IGN.com, possibly the biggest name in the video gaming world as far as video games media coverage is concerned, has recently given out all their E3 awards to what they considered were the highlights in several categories from the trade event show.

Of course, Phantasy Star Universe got a mention, otherwise i wouldn't be posting this up would i! It came runner-up 3rd in IGN's PlayStation2 Best RPG category, losing out to Kingdom Hearts II (2nd) and Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (1st). Not bad from all the millions of games shown at the event.

Feeling a bit lost with all this Episode IV stuff? Want to know how to get all weapons, new items, or find your way around? Well you'll very shortly be able to! Sonic Team of Japan have created an accompanying Strategy Guide for the Episode IV Expansion Pack for Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst that gives you everything you'd possibly want to know when playing through the expansion pack, including new quest walkthroughs, rare finds and more.

Cleverly named the 'Masters Guide', it'll be out and about in Japan from the beginning of June, from Software Bank Publishers.

Ragol.co.uk is the foremost Phantasy Star Online resource, and today we've strengthened that statement. Especially for you Phantasy Star fans, you can now download upto 21 new wallpapers from right here!

We've got 2 European Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst wallpapers, 4 Phantasy Star Universe wallpapers, and a Phantasy Star Online Trilogy wallpaper for you to enjoy in 3 different screen resolutions - 800x600, 1024x768, & 1280x1024.

To enjoy these great wallpapers, you'll need to take a trip to our downloads page.

Happy Hunting!

SEGA of Europe are always about when it comes to highlighting how great other people think their games are, and thats exactly what they've done for E3 2005. Their booth at the trade event show in L.A. this year may have been one of their best in a few years, and SEGA of Europe believe they've shown how far SEGA have come in the past few years by reviewing other websites reviews of their booth and games on show from E3. For us Phantasy Star Universe fanatics, SEGA of Europe have highlighted PlayStation.co.uk's words. Reviewer John Attaway says the following after having a little tester of the PlayStation2 version of PSU at E3 2005:

"Yuji Naka's Sonic Team returns to an RPG with a rich heritage and an army of fans - and it's not afraid to fiddle with the formula a little for this PS2 version. Boasting a full single player mode as well as online multiplayer, the 'Universe' tag is a suitably epic moniker for what's shaping up to be a massive quest."

"There's a faster, less deliberate pace to the combat compared to the previous Phantasy Star Online games, and the combat feels like it's shaping up to be a very satisfying blend of RPG and action. It's possible to switch instantly between melee and long-range weapons by holding down the R1 button, and it all seems very immediate and involving. Combined with Phantasy Star's unmistakable art style, this could make for a very special RPG indeed."

For the full review of SEGAs PS2 offerings from E3 which also include Spartan: Total Warrior, Shadow the Hedgehog, Shining Force NEO, and Virtua Tennis World Tour, log over to PlayStation.co.uk... or this link to the exact article in question!

SEGA of Japan have once again updated the official Japanese Phantasy Star Universe website today offering you the chance to download upto four different wallpapers for you to whack on your desktop, just to remind you about its presence a little bit more. I however would recommend you only keep it up for a small period of time though, otherwise after staring at it for a few days, you may get seriously angry about how long you have to wait for this game until its release, and throw your computer out of the window. Not only would this mean you could no longer view Ragol.co.uk in all its glory, but it would also mean you'd have to buy the PlayStation2 version of Universe when its out! Disaster!

All four wallpapers are available in sizes of 800x600, 1024x768, and 1280x1024, and can be found at http://phantasystaruniverse.com (Click on 'Downloads').

Fresh onto Ragol.co.uk today steps another brand new trailer that pretty much gives you a reason to buy Phantasy Star Universe next year. Viewing this hard hitting, action packed, in your face trailer will make you wish you knew the address to a secret website that gave you instructions on how to build your own time machine that will let you travel forwards in time and also take you to the nearest games shop!

To View this Trailer, Click Here!

[.wmv File - 9Mb]

The trailer is just over a minute long, but its worth every byte of your download. SEGA first showed off this trailer on E3 website a week ago, and if you havent seen it yet, well, what are you waiting for!

If you havent already read it here then you may be tearful to know that listed on SEGA of America's website, the game is marked down as a Winter 2006 title, which means its either been delayed by several months, or its a typo from an over excited SEGA of America employee. Of course, bringing the game out in Winter 2006 will mean its pretty late for the PS2 as the PlayStation3 will have been released, theorectically! SEGA of Europe however remains on a 2006 release.

