Science Fiction Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing Games Codexery

Phantasy Star Online

First successful online RPG for game consoles.

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Phantasy Star Online is an action role-playing game where players cooperatively explore the planet Ragol over the internet.[1] A character is created by picking a race and class, which determine their capabilities, and then enemies are engaged in real-time combat using both weapons and magical techniques.[1][2] This title is recognized as the earliest commercially successful online role-playing game to appear on home video game consoles.[3]

Making and release

Sonic Team, led by Yuji Naka, developed the game after completing Sonic Adventure in 1998.[4][5] Naka studied Diablo, Ultima Online, and EverQuest for inspiration, and chose Diablo as the main model.[6][7] An updated version, Ver. 2, was released in Japan on June 7, 2001, and in North America on September 25, 2001.[8] The game was ported to GameCube as Episode I & II, to Xbox, and to Windows as Blue Burst.[9][10][11]

Isao Okawa, Sega's chairman, held the view that internet-based gaming represented the future of the medium and sought a premier online title for the Dreamcast system.[4] Under the provisional name "Third World", the development group constructed a setting blending science fiction and fantasy, and the visual design gradually shifted toward greater realism.[12] A dragon illustration by artist Satoshi Sakai caused Yuji Naka to think of Sega's inactive Phantasy Star franchise, and Naka had long desired to create a Phantasy Star game with multiplayer functionality.[13] Hideaki Kobayashi created the music using a Roland JV-2080 synthesizer, and certain pieces incorporated live orchestral performances.[14]

The Japanese launch of Phantasy Star Online occurred on December 21, 2000, and the North American release followed on January 30, 2001.[15][16] Over the years, the official servers were gradually decommissioned; the final Japanese Blue Burst servers ceased operation on December 27, 2010.[17]

What the cited sources add

The gamesTM article notes that Sega's development studios were occupied with projects like Jet Set Radio and Sakura Wars, so Okawa gave the project to Sonic Team.[4][18] Naka sent progress reports to Okawa's hospital bed after Okawa became ill.[4][18] Naka decided against a massively multiplayer persistent world because the necessary servers would have required two years of programming and the Dreamcast lacked a hard disk drive.[7][18] Sonic Team ran beta tests with 10,000 Japanese pre-order customers to test various internet configurations.[19][18]

