Difference between revisions of "Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst"

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{{Bob
 
{{Bob
−
| bobscreen=PSOBB.png
+
| bobscreen=PSOBB PC Title.png
 
| icon=Psobb.png
 
| icon=Psobb.png
−
| publisher=[[Sega]]
+
| publisher={{company|[[Sega]]|region=Japan, US}}, {{company|[[Sega PC]]|region=Japan}}, {{company|[[Zarva Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd]]|region=China}}
−
| developer=[[Sonic Team]]
+
| developer=[[Sonic Team (company)|Sonic Team]]
−
| system=Windows
+
| support={{company|[[Wave Master]]|role=audio}}
 +
| system=[[Windows PC]]
 
| sounddriver=
 
| sounddriver=
 
| peripherals=
 
| peripherals=
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| genre=RPG
 
| genre=RPG
 
| releases={{releasesPC
 
| releases={{releasesPC
−
| pc_date_jp=2004-07-15
+
| pc_date_jp_d=2004-06-01{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20040602220808/http://psobb.jp/info-ob2.html#dl}}
 +
| pc_rrp_jp_d=free
 +
| pc_date_jp=2004-07-15{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20041010002240/http://sega.jp/pc/psobb/}}
 
| pc_code_jp=HCJ-0348
 
| pc_code_jp=HCJ-0348
−
| pc_rrp_jp=1,980
+
| pc_rrp_jp=1,980e{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20041010002240/http://sega.jp/pc/psobb/}}
 +
| pc_rating_jp=free
 +
| pc_date_jp_Episode IV=2005-02-03{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20050204102437/http://sega.jp/pc/psobbep4/}}
 +
| pc_code_jp_Episode IV=HCJ-0376
 +
| pc_rrp_jp_Episode IV=3800e{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20050204102437/http://sega.jp/pc/psobbep4/}}
 +
| pc_rating_jp_Episode IV=free
 +
 
 
| pc_date_cn_d=2005-01-18
 
| pc_date_cn_d=2005-01-18
−
| pc_code_cn_d=?
+
| pc_rrp_cn_d=
−
| pc_rrp_cn_d=?
 
 
| pc_date_us_d=2005-06-31
 
| pc_date_us_d=2005-06-31
−
| pc_code_us_d=?
+
| pc_rrp_us_d=free
−
| pc_rrp_us_d=FREE
+
| pc_rating_us_d=t
 +
| pc_date_us_d_Open Beta=2005-05-10{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20050429041755/http://psobb.com/gameinfo/openbeta.php}}
 +
| pc_rrp_us_d_Open Beta=free
 +
| pc_rating_us_d_Open Beta=t
 
}}
 
}}
−
|esrb=t
 
−
|cero=free
 
 
}}
 
}}
−
{{stub}}'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' (ファンタシースターオンライン ブルー バースト) is an enhanced PC port of the game ''[[Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II]]'', developed by Sonic Team and released in Japan on July 7th, 2004 with a US and European digital release on June 6th, 2005. The game was also the first time a Phantasy Star Online game was released in mainland China with the game being released on January 18th, 2005 and operated by ZARVA.
+
'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' (ファンタシースターオンライン ブルー バースト) is an upgraded port of the [[GameCube]] and [[Xbox]] game ''[[Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II]]'' for the PC.
  
−
This was the last update to ''Phantasy Star Online'' before focus shifted to ''[[Phantasy Star Universe]]''.
+
This was the last time a version of ''Phantasy Star Online'' would be made before focus shifted towards ''[[Phantasy Star Universe]]''.
  
−
==Story==
+
==History==
−
===Episodes I & II===
+
===Development===
−
Being a port of the original game, ''Blue Burst'' allows players to play through the ''Episodes I & II'' storylines present in previous releases with the content present in previous releases being accessible by making a One-Player Party, however unique to Blue Burst is the ''Government Quests'' in Episode I available from the new NPC Momoka and ''Lab Quests'' in Episode II from Nol Rinale (previous seen in the Episode 1 quest; Journalistic Pursuit). Government and Lab quests act as a retelling of the stories seen in Episode I and II in a more story-orientated manner; as individual quests to investigate the various areas of Planet Ragol after the disappearance of Pioneer 1.
+
On March 23, 2004 Sonic Team announced that between the 25th to the 31st of March they will be holding registrations for a new PC port of the game based off of Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II. The official name for this version of the game would be revealed on April 4th as {{PAGENAME}}, the name change being made to give players a fresh outlook on the game.
  
−
===Episode IV===
+
[[File:Asobit_10.jpg|thumb|190px|The event at Aso Bit Mall.]]
−
In addition to the content in ''Episode I'' and ''II'', ''Blue Burst'' had its own story expansion released called ''Episode IV'' accessible by creating an ''Episode IV'' party and talking to Momoka. Taking place prior to the ''Phantasy Star Online Episode III C.A.R.D. Revolution'', the story sees the player character returning to Ragol after being sent to investigate a meteor that had crash landed on the deserts Ragol. Meanwhile a Military Organization named WORKS lead by a man named Leo Garhart are interested in the meteor and a substance contained within it. ''Episode IV'' also sees the return of various characters like Ash, Sue, Kireek and also Rupika (previous seen in the Episode 1 mission; Gran Squall) who seems to have some connection to the events going on.
+
Applications for Closed Beta participants was available only to Japan and required players to have their Serial Number from the original Phantasy Star Online PC version from which up to 3000 applicants would be accepted at random and the remaining applicants would be chosen via magazines and events. One such event was held in anticipation of the Closed Beta at Aso Bit City Mall wherein up to four participants at a time would be able to try the game out together for up to ten minutes. 500 Closed Beta applicants would be accepted at the event and participants would be able to receive a special mouse-pad.
 +
 
