. GAS
* PC: Unrestricted
* FC: Cannot use (Only previously-earned customizations will reflect on your character.)
10. GC missions
* PC: Unrestricted
* FC: Unrestricted
11. Item exchange missions
* PC: Unrestricted
* FC: Unrestricted

[Angry_Ryudo]

It's not that bad. I like the common box being accessible from NPC shops thing. I got the sacred dusters but never used them due to the subscription end.

[EspioKaos]

Yeah, I was a bit surprised to see the common box thing after what they'd said in previous statements about not being able to use it at all. The 100 extra spaces it offers should help attract some people who were turned away by the whole "no room for you!" deal.

[Angry_Ryudo]

Hehe, but if you want to store materials, 100 (200, with the 2 entrances) spaces will run out soon. Maybe people will make a main char, 2 alts and 5 "storage dummies" XD

[Arika]

Not bad, seeing free users can play mission from rank C to rank S3 now.

It was suck when they could only play rank C!! ._.

[RadiantLegend]

How about enemy drops, can they pick those up?

[Kion]

So basically you can play for free and the only thing you miss out on is a room? Is it possible to switch back and forth between billing types?

[EspioKaos]

How about enemy drops, can they pick those up?

Yes. The only drops you can't pick up are ones dropped by other players trying to bypass the no trades system.

So basically you can play for free and the only thing you miss out on is a room? Is it possible to switch back and forth between billing types?

Yeah, the room will be the biggest thing missing (synthesis included, of course). As far as moving back and forth between free course and premium course, they haven't said anything about restricting that, so I'm sure you can pay for a month to become premium, then cancel before the start of the next billing cycle to go back to free.

[Arika]

It seem that they offer this for caseal players who will now just pay for 1-2 months and play the free course for 3-4 months, then loop back.

[pikachief]

Sad to think we probably wont get this over here

I doubt microsoft would be too happy about us having a free online game lol :/

Although if it worked on gold i doubt they would mind

... which most people have lol

In fact! Everyone I meet in an online game has it! (lol )