What you will be seeing here is a little over a minute's worth of Sega's trailer for the next installment in Phantasy Star Universe. People, welcome to the Shadow of Arkguard. This preview of the upcoming sequel to the moving comic shows a new mission: confronting the prelude to destruction.

It appears that central to this installment of the PSU franchise would be a new threat in the form of multiple terrorist bombings. It is obvious that these events are shrouded in mystery and it is up to you to determine who is behind these attacks. The only problem is, there is no one you can trust, for a conspiracy may very well be turning the wheels. Are you up to the mission?

Check out the preview trailer over at Full Article and see for yourself.

 

Looks like Phantasy Star Universe is headed to another part of the world. GigaMedia Limited announced an agreement with Sega that will allow their worlds-spanning RPG to operate in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Gigamedia will take care of operating the online components in the two territories, with gamers reaping all the benefits of futuristic MMO action from the comfort of their PCs.

Said GigaMedia CEO Arthur Wang of the new deal,

Phantasy Star Universe is the new chapter of a series that has shaped videogame history. Sega is one of the strongest publishers in online entertainment. We are excited and proud to join with them on a game with such a successful history and enthusiastic player base.

The Taiwanese and Hong Kong iterations of Phantasy Star Universe are expected to launch some time in late 2007.

We're sure a lot of people have been waiting for announcements regarding Phantasy Star Universe's much anticipated expansion, Ambition of the Illuminus. We just got official word - plus screenshots.

After keeping mum about the expansion, Sega finally announces the release date for Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of the Illuminus for the Xbox360, PC, and PS2. The expansion naturally continues the storyline of Phantasy Star Universe. A new Human Fundamentalist faction called the Illuminus wreaks havoc in the Gurhal System and Gurhal Government.

So what's new in the release? New levels including the Ruins of Old Rozenom City and the underground Granigs Mines will be added. Of course, along with new levels come new enemy types. According to the release, players will be able to meet Ethan Waber from Episode 1 and GUARDIAN instructor Laia Martinez.

New gameplay and customization features were also added along with expanded lobby areas. One of the additional lobbies will include the Casino Voloyal where players can win special in-casino items from the slots and roulette.

Character and weapon customization will also get an ample expansion with new weapon types, armor, Photon Arts, and clothing. Guardians' individual rooms were upgraded with a new grid system that will allow players to decorate and customize with interactive items.

Wanna know and see more about Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition Of The Illuminus? Then head over to Full Article!

This is not entirely new. But somehow, people just stopped talking about the expansion to Phantasy Star Universe (360 and MMO), Ambition of Illuminus. This was actually first revealed around of August of last year but Sega remained mum about it. After all of sudden, a handful of updates emerge.

According to various articles posted by online site Shougai PSO, the expansion is expected to go on sale this year. It is still not clear if this is going to be a downloadable content or a full-retail expansion altogether. Shougai PSO added though that as of now, there are plans to conduct a network wide trial to do some final "brushing up".

Furthermore, it was also reported that Sega is considering to bring the PSO's costumes and weapons from PSU. Likewise, PSO's battle mode and lobby soccer are also expected to make a return. The Photon Arts, however, are unlikely to be increased. Don't worry, we'll update you as soon as new details appears.

As some of you guys probably know already, Sega has just started doing this weekly update thingy for their hit RPG, Phantasy Star Universe (PC, Xbox360, PS2). Ever since the game's release in October, Sega's Sonic Team has been continually working their butts off to improve your whole gameplay experience by providing downloadable content for PSU.

After putting up eight new downloadable missions for the game, Sega is now releasing a gazillion updates including new weapons, classes, AND to keep up with the holiday vibe, this week's content update will also have holiday themes and goodies up for download like Christmas room decoration, Wreath room item, Christmas lobby décor, and Christmas rappies. The level cap is also increased to 60 with Photon abilities and Technics now capable of reaching level 30. Oh, and 10 new S Rank quests are also opened up.

Information overload? Oh but that's not all! A new series of offline Guardian missions will also be made available with this week's update, with the first mission (The Masked Girl) now available from the Guradian HQ. Now, this is an offline mission but take note that you'll still need a subscription to get it. So anyway, here's the full list of contents you'll get in this week's update:

New Classes:

• Fighgunner
• Guntecher
• Wartecher
• Fortefight
• Fortegunner
• Fortetecher
• Protranser

Weapons:

• Card (Neudaiz)
• Grenade (Moatoob)
• Axe (Moatoob)
• Double Saber (Parum)
• Claw (Neudaiz)
• Twin Claw (Neudaiz)
• Laser Cannon (Parum)
• Crossbow (Moatoob)

Remember when it was hinted at that Phantasy Star Universe (360, PC, and PS2) was going to get new downloadable content? Well, the date is set. Thanksgiving weekend is coming up. Do you know where your family is? If you're the type of person who'd rather say that their family is in another universe, then listen up.

PSU just got bigger. Now you can enjoy more hours with your friends online and take a crack at some new content. While your mom (your real mom in the real world, that is) takes out the turkey from the oven for dinner, Sega of America is serving up eight, yes EIGHT, new missions for you guys during the long weekend.

One of which is Moatoob. Even though this area is already accessible in single player, it's going to be opened up for multiplayer. See? It's all about family this weekend! Also, just in case those big baddies from Moatoob are beating you badly into a pulp, the download will also open up the Tenora Weapon counter and new upgrades will now be available.

Those weapon upgrades will definitely make the monthly US$10 hunter's fee worthwhile. It's Thanksgiving after all. And so, we give thanks by attacking the roasted turkey on the table and releasing hell on all those ugly foes in PSU.