 +
Further information regarding {{PAGENAME}} would be revealed when the official website became active two days prior to the Closed Beta. The website revealed the new features the game would have such as server-side saving to combat the constant cheating and hacking the original game endured as well as a team system for players to create mini-communities within the game. {{PAGENAME}} was developed off of the Xbox version of Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II resulting in fewer difficulties porting the game compared to the original PC release which was well known for its graphical glitches and questionable design choices.
 +
 
 +
===Release===
 +
The game was released in Japan on July 7th, 2004 followed by a version of the game for mainland China released on January 18th, 2005 and operated by Zarva Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.{{ref|https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20040803005406/en/SEGA-Enters-China-Market-Online-Game-Business}} and finally a US and European release on June 6th, 2005. Unlike the previous versions, {{PAGENAME}} was a free downloadable and all new accounts containing a two week trial where the player can level up to Level 20. After the free trial expires a monthly subscription similar to other versions of the game would be required to continue playing with this account.
 +
 
 +
Whereas previous versions of the game all let players play on any region's server, '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' only allowed the Japanese version to connect to Japanese servers while US and European releases could only play on the servers run by SEGA of America. This unfortunately lead to various issues as each game version would receive their own events, content updates and bug fixes which would end up being released much later after its Japanese release or would never be released outside of Japan (as is the case with many of the Quests and Items introduced with Episode IV). This was all a result of Sonic Team's mismanagement of the game's international servers, supplying late updates unique to international versions and requiring every action taken to be authorized.
 +
 
 +
This issue would continue to plague future online-enabled Phantasy Star games such as Phantasy Star Universe's Western release and Phantasy Star Online 2's limited International release in South East Asia and Taiwan. In the case of {{PAGENAME}}, bugs not being addressed and the lack of content turned many players away from the Western release with many choosing to play on the Japanese version instead.
 +
 
 +
==Versions==
 +
===Changes from Phantasy Star Online: Episode I & II===
 +
====Story====
 +
Story-wise the events told in Episode I & II remain unchanged for the most part, with that said however the way story content is accessed is what's different. In the previous versions, story content was included in the game's Offline Mode which {{PAGENAME}} lacks as a result of its online-only approach. As a result, new NPCs had been added to each episode, Momoka for Episode I and Nol Rinale for Episode II, who act as a secondary quest counter handing out story related quests; Government and Lab Quests respectively. These quests could be played alone or with other players present who, unlike other quests, can join in at any time.
 +
 
 +
Prior to an update that made all the locations available from the start, each story quest for a particular area would have had to be completed to unlock the next location as opposed to the original game wherein the player had to beat the Boss in Offline Mode and also activate every monument to unlock the Ruins area. Aside from this however the main story and much of its dialog remains unchanged albeit stretched out across the various quests for each area and with new dialog based on the context of the quest. The nature of quests range from finding a particular item to killing a certain amount of enemies to simply defeating the boss at the end.
  
−
==Gameplay==
+
====Gameplay====
−
Being a port, the game plays similarly to its previous releases with the player traversing a variety of areas on Ragol, fighting enemies to progress and fighting an end boss. However with the release of ''Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst'', Sonic Team has made some changes to either improve on the game or make good use of the new server-side and PC capabilities. New features include:
+
[[File:psobb_sample.jpg|thumb|190px|Screenshot of an Episode II play session. The newly added action palette is visible at the bottom of the screen.]]
 +
*New players would have gotten a pop up help message to get them started. (This feature is notably missing from newer client versions which Private Servers use)
 +
*A new action palette to which players can map techniques and actions to was added to the lower screen. Unlike the regular palette, this new action palette was accessed via the 1-0 keys on the keyboard.
 +
*Function Keys are used to quickly access specific game menus like Item Pack and Chat Options.
 +
*When creating a new party the player now has the option to make it a "One-Person" party. These parties comprise of much of the Offline content present for that episode's original Offline mode, these include elements like difficulty and parameters (enemy amount, drops, etc).
 +
*The player can now create teams; mini communities which other players can join. Teams have their own separate chat channel which lets players in the same team talk to each other regardless of the ship or party they are in. Individual team members can donate rare weapons to receive Team Points which high ranking members can spend on additional features which team members can access such as team flags, team items, dressing room functionality and additional quests.{{ref|http://archives.dcemulation.org/www.psobb.com/www.psobb.com/guide/team/index.html}}
  
−
===New Areas===
+
====Graphics====
−
With the Episode IV expansion comes several new locations for the players to explore. These locations feature a much higher difficulty compared to ''Episode I & II'' and introduce several new enemies unique to ''Episode IV''. The new areas consist of the following:
+
*Some graphical effects from the Nintendo Gamecube version are missing. An example of this is the distortion effect created by Telepipes.
 +
*Face Texture of Irene, the Nurses and the Quest Counter attendant NPC had been updated.
 +
*The game is able to now run natively at a higher resolution.
 +
*The game has a longer draw distance than its console counterparts.
 +
*The ingame font used for dynamic text (Chat, Descriptions, Certain Interfaces, etc) is now a font of the player's choosing in the launcher options.
  
