Fellow staff member Anti Hacker has dug up some information regarding the compatability of the NTSC version of Phantasy Star Universe with PAL Xbox 360 consoles. So what does this all mean for us European gamers?

Well, if you fancy getting your hands on the game a few weeks early then you're in luck. You'll be able to import a copy of the game from overseas and play it on your PAL Xbox 360!

However, only the Single Player modes will be playable until the proper EU release, 24th November, as Microsoft have taken down the Guardians License from Xbox Live Marketplace.

So, if you're desperate to get your mitts on some PSU action, check out some of the US and Canadian stockists online!

You were previously informed about the fact that the PlayStation2 & PC versions of Phantasy Star Universe (N.A.) were experiencing technical difficulties, but what about the Xbox360 version? Well now it's their turn to shine!

"The Authentication Servers for Xbox 360 are currently experiencing high connection volumes; users attempting to connect to the online servers may receive Interrupt Request errors preventing access to the online game servers. If you receive this error, please select the Disconnect option and try the connection to the Xbox Live servers from the main menu.

SEGA is aware of these problems and is actively working on a resolution. Thank you for your continued patience." - phantasystaruniverse.com

Obviously SEGA of America just never expected the Xbox360 version of Phantasy Star Universe to go well as down as it has, as it's so popular, it's really taken it's toll on the servers! We all knew that it was gonna be a smash though didn't we? Hehe...

SEGA has updated PlaySEGA.com earlier today with the Phantasy Star Universe billing site now immediately linked from the main page alongside the Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst and European Phantasy Star Online, Episodes I & II Nintendo Gamecube Hunters License billing sites!

Those seeking a Guardians License to play Phantasy Star Universe online can do so by registering (Or by logging in for those with an existing PSO: Blue Burst account at playSEGA.com) and then creating a new subscription by clicking the 'New Subscription' link on the links menu underneath the PSU graphics banner across the top of the screen.

Note that even with a PSO: Blue Burst subscription, you still need to buy a seperate Guardians License to play Phantasy Star Universe online as the two licenses do not work together.

Note also that currently only American players can sign up to a PSU subscription!

For more information, why not head on over to PlaySEGA.com?

SEGA have updated the official Phantasy Star Universe website with an important message for the PC and PS2 players of the game:

The Authentication Servers for Playstation 2 and PC are currently down. Users attempting to connect may receive authentication errors for these platforms.

SEGA is aware of these issues and currently working to resolve them. Please have patience while work is performed to restore the Authentication Servers as quickly as possible.

We will update this page with additional information as needed.

UPDATE: The servers are now back online, no need to worry!

Trade Bay [TBAY]

PSUniverse.net presents yet another all new feature!

Please welcome, our very own Trade Bay!

Here, you can advertise any goods that you're selling live on PSUniverse.net - No usernames or passwords required* - Simply travel over to http://www.psuniverse.net/tbay.shtml and find our smashing new poor eBay rip-off kinda feature!

To advertise your goods, simply fill in a form and hit the submit button**. Your item then appears listed on the Trade Bay for all the world to see.

Got a Ragol.co.uk/PSUniverse.net Forum Account? Even better, advertise it and get feedback through our forums for tip top selling - It can't be beat!

Find everything you need... at the T-Bay!

That's if you're a European hunter mind... Whilst for those American hunters and huntettes out there, the wait is finally over as Phantasy Star Universe is release TODAY!

http://www.phantasystaruniverse.com has also been updated with loads more information regarding pretty much everything PSU!

It should be noted that server maintenance takes place regularly on Thursday's every week between the times of 12am (Midnight) - 5am GMT (5pm - 10pm GMT + 7).

All i can say really is... DAMN YOU ALL!!!! (And have fun ;-) )

Phantasy Star Universe is out tomorrow in America, so just before it is out, incase you're having doubts whether or not you should walk, or run to your local games store, PSUniverse.net now has a review of PSU!

Phantasy Star Universe has been a dark horse overall in the upcoming games market. Until recently you never really heard about it in games magazines, news websites, or anywhere! Suddenly though, out of nowhere, two years after it's initial teaser unveiling at E3, and Phantasy Star Universe has got release dates for Europe & America, and everyone's going mad for it!

Have they a good reason too? Check out our review by clicking here!

