Difference between revisions of "Updates"

Revision as of 12:15, 16 April 2007

As Phantasy Star Universe's Network Mode is essentially a mass-multiplayer online RPG (MMORPG), it's not hugely surprising that from time to time it shall receive game updates and content additions.

This page is to list the state of the game's Network Mode as of specific dates, and record the history of what each update achieved. As the game grows in the number of updates (hence, the amount of content) it may become necessary to split details of each update (or each month's worth of) into separate sub-articles.

All times specified within this article are PST, to match the various times used and specified on the Phantasy Star Universe website.

Initial State

Unlike the other sections, this one makes note of how the game was before any updates were added.

Date: From 24th of October release to 16th of November maintenance (from 23:00 to 04:45 on the 17th).

Flight Destinations

Unlike all updates following the game's initial state, Network Mode did not allow access to the planet Moatoob in it's initial state. It had the following planets, each with the one specified city and the following flight destinations (when leaving your "My Room"):

Types

The three "basic" types (the classic trio from Phantasy Star Online) were the only possible GUARDIAN types on the game's launch:

Level Cap

On the game's release, GUARDIANS could reach a maximum level of 50 before they stopped gaining experience points.

Missions

The following missions were available:

Story Missions

Network Mode began with no story missions available, the most obvious reason for this being that Network Mode story missions are a direct continuation of offline Story Mode and players would want to be given a fair amount of time to complete that before starting starting the Network Mode story mission string.

Party Missions

Network Mode began with no party missions available, the most obvious reason for this being that Network Mode was still new and Party Missions are somewhat involved and require a suitable amount of experience with the game, thus players would want to be given a fair amount of time to get used to the game before starting something as involved as these.

Available

The following weapons, photon arts, etc. were accessible at the start of the game:

Events

Network Mode started out "vanilla", without any Events active. This is worthy of note not only for this article to be complete, but also because the game started out while the Haloween Event was active in the JP PC/PS2 version of Phantasy Star Universe.

Other Changes

• There was a patch download required during the first connection to Phantasy Star Universe Network Mode, however as this was the "initial state", it is unknown what this actually achieved, nor is it of particular importance.

Update 001

Date: From 16th of November maintenance (from 23:00 to 04:45 on the 17th) to 7th of December maintenance (from 23:00 to 04:00 on the 8th).

Flight Destinations

Access to the planet Moatoob was added in this update, adding three new flight destinations to the game on leaving "My Room":

Missions

New missions were added to all three planets.

Other Changes

• Players have discovered that the Partner Machinery GH-450 now has issues switching weapons. Allegedly despite the switching animation and noise, the weapon remains the same and as such the PM now no longer heals, among other things.

• As of this update there have been numerous complaints about the PC version of the game experiencing mysterious periods of slowdown, mostly during Parum and Neudaiz missions. Some players have noted that this also occurred in the first JP update, though the immediate update after that fixed the issue. It is believed to be related to texture changes somehow.

• Prior to this patch, it has been reported that Hunters on the Xbox 360 version had incorrect stat calculations, making them level-for-level better off than their PC/PS2 counterparts and disproportionately more effective than Xbox 360 Rangers and Forces. This has been addressed in this patch, causing a large amount of unwarranted complaint from Xbox 360 Hunters.

Update 002

Date: From 7th of December maintenance (from 23:00 to 04:00 on the 8th) to 14th of December maintenance (from 23:00 to 04:00 on the 15th).

Types

Seven "expert" types were added in this update, a selection of three hybrid types, three specialist types, and one "experimental" type.

Level Cap

This update raised the maximum level cap of GUARDIANS to level 60 before they stopped gaining experience points.

Missions

No all-new missions were added, but 2 missions were given S-Rank difficulty.

Story Missions

The first of a new series of story missions (obstensibly named "Episode 2" as it is set after the offline Story Mode) was introduced with this update.

This mission is titled "The Mask", is initiated from Clyez City 5th Floor: GUARDIANS HQ, and is freely repeatable.