−
*Crater: The surrounding rocky terrain on the surrounding area of the impact site. The Crater Area is split up into four routes (Eastern, Western, Northern and Southern) which are depicted as four different identical locations ingame but with some mild differences.
+
====Other====
−
*Crater Interior: The terrain over the impact site, the area features most of the same enemies and elements from the first Crater area.
+
This version of the game uses server-side storage, as a result various changes to accommodate for this have been added.
−
*Subterranean Desert: A desert located under the impact site of the crater. This location consists of three different maps as the player progresses deeper and deeper into the impact site. Following the third area, the player has a chance to encounter the sole boss battle of Episode IV which comes in three variations; ''Saint Million'' if encountered during free roam, ''Shambertin'' if encountered during a quest and ''Kondrieu'' as a rare variation that can appear in either mode.
+
*The game now requires the player to sign in using a username and password.
 +
*The title screen now comprises of just the sign in option with the Options and Homepage menu being moved to the game's launcher. Settings like Sound Test and Language Selection are now gone completely.
 +
*The title screen no longer has an introduction video.
 +
*The introduction video that plays prior to character creation is now a slideshow with simple 2D animations.
 +
*The game credits are accessed from the game's launcher and are not present when the final battles of each respective episodes are fought in a "One-Person" party. (The equivalent to completing the episode in Offline Mode)
 +
*During its run, {{PAGENAME}} would receive frequent patch updates comprising of new content, bug fixes, etc.
 +
*Ingame announcements are now displayed as text scrolling at the top of the screen.
 +
*Because the word "Team" now relates to the game's Guild system, the act of creating or joining a session is now "Create Party" and "Join Party" respectively.
 +
*The player is able to take screenshots of the entire game window at the press of a button but are unable to freely pose the camera like in the Gamecube and Xbox version. All the screenshots are saved to the game's screenshot folder.
 +
*Compared to the Xbox version, the player is now only able to store up to four characters per game account.
 +
*Being an Xbox port, all references relating to the Gamecube-GBA connectivity are thus missing. This includes the Chao sidequest in the 'Fake in Yellow' quest.
 +
*Despite being a port of the Xbox version many of the new features introduced in that version such as Voice Chat and Gamer Card functionality are missing as they relied on Xbox Live.
 +
*Unique to the Japanese release; a latter update placed billboards in certain lobbies. The billboards were used for advertising and art related competitions.
 +
*Unique to the Chinese release; the player is able to select Regional Servers wherein their character will be contained. The Ship Servers listed are those near to the Regional Server selected.
 +
*Unique to the Chinese release; a new Chinese New Year lobby event had been added.
  
−
===New Items===
+
===Episode IV===
−
With the game's Episode IV expansion and over time via updates the game would have new items added to it. These new items included such things such as new Mags, new Weapons, new Armors and Shields, etc. These new items would be made available either as ingame drops or through special events for players to receive said item.
+
{{PAGENAME}} would receive an expansion in the form of Episode IV; sold as a separate product requiring the base game for the Japanese release and included for free as a patch update for the International release. In the Japanese release players who owned Episode IV would be displayed with an orange name.
  
−
===Teams===
+
====Story====
−
In ''{{PAGENAME}}'' players can establish "teams" which works similar to guilds in other MMOs. Teams enable players in the same team have access to a separate global chat for team members to chat together in addition to a teampoint system which enables players to donate rare weapons for Team Points. Team Points are used to rank teams on a leaderboard and also act as a form of currency for Team Leaders to buy new features for its members such as new quests, dressing room to modify already made characters and a unique team flag, an image that hovers next to a player's name to identify what team they belong to.
+
Like Episode I, the story takes the form of a series of requests from Principal Tyrell which the player accesses via Momoka. Taking place prior to the Phantasy Star Online Episode III C.A.R.D. Revolution, the story sees the player character returning to Ragol after being sent to investigate a meteor that had crash landed on the deserts Ragol. Meanwhile a Military Organization named WORKS lead by a man named Leo Grahart are interested in the meteor and a substance contained within it. Episode IV also sees the return of various characters like Ash, Sue, Kireek and also Rupika (previous seen in the Episode 1 mission; Gran Squall) who seems to have some connection to the events going on.
  
−
===Miscellaneous===
+
====Locations====
−
*''{{PAGENAME}}'' saves the player's character data on the server and linked to a unique player account as opposed to previous releases which saved the player's data locally and required the player to use the character on the same console.
+
With the Episode IV Expansion, four new locations had been added:
−
*Items and Techniques can now be made accessible via the 1-0 keys via a hotbar as is common in other MMORPGs.
+
*Crater: The surrounding rocky terrain on the surrounding area of the impact site. The Crater Area is split up into four routes (Eastern, Western, Northern and Southern) depicted as four different identical locations mild differences ingame.
−
*In addition to the Episode IV expansion, the game would be able to receive various content updates to fix bugs, add new features and content, etc.
+
*Crater Interior: The terrain over the impact site, the area features most of the same enemies and elements from the first Crater area.
 +
*Subterranean Desert: A desert located under the impact site of the crater. This location consists of three different maps as the player progresses deeper and deeper into the impact site. Following the third area, the player will encounter one of the three variations of Episode IV's sole boss battle; Saint Million if encountered during free roam, Shambertin if encountered during a quest and Kondrieu as a rare variation that can appear in either circumstances.
  
