Another season, another specially made video for all you people who want to be online, but can't join us all : (

If you're interested in exactly what Sonic Team were offering for the new Spring Lobby Decorations, then you'll want to download and view this superb new video showing it all off! Cherry Trees and Curtains are what you'll be seeing plenty of in the lobbies if you do play online however, as this video shows! All footage comes from the Nintendo Gamecube version of Phantasy Star Online, Episodes I & II and Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution.

Also just for a bit of extra humour, theres a mini-prelogue, showing the videos music selection process going wrong! Stupid Jukebox!

Click Here to Download the 'Spring Lobbies' Video

[.wmv File - 6.1Mb - Under 2 Minutes viewing time]

There will be server maintenance on the PC Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst servers during March 31st 2005 between the times of 14:00 & 18:00 (Japanese Time).

During this time please do not attempt to connect to the servers as if maintenance is happening on your corresponding servers at that time then you will be automatically disconnected after connecting. If you happen to be playing during these times please disconnect otherwise at the time when maintenance starts you will be disconnected from your game no matter what! You are given 10 minutes warning via. constant on-screen messages counting down until the time the upgrades start. This affects all players of the following PC games:

• Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst

Please reconnect after these times where service continues as normal. Being added are two new quests, alongside the opening of yet another 2 all new areas!

The new areas being opened up for Episode IV Expansion players of Blue Burst is 'Underground Desert 3' and 'Meteorite Area':

• Leaving the Child of the Inner Part Behind

Its your fate to rescue others once again, in a new area, deep deep underground. While your there though, the Govoner-General has requested the bringing back of 'samples' (Fragments of crystal looking meteorite). Is all this related to one another? Time will tell! For the time being, get your ass down to the Underground Desert 3.. oh and be careful ^_^

This quest is playable for 1 - 4 Human Players.

• The Turn to the End?

Your finally closing in on the end zone, but wait, someones run off with all our data! So what are you waiting for? Stop sitting around eating Mc. Rappy Burgers and go find the traitor! But wait... whats this, are we near the end zone? Is the answer to the Meteor fallings here? ...No, but they will be revealed alongside the ending of Episode IV, when Server Maintenance continues... :p

This quest is playable for 1 - 4 Human players.

All the strange activites of Episode IV will be answered very soon, in the next Episode IV Maintenance Posts! How Exciting!!!

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today have been ruled by the courts of Northern California to stop selling their PlayStation brand consoles, Dual Shock Controllers, and upto 47 games which use a certain patented touch feedback technology which Sony have been infringing on. These are the current results of a long fight, so allow me to fill you in!

In February 2002, the Immersion Corporation (A developer of Touch Feedback Technology) filed lawsuits against both Sony and Microsoft when it was discovered that both companies were using a force feedback technology that Immersion had patented in their games machines controllers (PlayStation 2 and Xbox respectively). So they decided to take their monies worth after this was being done without the knowledge of Immersion.

Microsoft ended the case in July 2003 by settling with Immersion for $26million (Bill Gates pocket money no doubt!) and also taking a stake from them at the sametime! Sony however decided to stay and fight, and in September 21st 2004 the courts favoured Immersion, ordering Sony to pay $82million for the infringements. Due to interest though since the original September decision, when Sony didnt give up the fight, Sony now owe over $90million to the Immersion Corporation from the new judgement made March 24th 2005, in which the U.S. District courts of the Northern Californian District also issued a permanment injunction against the manufacturing, use, sale and import of the Sony PlayStation branded consoles, Dual Shock controllers, and 47 games using the technology, infringing the patents.

Sony are arguing that the technology being used in their Dual Shock accessories is both simple and taken from prior art made from before Immersions patents. Sony are of course likely to appeal the decision of the court rulings, meaning the case continues further. This itself though is likely to have a HUGE impact on Sony's future in parts of America.

There will be server maintenance on the Nintendo Gamecube Phantasy Star Online servers during March 29th 2005 between the times of 14:00 & 17:00 (Japanese Time).

