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Hunters Gazette - February 12th 2005 | |
Welcome to yet another thrilling edition of Ragol.co.uk's Hunters Gazette! Last time we took a peek back in time at 2004 between the active months of January & June, now lets head back on track with part 2...
 
The beginning of July, well wasnt really a celebration for SEGA. With all their financial problems, and recent merger with Sammy, it seems they'd do anything to save a bit more cash, by announcing they were reducing the size of many of their in-house development studios, and take down most of the websites, squeezing them all into the main SEGA site.
On the note of saving money also, SEGA brought down many old remaining SEGA Dreamcast PSO servers. From there though, things could only get better for PSO, as SEGA of Japan released in the beginning of July, Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst, after closing BETA testing only a week before!
 Hold it right there though, as July also saw SEGA give away a release date for Episodes I & II Plus in America for the good ol' Gamecube, to show they werent killing of other versions just yet!
Also future release-wise, only a month or two after E3, rumours started milling around Phantasy Star Universe (EGM Backing up its MMORPG status by stating the game will allow thousands more players to compete in one game compared to the 4 in current PSO games, aswell as stating the game will feature various new races and planets, and be released before the end of 2005!) and Phantasy Star DS (Rumours published by GC Advanced from a very reliable source stating SEGA is releasing a PS DS).
Quest-wise on PSO, July saw the release of a European Blue Star Memories following on from a recent release of Episode III. The other added quest, as always at the end of summer, was 'Resting At The Beach'.
Finally (As if enough hasnt happened already!), Ragol.co.uk brought to you the very first edition of the Hunters Gazette! ^_^
Not much as far as announcements go, but a fair few updates for PSO for sure!
The Gamecube saw 'In the End of Vision Boundry' quests added for I & II, and 2 maps added to Episode III.
 
Blue Burst on the other hand saw many many quest updates (JP Names as known on Blue Burst):
- Maximum Attack (SEGA Cup)
- Price of Tommorrow
- Gallons Ambition
- Holiday of Rappy
- You Deliver
- Festival at the Beach
It seems like SEGA used up all their goodness in July as September saw even less coming to PSO fans for the next 30 days!
Sonic Team this month released a few cool wallpapers with the release of Blue Burst most recently in Japan, and also released the PSO Font for all PSO addicts to use!
In the End of Vision Boundry 3 was the only quest update for PSO though on the Gamecube, or indeed altogther. It wasnt a sad fact though, its a tough cookie of a quest if you've played it!
Much better. Why? You want a real announcement? How does Episode IV Sound? No, were not making it up, its all for real, and its only for Blue Burst! Yes, its a shame, but its good to know ST are still developing ^_^
Details on Episode IV were scarce though, just the word it was being produced for now, but to make up for it, all you Blue Bursters, have Challenge Mode!
Gamecube though didnt keep itself on the quiet side with the 1st birthday of Episode III in Japan, which can only mean good things for us PSO players of all kinds :D
 
On Episode III came new maps, a new rule for E value CARDS, more maps, more Jukebox music, and even more maps! Episodes I & II however got the final piece of the puzzle to the 'In the End of Vision Boundry' quests with #4, and 'Pioneer Hallowe'en' for the sppoky season!
Last but by no means last, Xbox heralded the arrival of the 'In the End of Vision Boundry' quests aswell as a few others for good measure. A good time for all PSO hunters!
Kicking off November was us at Ragol.co.uk announcing the first ever Ragol.co.uk Episode III Battle League which saw many viewers and gamers from this site go head to head and strength to strength in order to gain total domination in the League Table. A success which ran through into the beginning of 2005!
The Battle League couldnt have come at a better time though, what with SEGA still celebrating Episode III's birthday, announcing 'High Week' (Changing many high CARD values and altering other factors of CARDs). It was a good time to own Episode III!
Blue Burst went through october with more announcements including the addition of Battle Rules 1 - 8 for online play, and a few more quests. Ending November on a high though, of course, as Christmas neared, all versions of PSO got festive, including a special festive quest 'Pioneer Christmas'.
Beginning the month as we like to on a high note, we jump started Advent with our own Advent Calendar offering special PSO gifts to all our happy Ragol.co.uk viewers and forumers for them to enjoy!
SEGA didnt miss out Xmas for all hunters though, adding ontop of the Christmas lobby deccies and quest, they also updated the festive quests, and released the Episode III CARD 'Chao '!
SEGA also announced the official release date for Episode IV early next year, putting a smile on many faces before the big december day :)
'fraid so, that was the years thats gone, and looking back, you may have fooled yourself thinking its been a quiet year for the average hunter. Lets just hope Sonic Team and SEGA keep on bringing the games and series further on for a while to come yet!
Cya Next Time Folks and Folkettes!
Hunters Gazette - Janurary 28th 2005 - Credits | |
Hunters Gazette Edition by: Lee-yoshi
Images: Lee-yoshi
© Ragol .co.uk
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