The game won the Japan Game Award for "Game of the Year" three days after Okawa's death.[3][18] To address the high expense of internet access, chairman Okawa used his own funds to provide a complimentary one-year internet subscription with every Dreamcast unit.[20][18]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Phantasy Star Online" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Chau, "Phantasy Star Online", IGN, January 31, 2001; Gerstmann, "Phantasy Star Online Review", GameSpot, January 30, 2001 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Phantasy Star Online" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Stahl, "Phantasy Star Online Hands-On", GameSpot, May 17, 2006; Stahl, "Phantasy Star Online Hands-On", GameSpot, May 17, 2006; Stahl, "Phantasy Star Online Hands-On", GameSpot, May 17, 2006; Stahl, "Phantasy Star Online Hands-On", GameSpot, May 17, 2006; Stahl, "Phantasy Star Online Hands-On", GameSpot, May 17, 2006; Olivetti, "The Game Archaeologist dials up Phantasy Star Online: The players", Engadget, February 7, 2012; Sonic Team, "Phantasy Star Online: Episode I &II Plus instruction manual", Sega, 2002, p. 37; Gerstmann, "Phan en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "Phantasy Star Online" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Ahmed, "Yuji Naka Interview", GameSpot, February 5, 2001; Justice, "Interview With SEGA Legend, Yuji Naka", IGN, February 1, 2001; Parish, "The Decade That Was: Essential Newcomers: Phantasy Star Online", 1UP.com, February 2010, p. 2; Furfari, "15 Games Ahead of Their Time", 1UP.com, p. 2; "第5回 日本ゲーム大賞", awards.cesa.or.jp; "Behind The Scenes: Phantasy Star Online", gamesTM, February 16, 2011; "Phantasy Star Online, one of the most important games in console gaming evolution, is 15", VentureBeat, December 22, 2015; "#23: Phantasy St en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Phantasy Star Online" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Behind The Scenes: Phantasy Star Online", gamesTM, February 16, 2011; "Behind The Scenes: Phantasy Star Online", gamesTM, February 16, 2011; "Phantasy Star Online", Christmas 2000, p. 3, 50–56; "Behind The Scenes: Phantasy Star Online", gamesTM, February 16, 2011; "Behind The Scenes: Phantasy Star Online", gamesTM, February 16, 2011 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Phantasy Star Online" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Ahmed, "Yuji Naka Interview", GameSpot, February 5, 2001; "Behind The Scenes: Phantasy Star Online", gamesTM, February 16, 2011; "Behind The Scenes: Phantasy Star Online", gamesTM, February 16, 2011; Cellucci, "Interviews: Yuji Naka, Creator of Sonic and Phantasy Star Online", Sega, 2001; Cellucci, "Interviews: Yuji Naka, Creator of Sonic and Phantasy Star Online", Sega, 2001; White, "Chu Chu Rockets To Stores", IGN, March 7, 2000; Justice, "IGNDC Talks Shop with Sonic Team", IGN, February 11, 2000; Doree, "He's Back: Yuji Naka Pro en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "Phantasy Star Online" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Behind The Scenes: Phantasy Star Online", gamesTM, February 16, 2011; "Behind The Scenes: Phantasy Star Online", gamesTM, February 16, 2011; Cellucci, "Interviews: Yuji Naka, Creator of Sonic and Phantasy Star Online", Sega, 2001 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "Phantasy Star Online" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Reyes, "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star", February 2001, p. 36–41; "Behind The Scenes: Phantasy Star Online", gamesTM, February 16, 2011 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  8. Wikipedia, "Phantasy Star Online" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Behind The Scenes: Phantasy Star Online", gamesTM, February 16, 2011; "Phantasy Star Online Ver. 2", Sega, 2001; Gantayat, "Phantasy Star Online's New Look", IGN, July 12, 2002 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  9. Wikipedia, "Phantasy Star Online" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Kent, "The Ultimate History of Video Games: The Story Behind the Craze that Touched our Lives and Changed the World", Prima Publishing, 2001, p. 588–589; Ahmed, "Sega announces drastic restructuring", GameSpot, January 31, 2001; IGN Staff, "Pre-E3: Sega Announces 10 GameCube Titles in Development!", IGN, May 15, 2001; "Phantasy Star Online", August 2001, p. 66; Chau, "Chatting With SEGA Developers", IGN, May 22, 2001; IGN Staff, "E3: PSO Version 2 Direct Feed!", IGN, May 17, 2001 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  10. Wikipedia, "Phantasy Star Online" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Mirabella III, "Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II", IGN, April 16, 2003, p. 4; Gamespot Staff, "Sonic Team Q&A", GameSpot, February 18, 2004; "History of Phantasy Star", IGN, January 28, 2004; Gerstmann, "Microsoft