During this time please do not attempt to connect to the servers as if maintenance is happening on your corresponding servers at that time then you will be automatically disconnected after connecting. If you happen to be playing during these times please disconnect otherwise at the time when maintenance starts you will be disconnected from your game no matter what! You are given 10 minutes warning via. constant on-screen messages counting down until the time the upgrades start. This affects all players of the following Nintendo Gamecube games:

• Phantasy Star Online, Episodes I & II
• Phantasy Star Online, Episodes I & II Plus
• Phantasy Star Online, Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution

Please reconnect after these times where service continues as normal. Being added are additional decorations for all online lobbies. Alongside the existing cherry tree decorations will be 'White Curtains', or as i suspect, wedding decorations. However, as Sonic Team seem to continue the phasing out of Episodes I & II, we have no screens to show you of what to expect at the moment, aswell as any other updates. It seems like all we get nowadays is new lobby decorations! : (

The Cherry Tree & 'White Cutrain' lobby decorations will be available until 5th April 2005.

We, the staff of Ragol.co.uk, have (for the most part), re-submitted our editorials, news, and articles among other things such as the various items to the item databases.  Everything appears to be in order, so you have no need to fret.  Due to the turn of the seasons, a cold bug was released unto our precious site, but she survived thanks to our wonderful staff.  Good work, team.  We were all able to act quickly and efficiently to maintain our bountiful stockpile of PSO and PSU information; but for whom?  The fans of course!

Also, I would like to announce that the Phantasy Star Online Episode III FAQs have been recently updated, so check them out as soon as you can by clicking on the FAQs button at the top of this page!  We are currently still working on adding even more to our FAQ database, so stay tuned! 

Unfortunately Ragol.co.uk has encountered a few technical difficulties recently. Therefore any news, articles, items, guides, CARDs, FAQs or any other updates added to Ragol.co.uk after March 23rd 2005 to this time may have been unfortunately erased from our records.

All the staff are currently working on re-submitting any work added to this site since the date, so if you saw something a day or two ago and cant find it anymore, please bare with us while we get it back up and running! The big thanks goes to Sol for solving our technical difficulties so we can now continue to bring you everything you need to better your skills as a PSO Hunter!

The last for items of news below this news post have been re-posted alongside their original transmission dates so not to cause confusion, aswell as our 2 latest articles. Remember the Ragol.co.uk competition is still open for a few more days, so get your entry in quick!

The Ragol.co.uk Forums continue to run unaffected by any of these issues.

Sonic Team want your feedback on what you think of Phantasy Star Universe so far!!

By visiting http://phantasystaruniverse.com/special.html (English) you can enter your comments on what you think about Universe so far from all you've seen and heard from Ragol.co.uk and other websites, magazines, etc.

Use the boxes to enter your comments, and then click on the button at the very bottom of the form to send your comments to the producers themselves. However, if you want to send something, its probabily best if you send it in Japanese. If your not a fluent Japanese speaker or typer, use this Babelfish translator to translate what you want to say into Japanese, then paste that in. I'd personally recommend you send your comments in both English and Japanese, incase of errored translations and it not making sense on the other side, but remember you've only got a 400 character limit. Also remember to use the Japanese website to send your comments otherwise it wont be sent.

This week Ragol.co.uk celebrates its 2nd Birthday! Almost 2 years to this date we were just a small PSO fansite, and now look at us!

To welcome the festivities, we open up brand new boards on our forums and welcome new Staff Members to the team, to see we're ready for the future of Phantasy Star!

Congratulations to our new News Reporter Double Edge, Column Writers Kisanzi, Shade, and TeH EkwEE, Item Runners Kefka, seiryu, and Shadamoo, & C.A.R.D. Runners Dkgamer and Ivan. View them all in our Staff page.

Want to get in on the action and join our constantly growing chat forums? Then head on over there, and while you're at it, check out the new sections:

• Episode IV: Battle, Challenge & Quest Modes
• Phantasy Star Universe: Area 51
• Other Gaming: Handhelds

SEGA have updated the official Phantasy Star Universe website with an all new Flash Animation, telling all about the game... in Japanese!

Website Screen 2 | Website Screen 3

Because of my limited language barrier outside of English, i cant tell you anything you didnt already know, but i can show you all new screenshots from the game!

As we already know, there will be at least 2 main characters in this all new online RPG, known as Ewan Webber, and Karen Ella. Unlike PSO games where you create your own character and explore levels at your own pace, this game turns back to the Phantasy Star games and takes on a traditional RPG scenario where you explore territories, complete tasks, etc etc.

