Earlier today, it was announced that the North American/European Blue Burst servers are currently being updated with two new quests. The first one is an Episode I female-only quest - probably related to Valentine's Day. The other quest is Dream Messenger. You'll be able to play it by selecting it from the Event section at the Hunters Guild. Gallon's Shop is also being updated for the Valentine's Day Event. Speaking of Valentines Day, the lobbies have been updated too! The lobby decorations will remain up until February 14. However, the quests will continue until February 23. Finally, the server software is being updated to fix a number of issues. These include blocks crashing due to illegal parameters, quest bugs, and client termination issues. ClumsyOrchid noted that some connection issues may arise as the reslt of the server update.

Gamefront.de posted new information about the "My Room" feature in Phantasy Star Universe. Since the article was in German, Rena-ko was kind enough to provide the following translation:

"Famitsu released further information about the RPG PSU in their latest issue. The article focuses on "My Room." Every online-gamer has an own room, in which s/he can invite up to six friends. The room is only accessible online and is customizable. Planned designs include 'Christmas', 'Halloween' and 'Soccer Stadium'. In a seperate dressing room one can change clothes. One can deposit items in a little depot, compareable to the bank in PSO, which all players have access to."

Based on this information, we learn that your room in Online Mode will be customizable. There is also a mention of having a player bank. It is unknown whether you will be able to share it with other characters or people you invite into your room.

You can expect to read more about these "My Room" features when the Famitsu scans are released. Credit goes to LoveJuice for letting us know about this article. Visit our Phantasy Star Universe forum to discuss this news.

In today's official site update, 10 new images were added to the screenshots portion of the website. These screenshots show what online life will be like in the lobby. As shown in previous updates, each lobby will be a multi-tiered structure capable of holding up to 100 people. You'll be also be able to buy supplies and weapons. We get a better idea of what the structure of the lobby will be liked based on these screenshots. To view the screenshots, scroll down. Be sure to click on the thumbnails to see larger versions of the images.


Screenshots:






In these screenshots, we see two themed lobbies set on the Guardian Colony and Moatoob. Also, we see a wide variety of user-created characters talking and shopping. Another prominent feature of these screenshots is the use of Cut-In-Chat. We see Sonic (the blue-haired Human) expressing a wide range emotions. Also, it seems that multiple Cut-In-Chat windows can be on screen at the same time. The final two screenshots show two groups utilizing the "My Room" feature. In one of the images, you can see a flower pot. Perhaps this is a decoration that you can buy? The other screenshot features a group enjoying a conversation while a Partner Machinery looks on.

Credit goes to lostinseganet for spotting this update. Nash, Kano-Okami, and VioletSkye provided the images. If you would like to see screenshots from previous site updates, be sure to visit our Screenshot Gallery. You can discuss this update in our Phantasy Star Universe forum.

Famitsu.com put an a new article today related to Extra Mode. While most of the material in the article has been covered in previous updates, we do learn one important new detail. You will not be able to use your Extra Mode character online. Your Online and Extra Mode characters will be seperate. This announcement should not come as a major surprise since we already knew that Online Mode characters will be saved on the server. It appears Sonic Team created this mode to cater to people that may not have access to Online Gameplay. Also, this will help make Online Mode more secure since you will not be able to alter your character offline and go online (like Blue Burst). Credit goes to EspioKaos for translating the article. You can discuss this news in our Phantasy Star Universe forum.

In today's official site update, additional information about Extra Mode was released, along with several new screenshots. PSO-World originally covered Extra Mode a few days ago, so some of the information from the site update will be redundant. However, we do learn a couple of new things about Extra Mode and the images from the website are definitely worth looking at! To read more about Extra Mode and see the screenshots, scroll down. Also, you can click on the thumbnails to see larger versions of the images.

Extra Mode:




As you progress through Story Mode, Extra Mode will become available. In this mode, you will create your own character, form a party with characters you've met in Story Mode, and set out on adventures with them. When you create your character, you will be given a room and Partner Machinery. Once you have settled in, you will be able to select your team and where you want to play. The number of teammates and stages you can select from will increase as you play through Story Mode. Beyond that, you are free to do whatever you want. Extra Mode has no ending. You can level your character and raise your Partner Machinery in whatever way you see fit.

Screenshots:









In the screenshots above, you see Ethan using a wide variety of weapons while fighting against a large assortment of enemies. If you look carefully, you'll see that some of the screenshots are from the PC version of the game. You can tell this by looking at the controls in the lower-righthand corner. The square and triangle icons have been replaced with arrows. Also, we see the return of old techniques such as Jellen and Shifta. Conversely, one of the images features two new techniques called "Nosu Zonde" and "Damu Foie." Be sure to checkout our Screenshot Gallery to see screenshots from past updates.

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

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.