Joystiq

Batman, Phantasy Star Universe hit XBL Games on Demand

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

We're not sure how it happened. We could have sworn that Too Human was the only new release on Xbox Live Games on Demand this week (it was the only one listed by Major Nelson, after all). And yet, somehow, Batman: Arkham Asylum has appropriately emerged from the shadows as well. Joining the Dark Knight is Phantasy Star Universe, which recently received a shot in the arm thanks to a new update and a free expansion. Arkham Asylum can be had for a steep $40 (the GOTY Edition costs $50 in-store), while Phantasy Star Universe is $20. As usual, pricing and availability vary by region.

Xbox.com: Add Batman: Arkham Asylum to your Xbox 360 download queue ($39.99)
Xbox.com: Add Phantasy Star Universe to your Xbox 360 download queue ($19.99)

Batman, Phantasy Star Universe hit XBL Games on Demand originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Phantasy Star Universe updated on Xbox 360, expansion now free

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Sega has announced that an update is now available for the Xbox 360 version of Phantasy Star Universe (the PS2 and PC versions are kaput, remember). Entitled "GUARDIANS Advanced Content," the update includes new items, new missions, a new character customization system and tweaks to existing classes and abilities. The update is free for all subscribers and will be applied automatically on login.

Sega also reminded players that the Phantasy Star Universe expansion, Ambitions of the Illuminus, is now available free of charge. Originally costing 800 MSP ($10), the expansion features its own set of additions including new weapons, locations, enemies and more. If you grab the update and the expansion and squint your eyes, you just might be able to trick yourself into thinking it's a real Phantasy Star sequel.

Gallery: Phantasy Star Universe (Guardians Advanced Content)

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Phantasy Star Universe updated on Xbox 360, expansion now free originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lots of older Xbox Live Marketplace content discounted

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 23:00:00 EST

Looking to add a spark of new life to your old, rusty Xbox 360 games? First of all, how did your games manage to get rusty? Did you have them bronzed? More importantly, a slew of discounts on older DLC items on the Xbox Live Marketplace might just what your floundering classics need.

Continue reading Lots of older Xbox Live Marketplace content discounted

Lots of older Xbox Live Marketplace content discounted originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PC, PS2 Phantasy Star Universe servers closing March 31

JC Fletcher — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST

"Who said we are lost again in this lonely world?" That's the first line of the somewhat hokey but infectious theme song to Phantasy Star Universe. When the song was written, that was a rhetorical question, but now it's been answered: Sega says you're lost in this lonely world. At least, that's the message the publisher is sending the remaining players of the PS2 and PC versions, whose servers will be shut down soon.

Following the January 29 "Maximum Attack G+" event, Sega will convert everyone's account to a free account, and allow the players to enjoy what time they can before the servers shut off on March 31. This won't affect the Xbox 360 version in any way other than the flood of refugees from other platforms.

It may not be much of a flood, however: GM Edward@Sega said that the shutdown is taking place because "[t]he population is simply too low for us to be able to continue to support this platform."

[Via Massively]

PC, PS2 Phantasy Star Universe servers closing March 31 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sing along with the intro to Phantasy Star Portable 2

Andrew Yoon — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST

There's a lot of reason to be excited for the upcoming Phantasy Star Portable 2. Well, there's at least one reason that stands out quite a bit: online Infrastructure support. The Sega-developed RPG was always meant to be played with friends, but the first game was relegated to local Ad-Hoc support. With the addition of Infrastructure, we can play PSP the way it was meant to be played.

The Japanese website for PSP2 has been updated with the intro movie to the game which features a theme song by Hideaki Kobayashi. Don't be surprised if you find yourself humming along to the catchy, English language chorus. Phantasy Star Universe ...

[Via PSPHyper]

Sing along with the intro to Phantasy Star Portable 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Phantasy Star Portable sells like a Monster in Japan

Jason Dobson — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PSP, RPGs

It's true that Phantasy Star of today is hardly recognizable to those who grew up playing with talking cats, but that probably doesn't keep Sega awake at night, especially given reports that its PSP RPG Phantasy Star Portable has been difficult to keep in stock since it was released in Japan last week.

The pint-sized version of Phantasy Star Universe has shown Monster Hunter-like momentum, apparently flying off Japanese store shelves, with both Wired and AkibaBlog reporting that 90% of the original shipment went out the door on July 31, the first day it went on sale. There remains no word as to when or if Sega will bring Phantasy Star Portable to PSP owners outside of Japan, but we'll continue to save our meseta 'til it happens.

Phantasy Star Portable sells like a Monster in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Phantasy Star Universe getting a PSP port

Nick Doerr — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 10:45:00 EST

Filed under: News, Previews

We should add a disclaimer -- when we say port, we mean port sans a true online mode. Yeah, it's what makes Phantasy Star Universe tick, but if you've been a loyal Phantasy Star phan, you'll have played the story mode of the original as well as episode 2 and the beginning of 3 with the Ambition of Illuminus expansion. It's not the best dialogue or narrative, but the concepts and twists of the story are pretty cool and true to the franchise in terms of tone, believe it or not.

Unless you think that playing as one character, then moving past him to play as your own to fight an evil organization (who houses the main bad guy, who actually turns out to be nothing but a pawn) is lame. Sound like Kingdom Hearts, a little bit? Did KH force you to participate in a planetary genocide? Did it cause an entire race of robotic beings to get hacked and run a space fleet into your satellite which crashes onto another planet? Face it -- Phantasy Star Universe is a cool and constantly changing experience. And the PSP is getting a port.

The port is basically that: Ambition of Illuminus on your PSP, with some added missions and story points. While there's no true online mode, you do get 4-player ad hoc play. Commence the groans. The port is being handled by Alpha Systems, who is pretty unknown. Check out the scan from Famitsu if you'd like and hope this hits shores outside of Japan.

Phantasy Star Universe getting a PSP port originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Dec 2007 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ambition of the Illuminus awaits your purchase

Dustin Burg — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:45:00 EST

Filed under: News, Xbox Live Marketplace

Phantasy Star gamers have been waiting for this lil' download ever since it was officially announced last month and now the time is here. Phantasy Star's Ambition of the Illuminus expansion pack is now available for purchase off the Marketplace for 1600 Microsoft points. But AotI purchasers know that you may have to clear some content from your HDD, because this expansion of awesomeness weighs in at a more than hefty 1.9GB. But if space isn't a concern (shout-out to the 120GB'ers of the world!) and PSU is your 360 addiction, then pay the $20 and get all the new, new, new. Or you could be dull and stick with the PSU old, old, old ... but really, how fun is that?

Ambition of the Illuminus awaits your purchase originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Phantasy Star AotI expansion set for XBLM release

Dustin Burg — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: News, Xbox Live Marketplace

Recently, SEGA announced that the new Phantasy Star Universe expansion, Ambition of the Illuminus, will be headed to the Xbox 360, but only via a download off the Xbox Live Marketplace. SEGA is setting the Ambition of the Illuminus expansion for a worldwide November 20th release onto the XBLM and it will be priced at 1600 Microsoft points, which is cheaper than the $39 PS2 / PC retail version. But know that you must own a copy of Phantasy Star Universe for the 360 to play the new downloadable expansion content. But then again, why would a person purchase an expansion pack without having the original game disc. That would just be silly, now wouldn't it?

Phantasy Star AotI expansion set for XBLM release originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Oct 2007 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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