I think you'll agree that these 3 new screenshots are enough to blow your mind about the game. Obviously though these are shots from FMV sequences in the game, we have yet to see any actual ingame action screens.

Universe has so far featured in 2 magazine features. One firstly for Japanese magazine Shounen Jump, and the second for Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) in America this month, so whens it going to get a feature in a UK magazine, we're waiting! The game is also set for a release on PlayStation2 and PC on a rough date of November 20th 2005. Click on any image above to enlarge it.

Electronic Gaming Monthly, today unveiled everything you'd ever want to know about Phantasy Star Universe, with the new title being the main focus of this months issue. So here's the basics:

• Phantasy Star Universe is confirmed ONLY for PlayStation2 and PC with a current release date of November 20th 2005.
• The security of Universe (In response to cheating in previous PSO games) will be much alike Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst's, with server-side saving.
• The game will utilise all the power the PlayStation 2 has to offer, meaning there is very little chance of a similiar release on PSP. However, PSO on PSP could be in the works if the handhelds online networks prove stable.
• Phantasy Star Universe is still very much in development and is one of Sonic Teams main projects at the moment.

EGM also interviewed Sonic Team master Yuji Naka, on which note he had MANY interesting things to say.

First of all, why the PS2? you may be asking. The main reason behind this decision appears to be because of the PlayStation2's dominance in the market as the main console. Next Generation machines such as PlayStation3, Xbox 2, or Nintendo Revolution were ruled out because they were unsure which machine would have which user base at the moment, plus what online facilities would be available in the future. He however hasn't ruled out the chance of it seeing light on other current generation consoles.

Yuji Naka then went on talking about the development of PSU and about the game. He says the hardest part in any of the Online games is making the network as stable as possible, which is done a few months before the games release, so we wont be seeing much more of that until the end of the year. He then talks about 'cheaters', by stating that they've had a lot of experience with them for the last 5 years, so they know what to do and how to do it, mainly walking in the same direction as they have done with Blue Burst.

Continuing on his interview from EGM, Yuji Naka talks of his history as a games developer, stating its all mainly down to Sonic, with him being so popular and the main franchise of the business. Even the animes are popular it would seem, in which he states that there was talk of a PSO anime a few years ago, which could still happen.

Finally he's asked about the next generation consoles, where his replies show he's very worried about the development and time factors of next generation games. He mentions how Half-Life 2 took 5 years to get a release, and warns that other games could take just as long, if not longer, if companies are expecting games to take full advantage of next generation machines capabilities.

Unfortunately we can't tell you loads about how the offline and online modes will work, aswell as show you some new screenshots, because we don't have an issue of EGM to hand, what with us being a European website in all, but if you'd like to read the full interview with Yuji Naka from EGM, visit 1up.com in these pages. If you live in an area abroad that does sell EGM, go and buy it, because it will show you some new screenshots, and tell you all the modes the game includes!

Nintendo are certainly bringing us top notch technology at the cheapest prices possible, which they've shown us with the Nintendo DS' price point, and promised also with future machines. However, the costs for us are to stay as low as possible with the latest revelation from Ninty.

American games magazine Nintendo Power however aparently has the inside story direct from Mr. Iwata himself after the Games Developers Conference display recently on online gaming...

He states for the Nintendo DS that Nintendo are to team up with GameSpy to provide a wireless multiplayer gaming network that can be easily setup and provide a unique experience that any DS owner can enjoy!

Nintendo have very much been on the record when it comes to hardware, software, online usage and hosting charges by saying that such a system is unacceptable in todays industry. To this end, another route has been found. By using wireless 'hotspots', gamers will be able to enjoy multiplayer gaming, across the world! Development kits for such a system are to be made available before E3 this May for games developers, and wireless multiplayer gaming coding in games already made can be easily changed to accompany this new system.

GameSpy are already waiting with everything, as some may recall the 'Nintendo & GameSpy' deal that was made a few years back, the only problem is that no-one knew what the deal was all about, and with the Gamecubes online systems being quite absent, i guess everyone has just forgotten about it... until now that is!

With this system for free online gaming in the Nintendo DS, what does the Revolution hold?

