Phantasy Star Online ver. 2 announced for Windows

[09.11.01] » SonicTeam's online RPG coming to PC; console cross-compatibility still undecided.

   Sega announced today that a version if its online multiplayer RPG Phantasy Star Online is currently in development for Windows platforms (98, 2000, ME, and XP). The game will be a port of the upgraded PSO ver. 2, with new effects and features to take advantage of the more flexible PC architecture.

   Graphically, the conversion will offer improved lighting effects, bump mapping, higher polygon counts, and double the draw distance of the Dreamcast version. Support for 3D positional sound in also being implemented. As with the previous versions, the game will support simultaneous online play for up to four players, this time using any standard Windows internet connection. Unfortunately, the improvements will come with some fairly steep system requirements. Sega is targeting the Pentium 4 as their hardware of choice for the game. The company has stated that slower machines will still be able to run it, but many of the effects may have to be turned off. (Readers can check out the the improvements in the first 10 screenshots from the Windows port.)

   Two additional languages, Chinese and Korean, are also being included to the game's onboard translator. This brings the total up to seven, in addition to the original five: Japanese, English, French, German and Spanish. Though Sega has yet to comment on a possible American release for the port, the company did state that it is still committed to making PSO the "first worldwide network RPG." Considering the game is already translated into English, a stateside release on PC should be inevitable.

   The bigger question, however, is whether the Windows version will allow players to adventure along side those using the Dreamcast or forthcoming GameCube versions. Sega only stated that the console cross-compatiblilty was still "undecided," which seems to indicate that it should be technically feasible. However, with compatibility between the DC and GameCube versions still up in the air, it may come down to a design choice on SonicTeam's part.

   The public will get the first chance to see the game in action at the upcoming World PC Expo in Japan, running September 19th through the 21st. Sega plans to release the game there before the end of the year.