−
==Downloadable content==
+
====New features====
−
{{dlctable|
+
*The player is able to make an Episode IV party from the lobby. Episode IV reuses the same hub area as Episode I but with different NPC dialogue relating to Episode IV's story.
−
{{dlc|Hunters License (ハンターズライセンス)|
+
*New Items and Mags have been made available as ingame drops from Episode IV parties or through quests unique to Episode IV.
−
pc_link_jp=http://sega.jp/pc/psobb/|
+
*With the new introduced locations, the game featured various new enemies that could be encountered.
−
pc_rrp_jp=1,200 (30 days only)}}
 
−
}}
 
  
 
==Production credits==
 
==Production credits==
Line 80: Line 127:
 
*'''Product Development:''' [[Katsutoshi Kioka]], [[Go Tokunaga]]
 
*'''Product Development:''' [[Katsutoshi Kioka]], [[Go Tokunaga]]
 
*'''Public Relations:''' [[Yusushi Nagumo]], [[Hiroki Manabe]], [[Katsumi Baba]]
 
*'''Public Relations:''' [[Yusushi Nagumo]], [[Hiroki Manabe]], [[Katsumi Baba]]
−
*'''Package & Manual Design:''' [[Yoshihiro Sakuta]], [[Kazuaki Jikuhara]], [[Yoichi Takahashi]]
+
*'''Package & Manual Design:''' [[Yoshihiro Sakuta]], [[Kazuaki Jikuhara]], [[Youichi Takahashi|Yoichi Takahashi]]
 
*'''Special Thanks:''' [[Kiko Matsumoto]], [[Junichi Shimizu]], [[Yasuhisa Kawase]], [[Atsuyoshi Okada]], [[Kaori Asano]], [[Tomoki Kaji]], [[Akira Nomoto]], [[Toru Yasuda]], [[Akinobu Koechi]], [[Kazuhiro Tamaoki]]
 
*'''Special Thanks:''' [[Kiko Matsumoto]], [[Junichi Shimizu]], [[Yasuhisa Kawase]], [[Atsuyoshi Okada]], [[Kaori Asano]], [[Tomoki Kaji]], [[Akira Nomoto]], [[Toru Yasuda]], [[Akinobu Koechi]], [[Kazuhiro Tamaoki]]
 
*'''Sound Created By:''' [[Wave Master]]
 
*'''Sound Created By:''' [[Wave Master]]
 
*'''Executive Producer:''' [[Hisao Oguchi]]
 
*'''Executive Producer:''' [[Hisao Oguchi]]
 +
*'''Presented By:''' [[Sega]]
 +
*'''Created By:''' [[Sonic Team]]
 
| console=PC
 
| console=PC
 
| source=In-game credits
 
| source=In-game credits
 
}}
 
}}
−
|cols=2}}
+
}}
  
−
==Manuals==
+
==Digital manuals==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
PSOBB_US_Manual.pdf|PC, US
 
PSOBB_US_Manual.pdf|PC, US
 +
PSOBB PC US text digital manual.pdf|PC, US (text only)
 
PSOBB_PC_JP_manual.pdf|PC, JP
 
PSOBB_PC_JP_manual.pdf|PC, JP
 +
PSOBB4_PC_JP_manual.pdf|PC, JP (Episode IV version)
 +
</gallery>
 +
 +
==Magazine articles==
 +
{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Magazine articles}}
 +
 +
==Promotional material==
 +
<gallery>
 +
PressRelease JP 2004-07-01.pdf
 +
PressRelease JP 2004-08-03 2.pdf
 +
PressRelease JP 2004-10-29 1.pdf
 +
PhantasyStarOnlineBlueBurst PR.pdf|Press release
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
−
==Resources==
 
 
===Wallpaper===
 
===Wallpaper===
 +
The following wallpapers were downloadable from the English and Japanese websites of ''{{PAGENAME}}''
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
PSOBB_PC_Wall_01.jpg
 
PSOBB_PC_Wall_01.jpg
 
PSOBB_PC_Wall_02.jpg
 
PSOBB_PC_Wall_02.jpg
 
PSOBB_PC_Wall_03.jpg
 
PSOBB_PC_Wall_03.jpg
 +
</gallery>
 +
 +
Downloadable exclusively from the US website, the wallpaper features the winning team of the Maximum Attack AOL Cup event.
 +
<gallery>
 
PSOBB_PC_Wall_AolMaxAtk.jpg
 
PSOBB_PC_Wall_AolMaxAtk.jpg
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
−
===Downloadable Calendar===
+
===Downloadable calendar===
 
The Japanese ''{{PAGENAME}}'' website had a full calendar for the year of 2008 available for download.
 