Available

The following were added to become accessible:

Events

This update introduced the Christmas Event to the game, which lasted until the Update 005 on Boxing Day.

Other Changes

• This update was carried out entirely server-side, thus PC users did not receive a patch download for this update.

• As there was no patch download, previous client-side issues (most notably the texture/slowdown issue from Update 001) have yet to be resolved.

Update 003

Date: From 14th of December maintenance (from 23:00 to 04:00 on the 15th) to 21st of December maintenance (from 23:00 to 03:00 on the 22nd).

Missions

No all-new missions were added, but 5 missions were given S-Rank difficulty.

Other Changes

• This update was carried out entirely server-side, thus PC users did not receive a patch download for this update.

• As there was no patch download, previous client-side issues (most notably the texture/slowdown issue from Update 001) have yet to be resolved.

Update 004

Date: From 21st of December maintenance (from 23:00 to 03:00 on the 22nd) to 26th of December ("rescheduled Boxing Day") maintenance.

Missions

No all-new missions were added, but 3 missions were given S-Rank difficulty.

Story Missions

The second of a new series of story missions (obstensibly named "Episode 2" as it is set after the offline Story Mode) was introduced with this update.

This mission is titled "Desert's End", is initiated from Clyez City 5th Floor: GUARDIANS HQ, and is freely repeatable.

Other Changes

• This update was carried out entirely server-side, thus PC users did not receive a patch download for this update.

• As there was no patch download, previous client-side issues (most notably the texture/slowdown issue from Update 001) have yet to be resolved.

Update 005

Date: From 26th of December ("rescheduled Boxing Day") maintenance to 11th of January maintenance (from 23:00 to 02:00 on the 12th).

Events

This update concluded the Christmas Event introduced in Update 002, sooner than many players expected.

This update also introduced the New Year's Event to the game, which lasted until Update 006 on the 11th of January.

Other Changes

• A Photon Charger was added next to the Universe Transporter next to the Flyer Base in Ohtoku City, presumably because the recent addition of Mizuraki Defense S had caused a notable amount of player activity in the area seeking a PP refill.

• This update was carried out entirely server-side, thus PC users did not receive a patch download for this update.

• As there was no patch download, previous client-side issues (most notably the texture/slowdown issue from Update 001) have yet to be resolved.

• This is not generally considered a "full update" as Events are not particularly tangible.

Update 006

Date: From 11th of January maintenance (from 23:00 to 02:00 on the 12th) to 18th of January maintenance (from 23:25 to 02:05 on the 19th).

Level Cap

This update raised the maximum level cap of GUARDIANS to level 70 before they stopped gaining experience points.

Missions

No all-new missions were added, but 3 missions were given S-Rank difficulty.

Story Missions

The third of the series of story missions (still "Episode 2") was introduced with this update.

This mission is titled "HIVE Purge", is initiated from Clyez City 5th Floor: GUARDIANS HQ, and is freely repeatable.

Party Missions

The first "party mission" has been added to the game. It is titled "Bruce's Dungeon" and is accessible at the Moatoob GUARDIANS HQ. The mission requires a party of 2-5 players.

Available

Events

This update concluded the New Year's Event introduced in Update 005.

This update also introduced the Winter Event to the game, which lasted until Update 009 on the 1st of February.

Other Changes

• The issues with the Partner Machinery "GH-450" introduced with Update 001 have been resolved at last.

• The texture/slowdown issues introduced with Update 001 have finally been fixed.

• The Graphics -> Custom menu in the PC Phantasy Star Universe Options menu has been updated. There is now an option to enable or disable MIPMAPping.

Update 007

Date: From 18th of January maintenance (from 23:25 to 02:05 on the 19th) to 25th of January maintenance (from 23:00 to 03:00 on the 26th).

Missions

No all-new missions were added, but 5 missions were given S-Rank difficulty.

Other Changes

• There was a patch download required with this update.

• The short-lived "Clothing Glitch" using questionable methods to enable oddities such as wearing half a swimsuit alongside normal clothing has been rendered impossible.

