Ragol.co.uk's favourite German has once again gotten in contact with the foremost PSO resource! Yes, i am of course talking about Ragol.co.uk Forumer benOire of pso-world.de! And why do you suppose this? Hmm... German games conference in Leizpig Germany... and a German guy... hmmm... well, it doesn't take the chuckle brothers to figure this one out!

Of course, SEGA of Europe are there in full swing showing off everything they've got bursting into stores anytime soon, including of course this winters 'must have' Phantasy Star Universe! This guy's no idiot, oh yes, he was there, and he also took a camera! Oooh, goodie ^_^

benOire has taken the time to upload some film of gameplay from the PS2 version of PSU and it's available through his website here (PS2), here (PS2) and here (Xbox360 Trailer).

But that's not all! According to benOire, SEGA of Europe is planning on a November release for Universe, particularly since they had loads of stickers with 'November' written on them, while the Xbox360 version is TBA and could be the end of this year too. The Xbox360 version was only present at the show in trailer form and not 'Hands-on-and-get-your-grubby-mits-all-over-my-precious-jewels' form... except for VIPs! Aparently on Wednesday, special folk were able to give the game a whirl in it's Xbox360 form, a version of which is 60% complete overall as it stands. The admin of pso-world.de was privileged enough to go hands-on with the version, and i'm told that if you do go for any version of PSU, make sure it is the Xbox360 version, as the difference between that and the PlayStation2 version is tremendous!

Thursday through Sunday at the event will see the broadcasting of a 1080i trailer for the Xbox360 version of Universe, and aparently when the Xbox360 game is released, it will be done so in 16:9 picture at 'almost High-Definition' quality.

Thanks again to benOire & pso-world.de for all the news and coverage from Leizpig, and be sure to check out their exclusive content over on their website!

If you weren't aware of the fact that there's currently a huge games show going on in Germany at the moment, you're an idiot (Sorry!), however SEGA of Europe have been using the event to showcase a huge bunch of their upcoming titles including Phantasy Star Universe which is to be released in Japan in just over a days time!

For the event they released a new trailer of Phantasy Star Universe which showcases all of the characters involved in the title, as well as some gameplay videos and FMV sequences, plus a bit of teasy teasy too. Mind you, when i say 'new' trailer, those who have been viewing all of the videos regarding PSU to date may recall seeing the exact same thing a while ago but in Japanese. Yes! This is an English dubbed trailer of which includes all the English voices for many of the leading characters in the game. Ragol.co.uk Forumer 'Starman' posted this up in the forums earlier today, and we're now also offering the trailer as a download.

To download it so, click here [.wmv file, 40Mb], or visit our Downloads page.

Ragol.co.uk Forumer 'the_importer' has been in contact to make all importers aware (Mainly who have ordered through import website NCSX) that although the importing of Phantasy Star Universe remains unaffected, the purchasing of NetCash cards (Of which are required to play PSU online for a Hunters License) has been delayed by upto a week due to a SEGA shipping delay. For all the news on this matter, click here.

Ragol.co.uk Forumer 'the_importer' has once again gotten in contact with his import seeing eyes letting us in on how you can play Phantasy Star Universe in just several days time when it launches in Japan!

Of course, you've got to import the game, but you can't pay for that all important Hunters License that lets you play online using an international credit card... until now!

Import website NCSX have announced that you'll be able to buy Japanese Yen through NetCash cards, of which SEGA's new SIGN portal (Which concerns how you obtain your Hunters License for the Japanese version of PSU) accepts, in increments of ¥3000, which should give you approx. 3 months worth of PSU online play. For all the information on this subject, be sure to check out the announcement on their website by clicking here!

With the recent addition of Dangerous Deal Of Black Paper making it's way to the English version of Blue Burst, today Sonic Team have added two more all new Single Player Episode IV quests!

The quests in question are 'Warrior's Pride' and 'Restless Lion' and should be available to burst through around about now! Both quests are available by entering the 1-Player option at the Lobby Game Creation Stage, and then all you have to do is get as far as the quests are staged and select away at the Hunters Guild!

Happy Hunting!

Sonic Team of Japan haven't yet released Phantasy Star Universe (13 days!) yet, but they're already in a merchandising frenzy with game extra's for everyone to collect!

Through an update on the official Japanese PSU website, here's what them Japanese can look forward to recieveing with a copy of the game, for a limited time only, some mainly through pre-orders only:

The first piece is a set of Phantasy Star Universe Illustration booklets with notes and drawings straight from Sonic Team of Japan. These include (But aren't limited too!) Ethan, Karen and the other main characters of the main story for the game, aswell as clothes and enemies and weapons!

Now you can draw them yourselves and make your own MMORPG! Well... design one maybe, not actually make...

But wait! There's more!

Act Now and you'll recieve some great Phantasy Star Universe illustrative postcards (See right - For more see the PSU update page, click here (English)). The ones i've chosen to display here really show off the amount of care and detail put into the game, and there's also a anime feel about it - PSU made for TV? That'd be nice, hehe! Other cards include CGI character designs, some limited to what version you buy and when/where you get it! Can you collect them all?

