PSO2: Minor Website Update

Good morning! Phantasy Star Online 2 had a minor website update featuring the screenshots from 4gamer albeit smaller. A small notice states they are development images.

 

With PSO2, Sakai wants you to feel "surprised" and a sense of "discovery"  just like you did when you initially played PSO. As you all know, PSO2 is still for PC, it is a platform they chose for its high flexibility. As for trying to get as many people to play, so far we know this isn't a game where you absolutely need to buy a new PC to play.

"The elements you have seen in Phantasy Star Online 2 so far is just one of the many new pleasures you can experience. I think we may have a chance to talk about more details in an announcement before the alpha test starts. " ~Satoshi Sakai

You still have some time to sign up for the alpha test until May 20th, 2011. Afterwards Sega will announce the winners chosen sometime in mid-June.

I also signed up, so lets hope we all make it!

Notes from Sakai

Sakai posted a blog post about PSO2, it's more conceptual information than actual information, but regardless the game is currently before the alpha stage. Here are some selected notes. ( My Personal Commentary is in this color.)

  • These are development images. There still some more time until the alpha test, with many elements not in it (as of yet).  (So if you are thinking, "well they removed this aspect/feature" just be patient until the final version.) There's still more information about PSO2 to be revealed, right now you've only seen just one portion of the entire thing.
  • This project was started to allow many people with PCs to readily play this game. There's no need for you to think that you need the latest PC to play because the game's graphics can be adjusted.
  • Yes the PC allows for the game to be better graphically, and certainly graphics are important. However, we aren't making this game to show off a tech demo, we want to make a game for everyone to enjoy.
  • In addition, I cannot say that I am satisfied with this, it is currently in a stage before the alpha. I want to continue polishing it up in the future.
  • PSO2 faces many challenges and one of the challenges is to focus on those who don't play PC games. More challenges will be revealed in the future. (Since people are misinterpreting this, it means to convert those who are unwilling or afraid to play PC games. This has nothing to do with a console version.)

Once the high resolution movie comes out at the official site, he's going to talk more about the "world" of PSo2. So maybe we'll learn more about the Arks, Oracle, and this evil.

[via pspo2iblog]

Higher Quality Movie

View Phantasy Star Online 2 Teaser Movie

 

TPS Style

 

You can see icons more clearly for now.

 

PSO2 has seamless weather!

 

(Dinal) makes a crash landing during an "Interrupt Event."

 

Phantasy Star Online 2 Hi-Res Screens

4Gamer released Hi-res screenshots surrounding the game. So far it lists it's features as:

Star Fleet "ORACL" voyages through infinite universes

New adventures await players at unknown planets

An invading "evil" fills space.

The Confronters, "Arks" is their names"

Will the universe be saved? Or be invaded?

Only heroes can prevail their future.

  • Original Combo System
  • Randomly generated fields, always bringing you to unconquered fields.
  • Third Person View
  • New Jump Action
  • Hybrid Customizable Actions
  • Dynamic Weather Change System
  • Abrupt cut-in events
  • Aiming for Infinite Adventure
  • An adventure with no ends!

Sakai wants players to feel the sensation of surprise, discovery, and adventure once more. Not only does he want to capture those familiar to the series, but he wants to introduce a game that's fun and interesting to those inexperienced with online games.

More details about the game is expected to come forth before the Alpha test. In the meantime you can view various screenshots and a trailer to quench your thirst. You can still submit an entry into the alpha test as long as it is before May 20th, 2011.

 

The Arks?

A commenter asked a question if the Arks are supposed to be the Arkz from Phantasy Star Online Episode 3. The spelling of these two factions are slightly different in Katakana. アークズ Arkz is the official spelling of the Card Revolution faction, and アークス Arks is the spelling Japanese news sites use to describe what they saw in the PSO2 trailer.

Phantasy Star Online 2 Screenshots [Live Blog]

Screenshots taken off camera from Nico Nico. I'll try to compile more information about it as I analyze the screens and videos.

  • From the Video
    • Dodge Rolling
    • Jumping
    • Random Fields
    • Cut-in-chat
    • Original Combo
    • Interrupt Event (Probably events that can happen while in a mission that wards you away from the original goal).
    • TPS Style (probably referring to third person shooting)
    • Hybrid Custom Action

[flowplayer src='http://bumped.org/backups/pso2.flv.flv' splash='http://bumped.org/psublog/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/pso2flv.jpg']

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