The PSO2 website has been updated recently with a new section. Currently, two videos have been posted with footage from the recent alpha tests. They run fifty-one minutes in total and are narrated by Producer Sakai and Arisa Noto. An upcoming third will present a battle with the dragon. Embeds of the first two videos along with lists of highlights follow.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYYXGeRsu3w[/ame]

• 7:40 - character creation
• 18:05 - item shop
• 20:45 - skill counter
• 22:40 - quest counter
• 23:10 - item storage
• 24:00 - block select
• 25:20 - chat
• 25:50 - cut-in chat
• 26:40 - lobby animations

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsoz25rRLUo[/ame]

• 2:50 - quest counter
• 3:20 - ship warp
• 4:00 - field warp
• 4:25 - jumping
• 4:50 - battle start
• 8:45 - initiate events
• 10:05 - clear events
• 10:40 - telepipe
• 10:55 - quest rank
• 12:00 - auto-chat
• 13:15 - lobby warp
• 14:00 - weather
• 14:20 - hovering

Discussion is ongoing at the forums in this post of Mizunos's.

Update: The third video has been posted to the website and is twenty-five minutes in length. An embed and list of highlights is directly below.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F31bfG3DIGg[/ame]

• 3:40 - footage start
• 4:30 - multi-party quest start
• 7:30 - boss encounter
• 10:25 - item healing
• 11:15 - environment trap
• 11:20 - new quest
• 12:15 - rappy encounter
• 12:30 - boss encounter
• 16:15 - in-air shooting
• 18:30 - quest complete
• 19:45 - mass lobby swarm

As posted on the official forums and Japanese homepage, the major event Maximum Attack X will be starting soon on the Xbox 360 servers! The specific details of this week's update are below.

• Maximum Attack X: MAX is scheduled to last for six weeks (until October 20) and will be accessible from the 5th floor of the GUARDIANS Colony. Unlike Japan's own run of the event, this version will not link with Phantasy Star Portable 2. Additionally, there will be three (currently unannounced) event reward weapons as opposed to the original four.
• GUARDIANS Training: This prologue mission covers various details regarding the event missions. The main objective of the two event missions is to collect data chips along the way to obtain a better rank.
• Spiral Labyrinth C-S3: This event mission features numerous paths to choose depending on event progress. It is also possible to choose from a variety of in-game music at the start.
• Red and Green C-S3: This event mission is intended for beginners, but can of course be played by experts. Players have the choice of an uncontaminated field or a fire-contaminated one.
• Mission Launch Post: This recruitment mission allows players to gain members for their team up to a maximum of six.
• Party Lobby: Never before seen in the west, this is a seasonal event which has accompanied Japan's own PSU anniversaries. It will last for three weeks (until September 29). Pinkie Pie not included.
• Special Trading Stn.: New items will be added for trade.
• Casino Voloyal: There will be a standard rotation of items here.

The event missions are currently listed with EspioKaos's translations, but will be updated with the official ones later. Additional details (along with the event page) will be posted as they become available. For discussion of this update, click on to Tawon's forum thread.

Update: The Berdysh will be adjusted with tonight's maintenance. Originally said to have a 40%/light attribute, this weapon released with a 0%/neutral attribute. This was not due to Tenora Works losing The Great Arms Race and was unintentional. More details on this will be posted soon.

Update: GM Edward has posted an introduction to the event along with some screenshots on the SEGA Blog.

Update: The MAX event site is located here (JP version). The mission names have been updated with their official translations (the in-game names match the event site). For information on the Berdysh adjustment, please refer to this official forum post. The Japanese end maintenance notes also contain this information. Regardless of grind, the spear should have its attribute corrected. If not, you also have a chance to NPC the weapon to obtain a corrected version later on. Finally, the "Prophecy of Moatoob" has had its name corrected to "Motav Prophecy."

Sega has been announcing plenty of details for their presence at PAX Prime 2011. To begin, here's a list of various games they'll be showing off:

• Aliens: Colonial Marines
• Binary Domain
• Renegade Ops
• Rise of Nightmares
• Shinobi
• Sonic Generations
• The House of the Dead: OVERKILL – Extended Cut
• Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown
• Sonic CD

During PAX, Sega will also be holding a community event! Similar to last year's, here are those details:

• Who: Open to the public, all ages allowed!
• Where: GameWorks, 1511 7th Avenue, Seattle, WA
• When: Saturday, August 27th from 6:00 PM until 12:00 AM
• Food & Drink: We will have food and non-alcoholic drinks available for everyone. If you are 21 or older and would like to drink alcohol, you will be carded and given a wristband at the door. Alcohol will be served in the bar area only.
• Game Play: You will receive a card good for 2 hours of free game play from the time you first start playing. You can re-load the card if you wish to keep playing after 2 hours. The card works in all arcade machines in GameWorks. We will not have any demos of games from the show floor at GameWorks.
• Prizes: We will be raffling off 20 pieces (one per winner) of rare custom-made merchandise. But we’re not going to tell you what it is yet! Trust us though, you want it. (Ed. note: Check them out here.)

In addition, you might just have a chance at meeting up with an awesome lead news writer/official forum moderator. Actually I'm lying...it's just me. If you're going to PAX or are just in the area, I hope to see you there! A badge is not required for the community event, however you may want to line up early. There was quite a large group outside last year.

As noted on the Japanese PSU homepage, a maintenance occurred last night for the Xbox 360 version. One issue has been said to be corrected:

• A bug which caused Sevacuc's weapon model to not be displayed has been resolved.

The additional week of 10x Vol Coins has come to an end. The current event rewards (three star photon fortune, 20% synthesis boost, 10% grind boost) are still scheduled to be available for one more week.

