The Ragol.co.uk Hunters Gazette Game Over?   April 8th 2005 The History | NGC PSO, Episodes I & II | NGC PSO, Episode III | Xbox PSO, Episodes I & II | Sonic Team | So... How long? | Competition Answers! | Got something to say? | On This Day | Links | Credits This edition of the Hunters Gazette ponders just how long the current Phantasy Star Online games have left in them...

The History

Sonic Team and SEGA have both been hard at work with the recent explosion of Phantasy Star Universe information being let out for public eyes to see and be amazed by, and who wouldn't be amazed? The game certainly looks the biz, i know i want to play it for sure! But with so much of Sonic Team working on Universe for its Winter release later this year, it leaves the remainder to work on existing Phantasy Star Online games. Which ones imparticular you may ask? Well Blue Burst of course! With the game getting a lot of attention lately with constant weekly updates and Episode IV goodies. Not only are the PSO team working hard on providing for the existing Blue Burst community, but they're also working hard with SEGA of America to release the game in the United States very soon, a project which would no doubtedly be taking a lot of time and effort.

So where does that leave Sonic Team in relation to the existing worldwide Phantasy Star Online games, talking specifically over the Nintendo Gamecube and Xbox's Phantasy Star Online, Episodes I & II, and NGC's Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution?

Well, i don't know about your opinions, but it seems to me that Sonic Team are starting the phasing out of the game. The versions are getting fewer and fewer updates, none whatsoever being new and innovative, so are Episodes I, II, & III finally getting the boot sometime soon? Lets take a closer look:

Nintendo Gamecube: Phantasy Star Online, Episodes I & II

Anyone who's anyone in playing either Phantasy Star Online, Episodes I & II or Phantasy Star Online, Episodes I & II Plus, online, will definately have noticed how quieter the online lobbies are becoming. Once thriving lobbies have become deserts for activity, with only the very key lobbies such as the American lobby VEGA:01 still getting as much use as it used to. The European lobbies are pratically empty, while the Japanese lobbies are also recieving less players then usual. The Japanese lobbies were definately the place to go if you wanted to get some serious Challenge Mode out of the way, but now its harder then ever to find just one team wanting to do the same level as you!

There are several reasons that this could be taking place. Maybe its because the Hunters License hasn't come down in price (Which maybe an obvious step in the right direction to make the game appeal once again to returning players), then again it could be because there have been so many other great games being released on the same platform, thus diverting the attention of PSO Hunters away to newer games, and then again it could be because of the lack of updates for the game.

So far this year, Episodes I & II has recieved a very tiny amount of quests, none whatsoever being brand new as you'd expect this far into the games lifecycle. All we've really seen is a batch of lobby decoration updates, which isn't really that great if theres no-one around to see them! Whats crazier is the fact that most recently Sonic Team have got their calendars upside down by adding the Easter decorations to the lobbies just a few days ago, while over the easter period, adding the Spring decorations to the lobbies. Well it doesnt take a brain scientist to see theyve got them the wrong way around, unless there's a special Japanese Easter i don't know about! This really shows that Sonic Team are really just adding stuff to the game for the sake of it, not paying attention to them while they're doing it!

Whats sadder is that even with these updates, they didn't add the seasonal quests as they have previously. Don't they want us to enjoy the game anymore? Well maybe...

Nintendo Gamecube: Phantasy Star Online, Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution

Just 2 years ago this game got its release, and its already a sitting duck. The last update made by Sonic Team to the official games website is still dated at Christmas Eve 2004, while the last update to the game was... well lets just say its not looking to good!

The games biggest update was during the games European release, yes, thats under just one year ago, when Sonic Team uploaded many quests for the European players to enjoy, before taking them away again not long after, and not a quest has been seen since!! With the game becoming so much quieter now... are they ever going to add the quests again, or add new ones?! Well, its not looking good. To me it seems like their last lifeline, and they should have played that maybe a little while ago now.