• The "trick" of disconnecting if a synthesis fails and then cancelling that synthesis to save a board use has also been made impossible - the "Cancel Synthesis" option now greys out when the synthesis time reaches 0:00 left.

Update 008

Date: From 25th of January maintenance (from 23:00 to 03:00 on the 26th) to 1st of February maintenance (from 23:00 to 02:50 on the 2nd).

Missions

New missions were added to GUARDIANS Colony, Parum and Moatoob.

Story Missions

The fourth of the series of story missions (still "Episode 2") was introduced with this update.

This mission is titled "Shadow Conspiracy", is initiated from Clyez City 5th Floor: GUARDIANS HQ, and is freely repeatable.

Other Changes

• There was a patch download required with this update.

• Partner Machinery feeding was changed - now, when you feed a PM an item, you stop "talking" to it.

Update 009

Date: From 1st of February maintenance (from 23:00 to 02:50 on the 2nd) to 8th of February maintenance (from 23:00 to 01:30 on the 9th).

Missions

New missions were added to Parum, Neudaiz and Moatoob.

Story Missions

No new story missions were added with this update. However, players are now be freely able to select the difficulty of story missions they undertake. Previously they were auto-assigned a difficulty based on their character level.

Available

Events

This update concluded the Winter Event introduced in Update 006.

This update introduced the Valentine's Day Event to the game, which lasted until Update 011 on the 16th of February.

Other Changes

• This update was carried out entirely server-side, thus PC users did not receive a patch download for this update.

• There is a "Status adjustment of Partner Machinery." Player reaction suggests that this has basically upped the damage output of the GH-430, GH-440 and GH-450 models.

• Traps have received a "power adjustment". They now do more damage on being set off. Their status effects seem to remain unchanged.

• The rarity of "Moon Atomizer X" and "[B] Moon Atomizer X" has been changed from 7* to 6*. This means they are no longer considered "rares" by the game. However they still show as 7* in player shops.

Update 010

Date: From 8th of February maintenance (from 23:00 to 01:30 on the 9th) to 16th of February maintenance (from 03:20 to 03:30).

Story Missions

The fifth of the series of story missions (still "Episode 2") was introduced with this update.

This mission is titled "Valley of Doubt", is initiated from Clyez City 5th Floor: GUARDIANS HQ, and is freely repeatable.

Other Changes

• This update was carried out entirely server-side, thus PC users did not receive a patch download for this update.

• The Englsih PSU update preview cited 20 "ultimate" Photon Arts to be included with this update, however the JP 360 update preview (Google translation) mentioned only the story mission. Ultimately the PAs were never added, with the EN staff citing "technical difficulties" as the reason.

• The ATA requirement to equip the Valentine 10* bow "Kohibumiteri" was significantly lowered since it was noticed that the only type able to equip it (Fortetecher) have the lowest ATA in the game.

Update 011

Date: From 16th of February maintenance (from 03:20 to 03:30) to 1st? of March? maintenance (from ??:?? to ??:?? on the 2nd).

Events

This update concluded the Valentine's Day Event introduced in Update 009.

Other Changes

• This update was carried out entirely server-side, thus PC users did not receive a patch download for this update.

• This is not generally considered a "full update" as Events are not particularly tangible.

Update 012

Date: 1st of March maintenance (from 22:55 to 02:40 on the 2nd) to 8th of March maintenance (from ??:?? to ??:?? on the 9th).

Missions

A new mission was added to the "satellite" extension of the GUARDIANS Colony.

Party Missions

New "party" missions were added to Neudaiz and Moatoob. Unlike Bruce's Dungeon these are completable solo, do not forbid scapes, involve an NPC or have a time limit. However, at least two people are required in order to get most of the item boxes or S-Rank the mission.

Available

The update added "an Item Exchange mission" which is used to obtain the "Ultimate" Photon Arts, as those require exchanging the item PA Fragment for new skills, bullets and TECHNICs. In addition, the new free mission provides access to an interesting new shop.

Other Changes

• There was a patch download required with this update.