GameTrailers.com has recently played through certain areas of Phantasy Star Universe from the recent BETA test and has uploaded footage taken from gameplay of that BETA test onto their site for all to see!

Click the links below to be taken straight to the footage itself!

• 'Group Tactics Gameplay' [In HD]
• Click Here
• 'S.E.E.D Menace Gameplay' [In HD]
• Click Here

Ragol.co.uk Forumer colohue has seemingly taken it upon himself to create an IRC channel for all PSUniverse users!

The IRC server is irc.chatspike.net & the channel is #psuniverse.net.

For more details, click here to travel over to the relevant Forum Thread.

Those who were BETA testing the Xbox360 version of the Phantasy Star Universe demo, which officially ended during the recent Xbox Live maintenance downtime, still have the chance to get a few more hours of playtime with the BETA test in before it's all taken offline, as SEGA of Japan have extended the BETA time until Saturday!

The servers will be taken offline at aprox. 7am BST tomorrow - Quick, there isn't much time left! Although i guess it's not that big a deal if you're American since the game is released in just a few days time!!!

On Tuesday 17th October (Tomorrow), Microsoft will be switching Xbox Live off for upto 24 hours as they perform a service update.

Therefore, people will not be able to play any games through Xbox Live during this time.

The maintenance starts at midnight Pacific Time (Approx. 8am BST) and will be back online sometime within 24 hours of maintenance start.

During this time, Microsoft will be adding many exciting new features to the service, but are keeping them all to themselves at this time!

Xbox.com will also be unavailable at this time.

Not BETA testing Phantasy Star Universe because of a lack of Xbox360ness? Well don't worry, continuing our coverage from the recent closed PC BETA test of PSU we've got a new FAQ for you all regarding how Mission Gameplay works! Check it out by clicking over to our FAQ page!

But that's not all! We've also got new starter additions to our Item Database!

To tease you all there's a couple of items for every segment that Phantasy Star Universe has to offer... some which might make you think back to Phantasy Star Online, and some which might make you think ZOMG GIMME PSU NOWZ!!!!11ONE.

Be sure to check out the teaser Items, Weapons, Armors & Armored Slots, Synthesis Boards & Materials, and My Room Decorations available in PSU right now in our Item Database!

Enjoy!

SEGA earlier today released the Xbox360 Open BETA version of Phantasy Star Universe... but does it limit you on what you will be able to do in the final version of the game?

We've been handed everything, pretty much from A to Z, of what you should expect to see in the Xbox360 open BETA test, and it's also a good list that's full of reasons as to why you should be buying Phantasy Star Universe at all as it contains all of the games exciting new and key features, online and offline!

Be sure to read up on the article by clicking over to our articles page, or by clicking here to cut out all the faffing around!

And if that wasn't enough, be sure to read our more detailed FAQ's on a couple of the game's key new features of online play by clicking over to our FAQ page if you haven't already!

When you've finished with all of that, be sure to head on over to the Xbox Live Marketplace to download the BETA & over to our community forums to chat with everyone about it all!

SEGA Europe has today revealed the cost of the Guardians License that you'll need in order to play Phantasy Star Universe online when released on 24th November 2006 for Xbox360, PlayStation2 & PC.

That price is £6.99 (9.99 Euro's).

A small increase in what it costs you to play Phantasy Star Online online, so let's hope there's more to look forward to online so we can all get our money's worth!

"The GUARDIANS License enriches the single-player story mode by enabling gamers to meet other players, strike up alliances, and embark on a huge variety of online quests within the Phantasy Star Universe™ environment.  The GUARDIANS License will be available at €9.99 (£6.99) per month.

With a GUARDIANS License, gamers can fully experience the new customisable and highly interactive features in online mode including character creation, My Room (personalised online space), expansive interactive lobbies, shops, and new missions.  The GUARDIANS License opens up a universe filled with robust regular content downloads including brand new quests and other additions." - SEGA Press Statement

Guardians License's will be available from PlaySEGA.com.

SEGA have now uploaded the Phantasy Star Universe Open BETA test onto Xbox Live Marketplace for all Xbox360 Xbox Live Gold Subscribers to download free!

"SEGA® Europe, Ltd. and SEGA® of America, Inc. today announced the Phantasy Star Universe™ multiplayer open beta for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft will be available for free download on Xbox Live© Marketplace starting on today. 