The Japanese ''{{PAGENAME}}'' website had a full calendar for the year of 2008 available for download.
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
Line 113: Line 179:
 
PSOBB 2008 5.pdf|September & October
 
PSOBB 2008 5.pdf|September & October
 
PSOBB 2008 6.pdf|November & December
 
PSOBB 2008 6.pdf|November & December
−
</gallery>
 
−
 
−
==Promotional material==
 
−
<gallery>
 
−
PhantasyStarOnlineBlueBurst PR.pdf|Press release
 
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
Line 124: Line 185:
 
| console=PC
 
| console=PC
 
| region=JP
 
| region=JP
−
| front=PSOBB PC JP Box Front.jpg
+
| cover=PSOBB PC JP Box.jpg
 
| disc=
 
| disc=
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
| console=PC
 
| console=PC
 
| region=JP (Rerelease)
 
| region=JP (Rerelease)
−
| cover=PSOBB PC JP Box.jpg
+
| front=PSOBB PC JP Box Front.jpg
 +
| disc=
 +
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=PC
 +
| region=JP (Not For Sale)
 +
| front=PSOBBNFS_PC_JP.jpg
 +
| square=yes
 
| disc=
 
| disc=
 
}}
 
}}
Line 135: Line 203:
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
 
* Sega of Japan catalogue pages (Japanese): [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://sega.jp/pc/psobb/ PC]
 
* Sega of Japan catalogue pages (Japanese): [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://sega.jp/pc/psobb/ PC]
−
* ''{{PAGENAME}}'' Official Website: [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://psobb.jp/ JP], [https://web.archive.org/web/*/www.psobb.com US], [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://psobb.com.cn/ CN]
+
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060207014601/http://www.1001game.com/index1.php Zarva Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd., Website (Chinese)]
 +
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://psobb.jp/ {{PAGENAME}}'' Official Website (Japanese)]
 +
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/*/www.psobb.com {{PAGENAME}}'' Official Website (English)]
 +
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://psobb.com.cn/ {{PAGENAME}}'' Official Website (Chinese)]
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
  
 +
{{PSOBBOmni}}
 
{{PhantasyStar}}
 
{{PhantasyStar}}
 +
[[Category:MMORPGs]]

Latest revision as of 16:07, 5 September 2024

n/a

PSOBB PC Title.png

Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst
Psobb.png
System(s): Windows PC
Publisher: Sega (Japan, US), Sega PC (Japan), Zarva Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd (China)
Developer:
Supporting companies:
Genre: RPG

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Windows PC
JP ▼ 		FREEfree
Windows PC
JP 		¥1,980 (2,079)1,980e[2] HCJ-0348
CERO: Free
Windows PC
JP
(Episode IV) 		¥3,800 (3,990)3800e[3] HCJ-0376
CERO: Free
Windows PC
US ▼ 		FREEfree
ESRB: Teen
Windows PC
US ▼
(Open Beta) 		FREEfree
ESRB: Teen
Windows PC
CN ▼

Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst (ファンタシースターオンライン ブルー バースト) is an upgraded port of the GameCube and Xbox game Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II for the PC.

This was the last time a version of Phantasy Star Online would be made before focus shifted towards Phantasy Star Universe.

History

Development

On March 23, 2004 Sonic Team announced that between the 25th to the 31st of March they will be holding registrations for a new PC port of the game based off of Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II. The official name for this version of the game would be revealed on April 4th as Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst, the name change being made to give players a fresh outlook on the game.

The event at Aso Bit Mall.

Applications for Closed Beta participants was available only to Japan and required players to have their Serial Number from the original Phantasy Star Online PC version from which up to 3000 applicants would be accepted at random and the remaining applicants would be chosen via magazines and events. One such event was held in anticipation of the Closed Beta at Aso Bit City Mall wherein up to four participants at a time would be able to try the game out together for up to ten minutes. 500 Closed Beta applicants would be accepted at the event and participants would be able to receive a special mouse-pad.

Further information regarding Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst would be revealed when the official website became active two days prior to the Closed Beta. The website revealed the new features the game would have such as server-side saving to combat the constant cheating and hacking the original game endured as well as a team system for players to create mini-communities within the game. Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst was developed off of the Xbox version of Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II resulting in fewer difficulties porting the game compared to the original PC release which was well known for its graphical glitches and questionable design choices.

Release

The game was released in Japan on July 7th, 2004 followed by a version of the game for mainland China released on January 18th, 2005 and operated by Zarva Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.[5] and finally a US and European release on June 6th, 2005. Unlike the previous versions, Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst was a free downloadable and all new accounts containing a two week trial where the player can level up to Level 20. After the free trial expires a monthly subscription similar to other versions of the game would be required to continue playing with this account.

Whereas previous versions of the game all let players play on any region's server, Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst only allowed the Japanese version to connect to Japanese servers while US and European releases could only play on the servers run by SEGA of America. This unfortunately lead to various issues as each game version would receive their own events, content updates and bug fixes which would end up being released much later after its Japanese release or would never be released outside of Japan (as is the case with many of the Quests and Items introduced with Episode IV). This was all a result of Sonic Team's mismanagement of the game's international servers, supplying late updates unique to international versions and requiring every action taken to be authorized.

This issue would continue to plague future online-enabled Phantasy Star games such as Phantasy Star Universe's Western release and Phantasy Star Online 2's limited International release in South East Asia and Taiwan. In the case of Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst, bugs not being addressed and the lack of content turned many players away from the Western release with many choosing to play on the Japanese version instead.