• This update fixes the long-known bug known as "shift-cancelling" where PC players who used the "Keyboard" control scheme could make use of the "Shift" key to instantly cancel the casting of Dam-type and Nos-type TECHNICs. While not particularly harmful for Dam-type TECHs, Nos-type TECHs continue to take effect even after the casting has begun, so making extensive use of the bug would have allowed enterprising Fortetechers to achieve an alarming damage output.

• The Partner Machinery feeding change from Update 008 has been reverted - PC/PS2 players are now no longer kicked out of all menus every time they feed their PM one item.

• In the PC/PS2 versions, when under first-person view, players can now press the "Switch Weapon" button to use their Goggles, regardless of whether they are on their item palette or not. This results in one space on the item palette being freed up.

Update 013

Date: From 8th of March maintenance (from 23:05 to 01:15 on the 9th) to 22nd of March maintenance (from 23:05 to 00:00 on the 23rd).

Level Cap

This update raised the maximum level cap of GUARDIANS to level 80 before they stopped gaining experience points.

Missions

No all-new missions were added, but 3 missions were given S2-Rank difficulty.

Story Missions

The sixth of the series of story missions (still "Episode 2") will be introduced with this update.

This mission title is (potential spoiler, highlight: Rescuing Hyuga), is initiated from Clyez City 5th Floor: GUARDIANS HQ, and is freely repeatable.

Available

This update delivered interesting new Partner Machinery devices to Phantasy Star Universe. Back in Update 002 the PM Device ZERO was added, which reset your Partner Machinery to Production and B St. level 0. These new devices allow you adapt the model (and only that model) of your Partner Machinery. For example: If you own a GH-420 model, you may use PM Device 421 or PM Device 422 in order to change it into GH-421 or GH-422 respectively.

Other known details are that 4_1 models are marketed as "defense type" with regenerative HP (as with a Me / HP Restore unit) while 4_2 models are cited as "attack type" with the "Sturm Buster" SUV weapon!

Events

This update introduced the White Day Event to the game, which lasted until Update 014 on the 23rd of March.

Other Changes

• There was a "balance adjustment" to monsters and boss monsters of level 20 and above. It's believed this was mostly stat reductions.

Update 014

Date: From 22nd of March maintenance (from 23:05 to 00:00 on the 23rd) to 12th of April maintenance (from 23:00 to 02:30 on the 13th).

Party Missions

New "party" missions were added to Parum and Neudaiz. These are in the same vein as The Eastern Peril and Rogues' Shortcut.

Events

This update concluded the White Day Event introduced in Update 013.

This update introduced the Easter Event to the game, which lasted until Update 015 on the 13th of April.

Other Changes

• On the Xbox 360 servers, the "Tails" room decoration has appeared in the shared bank of seemingly random players. The detais on how people recieved this is still unknown, with theories such as beta/demo or St. Patrick's Day participation all being challenged. There will be a demo event soon for the 360 that grants participants the Tails decoration, but this is separate to the decorations that have already appeared.

Update 015

Date: 12th of April maintenance (from 23:00 to 02:30 on the 13th) to 26th of April maintenance (from ??:?? to ??:?? on the 27th).

Missions

No all-new missions were added, but 3 missions were given S2-Rank difficulty.

Story Missions

The seventh of the series of story missions (still "Episode 2") was introduced with this update.

This mission is titled "Protect the Festa", is initiated from Clyez City 5th Floor: GUARDIANS HQ, and is freely repeatable.

Events

This update concluded the Easter Event introduced in Update 014.

This update introduced the Cherry Blossom Event to the game, which will last until Update 016 on the 27th of April.

Other Changes

• Two new clothing sets each were added during this update. CASTs can buy parts from the GUARDIANS Colony as well as Moatoob, but the others must travel to Moatoob.

• The mission selection process has been slightly modified for mission counters which previously had two pages' worth (Agata Islands, Dagora City): Instead of listing possible missions and difficulties all on one screen, you must first select the mission and then the difficulty.

• The Mizura's evaision in Lab Recovery has been rebalanced so it is possible to hit them with non-TECHNIC attacks.