New Phantasy Star an interior decorator's dream?

By Walt Wyman, GameSpotPosted Jul 17, 2006 11:32 am PT

Details on the upcoming space RPG's spring up; customizable room system to be core of gameplay experience.

In the July 28th issue of Weekly Famitsu, a number of details on Sega's upcoming role-playing game Phantasy Star Universe were brought to light. The magazine focused about half the two-page spread on the game's customizable room feature, which acts as a sort of virtual den. When online, the player can invite up to five other players into the room for chats. However, even when the player logs off, the room will continue to exist online, and other players will still be able visit it.

Players will be able to change the look of their room's interior by purchasing a "remodeling ticket" and selecting from a slew of available patterns. There will also be shops where players can purchase decorative items for their rooms, or even give objects to other players to use in their domiciles. Gamers can also turn their rooms into shops, allowing them to hold an impromptu garage sale.

A few details of the planetary system, which consists of the Guardian Colony, Parum, Neudaiz, and Moatoob, also emerged. Specifically, each location will specialize in different types of items. Guardian Colony will be the only place players can buy items for customizing their rooms, and its headquarters will serve as the hub for missions in the story mode. The shops of Parum will specialize in gear for Hunters and Rangers. Neudaiz is primarily settled by the Newman species, and therefore will supply weapons and accessories for enhancing the Technique abilities of Force characters. Moatoob's economy is focused on heavy industries, making it the ideal place to go for vehicles and military equipment.

Famitsu lists the Japanese release date of the PlayStation 2 version of Phantasy Star Universe as Aug 31. It will be priced slightly higher than average, at 7,140 yen (around $61). The PC and Xbox 360 editions' launch date and price are yet to be announced.

35 Comments

  • z784084

    Posted Jul 22, 2006 5:54 am PT

    phantasy star universe is a much awaited title but it seems like push backs has been made. it should convince all fans that the wait is well worth it!!! English ver will arrive when? or the jap ver. an intl version as well?

  • overcode

    Posted Jul 19, 2006 6:19 pm PT

    Who cares about the interior decorating? I just wanna get online, get into a group and bust some a$$. Mmm, real combos! No more WoW or GW combat! PS2 or PC version, for sure.

  • Teivan GameSpot staff member

    Posted Jul 18, 2006 10:21 am PT

    I love phantasy star. I played the earlier ones for days straight with no sleep!

  • Statictrance

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 9:02 pm PT

    Call me a Sega fanboy... I'm ok with that... but seriously

    Even with the Xbox version of PSO... I was addicted. I payed that crappy extra 8.95/month with pride forever... and may have been the only legit player in that game that never used any hacks. It wasn't the best of games, and was just so d*** repetitive, yet it was like digital crack... revolutionary on the dreamcast, but not so much this generation

    So... for PSU, all I can say is god I can't wait and will probably be taking a vacation from work when it comes out... So long as I can still make a character that looks like Shir....

  • Sonicgod

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 8:45 pm PT

    If i don't see any fonewerl and there puffy jester hats I AM not going to be to Happy with the game when I get it!

    In fact the online should have at least all the outfits That the old PSO had so you can make a character that looks LIKe the old pso or i will be dissipointed.

  • rokkuman09

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 8:21 pm PT

    Cool I have been looking forward to this game more coolness

  • Kazuma56

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 7:35 pm PT

    Actually, if the 360 version isn't linked, expect it to be the WORST out of the three if PSOX was any indication of how they handle the 360 version, because not only did it get "updates" a month or two after it was released on the Gamecube version, they also didn't even use the XBL service to "patch" the hacking that was going on.

    So in short, the three reasons why the 360 version could potentially suck is:

    1) ST decides to make it standalone and not link it to the PS2 and PC servers.

    2) because of the above, you'll probably get updates later and not see the games full "potential" because of the lack of intrest in japan.

    3) If ST doesn't handle hackers or cheaters properly, you're stuck playing a game with (what might be) a small userbase filled with "unlegit" players due to not being able to play with people other then the 360 players.

  • SavoyPrime

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 6:51 pm PT

    If I wanted a Trading Spaces RPG, I would have asked for it.

  • Bio_Spark

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 5:37 pm PT

    I almost forgot this was in development. Its been so long since I heard anything new. I'd probably be going with the PC version.

  • Kayrod29

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 5:30 pm PT

    THat's cool but why can't US get beta version?

  • reipuerto

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 3:19 pm PT

    That maybe true, BUT it's PSU. A great RPG is coming...

  • gothicdragon216

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 3:13 pm PT

    come on voice chat! Please please please give us voice chat between all consoles. I need a 360 date too...

    btw, this is a Sega game, not Squarenix

  • arathorn2nd

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 3:00 pm PT

    Final Fantasy meets Animal Crossing... heh, who would have thought?
    The more features, the merrier if Squenix can deliver it, I think.

  • juvinwo1

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 2:56 pm PT

    GOD I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!

  • GS_darkplayer

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 2:39 pm PT

    Sound cool ideal. I going to get it.

  • faridmon

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 2:27 pm PT

    this game was delayed more than 5 times, first it sltaed due the Q1 in 2005 in jspsn, common when the heck is this game coming?

  • Gigastormz

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 2:15 pm PT

    That sounds pretty cool to me. I'll play it if they hope they fix the cheating problems that were running rampart for the first PSO that made it pretty much unplayable unless you were one of the cheaters.

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 1:15 pm PT

    i didnt like the first phantasy stars

  • samekila

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 1:11 pm PT

    this game was good on dreamcast I still have it hope the 360 version is good

  • Hells_Sad_Song

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 1:11 pm PT

    very cool or very bad. it all depends how they play this out.

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