Just before i log off, have a couple more mouth dripping shots from the trailer. DOWNLOAD!

There will be server maintenance on the Japanese PC Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst servers during May 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! This affects all players of the following PC games:

• Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst

Please reconnect after these times where service continues as normal.

The Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst Login Cup (Maximum Attack 2) competition has ended over in the land of the rising sun, and the winners are to be revealed after Server Maintenance on May 31st 2005. Alongside all the winners, losers don't go away empty handed, as you could very well end up with the very special 'Black Gear' retrievable through the 'At the Seashore' quest. Now thats something very worthwhile just for taking part in one of the biggest PSO competitions ever! If you've won something much bigger, expect an E-Mail from SEGA & Sonic Team of Japan soon.

Internet Service Provider AOL has been kind enough to sponsor Sonic Teams latest English cometition that takes place through the BETA testing and ends on June 20th (Approx.), strangely 11 days after the BETA testing ends. Does this mean we can look forward to a full release of the game straight after the BETA testing ends?

Anyways, if you're interested in taking part, this cup involves you battling your way through a specially made version of the Maximum Attack quest! Simply defeat as many enemies as you can before the end date, and if you've gathered so many points, you'll recieve a prize, and if you're in the top team who have defeated the most monsters by the end date, your teams gets a special prize on top of that!

• 20 Million Points
  • MAG Cell 213
• 40 Million Points
  • Toy Hammer
• 60 Million Points
  • Drop Percentage x 2!
• 80 Million Points
  • Crazy Tune!
• 100 Million Points
  • Drop Percentage x 5!!
• Top Ranking Team
  • If you're the top ranking team, the nice folks at Sonic Team will make a special wallpaper compiled of all the teams entrants, and slap it onto psobb.com for the whole world to see and download!

If you're thinking to yourself "Doesnt Ragol.co.uk have a team?" then you are correct, and at this very moment in time... well we're 63rd (Correct at time of writing). I think i better get meself on some Maximum Attack A.S.A.P! Hope to see you there guys!

There will be server maintenance on the English BETA PC Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst servers during May 20th 2005 between the times of 21:00 & 00:00 (PST).

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! 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 is the all new AOL Cup! The cup competition see's you take on the Maximum Attack quest (I'm guessing an event that is being run similiar to the Login Cup at the moment on the Japanese Blue Burst servers). By taking part you stand to win special in-game prizes and items, and there's also a special prize for the number 1 team. Hmm...

Also being added is Hard mode! This is no doubt something which will please many Hunters out there after playing Normal mode to death. Enjoy the updates, and i hope to see you all there! Thanks to the many who contacted me also concerning this server maintenance. I was unaware due to my playing of the game! Well... what'd you expect eh?

I don't know whether you guys are keeping up with it or not but E3 Insider.com (The official website for the E3 convention) has a video camera system known as FanCam, where they choose the most annyoing video game fan, and ask them to roam E3 with a camera helmet, and record lots of floor material for the website.

Well just today, that very annoying fan has roamed the SEGA of America E3 booth, and shows us the Phantasy Star Universe set-up. Thankfully he, alike us, wanted to see this game (So maybe he's not a complete nutter afterall!), and has managed to capture, well a little bit of footage regarding it - its not really the greatest camera to record TV footage from - but if you fancy checking out what he saw, and the rest of SEGA's E3 offerings including Spartan: Total Warrior, Shining Force, Shadow the Hedgehog, and Sonic Rush, then check out this webpage where the video is embedded for your viewing, or otherwise check out the SEGA Exhibitor page.

Sonic Team have yet again changed the Phantasy Star Universe website in the build up for the games release. While all the old areas remain, there are clearly new areas to come such as a downloads section, a movie sector, system area, and 'World of Phantasy Star Universe' zone which i'm not quite sure will be yet.

This means that hopefully there'll be even more updates to come in the near future with lots more revelations of the game to come - Its a shame however that it all remains in Japanese. They have certainly left a lot more room on all of the pages for new additions to not only the existing pages, but to new ones. Also on the characters page, theres lots of space on the selection menu which means theres most likely going to be more main characters then Ethan and Karen.

Continuing with the PSU updates, they've also added more pictures of the Phantasy Star Universe SEGA booth at E3 - Lets have a look!

Well... unfortunately so far this years E3 hasnt proved big for Phantasy Star goodies, but its not over yet, who knows! But by far the biggest even that has taken place during E3 this year was the unveiling of... well... really all of the next generation consoles. Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and then Nintendo Revolution all got their own unveilings this week to make us awe and gasp in turn at the new looks and features that each one holds. However, for the average gamer, you're most likely a bit confused over what the hell is going on here! Well, allow me to take one step in, and sort it all out for you, because, yes, its the Ragol.co.uk Hunters Gazette!

