A Cute Rappy Room Item!

The official site updated today by revealing a special prize for pre-registering for the Open Beta Test. Anyone who has pre-registered for the open beta test will get the Rappy Mini Doll room item.

Campaign Registration Period:
5.31.2012 ~ 6.20.2012
Item is distributed after the start of the Open Beta Test.

Those who fall into any of the conditions below will get the item and do not need to do anything:

• Registered during the campaign period.
• Registered for Alpha Test, Alpha Test 2 or Closed Beta Test.
• Those who didn't participate in any test but registered for the email magazine.
• Registered between 5/23/ ~ 5/31/2012.

The Pre-Open Beta test date has not been announced and is still scheduled for the latter half of June.

 

Open Beta Test Minimum Requirements

• OS: Windows XP 32bit | Windows Vista or Windows 7 32bit or 64bit 
• CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 or above
• RAM: Windows XP：1.5GB+ | Vista or Windows 7：2GB+
• HDD: 8GB or more
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 7800GT or similar or higher
• Direct X: Direct X 9.0c or higher

The pre-open beta test has the same minimum requirements above. The open beta minimum requirements are different than the official game's.  The latest service pack is required.

 

PSO2 Start Guidebook

On June 27th, 2012 Sega and Enterbrain will release the Phantasy Star Online 2 Start Guide Book. This start guide comes with a DVD and an ID envelope.

• Date: June 27th 2012
• Content: 80 Pages
• Extra: DVD ROM + ID Envelope
• Price: 980 Yen

Unfortunately, we do not know the contents of the DVD-ROM or ID envelope. (You can speculate that the ID Envelope contains a product code for some weapon.)

 

The "Nacht" weapons

Sega and various companies have released product codes for "nacht" versions of weapons. There are a variety of ways to get them but each requires you to buy a particular Japanese product.

The latest nacht weapon is from the July Issue of Famitsu Connect!On called the "Gaebolg/Nacht." According to reports from Japanese blogs, this item is usable at level 1 for hunters. It comes with an EXP boost ability and has a grind growth rate boost.

• Gaebolg/Nacht: Partisan | 800 Yen | Purchase July 2012 Famitsu Connect! On 
• Lord/Axeon: Sword |89,980 Yen | Purchase Alienware X51 Premium
• Pico Pico Hammer/Nacht or Anti A Rifle/Nacht or Rocket Punch/Nacht | 100,000+ Yen by purchasing select PCs, or purchasing boxed versions of Windows 7 Ultimate DSP , or Boxed versions of Intel i7 2nd Generation processor.  Check the site to see which weapons are included with purchase.

Select Dospara PCs come with a PSO2 Logo Microsoft Xbox 360 Controller. Packaged inside is the PicoPico Hammer /Nacht code.

Nacht item codes can be used in the Pre-Open Beta and the Open Beta/Official Game.  Nacht item codes expire December 31st, 2012.

 

June Wallpaper

Bonko said she's sorry for not sending out a wallpaper last month.

 

Sakai posted a message following the Closed Beta Test report:

Thanks to everyone who participated in PSO2's Closed Beta Test. During the test they had several network problems with disconnections and lag. After some investigation, it was discovered that the main cause of the problem was due to their machine settings. They want to arrange the opportunity to run the test again to make sure the network problems do not occur in the Open Beta Test. So the next test will be called the "Pre-Open Beta Test". Unfortunately he can not announce the exact schedule at this time but this Pre-Open beta Test starts in late June.

On May 23rd, 2012, he will start registrations for the Open Beta Test. New registrants will also be able to participate in the Pre-Open Beta Test. For those who participated in the Closed Beta Test, you do not need to register again. If there are no major issues in the Pre-Open Beta Test, he will quickly start the Open Beta Test. The data from the Open Beta Test will be transferred to the Official Game.

From the Open Beta Test, he will collect feedback and reports and assemble a list of responses based on them.

He thinks there's still some ways to go and aims to make the game as enjoyable as possible.

 Closed Beta Test Report

• About 147,000 Downloads
• About 131,000 Logged in user
• 23,500 simultaneous connections on April 21st
• Average 21,000 simultaneous connections a day
• 63,000 Average Logins a day.

The blue bar represents simultaneous connections while the red bar shows logged in users each day.

The number of simultaneous connections is quite low, this is due to the network troubles that occurred on the server. Also he believes since you were generally able to connect at anytime during the day (compared to previous alpha tests), less people decided to log in at the same time.

Race

• 38.9% Humans
• 31.6% Newmans
• 29.5% Casts

Gender

• 28.8% Males
• 71.2% Females

Race/Sex Ratio

• 13.8% Human Males
• 25.1% Human Female
• 4.8% Newman Male
• 26.9% Newman Females
• 10.3% Cast Male
• 19.1% Cast Female

Class

• 40.8% Hunters
• 31.2% Rangers
• 28.0% Force

Interestingly (or uninterestingly…) the ratio is about the same as Alpha Test 2. 70% of players play as Female characters. He guesses women play an active role in the Arks.

Per each race and sex, the most popular hairstyles and outfits are:

• Human Males: Short Wolf + Close Quarter
• Human Females: Casual Layer + Southern Dream
• Newman Male: Casual Layer + Sensous Coat
• Newman Female: Casual Layer + Viola Magika
• Cast Male:  Ronia Head, Ronia Body, Fouma Leg, Fouma Arm
• Cast Female: Faunen Head, Faunen Body, Deal Leg, Deal Arm

The most popular hairstyle seems to be Casual Layer.

Character Stats

• 228,000 created characters
• 57.7% or 76,000 logged in users reached level 10
• 28.8% or 38,000 logged in users reached level 20

Each person would make an average of 1.7 characters.

