Details on US release of PS Universe announced

[PSOXtreme]

Ladies and gentlmen! The first steps toward the US Release of Phantasy Star Universe (PSU) are in motion. Read below for the whole scoop!

News For:
--Phantasy Star Universe
--Phantasy Star Universe

Announcement:
IGN.com posted an article that announced SEGA's confirmation for the North America (as well as Europe) release of PSU. The 2 systems it will be avalible for is Playstation 2, and PC. No other systems have been announced at this point. This does not mean that they wont come out eventually, but its also not saying that it will. Also, an estimated release date was announced by SEGA as well. PSU for PS2 and PC is scheduled for February 2006. Some nice extra info and screenshots from PSU can be found by visiting the IGN.com article itself at:
http://ps2.ign.com/articles/602/602628p1.html

[muscarellajc]

I just read a similar article from Gamespot as well, since it doesn't offer anything this article doesn't, I won't post it.

Although one detail about the game kind of bugs me. Offline, you can only control Ethan's character while the other characters are controlled by the game's A.I. Whatever happened to the idea of Square's Secret of Mana (Seiken Densetsu 2) for the Super Nintendo. The idea where you can switch between the characters at will with the press of a button. Or even better, plug in a second controller and have a second player play as one of the other available characters. Granted it was a Square game and not a Sega game, but this little aspect made Secret of Mana really good. A good RPG with a multiplayer aspect. I'd really love to see this aspect used in another game, PSU would be a great one to do it in.

[Theola]

I agree. That was a great feature in TOS, too. Single player style RPGs have almost always been good experiences for me, why not simultaneously share that experience with friends? :D

[nightmare2004]

anyone know how much a PS2 costs and how much is the online adapter? Does anyone know if the new version of the PS2 (were it is skinnier) has an online adapter built into it?

[muscarellajc]

The new PS2 goes for $150 and already has the online adapter built in. Probably by the release of PSU, I predict the PS2 to go down to $100. The new PS2 doesn't support the HDD, so PSU won't require it, so you won't need to get one.

So, total costs for non-PS2 owners:
PS2 - $150
PSU - $50 (Not official price, but considering the rest of the PS2 games it will most likely be this, hell, it might even be $40 like some other PS2 games that just came out, however, since it is technically going to be 2 games, it might be $60)

- online -
Most likely first month free and after that $13/month.

[Tequilla]

Febuary of '06 seems kinda of late, and i think they should move it to Winter of '05 or alteast not too close to the release of PS3 , since the release date of ps3 is Spring of '06- or so they say, and when a new system comes out, the old systems are a thing of the past.

[Theola]

...when a new system comes out, the old systems are a thing of the past.

Not necessarily. Well, not immediately, anyway. I think there are plenty of people who play the last gen systems at least another year or more. I can see why Sega wouldn't want to throw money into the new systems right away, seems a bit chancy. If they want to have an online game with tons of long term paying customers right from the start, it might be safer to go with systems that are already well established.

[Tequilla]

hmm...never thought about it in that way....but i think they wouldn't have many "long term" players since they have the new genoration systems to go against that people usually throw all their money into, and if PS3 has backwards game play with PS2 games PSU might be saved. but meh, these are all logical guesses from what people usually do.


Well, not immediately, anyway. I think there are plenty of people who play the last gen systems at least another year or more. I can see why Sega wouldn't want to throw money into the new systems right away, seems a bit chancy....

For the 'not immediately' part, i get what you mean by that and thats where i was thinking winter insted of spring (or febuary, another release date i heard) since its not too far off but close enough where they can succsessfully finish the game.

And if it seemed that i was implying that Sega is gonna 'throw their money into the new systems right away' i wasnt, sorry for the mix up there

[nightmare2004]

will PSU be able to play online on a PS3. I friend is saying it will and he is going to do that but I think it won't.

Could someone tell me if it will be online capadable with the PS3.

[Mr Crono]

Well, the PS3 is backwards compatible and comes with built-in online capabilities... so I don't see why not.

[Theola]

but i think they wouldn't have many "long term" players since they have the new genoration systems to go against that people usually throw all their money into, and if PS3 has backwards game play with PS2 games PSU might be saved. but meh, these are all logical guesses from what people usually do.

Good point, Tequilla. I didn't think about that. Even if PSU players don't pick up the PS3 right away, when they do, PSU could be in trouble. The backwards compatability sounds awesome, and could definitely keep PSU alive longer. I should pay more attention to the new system info. :)

[sonic1]

http://ps2.ign.com/articles/634/634270p1.html

read some great info about the races.

[JohnnyLightning]

Is there gonna be beta testing for this game soon like there is for blue burst? I can hardly wait for a real sequel finally.

[Donlon]

It looks sweet
I dont have a ps2 and my comp sucks though :cry:
I hope they, eventualy, release it for X-box/X-box 360, that'd be cool

[King Razor III]

It'll be out next month!!! :D

[sonic1]

It'll be out next month!!! :DWrong it has been pushed back to fall.

[King Razor III]

:eek:

[DoubleJG3288]

Sux huh? Oh well I'm not complaining much due to all the extra content that is going to be added :wink: