Team Drama to Return in PSO2

The ongoing effort to datamine the PSO2 alpha client has turned up some interesting information. In fact, it's bound to lead to all sorts of drama when the game goes live.

According to this thread on PSO-World, guilds will be a built-in part of Phantasy Star Online 2. Sega is apparently bringing them back after offering no guild option in Phantasy Star Universe (it was first seen in PSO: Blue Burst). The client datamining effort turned up some interesting software symbols that describe some of the guild options. The existence of a guild feature had not been publicly discussed before this discovery, so we don't know for sure what the developers will choose to call it.

Of course, this means that the team drama we all loved in PSO:BB will probably return for PSO2. I liked the guild system of PSO:BB for other reasons, but that doesn't mean it wasn't fun to watch the drama unfold (it's always better when you're not in the center of it)!

The PSO2 Client, PhysX, and Lua

A copy of the PSO2 Alpha Test client recently became available for public download (if you know where to look). Out of curiosity, I went ahead and installed the client and started to dig around.

The PhysX support that had been reported before was made immediately obvious by the presence of a DLL in the top-level binaries folder:



However, there are some more interesting files a few levels deeper in the client folder...



Each of these files contains a script written in Lua that defines graphics and other client settings. PSO2 does makes use of the scripting language in some way; a copy of the Lua license is included elsewhere in the installation.

Of course, those two files might be the extent of the user-configurable scripting allowed in PSO2. Some online games that use Lua allow user-defined macros and even provide APIs (see: World of Warcraft) that allow players to develop add-ons and other content that changes the user experience. I highly doubt that Sega will provide this amount of customization to players. I don't really want to see user-developed add-ons in PSO2 anyway (it would only be a matter of time before you were considered a "noob" if you didn't have the awesome "Add-On A", and I'm not interested in cluttering up my game with useless add-ons.)

When the first PSO2 trailer was released, it contained vague concepts such as "community supported content" and "a new approach to the game client". I guess we'll find out soon enough whether or not the client's scripting capabilities fit into those concepts.

PSO2 Content Roundup: Day 6

While the community waits for the next round of alpha testing on Tuesday, there have been some more interesting developments on the PSO2 news front.

First of all, a few players have provided links to Sega's PSO2 Alpha Test client download tool. This was only supposed to be available to test participants, but it's been leaked, so anyone that finds it can download and install the game. The client installer is 912 MB and takes 30 minutes or less to download on a decent broadband connection. Of course, if you weren't selected to participate in the alpha test, you still can't play the game, but that doesn't mean there isn't value in downloading and playing around with the software...

...Speaking of which, a few English-speaking fansites have downloaded the client and are apparently in the process of datamining it for more information about the game. According to a few posters over at PSO-World, the game takes advantage of nVidia's PhysX physics engine, though it doesn't seem to be known exactly how. In any case, it should be a definite step up from Phantasy Star Universe for those folks that have the right hardware.

Unfortunately, while I do have a copy of the client download tool, I will not be providing a link to it. Use Google and you should be able to find it without much difficulty, though.

First PSO2 Complaint: It Uses GameGuard

Yes, it was only a matter of time. After all of the cool screenshots and gameplay videos we've seen you just knew something would come up.

The PSO2 Alpha Test client download site is now up and running (you need an account authorized for the alpha test to log in and download the client, though.) Participants that have downloaded and installed the client are apparently reporting that the game does, in fact, use nProtect GameGuard. Though this is truly a sad discovery, it's not cause for concern yet. GameGuard could be an extra layer of security on top of vastly improved server code. We probably won't be able to make that determination until the game goes live to the general public.

Of course, this could just be temporary. Other online games have ditched GameGuard in their retail releases after using it in beta tests. Maybe Sega will come around.

PSO2 Alpha Test: Here We Go

Sega has finally announced the dates of the Phantasy Star Online 2 alpha test.

According to a message posted at the PSO2 Facebook page, test participants will get approximately 50 hours over five days in which to play the game.

The alpha test is broken up into three segments. Dates and times are listed below.

First test period:
Thursday, August 18 — 4 PM to 11 PM JST (3 AM to 10 AM EDT)
Friday, August 19 — 6 PM to 11 PM JST (5 AM to 10 AM EDT)

Second test period:
Tuesday, August 23 — 4 PM to 11 PM JST (3 AM to 10 AM EDT)

Third test period:
Begins at 4 PM JST (3 AM EDT) on Friday, August 26 and ends at 11 PM JST (10 AM EDT) on Saturday, August 27

The posting notes that the announced dates and times are subject to change.

So that's that. Hopefully in the next week and beyond we'll know a whole lot more about the game. Who knows -- maybe if the alpha test goes well we could see the game released this year! (Isn't that wishful thinking...)

Phantasy Star Defender's Pack - PSP Dual Pack

Back in June Sony announced they were launching PSP Dual Packs for popular PSP games and it seems that Phantasy Star Portable 1 and 2 are getting a release as a dual pack. Its now showing up on a few websites like Walmart's.

I never expected to see the games get released under the "Dual Pack" line especially after Sony described the packs as "two PSP games from our most popular franchises." Although I'm not complaining (seriously I'm not), its nice to see the games get some recognition. So anyone that hasn't played either game now is the perfect time to pick them up!

Also that reminds me: Sega can we have Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity in English now?

PSO2 Alpha Test to be Announced "Soon"

Despite the increasing amount of information being released about Phantasy Star Online 2, Sega has declined to announce an alpha test date for the game.

However, a posting on the official Japanese Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity blog has hinted that the alpha test may not be far away. The dates of the alpha test will apparently be distributed only to participants, though I'm sure it won't be a secret for long.

The end of the blog posting also implied that the developers are aware of the Western community's interest in the game based on visits to the official PSO2 Facebook page. Whether or not that bodes well for us in the future remains to be seen.

That's it for now. Stay tuned for more!