announces Phantasy Star Online details", GameSpot, January 31, 2003 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  11. Wikipedia, "Phantasy Star Online" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Niizumi, "Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst shipping in July", GameSpot, May 25, 2004; "PSO BB OFFICIAL SITE"; "SEGA Announces Free Download Of Phantasy Star Online Blue Burst", GamesIndustry.biz, May 11, 2005; IGN Staff, "Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst", IGN, April 13, 2004; IGN Staff, "Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst", IGN, April 13, 2004; Niizumi, "Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst shipping in July", GameSpot, May 25, 2004; Niizumi, "100,000 sign up for Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst beta", GameSpot, June 14, 2004; Niizumi, " en.wikipedia.org
  12. Wikipedia, "Phantasy Star Online" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Behind The Scenes: Phantasy Star Online", gamesTM, February 16, 2011; Cellucci, "Interviews: Yuji Naka, Creator of Sonic and Phantasy Star Online", Sega, 2001 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  13. Wikipedia, "Phantasy Star Online" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Behind The Scenes: Phantasy Star Online", gamesTM, February 16, 2011; Justice, "Interview With SEGA Legend, Yuji Naka", IGN, February 1, 2001; IGN Staff, "IGNDC Interviews Sonic Team's Yuji Naka", IGN, October 1, 1999 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  14. Wikipedia, "Phantasy Star Online" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Mielke, "Phantasy Star Online's music has defined the series for 20 years", Polygon, 2020-08-09 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  15. Wikipedia, "Phantasy Star Online" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Ahmed, "PSO Launch Details", GameSpot, September 26, 2000; Gantayat, "Play Phantasy Star Online in English Now!", IGN, December 21, 2000; "Phantasy Star Online", Christmas 2000, p. 3, 50–56; Ahmed, "PSO Launch Details", GameSpot, September 26, 2000; Justice, "Sega Re-Confirms Free Play for Phantasy Star Online in America", IGN, November 28, 2000; Gantayat, "Sega of Japan to Charge Fee for PSO", IGN, November 13, 2000; "Behind The Scenes: Phantasy Star Online", gamesTM, February 16, 2011 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  16. Wikipedia, "Phantasy Star Online" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Behind The Scenes: Phantasy Star Online", gamesTM, February 16, 2011; "GameSpot: Dreamcast News: Phantasy Star Online ships"; "EBWorld.com - Dreamcast", 2001-02-01; GameSpot Staff, "Sega comments on Phantasy Star Online 2", GameSpot, May 17, 2006; GameSpot Staff, "Dreamcast makes a statement", GameSpot, February 21, 2001; Chau, "Phantasy Star Online F.A.Q. (Frequently Asked Questions) Updated!", IGN, July 24, 2001; Gantayat, "PSO = Broadband", IGN, December 20, 2000; Chau, "Phantasy Star Online Compatibility with Broadband Adapter en.wikipedia.org
  17. Wikipedia, "Phantasy Star Online" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: GameSpot Staff, "Phantasy Star Offline", GameSpot, August 28, 2003; "お知らせ", 2007-09-15; "wPSO xONLINE SUPPORT HP", 2007-12-27; Arendt, "Sega Shuts Down Phantasy Star Online in Japan", 2007-12-26; "PSO-World.com - US XBox Server Shutdown", www.pso-world.com; "PSO-World.com - US XBox Server Closure Notice", www.pso-world.com; "PSO-World.com - Servers Now Under "Free" Period", www.pso-world.com; "PSO-World.com - PSO BB Server Shutdown", www.pso-world.com; "Behind The Scenes: Phantasy Star Online", gamesTM, February 16, 2011; "PHANTASY en.wikipedia.org
  18. "Behind The Scenes: Phantasy Star Online", gamesTM, February 16, 2011. facts only, no text reused. gamestm.co.uk
  19. Wikipedia, "Phantasy Star Online" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Mielke, "Phantasy Star Online's director talks Diablo influences, cut features, and Christmas Nights", Polygon, 2020-08-02; Cellucci, "Interviews: Yuji Naka, Creator of Sonic and Phantasy Star Online", Sega, 2001; Justice, "IGNDC Talks Shop with Sonic Team", IGN, February 11, 2000; Doree, "He's Back: Yuji Naka Prope Interview (Page 2)", Kikizo Archives, February 4, 2009; Cellucci, "Interviews: Yuji Naka, Creator of Sonic and Phantasy Star Online", Sega, 2001; Justice, "Interview With SEGA Legend, Yuji Naka", IGN, February 1, 2001; en.wikipedia.org
  20. Wikipedia, "Phantasy Star Online" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Behind The Scenes: Phantasy Star Online", gamesTM, February 16, 2011 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Phantasy Star Online (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

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Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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