MMORPG.COM News: Phantasy Star Universe Announced

Koltrane

Sega's US and European arms issued a press release yesterday officially announcing Phantasy Star Universe for both the PS2 and PC platforms.  The game will feature both single-player and massively multiplayer modes.  Fans of Phantasy Star Online from the old Dreamcast days should be thrilled.  The press release follows.  Click on the thumbnails for full size images.

SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON (April 8, 2005) – SEGA of America, Inc. and SEGA Europe Ltd today announced Phantasy Star Universe, the next installment in the popular Phantasy Star series, developed for both the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system and the PC. Phantasy Star Universe offers two complete RPG experiences - a single-player action adventure spanning multiple planets, and a robust online multi-player component. Developed by SEGA Studios under the guidance of Yuji Naka, the creator of Sonic The Hedgehog and Phantasy Star Online, Phantasy Star Universe offers long-time fans the epic experience they have been clamoring for. The solo adventure features more than 40 hours of gameplay, an emotionally engaging story, traditional cut scenes, and strong character development. The title's hero is Ethan Waber, a 17-year old cadet intent on saving his sister, who is living on a planet under siege by mysterious life forces called THE SEED. In Online Mode, players are given the opportunity to create their own characters from a range of races, and they get to explore all three planets in the Grarl solar system. Fans can travel with a squad of other adventurers, enter urban sprawls teeming with hundreds of other players, and build their avatars into powerful warriors. "Phantasy Star has a rich history, both as a single-player RPG franchise and as an online multi-player series," said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President of Entertainment Marketing, SEGA of America. "By fully supporting both gameplay modes in one package, we will be able to provide gamers with a fantasy role-playing experience of unprecedented depth." The first Phantasy Star game to appear on a PlayStation platform, Phantasy Star Universe will offer a rich, constantly evolving world that will provide years of entertainment to fans of the series and RPG enthusiasts. The game is slated to ship in Spring 2006. Key Product Features: The first major offline Phantasy Star game in more than a decade.The robust, full-featured single-player campaign offers more than 40 hours of gameplay. Three enormous planets to explore. A gigantic overworld and more than twenty giant dungeons are featured. All-new enemies to fight. In addition to a brand-new roster of standard opponents, there are more than 15 major bosses to challenge. Player-controlled vehicles. Players no longer need to travel everywhere by foot, adding a new dimension to exploration. The best online Phantasy Star experience to date. The game features a game world that will evolve with new content over the course of several years. About SEGA of America SEGA of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA Corporation, a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. SEGA of America's Web site is located at www.sega.com/usa. About SEGA Europe Ltd SEGA Europe Ltd. is the European Publishing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA Corporation, a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. SEGA Europe's web site is located at www.sega-europe.com

More info on this one as it develops.

Kane

All I can say is HELL YES! After that movie last year, I was excited...but it had been so long I totally forgot about it. Offline AND online...its about time! Can not wait to see what Sega can do with this!

Nibelheim

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Originally posted by Gunblade
But until universe come outs, the only way to play PSO, is on private servers, the xbox version, or wait until PSO Blue Burst comes to North America, which should be this summer.

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You forgot the GameCube version, which happens to currently be the most popular way to play PSO.

Also, Sega's "Shop Page" (http://www.sega.com/shop/shop.php), lists Blue Burst as a Spring release...

Rikimaru_X

I can't wait. I love Phantasy Star. I'm still going to get the X-box version when I get X-box live this summer.

Kruzil

I'm glad to see Sega has finally made an announcement regarding PSU, I remember the trailer as well and I had been hoping to hear about it sooner.

I'm hoping for a few things in this release:

1) Cross platform gameplay, where you can play w/ people on PS2 and PC, such as FFXI.

2) Better netcode.

3) More diversity in the quests and zones.

Oh well, we'll see.

More screenshots:

Rikimaru_X

Somthing tells me this game might have customized clothing feature...

sleepyguyftl

YES YES YES!

hoofbite2k

Hm its looks like a promesing game

 

 

deffintly something ill have a eye out for hhe

Athea

I loved the first PSO for Dreamcast. I used to play it every night. I can't wait to play this game on PC.

Harelin

Admittedly I've never played Phantasy Star... but I just might if it's coming to PC.

Could anyone elaborate on why this is such a popular game?

JelloB2000

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Originally posted by Harelin
Admittedly I've never played Phantasy Star... but I just might if it's coming to PC.
Could anyone elaborate on why this is such a popular game?

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Phantasy Star (please notice the lack of "online" in name) was/is(?) the main contender "against" Final Fantasy. It has always been more sci-fi & more (& harder) mazes than Final Fantasy.

Phantasy Star Online (PSO) is like Diablo2 in 3d, story is total junk compared to the epic adventures of "Phantasy Star offline". Main focus here is gaining levels & items. All versions of PSO have/had serious security issues (dont know how BlueBurst holds up).

PSO: Blue Burst is the 3rd chapter to PSO.

(Phantasy Star Online 3: Card Evolution for GameCube is a card game but you need a "hunters license" that costs 10-12$ per month to play online, I have this game & paying montly seems like a ripoff to me. Offline play holds about 2-3 days before you kill the end boss).

"Hunters license"(=monthly fee) is nedeed to play online with PSO regardless of version.

For PSU I really really hope that they have not used the 6(?) year old graphic engine that has been used for all PSO versions ever since Dreamcast(!). (If another engine has been used I cant see it & neither do screenshots show much if any difference).
Also PSU still sounds like its a Guild Wars/Diablo2-type of multiplayer, huge town with players & then a smaller team "in the wild".

[Edit: Forgot to add something REALLY important: In Phantasy Star 3/4 you could run into some red eyed cyborg rabbits, this is where I get my "Fear the bunnies"]

Rikimaru_X

If there is an Phantasy Star Universe in development....why isn't it in the Game List yet? It's going to be a action MMORPG. Becides, some new screenshots has just been released on the Japan Site

 

I think this game should be added now...