The Nintendo DS is out now, and breaks records, proving more popular then any other console ever, home or portable, by becoming the best selling platform ever on its day of launch. But what did you loyal Ragol.co.uk voters have to say about Ninty's new handheld?

• 'That's what i'm getting, March 11th'
• 28.9% (97 Votes)
• 'I'm gonna be looking into it for sure'
• 11% (37 Votes)
• 'Looks cool, but maybe not now'
• 8.6% (29 Votes)
• 'Only if they make PSO for it!'
• 32.2% (108 Votes)
• 'Nah, i don't like the look of these things'
• 5.3% (18 Votes)
• 'PSP for me mate!'
• 13.7% (46 Votes)

The Results show an outstanding love for the Nintendo DS over the Sony PSP, with the voting majority either rushing out March 11th to get it, or rushing out to get it, when SEGA make Phantasy Star Online for it! Who could blame them eh? ;)

This time round we're asking what you think to all this Phantasy Star Universe news, with a Japanese magazine article slating the game for release in Winter 2005 in Japan on Playstation2 and PC.

Happy Voting!

SEGA of Japan have got a few new screenshots on their official Episode IV webpage, so we've added them here for you to see.

If you are interested, which i'm sure you are, then visit the ever popular Episode IV Ragol.co.uk Article, then scroll down to the screenshots section...

Click Here to go to the Article.

Well, well, well... what is there to say really. Phantasy Star Online, Episodes I & II is the oldest running online game, and its surely showing its age as Sonic Team start moving on with the future.

There will be server maintenance on the Nintendo Gamecube Phantasy Star Online servers during March 22nd 2005 between the times of 14:00 & 17:00 (Japanese Time).

During this time please do not attempt to connect to the servers as if maintenance is happening on your corresponding servers at that time then you will be automatically disconnected after connecting. If you happen to be playing during these times please disconnect otherwise at the time when maintenance starts you will be disconnected from your game no matter what! You are given 10 minutes warning via. constant on-screen messages counting down until the time the upgrades start. This affects all players of the following Nintendo Gamecube games:

• Phantasy Star Online, Episodes I & II
• Phantasy Star Online, Episodes I & II Plus
• Phantasy Star Online, Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution

Please reconnect after these times where service continues as normal. Being added are Cherry Tree decorations for all online game lobbies.

The decorations will be online until March 29th (Server Maintenance TBA).

If you know your dates, you'll realise that takes us past Easter on March 27th. Are Sonic Team just being mean this holiday season? Or maybe they're to busy on updating Blue Burst and preparing Universe to bother updating older console versions of the still fairly popular online role-playing game. No Easter quests for a change, and who knows if there's going to be an update for Xbox servers, as the last time they were updated to my knowledge was Janurary. Sonic Team didn't even get around to updating their Japanese Minhiro site for the updates, hence there being no piccies i'm afraid this time.

Is this the start of phasing out Nintendo Gamecube and Xbox Phantasy Star Online? Will there ever be another actual game update for Episode III? It's not looking good folks...

It seems SEGA are quick to respond to media attention of Phantasy Star Universe, spreading quicker across the web then ever before after yesterdays news involving the all new MMORPG from Sonic Team. Well, if you go down to the PSU site today, you'll be in for a surprise, as they've removed all previous content concerning the upcoming game in a bid to start a whole new website about the title.

Hopefully the website will be up sooner rather then later so we can satisfy our concern over the previous news!

[UPDATE] Today in small print at the very bottom of the website welcome page, there seems to be a news submission:

Hold the phone, put down that beer glass, and take a seat... you're going to need it...

Cube-Europe.com and IGN have reported that Japanese Gaming Magazine Shounen Jump this week features all new news regarding Phantasy Star Universe.

They have stated that Universe is in development for the PlayStation2 and PC - Pretty shocking considering that Sonic Team previously ruled out PS2 for its lack of handling whats needed for the game, and also considering Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst is a pretty new game for the PC. Its the last two systems i and maybe many others would have expected the game to be released on!

The game is to be set in the Grail star system, which consists of three planets - which was usual for SEGA Megadrive Phantasy Star titles. The game is set, as usual, in the middle of a huge, never ending war, with characters also taking on similarities of older Phantasy Star titles, where you play as set characters instead of making your own, like PSO players are used to. The two characters unveiled at this time were Ewan Webber and Karen Ella.

