Alpha Test Data

So here's what I've been able to gather so far even though school is taking up much of my time.

 

As you can see, Humans and Females were the most popular, yet Casts and Newman males were the least popular. Comparing this chart to past games in the Phantasy Star Series, Casts have decreased in population. Considering Newman males are the least popular, then perhaps they should do something to improve them.

 

Hunters were chosen the most. Forces were chosen the least.

 

Each level shows how many characters were level 1 through 20.
Each color represents a class.

 

On the left shows the name of each quest. The center shows the clear rate. The right column shows the incapacitation rate. As you can see, one mission in particular has a very high incapacitation rate. Maybe it will have to be adjusted.

 

This is the rare item drop ranking. The item that rarely dropped was アーム/カルバリアトール Arm/Calbariatoll (sp?) (Well yes, most of these unit names sound very foreign. Perhaps they have European naming influences so the localizer will have to come up with some fancy names.) You can actually see this unit on the female's arms. In the picture itself going from left to right, the left column is the item's name, then the item category, the total number of drops, and the percentage it dropped amongst all drops. So you can see the sword the Humar is wielding, Coat Edge, is the rare item that dropped the most.

 

Ah! What does this stuff mean? Well this is the Ranking of the Top 5 Skills. As you know each class has a skill tree, and you can pick and choose which skills you want for your own class.

Hunter

  • Step Attack
  • HP Up 1
  • Just Guard
  • Absorber
  • HP Up 2

Ranger

  • Ability Up 1
  • Weak Bullet
  • Dive Roll Advance
  • Ability Up 2
  • Shooting Up 1

Force

  • PP Up 1
  • Flame Mastery
  • Tech Up 1
  • Ice Mastery 1
  • Bolt Mastery 1

So I recall being asked what "Ability" means. All I know is that it's a stat that seems to have replaced accuracy. I don't really understand what it does, even considering how the word "ability" is not very descriptive at all. You could also call it "Skill" instead, but of course that will confuse people into thinking you are talking about the skill tree.

 

The charts above indicate the number of comments/feedback and bug reports they received on each category. Although the categories are pretty broad, Sakai will go into more details later on with what this means.

 

Question 1: So the questionnaire asked about the control schemes players used. Most people played with the gamepad. Technically the gamepad is actually around 70% because you can use it with the keyboard.

Question 2: The most interesting aspects about the game is the Character Creator. It is pretty funny to see "Story" chosen as the least interesting aspect considering how there was very little story in the Alpha test.

 

Question 3: Coinciding with what you saw in the TGS presentation, this is a pie chart showing what aspects about the game needed better support. Mainly the user interface was of big concern. (Which lead the team to decide on changing some aspects of the User Interface so it won't be so hard to understand, as announced at the Tokyo Game Show. ) There were also opinions about how it didn't feel right when controlling your character.

 

Question 4: This pie chart looks at what direction they should head into the most. Gamers mainly selected they should improve upon the character creation aspects. (This probably lead to the decision on adding Cast morphing to the character creation as they announced at the Tokyo Game Show,) What's interesting to note here is the entry asking if you want to raise something like a pet. (When checking 2ch about this question, one asked if the pets refer to Mags?) Not that this pie chart confirms they are going to add a pet, but it looks like it may have been on the drawing board.

 

5 Point Evaluation: And finally we get to the most confusing chart. In this chart, users were asked to rate different aspects of the game from 1 to 5. The lowest score (1) is indicated by a red bar whereas a score of (5) is indicated as a blue bar. The longer the color of the bar, the more people gave it that score. If you go back to Question 3, you can see the areas that were most chosen there, are shown on this chart with the longer red bars. The UI, communication, and controlling your character were given low scores, while character creation, and BGM were given high scores.

 

Wired Lance (tearing off) Situation

We know that the Wired Lance can not throw the larger sized enemies, but a while back in a Dengeki Magazine, it noted that you could use the wired lance to rip off parts on the body (ex. armor). When Shougai attended the 2011 Tokyo Game Show, they asked about this information to PSO2 Director Kimura. Kimura instead apologized saying they currently have no plans to implement that feature. Yikes! So we can scratch this one off for now.

[via shougai]

Phantasy Star Online 2 TGS 2011 Screenshot Dump

So far we get to see a new city and we're going to add some of the points of improvement that will change from the Alpha Test.

 

 

FoCast in the City.

PSO2 Improvement Plans!

List Updated: Sept 16 4:26PM est

User Interface

  • Make great changes to parts that were difficult to understand including icons.
  • When you are using the gamepad, you can chat immediately if you touch the keyboard.
  • Make it easier to participate in parties from the quest counter.
  • Make other general changes.

Character Creation

  • Implement morphing when creating a Cast
  • Removal of Defense stats on costumes.
  • Support color changes for the eyebrows.

Action

  • Some changes for the Force Class
  • Force: Increase the power of uncharged Technics
  • Force: Charge Technics in the Sub-palette.
  • Hunters and Rangers: They are currently investigating what changes they should make to these classes.

 

TGS Commentary

Game Watch + 4Gamer notes

 

If you were wondering, the current issue with the eyebrows was that you were allowed to choose only three colors, black, brown, and white. Now they will greatly improve upon this aspect so that at least it can match your hair color. How this will be implemented I do not know yet.

As for the User Interface, some players were complaining at how small some of the icons were.

There were many requests to remove defense stats on clothing. Players like the ability to wear what they want freely without having the problem where end-game, everyone wears the same clothes.

The damage given from techs that were not charged was fairly low. Now these uncharged techs will have higher damage output. Also, forces can now charge techs that are in the sub-palette. Previously only techs that were linked to the rod could be charged.

After the Alpha Test, users were asked to report their opinions on things they liked about the alpha test. Features like operating their player character, user interface, and communication were rated low while Character Creation and Background Music were rated high.

"To those that participated in the Alpha Test, thank you very much for giving us your precious opinions and time […] Because there are other elements that were not announced yet like Mags and My Room, please expect announcements in the future" ~Producer Satoshi Sakai

As for 4Gamer, they were able to fight the dragon at level 10 and they noted that if you destroy a part on the tail, it will reduce the range and power of it's attack.

 Phantasy Star Online 2 50% Complete?

According to the pamphlet distributed at Tokyo Game Show, as of September 2011, Phantasy Star Online 2 is 50% complete.

[via shougai]

September 2011 Calendar + TGS PSO2 Playable Version Details

TGS Live Stream

http://www.segatgs2011.com/

 TGS Game Station fighting Rock Bear

 

A Bunch of Rappy Plushies

 

Various Sega and Sonic Stuff

 

Calendar

Here you go, the September 2011 Calendar. Bonkohara sent out an email newsletter this morning showing off the Calendar even though she's a bit late.

Watched the Nintendo 3DS Conference, nothing new Phantasy Star related but mainly it was about Monster Hunter. We'll see you again Wednesday night for the Tokyo Game Show.

TGS Play Experience

The Tokyo Game Show booth will have 24 game stations. You can play with up to 4 people in the party and up to 12 players in a multiparty area.

 

The quest specially made for Tokyo Game Show will have you battle against two rock bears in the multi party area.

 

When you get to the single party area, you will fight the Vol Dragon with up to 4 players in the party.

Those who can attend should try to play because you'll get a free mouse pad. Also please attend on Saturday (Public Day) at 12:20 JST, you can see Arisa Noto and Sakai host a PSO2 presentation. Only there you can see new videos/images, so make it if you can!

[via pspo2iblog]