Another Fortnight, another edition of Ragol.co.uk's weekly digest of goodness, and what a coincidence, Hunters Gazette friday is right in the middle of E3. Inside this edition, as mentioned above, i give you the lowdown on all 3 next generation consoles, with all the specs, and all the features of all the consoles, so you can plan ahead on what to buy right now!

 Hunters Gazette - E3 2K5: The Next Generation!

Click Here to go to the Hunters Gazette!

Included as always are the rest of the Hunters Gazette regulars, including good ol' Chao whos back again to report what you could be bidding on at eBay right now - And what great stuff he's found this fortnight. Check it out - You'd be an idiot if you didnt!

SEGA seemed to have recently held their press conference seeming how all their goodness has suddenly arised on the interweb. Unfortunately not very much has been uncovered concerning Phantasy Star Universe however. There is a new trailer, and to see it, you'll need to head over to SEGA of America's E3 website, by clicking here, or there is an alternative trailer, which we are hosting! This is the same trailer as previously hosted by IGN.com earlier this week, so if you have already seen that, dont bother watching this, although if you havent already seen it, the new footage includes gameplay of new levels, enemies, bosses, characters, and the character creation option which you develop during the online mode of the game - which is incredible to watch. Its come a long way since Phantasy Star Online!

To download the video, click here [Video is 9Mb and in .wmv format]

However, the lack of new footage isnt all we have found. SEGA of America and Europe have both got the game listed down as due for release in Winter 2006 - Which is a big gap from the previous release dates we were told of February 2006. Its unknown whether or not the release date in Japan has also slipped, but it seems most likely :(

We can also show you a few new screenshots:

Alongside the announcements made by Nintendo was the news of the Nintendo DS' online play. As originally thought, the online play will be free, as hosted by GameSpy Networks, no matter if you're playing from home through a modem, or on your travels through a 'HotSpot' area. A 'HotSpot' area is a unit that allows the Nintendo DS' Wi-Fi system to access the world wide web and communicate with other DS' around the globe!

Aparently there are MANY games already in development to use the online system, with 25 main developers announced. Keenly enough, SEGA are one of them... what could they be working on... hmmmm...

Some of the games already announced include Animal Crossing DS, Mario Kart DS, and an all new Tony Hawks skating game from Activision. To discuss the Nintendo DS and all the other handheld systems E3 items, use this Ragol.co.uk forum thread!

The Nintendo Revolution today got unvieled from Los Angeles to the rest of the world, and if you haven't seen it already, this is what you can in fact already play PSO: Episodes I & II, and Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution on!

For more pictures of the Revolution, click the image above.

Here's just some of the great factors which answer the question "Why should an idiot buy this console alongside everyone else?":

• Super Smash Brothers on Revolution will be a launch game... and ONLINE!
• Console plays DVDs and other CD type items with the use of an accessory
• Flash Drive which the console stores data on while you're playing games is 512Mb but can be expanded (As if that isnt big enough!)
• EVERYTHING will be wireless from now on within Nintys produce. Controllers, the console, the tv, and the internet will all be able to access one another in all new ways to make for a brand new gaming experience! (Supposedly this may include the DS too).
• Many developers are supporting the console, including SEGA!
• You will be able to download over 20 years of Nintendo goodness through the net to play (Backwards compatable), including games from the NES, Super Nintendo and Nintendo64. You can get every Nintendo game ever made!
• The console itself will be actually smaller then it looks at the moment, and is the smallest machine ever made by Nintendo for use in the Home as an entertainment system.

For further discussion on the Nintendo Revolution, join our forums in this Ragol.co.uk forum thread!

The Next Generation has been revealed! Already confirmed are details concerning the Xbox 360 and PlayStation3 with more details on the Nintendo Revolution coming later on. Is this what you could be playing Phantasy Star on in the near future?

• PlayStation3
• Spring 2006

The PlayStation3 will look something similiar to the above photo, and plays games on the standard sized discs on Blu-Ray aswell as CD's and DVD's. The controllers are wireless and upto 7 can be used at one time on different frequencies. The PS3 also comes packed with wireless link-up with the Sony PSP handheld console, however its currently unknown what this means. Will we see PSP games playable on the TV or will we see something similiar to Nintendo Gamecube-GameBoy Advance connectivity? The console also comes packed with internet capabilities and information is stored on memory sticks similiar to those used on the Sony PSP, or info can be stored on removable HDD's. Sony also claim the console will be upto 35 times more powerful then the PS2.