All else thats known about the game is that it is set in a full 3D environment where players travel through constant levels battling monsters. Players are also able to travel back and forth through the three planets at anytime.

No doubt if you're alike me, you would be speechless, have smashed that beer glass, and fallen face first on the floor, if it weren't for those handy tips at the beginning of this post, because this really is pretty shocking. To me at least, Universe looked pretty much like a next generation game, so for it to be released on the oldest console running does maybe ask you if this game will be anything you initially thought it would be... Well, we'll find out more on this at E3 i expect.

[UPDATE] We've now also got a copy of the Japanese Phantasy Star Universe advertisement used in the magazine. Click Here to see it.

Another fortnight has come, and it may have taken me a while but the new Hunters Gazette is right here for all to enjoy!

 Hunters Gazette - Love, Japanese Style!

Click Here to go to the Hunters Gazette!

The time we take a look at Japanese Valentines Day and White Day, in and outside of Phantasy Star Online. Not sure what White Day's all about? Want to know just how long Sonic Team have been bringing us this love? Well then you'll want to be reading this new edition of the Ragol.co.uk Hunters Gazette!

Also available now is a new video, accompanying the Valentines Lobby Video, its the White Day Lobby Video! Not able to get online, but would like to see what all the fuss about White Day online is? Well then you might very well want to check out this video of all the White Day Lobby Decorations!

Click Here to View/Download the Video (.wmv File - Approx.4Mb)

There will be server maintenance on the PC Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst servers during March 15th 2005 between the times of 14:00 & 18:00 (Japanese Time).

During this time please do not attempt to connect to the servers as if maintenance is happening on your corresponding servers at that time then you will be automatically disconnected after connecting. If you happen to be playing during these times please disconnect otherwise at the time when maintenance starts you will be disconnected from your game no matter what! You are given 10 minutes warning via. constant on-screen messages counting down until the time the upgrades start. This affects all players of the following PC games:

• Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst

Please reconnect after these times where service continues as normal. Being added are Easter Lobby Decorations!

The decorations for the holiday season are once again going up, this time for the PC hunters early.

No special quests have been announced alongside this initial announcement of the lobby decorations, but thats not to say there wont be any.

These decorations are appearing in place of the recent White Day decorations, which will of course be coming down.

Expect many giant Easter Egg baskets and cheerful Easter music in the lobbies! Don't forget to watch out for other strange items and animals running loose either in the lobbies, or on Ragol!

The Easter festivites are available on Blue Burst until April 5th.

Also expect a similiar announcement for console PSO games soon...

Sonic Team has officially announced that Episode IV - the Expansion Pack for Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst (Japanese), will be available for Download from March 15th 2005.

The Official Download comes courtesy of the Toppan Printing Co. Ltd. Corporation making download from Bitway websites available.

Bitway is the biggest Japanese distributor in its field of which the Toppan Printing Co. Ltd Corporation develops.

The Download package is almost identical to that of the retail sale.

The package will not include the games soundtrack or instruction manual, and the download can not be used as a replacement to the Episode IV Retail package. Multiple Episode IV ID's can also not be registered to the same game. A copy of Blue Burst, either retail sold or downloaded version, must be on the system in order for this expansion to run. You will still obtain a 30 day free trial for online play, after which you must pay to play!

All system requirements are the same as those for the existing version of Blue Burst which can be found in this article.

The Download will be available from March 15th 2005 for the price of 3,000 Yen (Inc. Tax), and will be available from the websites of:

• OCN
• Seven Dream.com
• DION
• So-net
• DreamNet
• @nifty
• SANNET
• Club Bitway

The Download is 500mb, so its advised you dont attempt the download unless you've a substancial bandwidth!!!

Meanwhile we still eagerly await an announcement of an American release date for Blue Burst. Good news is that its being built upon in SEGA.com, where its been given an official Game page, where all the Hardware Requirements for the US version of the game are available, aswell as official Boxart and other few bits and bobs. Not the release date though. All good things come to those who wait... stop getting impatient, stop throwing things!!

With the Nintendo DS out NOW, lets move on to the future once again, because thats what press and media is all about!

This week has seen the Games Developers Conference in San Fransisco, and yesterday was the turn of Nintendo, taking to the stage, sending Mr. Iwata up into the lights, making some ground-breaking announcements for us all to get high on!

