Phantasy Star open beta starts this weekend [update 1]
Phantasy Star Universe will arrive October 24 for PC, PlayStation 2, and Xbox 360. Online play will require a subscription fee of about $10 per month. Both Xbox Live Silver and Gold members can subscribe to online play, but Gold members will receive no discount. PSO-World has an exhaustive FAQ on the game, including online vs. offline play.
[Thanks, Brandon]
[Update 1: It looks like Xbox Live aims to screw PSU fans. On top of the delay that took 2-3 days out of the open beta, the Xbox Live service will be down for "up to 24 hours" on October 17, during the beta test. At least there's offline play.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
pandlcg @ Oct 12th 2006 2:11PM
So do silver members still have to pay the $10 per month? I would assume that is the case, but the wording makes it sound like silver members get a free pass and gold members get screwed.
Will @ Oct 12th 2006 2:20PM
A Gold is not required to play PSU online. You can play with only a Silver account. You have to pay the 10 no matter what.
Ross Miller @ Oct 12th 2006 2:21PM
pandlcg, you're quite right. It's now clarified.
Paul @ Oct 12th 2006 2:21PM
thats crap.
Ryan @ Oct 12th 2006 2:42PM
Xbox360Fanboy clarifies a bit futher:
"The caveat: you must have Xbox Live Gold to participate [in the beta] -- though you'll only need Silver when the retail game ships."
Ironhide Delta @ Oct 12th 2006 3:19PM
#4
How is that crap? You want updates? Game Masters present to prevent cheating? You want extra missions and new gear? You pay the 10 for that reason. Really. Is it that dear? Paying for gold is paying for a well designed service. Suck it up and pay or not. It's your choice. Fortunately many PSO fans have realilzed the game is worth it!
randomrage @ Oct 12th 2006 3:24PM
Actually, youll be able to enjoy the open beta until October 16th.
http://www.majornelson.com/archive/2006/10/12/Xbox-Service-Maintenance-.aspx
Kotaku FTW @ Oct 12th 2006 3:25PM
"How is that crap? You want updates? Game Masters present to prevent cheating? You want extra missions and new gear? You pay the 10 for that reason. Really. Is it that dear? Fortunately many PSO fans have realilzed the game is worth it!"
Wow, what a fanboy. Let's look at SEGA's past efforts in the PSO franchise and their fees on the PC, Dreamcast, and Xbox:
Cheating still existed.
Servers still crashed.
Extra missions? Maybe 1 a year.
GMs (even here in your great PSU) will not be available 24/7, and even when they are working they're not guaranteed to be in-game ( http://www.phantasystaruniverse.com/support_faq.php )
It's crap, and it's a cash-grab by SEGA to try and get their mits into your pockets. $10 a month for Diablo? No thanks.
fidgetwidget @ Oct 12th 2006 4:10PM
I dont think that the game requires xbox live to function. The game runs off its own servers, so chances are it will still be functioning.
Mr. Khan @ Oct 12th 2006 4:26PM
I say screw this game
Betraying the GameCube Players who kept the franchise afloat, FOR SHAME
You can't claim that it can't run on the Wii, either, i mean, it was originally intended for PS2...
Devils @ Oct 12th 2006 6:27PM
im getting it, i dont think sega is going to mess up this time like they did with PSO, i mean if someone cheats or hacks online then you have sega and microsoft giving out bans. so far no one in japan has managed to cheat yet. and they have been adding new content every 2 weeks to a month now. the game looks great and from what i have heard and seen so far it looks challenging and fun.
Ironhide Delta @ Oct 12th 2006 7:02PM
#8
Glad to see that there are still people bitching and moaning about fees in any game. You simply do not appreciate the type of game that Sega offered with PSO. I'm all over pso and psu because as a casual gamer, I don't have the 3-4 hour blocks in a day that I can spend on games like FF11 and WoW. Those games simply can't be played in bite sized quests. PSO offered an 'rpg' lite style of game, that anyone with the right attitude can get into and love. PSU is offering more of the same. I'm sorry you aren't willing to pay for fees, but sadly you will be missing out on a great game.
Updates will happen, missions will happen, pretty much everything that went wrong with Xbox PSO won't happen here.
Play or not, your choice has no effect on me or the legions of fans that are willing to part with hard earned cash in a game that has literally lasted longer than any other console rpg ever. 600+ hours on all incarnations of PSO, and counting. PSU is more of the same only better, more flavourful, and better realized.
Kevout @ Oct 12th 2006 8:48PM
I really can't wait for this game, however perhaps they should charge $10 to Silver XBL members and $5 for Gold,, it sucks having to pay 2 fees. When I was playing on the Dreamcast there was only one fee so this seems like sort of a ripoff