Launch titles include Devil May Cry 4, and Killzone, but also making an appearance somewhere along the consoles life will be a new Final Fantasy game, but not Final Fantasy VII as some people imagined there would be a remake of. The console is currently pencilled in for a Spring 2006 launch, but its unknown where abouts that launch is.

For more information on the PlayStation3, we recommend you visit IGN.com, since they have many more screenshots, details, and otherwise, or if you'd like to discuss the PlayStation 3 at E3 2005, use this Ragol.co.uk Forum Thread!

• Xbox 360
• Before Christmas 2005

The Xbox 360 supports amazing power (Upto 10 times more powerful then Xbox), a reformed Xbox Live service (With all games supporting the online package) which is available from the box, wireless controllers, downloadable content, slimline console size, a HUGE 20Gb HDD to saves games and content, and also customisable features, such as clip-on cases to change the appearnace of your console, or skins to change the way the console looks and acts when you turn it on!

Over 160 games are already in development, such as a remake of Final Fantasy XI (Coming with full Xbox Live compatability), and launch titles such as Perfect Dark Zero, and Project Gotham Racing 3. The console also boosts support with your PC and Microsoft Windows XP wirelessly by being able to link-up and download photos, music, movies, etc. and play them all on your Xbox straight to your tellybox. You can even use the mp3's to customise your own playlist on any game you play! Xbox Live comes in 2 packages, one which is free and lets you download the basics (Xbox Live Silver), and a premium package which lets you play multiplayer games online and download supporting content (Xbox Live Gold). Theres also a new Xbox Live Marketplace where you can buy upgrades and even games to download straight to your consoles HDD to play whenever you want without leaving your couch, potatoman!

For more infor regarding the Xbox 360 and the games, with many more screenies and footage of upcoming games/features, we recommend you visit IGN.com, or to discuss it, use this Ragol.co.uk forum thread!

Comparision between Xbox 360 & PlayStation3 (From IGN.com)

	PS3	Xbox 360
Processor	3.2GHz Cell w/ 7 SPEs 2.0 TFLOPS	3.2GHz G5 w/ 3 Cores 1.0 TFLOPS
Memory	256MB XDR @ 3.2GHz 256MB GDDR3 @ 700MHz	512MB GDDR3 @ 700MHz 10MB Embedded DRAM
GPU	550MHz NVIDIA	500MHz ATi
Best Display	1080p Standard Dual Screen Output	1080i Optional Single Screen Output
Network	1000BASE-T Ethernet Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g	100BASE-TX Ethernet Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g
Audio	5.1 Digital	5.1 Digital
Wireless Input	x7 on Bluetooth 2.0	x4 on 2.4GHz RF
Storage	Removable HDD *TBA	Removable HDD 20GB
Release	Spring 2006	November 2005
Dimensions	About 13.5" x 3.25"	About 10.25" x 2.5"

• Nintendo Revolution
• Mid-2006

The Nintendo Revolution hasnt been reveleaed totally yet in its press conference which comes later today, but America Newspaper USA Today can reveal some aspects of it already!

The console looks a little similiar to that pictured right, and plays games on standard size HD-Discs aswell as Nintendo Gamecube sized discs. The console also comes packed with wireless controllers similiar to the Wavebird technology we're all used to from the Nintendo Gamecube. Nintendo also say the Revolution will be only 2 - 3 times more powerful then the Gamecube, which is very little compared to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation3, but a spokeperson said, its not about the power of the games, its about what you do with it. Also games will be cheaper to develop for the Nintendo Revolution which can mean more games in less time and for cheaper at retail, we hope!

The online service has also been revealed as Wi-fi compatable, and will allow gamers to join a free online matching service, and let you download games such as Donkey kong and Super Mario Sunshine, which leads me to believe you can download full games from previous consoles straight to your Revolution, to play whenever you want, for a fraction of the price! Yay!

More info will be released this afternoon, so stick with us! To discuss it further, make sure you pay a visit to this Ragol.co.uk forum thread.

There will be server maintenance on the Japanese PC Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst servers during May 24th 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! This affects all players of the following PC games:

• Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst

Please reconnect after these times where service continues as normal. Please note that this is for the Japanese version of Blue Burst, NOT the English BETA testing which is currently ongoing. Being added are 2 quests, and 2 new team items for sale from the shop!