Amoung his announcements are the plans to take Nintendo DS Online, and his plans for the Nintendo Revolution. Heres what was said:

• Nintendo DS

Nintendo are soon to announce the Online Wi-Fi service which will connect DS to DS over distances of global proportions. The service also will be available by the end of the year (This pushing us further into the realms of portable PSO ^_^). Expect all the information about it at E3.

Being developed for such Wireless gaming is Animal Crossing, being worked on by a specially chosen in-house development team!

Also shown off were the Nintendo DS' Voice Recognition feature and Wireless Gaming features of the handheld via. various new games, including those of Mario Kart DS. Both of these features look to be built on HUGELY in the near future with new titles.

• Nintendo Revolution

The Next Generation machine from Nintendo is currently titled 'Revolution' because it will revolutionise the way the game aparently. Nintendo backed up this today with the statements "This is Nintendo’s plan: make our existing game world better" and "For us, this is a passion. This is a mission of adventure".

The Nintendo Revolution will feature Wi-Fi Gaming alike the Nintendo DS, with both LAN (Local Area Network) and Online play being a heavy new feature in all Nintendo's future plans, and built-in, available from the word "Go!".

The new console will also feature backwards compatability, meaning it will play all existing Nintendo Gamecube games (Now there's no reason to stop PSO'in!).

Revolution is being built with IBM processors (Code-Named 'Broadway') and ATI Graphic Chips (Code-Named 'Hollywood'). Are they trying to tell us something?

“We’re excited to be developing the graphics chip set for Revolution, which continues our longstanding relationship with Nintendo,” says Dave Orton, ATI Technologies Inc.’s president and chief executive officer. “As the leading graphics provider, ATI is committed to delivering exceptional visual performance that enables consumers to interact with new and visually compelling digital worlds. ATI is proud to support Nintendo’s innovative contributions to gaming.” .

Finishing it off, Ninty showed some new Nintendo Gamecube 'The Legend of Zelda' screenshots and a new trailer. For the links and screens, click here to go to the relevant thread. Otherwise if you'd like to see more in the Nintendo DS announcement, click here, or for more on the Revolution announcements, click here! Click Here if you'd just rather go to Nintendo.co.uk and see all the official stuff for yourself... then come back here and comment on it! Clicky Clicky!

In news set to shock anyones wallets, some gaming companies and third party publishers including Electronic Arts and SEGA have warned that due to constantly imporving graphics and gaming machines, the cost of game production is going to rise massively.

While we all wait for exactly what these next generation consoles are set to do at E3 later this year in May, third party publishers who have gotten 'rough' specifications from whats expected in next-gen titles have said that to produce such title will cost them a lot more... pushing the retail price higher then ever before for us!

According to the website 'Happy Puppy', SEGA have told US retailers to expect a price tag for future titles on next generation machines, including PlayStation 3, Xbox 2, and Nintendo Revolution, to come with a recommended price tag of $59.99.

Not a great rise in price for american gamers who currently pay around $39.99 - $49.99 for games, but if you work it out in European price-to-price differences (Thats the bit where we somehow have to pay much more!), games could retail for around 60 - 80 Euro's, working out at £39.99 (What we already pay - Thats for the cheaper games) to £59.99 (Thats for future New Releases!).

Hold on to your socks though... it gets worse... as Computer & Video Games website chatted to SEGA Representatives during the 'Sony Destination Playstation' event last weekend, who speculated that some games could cost yet even more -  upto $69.99 in america, SEGA specifically highlighting Electronic Arts 'EA Sports' titles... you dont want to know what that is in Euro's and Pounds!

EA's CEO Larry Probst has already gone on the record earlier this year saying that he reckoned games would carry significantly higher price tags in the future, but with us already paying well over the equivilent of Japanese and American gamers, excuse me for thinking the future of European gaming coudl soon end up down the pan.

Can you see yourself paying £59.99 or more for new releases? If you're rich and famous, the answer is most likely yes, whilst if you're the type of gamer who works hard all day long to pay the bills, and then likes to splash out on a few new games with whats left, you could be saving longer then initially anticipated, if you can be bothered to save up at all. Maybe its time to just find a new hobby?

