Earlier today in Japan at the "Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity Nationwide Fan Thanks Festival 2011 sponsored by Caloriemate," SonicTeam announced that the alpha test for Phantasy Star Online 2 will begin this summer! Entry into the test will not be open; instead, all participants will be selected by lottery. And your first chance at putting your name into the drawing will be by purchasing Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity, which will be released in Japan on February 24. The first printings of the game will include a special code inside the box as designated by a yellow sticker on the outside of the case. This code is required to enter yourself into the alpha test drawing. Keep in mind that only the UMD release of PSP2i will feature this code; the download version will not include the code. Furthermore, Japanese Phantasy Star Universe and previously-subscribed Phantasy Star Online Blue Burst players will have a chance at getting into the test, as codes will be distributed to them, too. Specific details on this method of code distribution will be made public at a later date.
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If you purchased a Hunters License for the Japanese version of Blue Burst at any point between January 1, 2010, and November 30, 2010, then you will receive a lottery code at a later date through the e-mail address you registered with your account. However, if you registered and play via the Hangame version, you will not be included.
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Japanese PC/PS2 Phantasy Star Universe players will have three chances at getting a code, as they will be distributed to eligible players in three different batches. Here are the dates of distribution along with the requirements for each.
1. February 24: You must be a premium course player on February 20 or you must have bought 3,000 GC (or more) between January 1 and February 20.
2. Early April: You must be a premium course player on March 31 or you must have bought 3,000 GC (or more) between February 21 and March 31.
3. Early May: You must be a premium course player on April 30 or you must have bought 3,000 GC (or more) between April 1 and April 30.
As before, codes will be sent to eligible players via e-mail. Also, this offer does not extend to those who subscribe to the game through Hangame or those who play the Xbox 360 version. And finally, even if you meet more than one requirement, you will not be sent more than one lottery code. Good luck to all eligible players!
