27 March 2013 | |
iTZKooPA
When Sega announced Phantasy Star Online 2 I was happy. When the company confirmed a North American release I was thrilled. When beta testing began I was ecstatic. When the title launched I had two reasons to celebrate. Now there’s a bit of bad news. Just a bit.
The publisher and developer has announced a delay in the North American conversion, despite having impressive numbers in its home region. Polygon is reporting that the release has been delayed from its previous “early 2013” window to a bleak “”We don’t have any specifics”.
With the successful launch of Phantasy Star Online 2, a port to PS Vita and explosive growth in the free-to-play market it’s odd that Sega is dragging its feet with the localization of the sequel to the first console-based MMORPG. After all, it was playable at PAX Prime 2012…
And let’s not forget the fact that the company is making Baby Jesus cry.
24 September 2012 | |
iTZKooPA
Just in case Borderlands 2 and Torchlight 2 haven’t fulfilled your loot-whorin’ ways, SEGA just released three new trailers for its hack-and-slash MMORPG, Phantasy Star Online 2. Straight from the Tokyo Game Show floor, the trailers focus on showcasing the title for each distinct platform class, the newly-released PC client and the upcoming additions for PS Vita and mobile devices.
Phantasy Star Online 2 will be attempting what few other titles have. Not only is it being released across three distinct platforms, but the PC and PS Vita communities will share the same servers when Sony’s handheld gets the title sometime in 2013. Phantasy Star Online 2 is coming to Western audiences in 2013.
The trailers are in typical Japanese trailer fashion, but each is unique to the platform. You can put your peepers on all three after the cut. Continue Reading
30 July 2012 | |
iTZKooPA
The announcement that Phantasy Star Online 2 is getting an international release was a strong indicator that the title is being well received. Sega has now backed up that anecdotal evidence with raw numbers, announcing that the sci-fi hack-and-slash MMORPG has received over 730,000 registered users in just three weeks of service.
Launched July 4, 2012, the title peaked a few days later at 91,513 simultaneous user connections. I wonder how many of those were players like me, coming in from the currently non-existent international market.
To celebrate the impressive numbers for the F2P title, Sega has begun teasing the first update, which will be split in three patches, all coming in August. Hit the jump for the Summer screenshot dump. Plenty of ridiculousness will be included. Continue Reading
9 July 2012 | |
iTZKooPA
A few of us have put up with the Japanese client and difficult communication to play Phantasy Star Online 2 but that should all end soon. The community and I have been begging for it and it appears that it’s finally going to happen. According to PSO-World, Sega will officially announce an international release of the F2P sci-fi hack-n-slash MMORPG for 2013.
Producer Satoshi Sakai touts the title to the western audience as a unique experience every time you login. “The number one thing we want to provide players in Phantasy Star Online 2 is an adventure that changes every time they log in. Just as great table-top RPG experiences revolve around imaginative and unexpected encounters, we want players to consistently be surprised as they explore dungeons and undertake quests,” said Sakai.
Don’t believe us? The official international site is bare but online now.
Eleven years after Phantasy Star Online broke console barriers, the western market will enjoy a proper sequel. Phantasy Star Online 2 launched in Japan last week.
5 July 2012 | |
iTZKooPA
There are vanity items, then there are the items that went live with the cash shop inside Phantasy Star Online 2. Launched just yesterday, the cash shop went online with a ridiculous assortment of vanity items. Players of the for-the-love-of-god-release-it-internationally hack and slash sci-fi MMORPG can dress themselves up as anything from a gundam to a duck, or something, to the token wedding garb.
Hit the jump for the sheer lunacy of it all. It’ll be worth your time, I promise. Continue Reading
2 July 2012 | |
iTZKooPA
It’s not everyday that a game is launched on a Wednesday, but that’s exactly what Sega plans to do with Phantasy Star Online 2. Odd tidbit, that’ll make the sci-fi hack-n-slash MMORPG the first MMOG to share its birthday with Amer’ca. The currently running and final beta test will end tomorrow, July 3 at 11:00 AM to make way for the final build to launch on July 4 at 2:00 PM.
The beta-to-launch swap isn’t the only activity on July 3. Starting at 3:00 PM, players will be able to begin purchasing items from the cash shop using the free-to-play game’s in-game currency, Arcs Cash. Sega will be launching a boxed edition in September that will include the installer, download codes for five original weapons and a “Mag Evolution Device.”
Tooting its own horn, Sega wrapped the announcements by disclosing that PSO2 crossed half a million registered players on June 21 and maxed out at 80,000 simultaneous connections. According to Sega, that makes PSO2 the largest beta test in Japanese history.
Sadly, an international release was not discussed for any of the four platforms – PC, iOS, Android and PSVita.
Catch the all-new trailer celebrating the announcement and shots of the package after the break. Continue Reading
19 June 2012 | |
iTZKooPA
Sega decided to give LoreHound a taste of its own medicine in the most recent beta test for Phantasy Star Online 2. The latest round focuses on story elements in the sci-fi hack-n-slash MMORPG, allowing players to rub shoulders with the main NPCs of the first four chapters.
Our Japanese remains rusty, so information on the newly unveiled story elements is…elusive. That being said, expect an update to this post once a credible translation is located.
In other, likely more exciting, news Sega recently announced that Phantasy Star Online 2 will be heading to its open beta phase June 21. That’s just a few days away. To guarantee an invite players are required to sign up on the Japanese PSO2 page. This can be quite difficult, but one of our readers dug up a guide that’s still relevant. If you’re starving for a scifi MMOG like this gamer, then be sure to sign up and I’ll see you this weekend.
Hit the jump for access to the latest batch of screenshots from the latest closed beta session.
Continue Reading
13 June 2012 | |
iTZKooPA
Phantasy Star Online 2 beta was back in action recently, this time taking players to snowy environments of the planet Naberius with beasts to match. The latest screenshots dumps showcases the icy environments, beasts of legend and designer creation, group dynamics and combat, the standard UI, chat, targeting and tech.
Be sure to hit the jump for our full selection of must see screens from the latest beta.
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