This is all speculation at the moment, although the fact that its been spoken highly of by industry experts does undoubtedly strike up cause for concern.

Just a little reminder incase anyone has forgotten... Friday is March 11th... the date that see's the European release of the Nintendo DS!

The Nintendo DS console will retail at £99.99 (RRP) in many stores, with midnight openings taking place on Thursday 10th March for those who just can't wait!

Virgin Megastores will have 5 select superstores open at midnight on Thursday for Friday, which include:

• London 14-19 Oxford Street
• Birmingham 41-43 The Pavillion Shopping Centre, 38 the Hight Street
• Liverpool 8-9 Tops Plaza, Clayton Square Shopping Centre
• Glasgow 235 Buchanan Street
• Cardiff 7-9 Capital Arcade, The Capital, Queens Street

Its also said that the first person at each store will recieve a special T-Shirt showing just how dedicated they are to owning one! Pushy Pushy! The 50 people after that will recieve a T-Shirt with the slogan "I Got Touched!" on it!

Thats not all... Nintendo of Europe recently stated the official launchee of the Nintendo DS at Virgin Megastores, and indeed in Europe, is Bo Selecta's 'The Bear'!

The famous and.. lets say... obnoxious bear will be appearing at the London Virgin Megastores at midnight getting the DS on its way.

The first 50 people at the Oxford Virgin Megastores store will also recieve a free Nintendo DS goodybag, and free DS games are being given away whilst the stocks last! Yes, thats FREE GAMES!!!

As if that wasnt enough, one Oxford store visitor will win the chance to go to Nintendo's HQ in Japan, all expenses paid, including a meet with Shigeru Miyamoto!

Live near Oxford? Queue Now!! If your not near a participating store, why not see if your local games store is opening at midnight anyways? I know for a fact that many GAME stores will be opening at midnight on the Thursday (I've gotta work! :S), so why not run down there tommorrow waving your cash around while theres still stock - Its all limited!

Getting or got a DS? Why not give your opinions on the console and its games in our forums, using the Comments... link above!

There will be server maintenance on the PC Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst servers during March 10th 2005 between the times of 14:00 & 18:00 (Japanese Time).

During this time please do not attempt to connect to the servers as if maintenance is happening on your corresponding servers at that time then you will be automatically disconnected after connecting. If you happen to be playing during these times please disconnect otherwise at the time when maintenance starts you will be disconnected from your game no matter what! You are given 10 minutes warning via. constant on-screen messages counting down until the time the upgrades start. This affects all players of the following PC games:

• Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst

Please reconnect after these times where service continues as normal. Being added are 2 new quests, playable in a brand new area of Episode IV, coincidentally being opened on the same day... well, it'd have to be really, otherwise how'd you play the quests?

March 10th see's yet another area of the new Episode IV expansion to Blue Burst being opened officially for online play, accessable after completing the previous 'Crators Edge' area. This area is known as the 'Underground Desert'.

This new area elaborates on the continuing exploration of the Meteorites Impact Crator, deep down beneath the surface, where new enemies are sure to shock and awe you! The new quests see you being sent on a journey to the deserts.

• The Chosen One (Part 1) - Episode IV

The Governor-General needs you once again, after research and exploration has found a whole new area on Ragol. This new cave has been found underneath the crator of the meteorite, or as some would call it... underground.

The organization behind all of this could be found further in the depths of these underground desert carpetted caves, or at least the plans entitled 'Mother Plans' which explain who is behind this attrocity, and why & how they've done this to the planet. You are deemed the chosen ones.

• The Chosen Ones (Part 2) - Episode IV

You think you've finished it all and then more desert turns up from out of nowhere! Well that trusty Governor-General has noticed you're half-finished job and deemed you the chosen ones once again (Whether you like it or not! :p) as its your mission to get back into those Caves and continue you're exploration into the story of just whats happened here.

On your journey, Sonic Team warns you all of the darker enemies loitering around. It seems, the deeper you get, the stronger the enemy! When it has ended, you're also to face the military... for the information you've learned, as on your quest, you'll find back again, the brilliant Montague, who may able to shed some light on the matters at hand...

Both of these quests are playable for 1 - 4 Human players and can be found at the Hunters Guild in the 'Government Official' listings.

There will be server maintenance on the Nintendo Gamecube Phantasy Star Online servers during March 8th 2005 between the times of 14:00 & 17:00 (Japanese Time).

