Phantasy Star Online beta testing news...

[SpOoNmAn]

It'll be a free trial period that runs for a week starting October 11th and ending on October 18th and will be available to all Live members(Gold obviously). It will be available for Free on marketplace to DL for only 2 days(11th and 12th).

After that there will be a 10.00 monthly fee called the Guardian License, typical for a MMO. I think it might have cost something like 13.00 a month when it was on Dreamcast, if Im incorrect on that amount Please let me know.

The GUARDIANS License enriches the single-player story mode by enabling gamers to meet other players, strike up alliances, and embark on a huge variety of online quests within the Phantasy Star Universe environment.

With a GUARDIANS License, gamers can fully experience the new customizable and highly interactive features in online mode including character creation, My Room (personalized online space), expansive interactive lobbies, shops, and new missions. The GUARDIANS License opens up a universe filled with robust monthly content downloads including brand new quests and other additions such as weapons, bosses, clothing, Photon Arts, and more.

[MadBryan]

What are they doing for communication with each other. Is it still text with a keyboard or have they switched to vocal with the headset. Not my kinda game just curious.

[SpOoNmAn]

Good question, I'll do some searching.

**you can converse with other players (using preset phrases, a USB keyboard, or, if you're playing on the Xbox 360, voice chat)

[MadBryan]

I'm betting text with some sorta translator. Seems like that was it on the Dreamcast. How else could we understand the 10 guys in Japan with 360's

[Crippler]

Phantasy Star Online was FREE on the Dreamcast. I played the piss out of it. The thought of paying a monthly fee on top of Live.....not gonna happen.

[SpOoNmAn]

I could have swore they charged a fee after the first year or so. Maybe Im confusing that with the price of sega.net?

[CoryB23]

There wasn't a fee on the dreamcast that I recall. That was the last MMO I actually played and enjoyed. The DC is still one of my favorite systems of all-time. So far ahead of its time.

I'll download the free beta just to check it out, but the way my schedule has been lately, like many of yours I'm sure, I might not get to try it out much during the free period.

[grife]

there was a fee to play the online portion i believe on the dreamcast.. i remember not wanting to do any of that. however you were able to play the full campaign fee free

[SpOoNmAn]

Originally Posted by grife

there was a fee to play the online portion i believe on the dreamcast.. i remember not wanting to do any of that. however you were able to play the full campaign fee free

That rings a bell. And Yes Cory, it was way ahead of its time and unfortunately belonged to a company that had nowhere to go but down

Before the 360 launch, it was the best ever for me. So many good games and those graphics!! I cant imagine how good the games would look now after all these years if developers were still plugging away at it.

I miss the sega of old

[SpOoNmAn]

For any lurking PSO fans out there....

Per Sega:

"We apologize, but the BETA release dates have changed. The release date will no longer be Oct 11th, but should see release very soon after."

[Jon Liu]

"soon after"... is that like... beginning of next year??

[SpOoNmAn]

In this industry, it could mean anything

[Jon Liu]

on similar lines isn't Duke Nukem Forever supposed to "be out soon"?

[SpOoNmAn]

Originally Posted by Jon Liu

on similar lines isn't Duke Nukem Forever supposed to "be out soon"?

Ok, thats just incalled for. Speaking of...I forgot to post some news during the transition from the Invision board to this one, I got distracted.

**The team thats been working on Duke Forever for the past 9 years, all quit or were fired in the last couple months

Back on Topic...

The Beta is up for DL. Even though it was delayed a day, the beta period still ends Next Wednesday kids!

[CoryB23]

It is available for download and I finished downloading it over an hour ago. When I attempted to log in to the XBOX Live PSU server, I received an error each attempt. Looks like they have some kinks to iron out before they can garner any solid feedback from the open beta.

[Frodo 13]

Hmm, I never found it.

[Jon Liu]

finished downloading it... I'll post my thoughts later.

[Wood Ghost]

Just DL the game & it locked up on me twice trying to go thru the tutorial. Thought I should do the tutorial since I didn't know how to play. I'll try again later. Second time it locked up so tight I had to manually reboot my 360.