Phantasy Star Online 2: Alpha Test 2 Interface Changes

 

A new enemy called キャタドラン Kyatadoran

Morning! Today Sakai wants you to check this week's Famitsu Weekly because you can see information about PSO2's Mags and My Room. In addition the article talks about a new Item Grinding feature called Item Lab, and a new field and enemy.

 

And of course today it was announced that they are taking in 50,000 new applicants to participate in the Alpha Test 2. Alpha Test 2 not only plans to introduce the changes people requested in the previous test, but will also introduce a new feature called My Room. Their goal is to check and see how the server handles more simultaneous connections than the last time. So those of you who already participated will be joined by 50,000 more testers to assess server stability.

Furthermore, anyone's class level that's higher than level 10 will be given the opportunity to participate in future tests.

 

PSO2 Fansite Kit

Sakai has given out a fansite kit to add to your websites and blogs, as well as twitter icons you can use as your icon.

 

New Interface Improvements

Sega will bring PSO2 to Akihabara Game Festa on December 24th. If you are attending you should watch the 14:00JST presentation and the 16:00JST presentation because some of the content will be different. You can try out just the Alpha Test 2's new character creation features.

But let's look at today's Porori image!

 

Aha! It looks like the HP bars have now moved to the lower left corner just like PSU and PSP2. Since the eyes will be focusing on that part of the screen anyway, it will be easier to read your HP status now.

This screenshot was actually taken two weeks ago, and more adjustments have been made since then. In fact, everyday with the development team, Sakai can make minor changes and improvements to the game. See you next time!

 My Room in PSO2

Phantasy Star Online 2 has a feature you are already familiar from PSU called My Room. This is where you and your friends can chill and hang out in your room between adventures. The My Room is located in the residential area inside the dome of the Arcs Ship. Details provided by Shougai.

 

You can have up to 12 players in your room.

 

There's also a terrace.

 

Item Laboratory "Item Customization"

PSO2 introduces a new feature called Item Lab, it will let you customize your weapons and armor (units). You will be able to increase the stats of your weapons as well as the attribute level, and you can add special abilities to your items. Details provided by Shougai.

Item Grinding

  • Boosts stats for weapons
  • Boosts stats for armor
  • Striking Power
  • Shooting Power
  • Force Power
  • (Armor grinding details were not included in the article, this will probably be explained at a later time.)

Boost Level

  • When you grind your item, the weapon will have a value added onto it like "+1."
  • Gunslash +1
  • You can strengthen it to +10

Required Items needed for Grinding

  • Meseta
  • Grinder
  • You may be required to use multiple grinders when you are strengthening your weapon.
  • For example when grinding from +3 to +4 you could use something like 2 grinders.

Failing A Grind

  • When you are grinding a weapon and it fails, you do not lose that strengthened weapon.
  • (Speculation: Shougai thinks you will just lose the meseta and grinders you used for grinding but details about this are unknown. I assume your grind levels stay the same if you fail but I'm not so sure about this subject at the moment.)

Item Attribute Grinding

  • You can increase the attributes of..
  • Fire
  • Ice
  • Lightning
  • Wind
  • Light
  • Dark

Process for increasing attributes.

  • By joining multiple items you can increase the attribute level. (Kind of like the weapon synthesis of PSP2i)
  • You will use "Meseta" and an item called "Synthesizer" to increase your attribute stats.

Adding Special Abilities

  • You can add special abilities to your weapon or armor (units) like:
  • Flame Resist
  • Rockbear Soul
  • Shoot II
  • An item's special ability could be passed on to another item.
  • (Speculation: Based on the screenshot it seems adding special abilities can also fail but the details are unknown.)

 

 

 

 

Phantasy Star Online 2 Alpha Test 2 Signup

Sega is now accepting recruits for the Alpha Test 2 page. Head to http://pso2.jp/entry/ to register!  They will be taking recruits starting from today December 15th, 2011 through January 17th, 2012. After the completion of this test, (based on how well it does) they will continue to the closed beta test. If your character reaches level 10 in any of the classes, you will continue on to the closed beta test. However if you are caught violating the terms of this alpha test you will not get that privilege.

 

In Alpha Test 2, Sega will be adding a new feature called My Room. 

 

Recruiting Info

  • 12/15/2011 through 1/17/2012 
  • 50,000 people to be added
  • You must be a Japanese resident to participate.
  • You do not need to re-register if you signed up for the newsletter already.

Alpha Test 2 Minimum Requirements

  • Windows XP / Vista / 7 32bit or 64bit
  • Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 or higher
  • 1.5GB (XP) 2GB (Vista/7) of RAM
  • 8GB HD Space
  • 1280×720 Resolution
  • Nvidia GeForce 78000GT or Similar or Higher
  • Direct x 9.0c

Phantasy Star Online 2: Enemies and HuMarl HuNewm Costumes

PSO2 update!

According to Bonkohara's tweet, PSO2 news will be published in the latest 12/29 Famitsu Weekly. Mags and MyRoom and various information should be in there. Of course, personally I hate scans but we'll have to deal with it.

(via pso2 twitter)

 

So with the Oracle Fleet traveling the entire galaxy, they'll fight various enemies on each planet. Based on which planet you are on, the enemies have different characteristics, for example, the forest area on the Planet Naberius has primitive enemies that act similar to real life animals.

 

This is the ウーダン Oodan with its higher intelligent sibling ザウーダン Zaudan

 

Galfu and FonGalfu and like the savage wolf of PSO,
their status changes when their leader is defeated.

 

Nab Rappy (Nav Rappy), appearing on Naberius.
Does the original Rappy appear across space and time?

 

The Rockbear, a strong enemy in the forest. It is about 10 meters tall.
One must be prepared for heavy damage from its muscular arm.

 

This volcano area is actually on a different planet with most of its enemies of dragon type. On this planet it seems as if you can see the remains of a previous civilization.

These are known as the Dinian ディーニアン.
The Dinians have their own separate classes,
there's magic, bow, and sword and shield users.

 

Separate from the enemies native to the planet are the Arks' biggest obstacle, the Darkers. Darkers mainly have black insect-like appearances.

 

There's an enemy called ブリアーダ Priahda, that lays eggs. When the egg reaches the ground it spawns an エル・ダガン El Dagan.

The Darkers aren't limited to looking only insect-like, you will see other types as well. Most of the enemies you fight are native to the planet they are on. Usually they aren't supposed to, but for some reason or other, the enemies became ferocious and are fighting against the Arks. Is this related to the Darkers? To find out more, PSO2's storyline will become available once the game is officially released, please look forward to it.

 

Default Costume Designs

Today's porori images are some more default character costumes. Let's take a look at them.

 

HuMarl: A moderate mix of coolness and cuteness with a noble impression.

 

HuNewm: looking very powerful.

 

Character Creation Improvements

Although it is a slight improvement, now you can make your eyebrow color match your hair color.

 

And now they are supporting face morphing for Casts! Later they'll show you Cast body morphing.

 

PSO2 Play Conference!

Sakai is taking Phantasy Star Online 2 to yet another gaming event. At the fourth annual Akihabara Game Festa, you can play PSO2 and learn breaking news about the Alpha Test 2.

  • Where: Akihabara Game Festa
  • When: 12/24/2011
  • What: PSO2 Alpha Test 2 Information.

[via shougai]