 

Class level distribution.

Each section pertains with characters levels. The red bar represents hunters, blue bar represents rangers, and yellow bar represents force.

• 22,000 feedback/requests sent in
• 11,000 bug reports
• 43,000 BBS posts

Compared to last time, there were less feedback and requests, but there were more bug reports and BBS posts.

There were about 37,000 submissions to the survey.

Whether or not they participated in previous tests:

• 56.9% of people did not participate in previous alpha tests
• 26.1% participated in the alpha test 2
• 15.8% participated in alpha test 1 and 2
• 1.2% of people participated in alpha test 1 only.

Whether or not they will pay cash items and play the game when it officially starts:

• 61.7% don't know if they'll purchase cash items but will play.
• 21.1% will purchase cash items and will play.
• 10.1% won't purchase cash items but will play
• 5.5% don't know if they will play
• 1.1% will not play the game

PSO2 CBT Grading

 

What systems people will play PSO2 on:

• 61.9% of people will play PC only.
• 14.6% will play on PlayStation Vita and PC
• 11.2% will play PC version and Smartphone
• 7.8% will play all systems
• 4.5% Other

Control Schemes:

• 38.9% played with keyboard and Mouse
• 44.1% Gamepad and Keyboard (Keyboard only for chatting.)
• 17.0% Gamepad and Keyboard

This asks which aspect should be strengthened the most.

• 20.3% More Weapon Categories
• 11.1% Increase the variety of PA and Skills
• 8.8% Improve Character Creation
• 8.1% Improve elements where lots of people can play.
• 7.1% Add more map variation
• 6.9% Improve Character Actions
• 6.8% More weapons
• 6.2% Improve areas other than battle
• 6.1% Improve World and Story
• 5.9% Improve chat functions
• 3,5% Improve Enemies
• 3.0% Add Something you can raise other than characters like Pets.
• 2.5% Add Competitive Elements
• 2.0% More luscious graphics
• 1.7% Improve My Room Functions

Again like in Alpha Test 2, "increase weapon categories" was the most requested.  In second place just like last time, people want more PA and Skills. It seems many of you wanted them to improve the action portions of the game.

They have already decided on the number of weapon categories for when the official game starts. In a future update expect additional weapon categories.

Pre-Open Beta Test

Sakai updated his blog but most of it is covered in the closed beta test report. However we get some insight on a few things. The next test isn't a Closed Beta Test 2, there are no restrictions on the amount of people that can play. Thus, their next test is called the "Pre-Open Beta Test!" Though the data of the Pre-Open Beta Test cannot be carried over to the Open Beta test, those that participate will get special gift. The details about this gift will be announced in the future.

When there are no major issues in the Pre-Open Beta Test, they will start the Open Beta Test. The Open Beta Test data will carry over into the Official game.

Due to server problems, the maximum number of simultaneous connections in the Closed Beta Test barely passed over Alpha Test 2's. One of their biggest objectives in the Pre-Open Beta Test is to see if they have solved this problem.

You'll have to wait about 1 month until the next test starts. Please stay tuned for news and future information when it's available.

So you're probably wondering what happened to that Closed Beta Test report? Well Sakai apologized saying it's not ready yet. He thinks he can show it early next week. They are currently fixing the problems discovered since the CBT, and want to make sure these problem don't reoccur in the OBT. So today we're going to talk about Planet Lillipa. But first let's compare the planets.

 

Here's planet Naberius, looks similar to Earth

 

This is Planet Lillipa.

It looks like a skewered ball because of the structures the main civilization left behind.

 

As you arrive on the surface, you'll discover the planet is basically full of Darkers and Mech enemies. The mechs were made to protect the planet and even though their makers are gone, they continue to fight against the Darkers. The players themselves are seen as invaders and are attacked as well. You'll see the mechs in Interrupt Events.

 

On this planet your field of vision becomes the main feature. With the seamless weather system expect sandstorms to make your vision very poor.

 

The Gilnas enemy harks back to PSO's Dubchick.

 

Even if the body is scattered in pieces,
it won't stop moving until the core is destroyed.

 

Those legs!

 

Signogan can move extremely quick.

 

SpardanA and Spargan are the same type of enemy.
On the Spargan's head (?) there's a gun attached.

As for the Darkers, El Arda is also a common enemy in the desert, so it's better to come here to get drops from it than the city.

Gwanahda is the boss. It's a huge ant lion with various unpredictable attacks from its many tentacles and huge pincers. Players should be on guard as you may see multiple Gwanahdas spawning.

 

Lillipa has a new contender to replace Rappies as the mascot. The Arks are still investigating these creatures and it may take some time before they finally interact with each other. You'll learn more about the Lillipa tribe through the story, so please expect it.

 

Porori

Today's porori image is of the Lillipas. These are the creatures that he wants to become as the new mascot! (I don't think so!) The Lillipas were actually seen in the Closed Beta Test. Did you notice a room item called "Kuchimane Doll?" Well expect to see more of them in the future. Until next time!

Rapico's Response

【拡散希望】『PSO2』のマスコットはラッピー！繰り返す、『PSO2』のマスコットはラッピー!!断じてあの短足ではありません！ #PSO2

— ラピ子（キイロイラッピー） (@rapico) May 18, 2012

She mad!

Net Cafe points

In an interview with Famitsu Connect!on, Sakai talks about yet another form of currency known as Net Cafe points. When you collect Net Cafe points you can use them to trade for exclusive items. (Net Cafe's are a shortened term for Internet Cafes, which means you'll have to be physically present at one to get the points.)