• Facing the Future - Episode I

A new VR system has been constructed and you've been specially selected to test it out for the government! Dont get yourself worked up though, as the VR system doesnt contain just one stage... it contains 4, all 4! Start yourself off by slaying rappies and booma's, and finish off Falz while you're at it, and make sure you're quick about it! This quest see's you go through the forest, caves, mines, and ruins, including all 4 bosses, before you've done a job well done. At the end of this you'll recieve a rank from the creator himself based on the enemies you've taken down, and the time you did it in, so don't fanny around! You may already know this quest from the console versions of PSO as 'Towards the Future'. This quest is playable for between 1 - 4 human players, so get a team together and take them down!

• To the Center of Disaster - Episode IV

When i started this news post, i stated there were 2 new quests and 2 new items for sale from the team shops. Well, there's only 3 actual new updates, because this is a new quest, thats only available for teams from the shop!

The military now think that this meteorite is responsable for the creation of a silkworm type creature on the planets surface. Long story short, they don't like silkworm, and want you to investigate further into the matter. Grab your team members and prepare yourselves for another expedition down to the surface as you continue to explore the depths of the meteorites impact. Also prepare yourself for a new boss aswell. No prizes for guessing what the boss is a giant of though! Oh and also, there's a time restriction! The military don't like hanging around.

This quest is playable for between 1 - 4 human players and is only available from the team shop menu for the price of 3,000 points. Once purchased, this quest can be used indefinately. All players of this quest must be members of the same team.

• New Weapon: 'Owner Direction Sword' (Rough JP Translation)

The second new item available to teams is this brand new weapon, roughly translated as the owners direction sword. Deadly as ever this saber has a hit power of +20 in combination with the team members statistics.

This weapon is only available to the master of a team through purchase at the team's shop menu, but of course, that can be passed down to anyone else should the master be kind enough! The weapon does however come at a cost of 8,000 points each, so you might want to check it out before you spend all those vital points!

Tonight, the Xbox 2 is to be revealed officially one week before E3, on MTV. What will the program hold? Well, if you havent heard the reports across the internet, i dont want to spoil the program for you. If you do want to be spoiled, chat amongst the others in our forums!

The program airs tonight under the title 'MTV at the Xbox LA Party', which you can see on Sky Digital Channel 440 at 8pm.

Nintendo's Next Generation Machine is already known to include backwards compatabilities with Nintendo Gamecube games and new online play functions, but aparently, Nintendo of America have been hard at work, spreading even more cards on the table today, a week before E3.

Cube-Europe is reporting that Nintendo of America's Perrin Kaplan will be so sleek, you'll barely be able to see it, with reports of the machine having a width of just over one inch when set horizontally. One Inch Wide?!

The Revolution will also play standard sized DVD CD's, so whether this means that the games are moving from Gamecube size, to standard DVD size, or that the Revolution will play DVD Films is not known at the moment.Finally, it's also been said that the Nintendo Revolution will also include Wireless Controllers from the box. The future of games machines look to be very technological indeed!

For all discussions concerning the Nintendo Revolution, be sure to check out our forums!

SEGA of Europe are now offering a third server to download the english BETA test version of the Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst game if you're a victim of slow SEGA of America download speeds and queues!

To download the game from the third server, click here.

For more information regarding the game, visit the news story at SEGA of Europes website by clicking here, or travel to our forums so just about everything else Blue Burst!

SEGA of Europe have today announced just what they're going to show off next weekend in L.A. Amongst the very strong line-up of games, is of course, Phantasy Star Universe for the PlayStation2 and PC. Here's what SEGA Europe had to say about PSU in a press release concerning E3:

"This enormous game offers two complete RPG experiences - a single-player action-adventure spanning multiple planets,and a robust online multi-player component. In offline mode, this action-RPG offers more than 40 hours of gameplay, an emotionally engaging story, traditional cut scenes, and strong character development. In online mode, players are given the opportunity to travel with a squad of other adventurers, enter urban sprawls teeming with hundreds of players, and build their unique avatars into powerful warriors."

All spelling mistakes are those of SEGA Europe :p Then again, they were obviously to excited about seeing more of the game for themselves and about E3 in general to care at the time of going to press! Especially when the rest of their line up includes:

• Condemned - Xbox 360
• Full Auto - Xbox 360
• NHL Eastside Hockey Manager 2005 - PC
• Shadow the Hedgehog - PlayStation2, Xbox, Nintendo Gamecube
• Spartan: Total Warrior - PlayStation2, Xbox, Nintendo Gamecube
• Virtua Tennis: World Tour - Sony PSP

SEGA are obviously commiting themselves well to the next Microsoft Entertainment console which is interesting to see to say the least, however, their show of games i'm sure won't stop at those already listed, as E3 seems to be the home of new game surprises. Will we see anymore Phantasy Star titles popping out of their screens? Lets hope so!