The Japanese Phantasy Star Online 2 website has been updated recently to open a new section for those fortunate enough to access the game's upcoming alpha tests. Once logged in with their SEGA ID, a participant can download the client. Here is the current schedule of access dates and times:

• August 18 - 16:00 to 23:00 JST (00:00 to 07:00 PDT)
• August 19 - 18:00 to 23:00 JST (02:00 to 07:00 PDT)
• August 23 - 16:00 to 23:00 JST (00:00 to 07:00 PDT)
• August 26 - 16:00 to August 27 - 23:00 JST (August 26 00:00 to August 27 07:00 PDT)

Additionally, Sega has opened up a twitter account which can be found at this link. The developers ask that testers follow the twitter feed for timely updates regarding the alpha.

For more discussion, see KoNeko1192's thread in the forums. Note that as this is a prerelease build, the participants are advised not to provide information to those outside the alpha tests.

The PSU facebook page has posted an announcement for Xbox 360's update this week. As detailed below, event reward distribution will continue and more content will become available.

• More event rewards: Congratulations again to all participants of The Great Arms Race for obtaining all panel rewards! The following is a list of the second set of modifiers that will be posted. These will be available until August 25.
• Three star photon fortune
• Weapon and armor synthesis success rate +20%
• Weapon upgrade success rate +10%
• Rare free missions: All rare free missions will receive an additional difficulty level.
• Forest of Illusion S2
• Phantom Fissure S2
• Illusionary Shaft S2
• Phantom Ruins S2
• Eighth GAS wave: Also known as JP's seventh GAS wave, this set includes the following additions.
• Type customizations: Stability, Fakis Curse, Stand Firm, Multiple Parry 2
• Style customizations: Avenge, Regenerate
• Fireworks: Holy Light Festa lobbies will be replaced with the ones for this similar summer night celebration. De Ragan's Breath and Fireworks traps will be available from various NPC shops. Also be sure to keep an eye out for Jaggo Acte! These will last until September 8.
• Casino Voloyal: There will be a standard rotation of items here.

Additional details will be posted as they become available. For discussion of this update, click on to serenade's forum thread.

Update: The Japanese PSU homepage has posted its own announcement for the week. Extra notes include specifics on GAS content, the Fireworks seasonal event, and a Casino rotation.

Update: The Japanese PSU homepage has also noted a issue with the last set of seasonal lobbies. They were originally scheduled to end this week, but ended up being removed last week. The related room decoration is still available in the Variety Shop.

Update: The Japanese PSU homepage has posted its end maintenance notes. As compensation for the Holy Light Festa lobbies going down a week early, there will still be a x10 multiplier on coin distribution at Casino Voloyal for one additional week. Also, a bug which caused Karakuri's weapon model to not be displayed has been resolved.

Recent community team photo

With the departure of RubyEclipse (depicted right), Sega is looking to take on a new Assistant Community Manager. Barring the current Community Manger kellie (depicted bottom), much of the team has been made up of Phantasy Star Game Masters both past and present. Clumsyorchid (depicted left) and Edward@Sega (depicted center) comprise the other two current members.

To summarize, the community team is Sega's connection to its fanbase. It handles not only the official forums and blogs, but also communications on various social media sites. They bring information to the fans as well as collect feedback from them. Fans often partake in contests and events held by the group. They're also frequently seen showing off upcoming titles at conventions such as SDCC and PAX.

It should not have to be said, but any future member of this team should be incredibly passionate. Hopefully Sega will be able to find a truly willing and qualified candidate for the position.

Fillies and gentlecolts! The Japanese PSU homepage has posted an announcement for Xbox 360's update this week. Event rewards and new content details are summarized below.

• Initial event rewards: Congratulations to all participants of The Great Arms Race for obtaining all panel rewards! The following is a list of the first set of modifiers that will be posted. These will be available until August 11 (twice the initially noted runtime).
• Half-priced clothes and parts
• Free Lumilass services
• Daily Vol Coin allowance x10
• PA EXP boost
• G. Colony Drop Boost 3rd: Known in Japan as G. Colony Drop Boost 2nd, this GBR will be running through August 11 and contains the following new and upgraded missions.
• Distant Memory: This new mission can be found at Falz Memoria by heading through the Nanotrance Vortex. It features C~S3 difficulties.
• The Black Nest: S3 difficulty will be added.
• The Dark God: S3 difficulty will be added.
• True Darkness: C~S2 will be upgraded from PSU to AOTI standards. S3 difficulty will be added.
• Hit the Counter!: For players that hit a 100,000 point milestone and did not pick up their reward during the event, they can still manage this after the conclusion of the event.
• Casino Voloyal: There will be a standard rotation of items here.

For discussion of this update, click on to EspioKaos's forum thread.

Update: There is no 15% initial GBR boost, however it does not take as many loops to raise the percentage up to max as it did in Japan's PC/PS2 version. The boost will likely be applied to the next GBR. Additionally, players that earned a Sonic room decoration during his birthday event can now pick those up from their common box.

Greetings, Programs! News has arrived on the Japanese PSU homepage for Xbox 360's update this week. Listed below is a summary of content to be added or changed.

• Seventh GAS wave: Also known as JP's sixth GAS wave, this set includes the following additions.
• Type customizations: A level cap increase will allow players to achieve LV5 on all basic abilities. ~20% cooler!
• Style customizations: Take two options from each of the three different categories to their next stage of development.
• Special Trading Stn.: New items will be added for trade.
• Holy Light Festa: Sonic's birthday lobbies will be replaced with the ones for this summer night celebration. Light Festival Décor will be available at the Variety Shop. These will last until August 11.
• Casino Voloyal: There will be a standard rotation of items here.

For discussion of this update, click on to Cleptomaniac's forum thread.