Currency can make or break a Free to Play title. If everything is gated behind the "real money" currency, you're going to be paying out your ass to afford what would have otherwise been a simple $15 subscription fee. Likewise, if everything behind the "free money" currency (which earned through constant play) is super expensive, the developers can drip feed you basic content with a cap while you potentially become addicted and eventually spend "real money" (or worse, limit your play to force you to spend money to keep playing).

Thankfully, our friends at Siliconera have unearthed the three types of currency available in Phantasy Star Online 2, so that we can get a better perspective of Sega's latest online action RPG -- meseta, arcs cash, and "FUN". Arcs cash is the "real money" currency of PSO2, which allows players to buy typical F2P MMO perks like extra character slots and customization features. Sega has made it known that like Guild Wars 2, it isn't in favor of giving anyone major advantages with Arcs cash items. FUN is a fairly unique beast in itself.

FUN is earned by doing meta-gaming actions like logging in a lot, and "liking" other players inside the game's contained social network. Funnily enough, you can also acquire it automatically by spending arcs cash (which will no doubt entice big spenders). With FUN, you can buy unique items, like stuff for your instanced house and for your character. As for meseta, like other PSO games, it's still the standard "gold" like you'd find in any MMO or RPG. As long as Sega sticks to their word, and arcs cash isn't used for anything major, I think Phantasy Star Online 2 will be a wonderful free to play dungeon crawler.

Phantasy Star Online 2 Has A Currency Named “FUN” [Siliconera]

Legacy Comments (will be imported soon)

Nintendan

Sounds like............ FUN.

Wow, that was bad even for me.

The Silent Protagonist

OK, so its a bit more like how DCUO went about it. More reasonable than expected from Sega and the FUN element is at least an interesting way of getting more people to socialize.

Maybe want now.

Still if Rangers and Techs get dicked over on damage dealt like PS Portable 2, I may still pass on it.

theplotlessplot

Cool!
Can't wait for the Vita version!

TehTonyM

Hey man, just figured i'd pop in and let you know the title's wrong. It's Phantasy Star ONLINE 2, not Phantasy Star 2. :D

Justin Marlin

Whats the point of posting anything about PSO2? Its not coming the this region at all...

ShutupNdieTHNX

@ Justin Marlin

Which region is that? I hear the Internet has gone global!

Justin Marlin

Whats the point of posting anything about PSO2? Its not coming to this region at all...

MaRkiSH

Phantasy Star 2 came out more than 20 years ago dude.

Justin Marlin

@ShutupNdieTHNX

Its a Japan only release, same goes for all platforms.

Chris Carter

@TehTony
Thanks! I had put "PSO" in the body, but it completely slipped my mind this morning in regards to the title.

blahlbinoa

@Justin Marlin

I hate how you are correct. With the layoffs in the SEGA of America, this awesome game looks like it isn't coming state side. But i know that won't stop us from importing the game over and playing it here, a few of my friends still play Phantasy Star Universe on the Japanese servers.

Justin Marlin

@blahlbinoa

Funny thing is more people played it over in the states then they did over in other Regions. Dont worry though im sure they will port it over after they make money on it like they always do. And we will be left to suffer from lack of support and events aswell as being 5-7 Events behind smh. The MAG events for PSU were something special, i wish they would just bring it state side from the start :/

SephirothX

Sounds like a



fun time

TehTonyM

@Chris Carter No problem mate. I'm having the same kind of morning so I can relate :P

TheRedComet

This is going to be out on iPhone. Awesome.

tekbunny

@Justin

Sweet, thanks, now I can cross this game off my list of "do want" titles.

Why were we not informed of this Mag?! Or is this news to you as well?

Gundy

I think there could be a good chance of this coming to america. As someone said before, Rangers better not get screwed over like the last couple games. Photon points are bullshit!

MrFloppyknickers

God damnit, just charge me the 15 bucks. I don't feel like dealing with all the crap, pay gates, 3 different currency's, and the other assorted F2P sparkle pony nonsense.

Have your F2P shit if you want, but have a subscription option so crotchety curmudgeons like me can just sub and enjoy the gane rather than deal with ancilliary bullshit.

naninani

@Gundy

Don't worry, no PP in PSO2 for standard ranger attacks. Used for special attacks (line bullets, grenade shots, etc).
Also, TPS mode is freaking AMAZING for Ranger play.

amtalx

It sounds like Sega is headed in the right direction. However, that's how Sega always begins, and they managed to fuck it up down the road every time.

*crosses fingers*

MrFloppyknickers

Anyone know if they Going to have that lame ass crafting system from universe in there? I just want to find my rares like the previous games thanks.

Scuffles

@MrFloppyknickers

I think we can all agree that PSU never happened....




NNNNEEEEVVVVVVVEEEEEEERRRRRRRR happened.... EVER ..... it was never a thing, the end :P

MrFloppyknickers

@scuffles I actually liked the single player part of the game, but yeah the multiplay was a big stinking brown poop loaf. Crafting too.

But it wasn't all bad. At least this one has mags again.

Akitoscorpio

God dammit it all, just take all my money now =_=

ezodagrom

@MrFloppyknickers: Nope, crafting is not returning.

@blahlbinoa: Well, when the layoffs were announced, they also said that SEGA west is going to be focusing more on digital games, and, PSO2 is a digital game.
The chances of PSO2 coming to the west are quite high, the PSO2 alpha/beta clients even have an option to change language, even though for now there's only an option for the Japanese language. The real question is how long it will take for the game to be brought to the west... It would be awesome to have a simultaneous release with Japan, and getting simultaneous updates, but that's really unlikely, especially when looking at how badly SEGA west treated the previous online Phantasy Star games.
Well, even if the game doesn't come to the west, the client is a free download.

Gravityboots000

Still waiting for Phantasy Star V. Go Nei!

MrFloppyknickers

Didn't phantasy star 4 have 7 different endings? Take that bioware!

jeremycards

oh god i really want this mmo right now

Shoop

I wonder if Meseta will be as useless as it was in PSO

aceofbase

They released a character creator/benchmark test for pso 2, you can get it here: http://download.pso2.jp/PSO2_CC.zip

GeneOB

Ah, yes, Meseta in PSO: useful early on, but becomes worthless fodder later in the game when red boxes are the only things that matter.

Good times. Economy was based around rares or older players giving newer players late stage common weapons or very common rares.

AlucardsQuest

Logging in a lot? So you're going to have players logging in and out all day. Don't scoff, I've seen desperate players do way more drastic things to earn items and level up! Especially since PSO isn't exactly known to have a great system of leveling and getting items.

PrinceHeir

this along with Final Fantasy XIV ver 2.0, Dragon Quest X

are the only MMO's im seriously considering to play.

it's too bad i didn't joing FFXI back then. looks fun as hell from the videos i have seen.

if Capcom could release Monster Hunter Frontier 2 incorporating elements from all of the MH games up to 4(with target system etc) new graphics engine, as well as monsters as big as Lost Planet 1 and 2 i'll play that religiously!!!!!!

Ulicies

I think all I want for Monster Hunter at this point is an online console game. Unless I can get at least 2 IRL friends to play with me, the offline handheld versions just aren't worth buying. Oh! This isn't an MH article? Oops.