The Official Ragol.co.uk Avatar Contest is now in full-swing.  The nominations have been completed, and the Voting Thread has been created (link below). 

We urge you to head over to the vast awesomeness that is the Ragol.co.uk Forums.  If you are not yet a member (shame on you!), don't worry, you can REGISTER TODAY!  If you are one of the fabulous members of the forums, head over to the thread and vote for one of the nominees' avatars today!

Thank you kindly, and good luck to all of the nominees!

Click Below to go to the voting thread . . .

The Avatar Contest Voting Thread!

Ragol.co.uk Forumer AERO has been out news hunting once again, and uncovered an unbelievable article on IGN concerning Phantasy Star Universe!

Aparently, one lucky son of a b*tch for IGN got to play a demo thats due to hit E3 next weekend! Because of this we can now deliver to you yet more new details about the game:

• New characters classes will be imported into the line-up of existing classes from PSO games to play as in the main game such as an all new beast race!
• The graphics and gameplay are all looking as good as can be for PlayStation2, with the PC version expected to be playable in stupidly good graphics/resolutions!
• AI is tough, with the lucky reporter playing on the dragon boss, stating he had to use a few continues before advancing in the game (Maybe he's just bad at games though :p).
• Gameplay in the offline mode for the storyline could last between 40 & 50 hours.
• A new MAG system is being introduced for the game.
• The online storyline takes place at the end of the offline storyline and is completely different!

Of course, for the rest of the info, head on over to the IGN Article, where theres also a few new piccies and movies of gameplay (Of which i expect are for registered users only!). In the meantime, grab a mop and bucket, and make sure you're comfortable, for the E3 news which will be coming your way next weekend, because its gonna be BIG!

Ragol.co.uk Forumer Phlisle has now made Blue Burst even better!

This very technical forumer has managed to setup his very own Ventrilo Server for the Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst BETA. "What is this, fool!" you ask in a Mr. T styled voice? Well, it basically means you can chat to other players on the servers using a mic instead of a keyboard. Think of it as Xbox Live, except not on Xbox!

The server provides top notch pings, uptime, and Grade A sound quality for all those Blue Burst or general Voice/Client IP needs of yours. The servers contain several rooms for different styled discussions such as basic all around general chit-chat, or sensitive PSO know-how, aswell as dedicated rooms for you to take your team into for private gameplay, and chat amongst yourselves! The server is guaranteed to work as great as it does one centimetre away from where its set up, to the other side of the world. Anyone is free to join in the fun! Why not get a chat room for your own Blue Burst Team? This is a free service offered from a very generous guy.

To get started, you'll need the Ventrilo program, downloadable from this link (.Exe file). Also, if you're finding the SEGA servers slow while downloading the BETA version of Blue Burst, Phlisle has even uploaded the file needed onto these very servers as a mirror, so you can download it at a proper speed in next to no time with no queue! How could you resist? Click Here for the mirror link to the PSO: BB BETA Setup File.

For further server information, including the connection details, or for details on how to setup such a program, or even just to know more about it and ask the man himself, head on over to this Ragol.co.uk Forum Thread.

Unfortunately at the moment, there is server maintenance happening on the English BETA testing Blue Burst servers. Just a heads up incase you were thinking of having a game or two around about now (19:20 BST).

Also, Staff Member Mr. Shoe previously reported that before this all the games servers were full! Now either that means Blue Burst is bigger the Sonic Team expected it to be, or they're running some tests we dont know about - But which ever way you look at it, its both interesting... yet very frustrating!

Anyways, hopefully the servers will be back up shortly.

[EDIT] 12th May 2005 - 10:50 BST: Unfortunately the servers are still down, as they have been all night, but now the patching servers have gone down with it! Aparently, it could have some connection with the recent findings of players taking advantage of a certain level-up accessory that improves their rate of levelling! However, Sonic Team have worked on this problem, and all characters who had previously used such an advantage, will now have all their characters reduced to the starting level! This update will most likely come your way in the form of another patch which you will be prompted and required to download when the servers come back online (Hopefully) later today.

Also in our forums, you can stay up-to-date with all the unfoldings of all announced (Or unannounced, such as this) maintenance times in this new thread which will contain new entries everytime there are more problems. This is the BETA testing period... so what would you expect? Click Here for the Ragol.co.uk Forum Thread.