The game hasn't been hugely supported since its intial release, adding just a couple of new maps for online play here and there. It was supported greatly in Japan, but did America and Europe see that kind of interest? Don't be a fool! Sonic Team need to alter to priorities is they're to continue making PSO games successfully worldwide. The Japanese saw many tournaments, competitions, etc. while outside of Japan... the only thing that was added was dust. The european servers are... dead, while the American servers are still the main attraction with both EU and US players gathering there during peak times. You might be able to get into a active tournament if you're lucky!

Come on Sonic Team - Episode III has not seen one single game update since the end of last year!!! Have they given up on that already?

Xbox: Phantasy Star Online, Episodes I & II

The situation here is a little similiar to that of the Nintendo Gamecube PSO games. Certain lobbies are still remaining popular, however the game is more hacked leaving the game pretty much only for those who like to enjoy the game against its Terms and Conditions.

Not playing the Xbox version of the game myself, i cannot tell you how the games performing update wise, however looking at the Japanese update site, the last update to the Japanese servers were at the end of Janurary 2005, finishing off the quest additions to the game so its on PAR with the Gamecube games quests. I have been told from other sources however that the game still recieves a few updates here and there, but again, its only lobby decorations!

The Nintendo Gamecube has always had the better over the Xbox version of PSO, mainly due to the games performance on the Gamecube over the Xbox in Japan, as you'd expect, so i don't want to think about how long it'll be before Sonic Team of Japan end the Xbox's lifecycle...

Sonic Team

It certainly doesnt sound good does it? But with Sonic Teams record of activity on the online game, can you see it lasting much longer?

Sonic Team have said time and time again that they are racing after those who break the Terms and Conditions of online play, but have you seen it in action? I know i haven't!

The company has also never really replied to gamers E-Mails regarding game information, questions, etc. Do they not like us? :S

Sonic Teams own run Minhiro fansites have also not been updated in over a month now, which shows how they've really turned they're backs on the games to work on the newer games.

So... How long do we have?

From looking at the situation on the Nintendo Gamecube and Microsoft Xbox console games, it really isnt looking good for future support.

Episodes I & II is not receiving anything much worth hanging around for, and definately nothing new, which is something many would have expected, being an improved version of the SEGA Dreamcast titles. For Episode III, well it seems its already over! No quests, and only one download after everything SEGA made the game out to be really dissappoints. Is it that hard to make new quests? Maybe not, but obviously takes valuable time that could be spent on Universe and Blue Burst!

Sonic Team really need to get their asses in gear and maybe start once again adding all the Episode III quests back into the game for permanent use, and improve the situation on Episodes I & II if they are to keep any of the players they've still got!

In my estimation, as soon as Universe hits the shelves here in Europe, the Xbox will have certain servers closed down, as will the Gamecube in all regions, JP, US, and EU. I should imagine many Episode III servers will be closed by the start of next year, leaving the situation as it is on the SEGA Dreamcast, running as little as it can while keeping the games alive on their last breath.

Its not looking good from the SEGA point of view, but regardless of what happens, we'll always be right there supporting the titles!

Previously... Competition Answers!

In the last edition of the Ragol.co.uk Hunters Gazette, to celebrate Ragol.co.uk's 2nd birthday, we held a little quiz! Here's the answers:

1) What time were official Ragol.co.uk weekly C-Mode meetings originally arranged for?

• Sunday 5pm GMT (750 Beats)

2) Which Ragol.co.uk Staff Member is seen in the PSO lobbies in these images?

• It's Sol!

3) Name three boards on the Ragol.co.uk Forums which have existed since Ragol.co.uk opened in March 2003?

• Use this link to travel back in time and answer your question!

4) Which console has never had a Phantasy Star Online game released on it: SEGA Dreamcast, Nintendo64, or Nintendo Gamecube?

• Nintendo64

5) What Quest is this screenshot taken from?

• Seat of the Heart

Some questions challenging, some for the... not so intelligent Hunters amongst you! Hope you got them all correct! Unfortunately however, no-one entered the competition, so no-one wins! Goes to show even by entering with just one answer, and getting it wrong, would have won you the game! Now who's a fool eh?

Got something to say?

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