Versions

Changes from Phantasy Star Online: Episode I & II

Story

Story-wise the events told in Episode I & II remain unchanged for the most part, with that said however the way story content is accessed is what's different. In the previous versions, story content was included in the game's Offline Mode which Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst lacks as a result of its online-only approach. As a result, new NPCs had been added to each episode, Momoka for Episode I and Nol Rinale for Episode II, who act as a secondary quest counter handing out story related quests; Government and Lab Quests respectively. These quests could be played alone or with other players present who, unlike other quests, can join in at any time.

Prior to an update that made all the locations available from the start, each story quest for a particular area would have had to be completed to unlock the next location as opposed to the original game wherein the player had to beat the Boss in Offline Mode and also activate every monument to unlock the Ruins area. Aside from this however the main story and much of its dialog remains unchanged albeit stretched out across the various quests for each area and with new dialog based on the context of the quest. The nature of quests range from finding a particular item to killing a certain amount of enemies to simply defeating the boss at the end.

Gameplay

Screenshot of an Episode II play session. The newly added action palette is visible at the bottom of the screen.
  • New players would have gotten a pop up help message to get them started. (This feature is notably missing from newer client versions which Private Servers use)
  • A new action palette to which players can map techniques and actions to was added to the lower screen. Unlike the regular palette, this new action palette was accessed via the 1-0 keys on the keyboard.
  • Function Keys are used to quickly access specific game menus like Item Pack and Chat Options.
  • When creating a new party the player now has the option to make it a "One-Person" party. These parties comprise of much of the Offline content present for that episode's original Offline mode, these include elements like difficulty and parameters (enemy amount, drops, etc).
  • The player can now create teams; mini communities which other players can join. Teams have their own separate chat channel which lets players in the same team talk to each other regardless of the ship or party they are in. Individual team members can donate rare weapons to receive Team Points which high ranking members can spend on additional features which team members can access such as team flags, team items, dressing room functionality and additional quests.[6]

Graphics

  • Some graphical effects from the Nintendo Gamecube version are missing. An example of this is the distortion effect created by Telepipes.
  • Face Texture of Irene, the Nurses and the Quest Counter attendant NPC had been updated.
  • The game is able to now run natively at a higher resolution.
  • The game has a longer draw distance than its console counterparts.
  • The ingame font used for dynamic text (Chat, Descriptions, Certain Interfaces, etc) is now a font of the player's choosing in the launcher options.

Other

This version of the game uses server-side storage, as a result various changes to accommodate for this have been added.

  • The game now requires the player to sign in using a username and password.
  • The title screen now comprises of just the sign in option with the Options and Homepage menu being moved to the game's launcher. Settings like Sound Test and Language Selection are now gone completely.
  • The title screen no longer has an introduction video.
  • The introduction video that plays prior to character creation is now a slideshow with simple 2D animations.
  • The game credits are accessed from the game's launcher and are not present when the final battles of each respective episodes are fought in a "One-Person" party. (The equivalent to completing the episode in Offline Mode)
  • During its run, Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst would receive frequent patch updates comprising of new content, bug fixes, etc.
  • Ingame announcements are now displayed as text scrolling at the top of the screen.
  • Because the word "Team" now relates to the game's Guild system, the act of creating or joining a session is now "Create Party" and "Join Party" respectively.
  • The player is able to take screenshots of the entire game window at the press of a button but are unable to freely pose the camera like in the Gamecube and Xbox version. All the screenshots are saved to the game's screenshot folder.
  • Compared to the Xbox version, the player is now only able to store up to four characters per game account.
  • Being an Xbox port, all references relating to the Gamecube-GBA connectivity are thus missing. This includes the Chao sidequest in the 'Fake in Yellow' quest.
  • Despite being a port of the Xbox version many of the new features introduced in that version such as Voice Chat and Gamer Card functionality are missing as they relied on Xbox Live.
  • Unique to the Japanese release; a latter update placed billboards in certain lobbies. The billboards were used for advertising and art related competitions.
  • Unique to the Chinese release; the player is able to select Regional Servers wherein their character will be contained. The Ship Servers listed are those near to the Regional Server selected.
  • Unique to the Chinese release; a new Chinese New Year lobby event had been added.

Episode IV

Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst would receive an expansion in the form of Episode IV; sold as a separate product requiring the base game for the Japanese release and included for free as a patch update for the International release. In the Japanese release players who owned Episode IV would be displayed with an orange name.

Story

Like Episode I, the story takes the form of a series of requests from Principal Tyrell which the player accesses via Momoka. Taking place prior to the Phantasy Star Online Episode III C.A.R.D. Revolution, the story sees the player character returning to Ragol after being sent to investigate a meteor that had crash landed on the deserts Ragol. Meanwhile a Military Organization named WORKS lead by a man named Leo Grahart are interested in the meteor and a substance contained within it. Episode IV also sees the return of various characters like Ash, Sue, Kireek and also Rupika (previous seen in the Episode 1 mission; Gran Squall) who seems to have some connection to the events going on.