It has been a month since Phantasy Star Universe was released for the Xbox 360, the PC, and not to mention current-gen PS2. Regardless of your chosen platform, we suggest to stop the banters now, be them friendly or otherwise, as we all just want to have a good time.

Anyway as we have said, the game was just released the past month and today, we got word that a number of downloadable contents are already up for fans to enjoy (dozens more are soon to follow). Most of the additions were done to areas and missions. Needless to say though, the two automatically entail new drops, items and materials which then can be used to make new weapons.

First of all, System Defense is a new mission to be carried near the confinement system in West Kugu Desert. Apparently, there's been an outbreak of vicious creatures and the Alliance Military needs reinforcements. Likewise, the mission Mine Defense involves an outbreak of creatures and players' objective are to defend the mine.

• Moatoob: Access Granted! - Due to increased guerrilla fighting between rogue groups on Moatoob, GUARDIAN forces have had limited access to the planet. With the escalating SEED crisis currently affecting more and more of the Moatoob wildlife, rogue groups have reached a cease fire and are now requesting aid. Flyer routes to Moatoob have been re-secured for GUARDIAN missions and will be available on November 17.
• New Guardian Missions - Since the SEED attacks, the native life of all three planets has grown increasingly aggressive and Moatoob is not the only planet in need of GUARDIAN assistance. Parum and Neudaiz are also requesting additional support in a variety of new missions. All GUARDIANS are expected to launch an offensive on the incoming enemy hordes as soon as possible.
• Valley of Carnage - Recently, the vicious Vanda have been forming packs and causing great damage around the Galenigare Canyon. Defeat the Vanda leader!
• Desert Terror - In the West Kugu Desert, the vicious Dimmagolus has become even more ferocious due to the SEED and is terrorizing a nearby energy plant.
• Parum and Neudaiz - Not to be left out with the addition of Moatoob, both Parum and Neudaiz have new missions for GUARDIANS. On Parum, new reports have come in of a very large Koltova spotted beyond the Lakeshore area. All GUARDIAN parties should exercise extreme caution if this beast is encountered.
• On Neudaiz, an area of Sacred Ground is in jeopardy! All GUARDIANS are requested to assist in clearing a dangerous RELIC site. This dangerous mission will take a strong party with excellent teamwork. We advise that only the strongest of GUARDIANS attempt this challenge.

I'll admit it: there are times I turn to FAQs for help in getting through RPGs for those times when you just simply can't move forward in the game. Sigh... Recently though, we find that Phantasy Star Universe for the Xbox 360 and PC is no different (particularly because of the non-interactive interface, and the world, and combat tutorials in the 360 demo), so while the honorable player will still insist on earning his level-ups the hard way, he is not as foolish as to ignore some Word from the Wise.

And the Wiseman for today is Ben Harrison, product manager at Sega of America, who comes to us with this multiplayer tutorial video clip which was generously provided by Sega and IGN. He will walk you though the important steps of navigating the world of PSU, from character creation to combat central. Yeah, so it's still as non-interactive as the tutorial in the demo, but unlike the demo tutorial, we can rewind this one or skip forward at will.

Of course, it's also a short tutorial, only a little over five minutes long, so Ben's not going to be holding your hand throughout the entire game. You'll still have to search for FAQs for that, or something, but hey, let's be grateful. Neither Sega, IGN, nor we are charging you for this Word from the Wise, right?

Download: [PSU Multiplayer Tutorial Video]

Do you like Phantasy Star Universe? Got problems getting into the Xbox 360 version of the game? We thought so. Keep reading to get a better idea of what to do.

According to Sega, they know about the problem of logging in and are currently trying to fix it. If you get some sort of "Interrupt Request Error," then that's the problem these guys are trying to fix at the moment.

In any case, here's the word from Sega themselves on temporarily taking care of the problem until they can make a permanent fix:

Players who attempt to connect to the Phantasy Star Universe game servers and receive an Interrupt Request error message must not use the RETRY function. When encountering this error, please select DISCONNECT and return to the Main Menu, before attempting to log in again. This process may need to be repeated more than once.

Bottom line folks, try and try until you die, but disconnect first, not retry. Sigh...

Buy: [Phantasy Star Universe]

Dazz informed us on our earlier post that the Phantasy Star Universe beta has been delayed, and this has stopped some gamers in their tracks. Of course, there's also the issue of having to pay US$ 10 for the privilege to play, when it's not exactly an MMORPG in the way World of Warcraft is. All in all, while we're excited for the game, we're wondering about the outcome for this Xbox 360 MMO.

Sega responds to the news, justifying the cost in their own way. In a story on 1Up, Sega of America Product Manager Ben Harrison explained, "With the online mode, we want PSU to be a highly interactive community that is constantly evolving and adapting to player participation."

In other words, the money put down by gamers will help pay for upkeep of the game and additional content down the line. This includes "quests, maps, bosses, enemies, weapons, armor, clothes, Photon Arts, SUV weapons for CAST and Nanoblast attacks for beast characters, My Room items and decor (including holiday themes)," and a host of other items, according to Sega.

While that's nice and all, postponed beta download dates do make a 10-dollar cost seem hard to accept. But, we do hope Sega gets its groove back and comes up with a hit of an online game for the 360 that won't be just a phantasy as well. If you have any ideas for them to keep PSU going strong, now would be a good time to send them some mail, if only to show concern for the games you love. Although... if there's a chance I can turn my room into a miniature torture chamber, I don't mind waiting a little longer for that option to be up.

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Update: According to Phantasy Star Universe's official forums, the open beta will be uploaded to the Xbox Live marketplace this weekend. The download will be up for two days, and you can play to your heart's content till October 18, when Sega prepares for the actual launch of the game. Good luck, gamers, and enjoy the download!