[EDIT] 12th May 2005 - 11:25 BST: The servers are now back up and free for online play! Yay!

If you havent been able to already, the Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst BETA game is now available in English from the official Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst website on SEGA Download servers, and is once again, completely free to download and play.

Also on offer are the games manual, keyboard layout, and font pack, so some extra goodies for making all us European players wait!

You can download from either one of two SEGA servers, as linked to directly below, so you dont even have to go anywhere else:

• PSO: BB BETA (English) - Server 1 (.Exe File)
• PSO: BB BETA (English) - Server 2 (.Exe File)
• PSO: BB BETA (English) Manual (.Zip File)
• PSO Font Pack (.Zip File)
• PSO: BB BETA (English) Keyboard Layout (.Pdf File)

Remember, there may be a slowdown due to a mass number of people downloading the same game file as you - If such a thing occurs, try the other server! The games are around 500Mb in size, so its a BIG game, where as the other downloads are fairly small, so nothing to worry about there! Once you've got your game, go register for your Game ID at PlaySEGA.com and then start gaming! Enjoy!

Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst is now up and running, and so is the Ragol.co.uk Team!

If you'd like to be a part of the team at such an early stage, and to do what you love best for our behalf, then we want to let you! Here's how you can be a part of Team Ragol.co.uk!

1. Visit THIS Ragol.co.uk Forum Thread (Or click 'Comments' underneath the title of this news post).
2. Enter your Character Name that you want to join the team with, aswell as a brief description of your characters appearance, and your Guild Card Number, and post it on the forum thread.
3. Visit the Ship: 05:Oceanus:06-01, and meet up with me either right now, or at an arranged time announced on the forums in that particular thread!

Be a part of Ragol.co.uk... Today!

There have been server troubles all day, especially with people who have downloaded the game and now can't patch it while the patching servers are down! But luckily for you guys now, the patch servers are back online! Also, some people have had trouble trying to type in their Game ID's and Passwords into the Menu Option. If you are having such a trouble, follow these steps:

1. Go to: Contol Panel, and open up Regional Settings & Languages
2. Go to the Languages Tab
3. Click 'Details' under 'Text'
4. Add Japanese as another language (Dont delete English unless you can read JP fluently!)
5. Apply the settings and exit the menu, starting up PSO: BB
6. When entering your Game ID, hold down the left 'Shift' and 'Alt' keys until some Japanese Text appears next to the box. Now you should be able to enter any text you like!
7. You can now delete these settings if you like, however its recommended you save your Game ID and Password at the Options screen so you dont have to go through all of that again!

Enjoy!

PlaySEGA.com has now changed to counter for all your Hunters License needs, whether its Nintendo Gamecube Phantasy Star Online, or PC Phantasy Star Online! The screen you get when you now visit http://www.playsega.com will appear alike the image left. You will be asked to either select whether you want Gameucbe or PC HL information. Obviously choose accordingly!

There is no difference however to the old Gamecube HL purchasing page/process, neither PC process, since yesterday!

Mr. President of Ninty, Satoru Iwata, has been discussing the Online DS plans with Japanese publication 'Game Watch'. The launch of such a system, previously stated for release in 2005, now looks even juicier! Heres some of the key points you can expect to see with the Nintendo DS... in Japan anyways:

• There will be over 1000 'Hotspots' for Nintendo DS players to connect too using the DS' inbuilt Wi-Fi system, so they can play against other Nintendo DS players, whether connecting through a 'Hotpsot' or Home Router, for FREE!!
• Games will be free to play online, with the exception of certain third-party games, where the third-party in question can charge for such an online service (Such as SEGA does with PSO Via. a Hunters License).

Nintendo have also stated that the DS will be compatible with the Nintendo Revolution console. Of course, you can expect to see more at E3, in just over a weeks time! Who, knows, this could be the opening for a PSO...

Its been announced today that the MMORPG of a different nature, that we reported on aaages ago, entitled 'Homeland', has now been picked up by a certain publisher for a much bigger release. For those who dont know, Homeland, is a new Online RPG game developed by Japanese developer Chunsoft, to be available on Nintendo Gamecube in Japan. To refresh your memory more, click here!

Anyways, another Online Gamecube game? Whats the point! Only one company uses the online gaming system, and thats SEGA, so why would anyone else pick up the publishing rights to the game? Well, why indeed, because it is infact SEGA who have now announced, that they will be publishing the game for release. Great news for people who dont live in Japan, because thats now an even bigger chance to see a western release for the game!