Locations

With the Episode IV Expansion, four new locations had been added:

  • Crater: The surrounding rocky terrain on the surrounding area of the impact site. The Crater Area is split up into four routes (Eastern, Western, Northern and Southern) depicted as four different identical locations mild differences ingame.
  • Crater Interior: The terrain over the impact site, the area features most of the same enemies and elements from the first Crater area.
  • Subterranean Desert: A desert located under the impact site of the crater. This location consists of three different maps as the player progresses deeper and deeper into the impact site. Following the third area, the player will encounter one of the three variations of Episode IV's sole boss battle; Saint Million if encountered during free roam, Shambertin if encountered during a quest and Kondrieu as a rare variation that can appear in either circumstances.

New features

  • The player is able to make an Episode IV party from the lobby. Episode IV reuses the same hub area as Episode I but with different NPC dialogue relating to Episode IV's story.
  • New Items and Mags have been made available as ingame drops from Episode IV parties or through quests unique to Episode IV.
  • With the new introduced locations, the game featured various new enemies that could be encountered.

Production credits

Source:
In-game credits

Digital manuals

  • PC, US

  • PC, US (text only)

  • PC, JP

  • PC, JP (Episode IV version)

Magazine articles

Main article: Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

  • PressRelease JP 2004-07-01.pdf
  • PressRelease JP 2004-08-03 2.pdf
  • PressRelease JP 2004-10-29 1.pdf

  • Press release

Wallpaper

The following wallpapers were downloadable from the English and Japanese websites of Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst

  • PSOBB PC Wall 01.jpg
  • PSOBB PC Wall 02.jpg
  • PSOBB PC Wall 03.jpg

Downloadable exclusively from the US website, the wallpaper features the winning team of the Maximum Attack AOL Cup event.

  • PSOBB PC Wall AolMaxAtk.jpg

Downloadable calendar

The Japanese Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst website had a full calendar for the year of 2008 available for download.

  • January & February

  • March & April

  • May & June

  • July & August

  • September & October

  • November & December

Physical scans

PC, JP
PSOBB PC JP Box.jpg
Cover
PC, JP (Rerelease)
PSOBB PC JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
PC, JP (Not For Sale)
PSOBBNFS PC JP.jpg
Cover

External links

References

  1. ↑ http://psobb.jp/info-ob2.html#dl (Wayback Machine: 2004-06-02 22:08)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://sega.jp/pc/psobb/ (Wayback Machine: 2004-10-10 00:22)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://sega.jp/pc/psobbep4/ (Wayback Machine: 2005-02-04 10:24)
  4. ↑ http://psobb.com/gameinfo/openbeta.php (Wayback Machine: 2005-04-29 04:17)
  5. ↑ https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20040803005406/en/SEGA-Enters-China-Market-Online-Game-Business
  6. ↑ http://archives.dcemulation.org/www.psobb.com/www.psobb.com/guide/team/index.html


Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst

PSOBB PC Title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Development | Magazine articles | Reception


Books: Phantasy Star Online Blue Burst Masters Guide Episode: I & II (2004) | Phantasy Star Online Blue Burst Masters Guide: Episode IV (2005)
Music: Phantasy Star Online Blue Burst Episode IV Sound Track (2005)