Gamers worldwide will be able to play the newest addition to the epic sci-fi Phantasy Star™ series during a free-trial beta download period  that will run for until October 18^th, 2006.  The beta will be available for download until Sunday 15th Oct.  Phantasy Star Universe™ offers the best of both worlds through an exciting action-packed RPG single-player story mode and a rich online multiplayer experience.  The Xbox 360™ open beta program gives players a chance to preview online multiplayer mode and is open to all Xbox Live© Gold level account members." - SEGA Press Statement

The BETA test is available for download until 15th October, but playable until 18th October 2006 - So what are you waiting for? BETA test now!

Chat about other players about the Xbox360 BETA and read the whole SEGA Press Statement in our forums - Click Here!

It's been announced that the BETA test for the Xbox360 version of Phantasy Star Universe that was due to hit the Xbox Live Marketplace earlier today has been delayed for an unspecified amount of time.

A new release date for the open BETA test wasn't released but is said to be "very soon".

Tomorrow (11th October), SEGA of America are launching an Open Xbox360 BETA test for Phantasy Star Universe!

To participate you'll need to head on over to the Xbox Live Marketplace and download the BETA client, available only on the 11th & 12th of October. Note that to download this content, you'll need to be an Xbox Live Gold Account Subscriber.

Afterwards, it's just a matter of signing in and making your character, before being entered into the all new open world... or should that be universe, of Phantasy Star Universe!

The BETA test will take place for exactly one week from 11th October, with maths fans working out that it'll be ending on 18th October 2006.

Within the BETA test, you'll be able to explore the online multiplayer aspects of the game, including some missions of which you'll be able to assemble a party to play through! You'll also be able to explore the new feature that is 'My Room' on top of everything else.

Be sure to let us know what you think of it all over on our community forums!

Yes, we're here! The evolution of Ragol.co.uk - The Foremost Phantasy Star Online Resource - has happened! Europe's biggest PSO community can now hail in the new era with PSUniverse.net!

It's an all new site, but with the same ol' site design and layout that you all know and love!

Be sure to check out all of the site's brand spanking new features, and be sure to keep on returning to PSUniverse.net in the run up to Phantasy Star Universe's European release on 24th November 2006 as the site will be constantly growing in size, with so much information soon to be added!

In the meantime, why not go around checking out the new site. Yes, a lot of it is empty, but as i said, those emtpy spaces are actually the ninja's of amazing PSU information yet to be unvieled to the general public! They'll be released into the daylight soon enough, just keep coming back!

Right now be sure to check out a couple of all new FAQ's containing exclusive screenshots and information from all new features to the Phantasy Star series from the closed American & even more closed European BETA versions of the soon to be released smash hit online RPG that is Phantasy Star Universe that PSUniverse.net was invited to participate in!

• FAQ: Online Play - Everything you'd need to know!
• FAQ: Item Synthesis - How to...
• FAQ: My Room - Everything you'd need to know!
• FAQ page

But wait! There's more! Why rely on us to make the site content? You can now make some yourself with PSUniverse.net's all new features!

We've implemented a new PSU blogging system that let's you write a blog about anything Phantasy Star Universe, and get it onto PSUniverse.net immediately for you to share with the whole world!*

If that wasn't enough, when PSUniverse.net is released, you can also submit your snapshots of gameplay over to our Media pages! Why use any other kind of hosting facility when you've got the best right here, for free!*

And as if that wasn't enough, our community forums have only gone and expanded with us too! Ragol.co.uk's Community Forums now also incorporate PSUniverse.net so you can chat about everything Phantasy Star Universe whenever you like! It's all free membership and you can start chatting with our already huge forum community right now! Visit the forums! But wait! There's more of that as well! Our community forums have gotten so big that they're now the official European Phantasy Star Universe forums, affiliated with SEGA Europe Ltd! What are you waiting for?! Get over there right now... or take a look around here first - The choice, is your's!

So, in summary:

• Check out the awesome-tastic PSUniverse.net
• Travel to our community forums at Ragol.co.uk/forums/ and start posting
• Keep checking back to PSUniverse.net for worldwide PSU exclusives including site content and competitions!

Enjoy!

*Your articles may be subject to moderation.