And yes, as if that wasn't enough, there's even a PSU wall clock available to some purchasers! A WALL CLOCK?! Blimey! What next eh?

But wait! There's still more!

Yep, 'fraid so! Pre-ordering customers will also be recieveing a copy of the official Phantasy Star Universe soundtrack! It's not the full version however, as it only includes nine tracks, including a shortened version of the main theme to the game:

• Track 1: Save This World [Opening Sequence]
• Track 2: The G_March
• Track 3: CAST Theme
• Track 4: Raffon Meadow
• Track 5: Growl & From The Wild Sky
• Track 6: Clyez Linear Line
• Track 7: Game Over Theme!
• Track 8: Save This World [Instrumental Version]
• Track 9: With You [Epilogue Sequence]

Those who don't pre-order however, STILL recieve a PSU soundtrack CD, but a different one, with not as great tracks!

• Track 1: Save This World [Orchestra Short Version]
• Track 2: Clyez City [Guardians Colony]
• Track 3: Holtes City [Parum]
• Track 4: Ohtoku City [Neudaiz]
• Track 5: Dagora City [Moatoob]
• Track 6: Result 1
• Track 7: Result 2
• Track 8: G_March [Long Version]
• Track 9: Save This World

It seems whatever way you look at it, them lucky Japanese players who get down the games stores ASAP will be looking at much more then just the greatest game of the year! Now that's value for money! What'll we get? We might get the postcards if you're lucky...

For the Japanese, the wait is now down to just 16 days! So SEGA of Japan have gone mad with their advertising of what's likely to be the next biggest thing over there this year! But don't fear, as you won't be missing out either... on the advertising campaign that is!

Ragol.co.uk today brings you 3 more of SEGA of Japan's Phantasy Star Universe Advertisements direct from this latest update on the official Japanese PSU website, but in easy to download form!

Click Here to Download 'Japanese Phantasy Star Universe Advertisement 2'

[.wmv file - 1.28Mb]

Click Here to Download 'Japanese Phantasy Star Universe Advertisement 3'

[.wmv file - 1.26Mb]

Click Here to Download 'Japanese Phantasy Star Universe Advertisement 4'

[.wmv file - 1.26Mb]

Why've we started at #2? Well we've already brought you the first teaser - You'll be able to find it in our massive downloads section, aswell as loads of other PSU goodies! Enjoy!

[UPDATE] Now with working links! Soz ^_^

SEGA of America have just yesterday announced a new compilation of their classic SEGA MegaDrive titles!

Entitled the 'SEGA Genesis Collection' (Genesis being the American equivilent to the SEGA MegaDrive), the compilation will feature 28 MegaDrive titles in one package including Golden Axe, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Phantasy Star, with bonus SEGA Arcade classics to unlock!

"Developed by Backbone Entertainment, SEGA Genesis Collection features over 30 titles including, Altered Beast™, Sonic The Hedgehog™, Shinobi III™, Phantasy Star™, and the original SEGA Genesis version of Golden Axe™. The games in the collection have been reproduced with the utmost accuracy to the originals as possible. SEGA Genesis Collection  also features numerous unlockable items that delve into the soul of the Genesis including interviews with the original developers that created the games featured in the collection, a museum area with interesting facts about the games, a hint area to help gamers complete their favorite SEGA Genesis games, and SEGA arcade games from the Genesis era."

"SEGA Genesis Collection for the PSP system marks the hand held debut of numerous titles in the collection. The PSP system’s wireless function will for the first time ever, allow Genesis fans to connect with friends for a wireless multiplayer gaming experience." - SEGA Press Release

Those looking to own such a great compilation of SEGA MegaDrive classics will be glad to hear the game hits stores in Autumn 2006 for PlayStation2 and Sony PSP. However, the title has only been confirmed for American release at this time.

[UPDATE] SEGA of Europe have now confirmed that they will also be releasing 'SEGA MegaDrive Collection' for PlayStation2 & Sony PSP in time for Christmas this year. Click Here for the Story! Fantastico!

Sonic Team of Japan's Director of Phantasy Star Universe Sakai Satoshi has decided to start a run of blogs on the official and recently revamped Japanese PSU website (phantasystaruniverse.jp - English).

In his first blog he talks about the recent starting of the Japanese PlayStation2 BETA testing of Universe, the Actress of Good Fortune's 'Relations', and going on the SEGA Development Summer Vacation next week!

To read it all, click here (English).

And on the subject of the PlayStation2 BETA testing, Ragol.co.uk Forumer Tycho has posted up the Introductary Opening Sequences from the game via. YouTube video in this Ragol.co.uk Forum Thread. So be sure to check that out if you haven't already too!

The Japanese must be running about like headless chickens in the run up to Phantasy Star Universe's launch which takes place in just 20 days! Dam them!