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[johnjohnson]

The current issue of the german print magazine MAN!AC has a very interesting interview with Reiko Kodama, R&D Producer at Sega. They mainly talk abou the past times and how she became a game designer for Sega, but there are two questions I'll try to translate.

She says about Phantasy Star:

MAN!AC: The "Phantasy Star"-Saga ends with the fourth title, "Phantasy Star Online" opens its own strand. Have you ever thought about going back to the roots with new games?

Kodama: Indeed I did. Right after Phantasy Star 4 the developers and I thought about a fifth chapter. To be honest we still talk about it regulary even today. I love the characters and the worlds - I would really be pleased about such a project.

And about Skies of Arcadia 2:

MAN!AC: There were rumors about a sequel (to Skies of Arcadia) or a "Gaiden" episode. Can you tell us something about that?

We had plans, but the other team members are currently working on other projects such as "Sakura Taisen" - this means SoA2 is currently on hold. Anyway I would be very glad about a new episode with the sky pirates.

Sorry if old or incomprehensible. or both

 

[Jonnyram]

Does this confirm that PSU is a separate strand then?

 

[johnjohnson]

She says nothing about PSU, so I think it confirms it.

 

[AniHawk]

We had plans, but the other team members are currently working on other projects such as "Sakura Taisen" - this means SoA2 is currently on hold.

At least it's not like NiGHTS 2 where they're not making the game at all...

 

[john tv]

I was in the same room as PSU the other day... wanted so bad to look over the walls... (Of course, I would've been shot on-spot if I did.)

 

[djtiesto]

I was in the same room as PSU the other day... wanted so bad to look over the walls... (Of course, I would've been shot on-spot if I did.)

It's still a risk you should've taken :lol

 

[WarPig]

I got a chance to interview Rieko Kodama once, a while ago...about Skies of Arcadia Legends. It was kinda depressing to have to ask questions about the most boring project she ever worked on.

DFS.

 

[Ironclad]

I'm terribly sorry, but PSU?

 

[jiggle]

nm

 

[explodet]

Aren't they always working on a Sakura Taisen title?

 

[xexex]

oh
my
fawking
gawd


PS5


SEGATON SEGATON

 

[Ironclad]

I'm terribly sorry, but PSU?

Nevermind. How could I forget. *Smacks self in head* Phantasy Star Universe! How far are they in development?

 

[jiggle]

Nobody wants to answer my horribly newbish question?

:lol
looks like both explodet and I edited our post and deleted the answer.

PSU = Phantasy Star Universe

 

[Ironclad]

:lol
looks like both explodet and I edited our post and deleted the answer.

PSU = Phantasy Star Universe

Thanks for the response, but I figured it out. Today has not been a very good day.

 

[Killthee]

I'm terribly sorry, but PSU?

Phantasy Star Universe

 

[Ironclad]

Phantasy Star Universe

Link doesn't work. Once again, thank you, but I figured it out. I have been having a horribly off day.

 

[AssMan]

SOA2 would rock. I never played a PS game, but the battles are in first person right?

 

[WarPig]

Aren't they always working on a Sakura Taisen title?

The funny thing to me is that Kodama never worked on Sakura Taisen, so far as I know. That one time I interviewed her, Anoop asked her a Sakura question and got one of the funniest "what the fuck" looks I've ever seen in return. Maybe Overworks (or whatever it's become now) doesn't have the resources it used to, though.

DFS.

 

[xexex]

Phantasy Star Universe

announced at E3 2004


images from the pre-rendered CGI / FMV teaser trailer

trailer videos:

http://www.gametrailers.com/gt_vault/t_phantasystar_uv_e3_2k4.html (Quicktime)
http://www.gametrailers.com/gt_vault/t_phantasystar_uv_e3_2k4.wmv (MPEG)

http://xfersf01.ign.com/^249669862/...rUniverse_051404_01_wmvlow.wmv?position=front
http://xfersf01.ign.com/^472465312/...suniverse_051204_01_wmvlow.wmv?position=front
http://xfersf01.ign.com/^791311860/...suniverse_051204_02_wmvlow.wmv?position=front
In the video(s), you can clearly see text that *hints* that Phantasy Star Universe is both Phantasy Star Online 2
(not Ep2 or Ver2 but a real sequel) and much more exciting, at least to me, it is also Phantasy Star 5. though remember this is only hinted at, yet it's a strong hint

quotes from trailer

Phantasy Star Online 2 ?

Phantasy Star V ?

 

[explodet]

The funny thing to me is that Kodama never worked on Sakura Taisen, so far as I know. That one time I interviewed her, Anoop asked her a Sakura question and got one of the funniest "what the fuck" looks I've ever seen in return. Maybe Overworks (or whatever it's become now) doesn't have the resources it used to, though.

Oh yeah. I totally forgot about the developer shell game at Sega.

 

[Hotsuma]

Phantasy Star Universe

announced at E3 2004


images from the pre-rendered CGI / FMV teaser trailer

trailer videos:

http://www.gametrailers.com/gt_vault/t_phantasystar_uv_e3_2k4.html (Quicktime)
http://www.gametrailers.com/gt_vault/t_phantasystar_uv_e3_2k4.wmv (MPEG)

http://xfersf01.ign.com/^249669862/...rUniverse_051404_01_wmvlow.wmv?position=front
http://xfersf01.ign.com/^472465312/...suniverse_051204_01_wmvlow.wmv?position=front
http://xfersf01.ign.com/^791311860/...suniverse_051204_02_wmvlow.wmv?position=front
In the video(s), you can clearly see text that *hints* that Phantasy Star Universe is both Phantasy Star Online 2
(not Ep2 or Ver2 but a real sequel) and much more exciting, at least to me, it is also Phantasy Star 5. though remember this is only hinted at, yet it's a strong hint

quotes from trailer

This had better be on Xbox 2......

 

[PC Gaijin]

I love Kodama's artwork and character designs. I'm curious about whether she worked on certain games from Sega. In particular, did she have any involvement with the Dragon Force games? Terra Phantastica?

 

[xexex]

This had better be on Xbox 2......

my ultimate hope for PSU is that it is indeed Phantasy Star 5, a truely strong RPG with the Phantasy Star look, feel, characters and story, set in Algol. as well as a PSO2. all for Xbox2, Revolution and PS3 (and PC and even Mac)....and the online component works across all 3-5 platforms. but it'd take a miracle for all of that.


*lights an Eclipse Torch*

 

[WarPig]

I love Kodama's artwork and character designs. I'm curious about whether she worked on certain games from Sega. In particular, did she have any involvement with the Dragon Force games? Terra Phantastica?

Dunno about those, but she did work on Magic Knights Rayearth for the Saturn and the first two Sonic the Hedgehog games. Gifford or Nutt could probably supply more details.

DFS.

 

[xexex]

Terra Phantastica looked beautiful from the screens that I've seen of it.

kind of what I would have expected a 2D sprite based Phantasy Star 5 on Saturn

 

[xexex]

bump!

 

[xexex]

2D sprite scaling graphics for '3D' dungeons ala PS1

+
2D overhead view for town & worlds

wouldve been Phantasy Heaven