What are the chances eh? Good ol' SEGA!

The game gets its Japanese release on June 30th 2005.

The official Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst English BETA test file can now be downloaded!

If you want to wait for the game to be available from SEGA Downloads, you'll have to wait until approx. 1pm (PST), but if you don't wish to wait, you can download the same file (For free), from GameSpy's FilePlanet.com.

To download the game, click here!

The file is just under 500Mb in size, and you may have to wait a minute or two for a download server to free up, but do you really want to wait until America gets up? Thought not! See you there!

Ragol.co.uk Forumer AERO has noticed that you can create your very own PSO: Blue Burst Gaming Account through PlaySEGA.com now, before the BETA test, which officially starts tommorrow.

To register, don't head off to www.PlaySEGA.com, otherwise you'll be taken to the Nintendo Gamecube PSO Hunters License page, instead, click the following link to go to the exact page on https://billing.playsega.com/protected/securityCheck.

Creating a Blue Burst Hunters Licnese account through the link above will also give you access to other information such as how much the Hunters License will be when the full release is out. A 30 day Hunters License will cost you just as much as it is to play the current console versions of PSO (£5.99/€ 8.95/$8.99).

We're under 24 hours away from being able to get our mitts on the BETA test of Blue Burst at last! When the BETA version is up and running, stay with Ragol.co.uk for the news, and all the information!

It really is here folks. The latest Ragol.co.uk Hunters Gazette is here, as yet another fortnight has passed us by! This time we're taking things a bit more serious though, as we gaze into the unknown, and give you EVERYTHING you really do need to know about Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst and the BETA edition of the game.

Even if you think you've read everything, it's pratically compulsory that you read this as it could very well contain information you didnt know before concerning taking part in the BETA test. Maybe you've never heard of this game before, and wonder what the hell it is? A query which will spark of 2 replies... 1) Hows life under rocks these days?, and 2) Come closer, and dip into the Hunters Gazette!

Also included is a little more information about a Ragol.co.uk Blue Burst Team, which seems to have spread across the internet, even before the idea was given much thought!

 Hunters Gazette - Blue Burst BETA'ers - READ ME!

Click Here to go to the Hunters Gazette!

Aswell as all of that, we still found room for all our other usual features, including our loveable Chao, who's back to give us the lowdown on what you could invest into through eBay!

Somewhat unexpectedly, Sega have added a site for PSO Blue Burst based in Europe, www.psoblueburst.com. It contains a little information about the game (similar to the other site) and a few extra downloads. Sega Europe's website also says the beta will be downloadable from the 10th of May, so luckily there is no wait for us Europeans this time! The community link on the website does not take you to a specific European page, but on to the general English Blue Burst website, www.psobb.com. The website also clears up some information that was before somewhat vague, stating:

"It's completely free and you won't need a credit card or Hunter's License to take part."

Great news so far, and finally, it also says that any members of 'Sega City' (the Sega-Europe club as mentioned on this site before) will be told immediately when the Beta begins. This new attitude towards Europe by Sega is certainly a refreshing change, and we look forward to seeing continued support when we finally get to play Blue Burst!

With Ragol.co.uk's population constantly growing ever higher, we've decided to hold an avatar contest!  Every member of our enormous community may take part in this activity if they so wish.  I have begun an official nomination thread for the contest on our forums (link below).  If you are not currently a member of our forums, don't be shy, JOIN TODAY! 

Included in this thread is the exact procedure for how the whole contest will work, as well as the rules and regulations if you wish to participate.  We strongly urge you to take part to try and prove that your avatar is the best one of all! ^_^  Thank you, and good luck everyone!

The Official Avatar Contest Nomination Thread

Cause for concern over the costs of next generation gaming continue to rise as a report for BBC News (Online) speculates that extra features in future titles could come at a price.

The report mainly focuses on the recent release of extra online multiplayer maps for Halo 2 (Xbox Live), as they are available now online for the price of £2.99. Even though they are free in the summer, they will of course most likely be bought by the hardcore Halo fans who want some of the new deathmatch goodness now!

The report goes on to discuss the possibilities of such features on the next generation online games. With all 3 consoles competing hard for the online market, what will be included? Will they hold back features from the full game in order to gain a little extra at an initial price? Just maybe.

With Phantasy Star Online, this may not be so bad, as we're already used to paying the Hunters License fee's, so surely SEGA arent going to charge us anymore for extra features... are they?

For the full article, click here to go to BBC News Online.