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Phantasy Star series
"Classic" series
Phantasy Star (1987) | Phantasy Star II (1989) | Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom (1990) | Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium (1993)
Phantasy Star II Text Adventures (Amia | Anne | Huey | Kinds | Nei | Rudger | Shilka | Yushis/Eusis) (1991) | Phantasy Star Adventure (1992) | Phantasy Star Gaiden (1992) | Phantasy Star (2003) | Phantasy Star Generation: 1 (2003) | Phantasy Star Generation: 2 (2005)
Compilations
Sega Ages Phantasy Star Collection (1998) | Phantasy Star Collection (2003) | Phantasy Star Complete Collection (2008)
Related media
Music
 Phantasy Star Collection: Sound Collection I (1993) | Phantasy Star Collection: Sound Collection II (1993) | Phantasy Star 1st Series Complete Album (2008) | Phantasy Star Series 25th Anniversary Sound Collection (2012) | Phantasy Star Series 25th Anniversary Concert Sympathy 2013 Live Memorial Album (2013) | Phantasy Star (2022) | Phantasy Star II (2022) | Phantasy Star III (2023) | Phantasy Star IV (2023)
Audiobook
 Memorial Drama CD & Fanbook "Phantasy Star: Fuujirareshi Kioku" (1995)
Book
 Phantasy Star II Hint Book (1989) | Phantasy Star III: Toki no Keishousha Koushiki Guide Book (1990) | Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom Hint Book (1991) | Phantasy Star: Sennenki no Owari ni Game Guide Book (1994) | Phantasy Star Koushiki Settei Shiryoushuu (1995) | Phantasy Star IV Official Players Guide (1995) | 25th Anniversary Phantasy Star Visual Chronicles (2013)
"Modern" series
Phantasy Star Online (Ver. 2 | Ep. I & II | Ep. III | Blue Burst) (2000-2005) | Phantasy Star Universe (Ambition of the Illuminus) (2006-2007) | Phantasy Star Online 2 (es | Cloud) (2012-2020) | Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis (2021)
Handheld games
Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II Character Timer (2002) | Phantasy Star 0 (Mini) (2008-2009) | Phantasy Star Portable (2008) | Phantasy Star Portable 2 (Infinity) (2009-2011) | Phantasy Star: Eternal Planets (2011) | Phantasy Star Nova (2014) | Idola: Phantasy Star Saga (2018)
Compilations
Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II & III Trilogy (200x) | Phantasy Star Defender's Pack! (2011)
Spin-offs
Pachislot Phantasy Star Online 2 (2020)
Related media
Music
 Phantasy Star Online Original Sound Track (2001) | Phantasy Star Online Songs of Ragol Odyssey: Soundtrack Episode 1 & 2 (2002) | Let The Winds Blow: Phantasy Star Online Episode III Special Edition (2003) | Let The Winds Blow: Phantasy Star Online Episode III C.A.R.D. Revolution Original Sound Track (2003) | Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II Premium Arrange (2004) | Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst Episode IV Sound Track (2005) | Phantasy Star Universe Game Soundtrack (2006) | Phantasy Star Universe Tsutaya Original Sound Track (2006) | Save This World: Phantasy Star Universe Original Score (2006) | For Brighter Day Phantasy Star Universe Original Soundtrack (2006) | Phantasy Star Universe: Illuminus no Yabou Original Soundtrack (2008) | Phantasy Star 0 Original Sound Track (2009) | Phantasy Star Portable 2 Special Single CD (2009) | Phantasy Star Soundtrack: Theme Song Collection (2010) | Phantasy Star Portable 2 Original Soundtrack: Wings of Universe (2010) | Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity Special CD (2011) | Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity Original Soundtrack (2012) | Phantasy Star Series 25th Anniversary Sound Collection (2012) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Mini Sound Track (2013) | Phantasy Star Series 25th Anniversary Concert Sympathy 2013 Live Memorial Album (2013) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Original Sound Tracks Vol. 1 (2013) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Original Sound Tracks Vol. 2 (2013) | Phantasy Star Music Collection 2000-2007 (2013) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Character Song CD: Song Festival (2014) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Original Sound Tracks Vol. 3 (2014) | Phantasy Star Nova Original Soundtrack (2015) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Character Song CD: Song Festival II (2015) | Phantasy Star Online Series 15th Anniversary Concert: Sympathy 2015 Live Memorial Album (2016) | Phantasy Star Online 2: The Animation Original Soundtrack (2016) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Original Sound Tracks Vol. 4 (2016) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Original Sound Tracks Vol. 5 (2017) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Original Sound Tracks Vol. 6 (2017) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Original Sound Tracks Vol. 7 (2019) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Original Sound Tracks Vol. 8 (2019) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Original Sound Tracks Vol. 7 & 8 Special Pack: Recitea (2019) | Phantasy Star Online 2: Episode Oracle Theme Song Vol.1 Destiny / Timeless Fortune (2019)
Audiobook
 Phantasy Star Online 2: Project Dream Arcs! (2013)
Book
 Phantasy Star Online Navigation Guide (2000) | Phantasy Star Online Official Perfect Guide (2001) | Phantasy Star Online Kanzen Kouryaku Guide (2001) | Phantasy Star Online Perfect Guide (2001) | Phantasy Star Online Tettei Kouryaku Guide (2001) | Phantasy Star Online Ver. 2 Perfect Guide (2001) | Phantasy Star Online Fan Book (2001) | Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II Official Perfect Guide (2002) | Phantasy Star Online Ultimate (2002) | Phantasy Star Online Episode 1 & 2 Settei Shiryoushuu (2003) | Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution Complete Guide (2003) | Prima's Official Strategy Guide: Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution (2004) | Phantasy Star Universe Signature Series Guide (2006) | Phantasy Star Universe Perfect Bible (2006) | Phantasy Star Universe Visual Book (200x) | Phantasy Star Universe Settei Shiryoushuu (2007) | Phantasy Star Universe: Illuminus no Yabou Perfect Guide (2007) | Phantasy Star Portable Fan Book: Guardians Maniacs (2008) | Phantasy Star Portable Perfect Bible (2008) | Phantasy Star 0 Photon Master Guide (2008) | Phantasy Star 0 Complete Guide (2009) | Phantasy Star 0 Official Strategy Guide (2009) | Phantasy Star Portable 2 Star Frontier Guide (2009) | Phantasy Star Portable 2 Perfect Bible (2010) | Phantasy Star Portable 2 Settei Shiryoushuu (2010) | Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity: Infinity Battle Guide (2011) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Start Guide Book (2012) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Master Guide Book (2012) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Expert Guide (2013) | 25th Anniversary Phantasy Star Visual Chronicles (2013) | Phantasy Star Nova Guide Book (2014) | Phantasy Star Nova Side Stories (2015) | Phantasy Star Nova Perfect Bible (2015) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Fashion Catalogue 2012-2015 (2015) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Episode 1 & 2 Settei Shiryoushuu (2015) 15th Anniversary Phantasy Star Online Visual Chronicles (2015) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Fashion Catalogue 2015-2016: Oracle & Tokyo Collection (2016) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Episode 3 Settei Shiryoushuu (2016) | Phantasy Star Online 2 es 3rd Anniversary Visual & Chip Collection (2017)
Other Phantasy Star Online 2 -On Stage- (2014) | Phantasy Star Online 2: The Animation (2016) | Phantasy Star Online Series 15th Anniversary Concert: Sympathy 2015 Live Memorial Blu-ray (2016) | Puso Ni Comi (2019) | Phantasy Star Online 2: Episode Oracle (2019-2020)
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