During this time please do not attempt to connect to the servers as if maintenance is happening on your corresponding servers at that time then you will be automatically disconnected after connecting. If you happen to be playing during these times please disconnect otherwise at the time when maintenance starts you will be disconnected from your game no matter what! You are given 10 minutes warning via. constant on-screen messages counting down until the time the upgrades start. This affects all players of the following Nintendo Gamecube games:

• Phantasy Star Online, Episodes I & II
• Phantasy Star Online, Episodes I & II Plus
• Phantasy Star Online, Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution

Please reconnect after these times where service continues as normal. Being added on this day are 'White Day' themed Quests and Decorations, for the Japanese love holiday which is almost upon us. ^_^

The first update is the 'White Heart' decorations being added to the lobbies.

Think of White Day as a second Valentines Day if you will, if you dont know exactly what it is. We of course welcome back the lovely decorations that were brought to us this time last year. Ladies and Gentlemen... the White Hearts!

Two quests are being added this time around for the holidays instead of the occasional one. The first of these two is 'The White Day Event'.

This quest see's you once again help those Narura sisters before the holidays are over. Nope, not chocolate, not wrapping paper, but instead retrieving the goods for a lovely bouquet of flowers for your loved one.

Collecting the goods is a job for the true gentlemen surely. However, when you have successfully retrieved all the materials needed for your bouquet from the dark eery depths of Episode I's Caves, why not try combining them with the gift of your female friend's Valentines Chocolate for a speical treat...

This quest is playable for 1 - 4 Human Players, and can be found in the 'Events' section of the Hunters Guild.

Secondly, Sonic Team adds a special mission for a neat duo (Hence, supposedly you and your loved one, whether its a he/she is upto you ;) ).

The quest 'The Gift of the Govenor-General' involves much teamwork and co-operation, where the Govenor-general has contracted for 2 special hunters to approach Episode I's Mines and collect 'The Heart'.

Depending on your overall performance on the quest... something else could appear before you, maybe another Quest?

This quest is playable for 2 Human Players only, and can also be access at the Hunters Guild in the 'Events' option. Both these Quests and the Lobby Decorations are available on the Nintendo Gamecube servers between 8th March 2005 & 22nd March 2005. The Lobby Decorations will also be available in Episode III Lobbies, otherwise, there is no addition to Episode III at this time.

You may also find this guide for the 'White Day' quest handy!

^_^ Happy White Day Holidays Hunters ^_^

It seems like any PSO news nowadays is Blue Burst news, and thats exactly whats here today as Sonic Team announce whats available in March for PC.

• In The End of Vision Boundry #4 (Phantismal World #4)

The final part of the 'In The End of Vision Boundry' series arrives and is available right now for all to enjoy. Take down the Control Tower from Episode II by slaying as many different PSO Monsters as you can remember all in the same space of time! The bottom line is, someones going home in a bodybag, whether it be you, or the enemy.

This quest is playable for 1 - 4 Human Players and can be found at the Hunters Guild.

• The White Day Event

White Day is upon us once again folks, and as usual, PSO is there to celebrate it. In this special quest, its your duty to help the Narura 'Cake' Sisters find the goods for a nice bouquet of flowers. Dont ask how they lost them in the Caves, just retrieve them. We sent a special reporter there to ask one of the sisters how they lost the flowers... and he never came back!

Combine the results of this quest with any Valentines Chocolate you have left for a special surprise!

This quest is playable for 1 - 4 Human Players, and is available for a limited time only (March 1st - March 15th).

• The Gift of the Governor-General

A special White Day doubles quest means you and your special partner can take on this quest alone in the search for true love! The quest commissioned from the Governor-General asks for contracting 2 special hunters who can combine their efforts and clear the white heart, praising the beauty of White Day!

This quest is playable for 2 Human Players only, and is available for a limited time only between the dates of March 1st and March 15th 2005.

• White Day

Yup, its Japanese White Day season on PSO and everyone worldwide can get in on the action with the special lobby decorations and White Day themed quests (See Above). Share the love with these decorations, up until March 15th 2005.

There is no addition to Episode IV at this time, and also expect console updates tommorrow!

Happy White Day Folks (And Folkettes ;) )!