Relic Entertainment Doing Work on an Existing Japanese MMO, Likely Phantasy Star Online 2

pso2relic

A recent job posting for Server Engineer found by Nirolak on NeoGAF reveals that Relic Entertainment, a studio acquired by SEGA at the start of this year, is working on an existing Japanese MMO. According to the job posting the employee would need to establish working relationships with the Japanese developers, work for extended periods of time in Tokyo and be fluent in both English and Japanese among other requirements.

Right now the only ongoing MMO SEGA of Japan is running is Phantasy Star Online 2, so that’s most likely the game the job listing is referring to. While it doesn’t specify that the developer is localizing the MMO, it seems weird that SEGA of Japan would have a Canadian studio assist in development instead of one that’s closer to home. What do you think? The entire job posting can be found below the break.

First PSO2 Update Trailer & Info

The first major update to PSO2 titled ‘Wake Up Big Machines: Update Number 1’ is already close to release! Update Number 1 will include ‘The Underground Mine’ a new adventure field, clothes, new enemies, two new bosses, new quests, interrupt events and client orders and will release on July 18th.

Personally I hope all of this content is already included in the default English release of PSO2. That way the base game has more content from day one and we won’t already be months behind the Japanese.

Make sure to check out that trailer, it’s awesome!

SEGA Officially Announces US & EU Release of Phantasy Star Online 2 in 2013

I’m very happy to report that Sega has finally announced Phantasy Star Online 2 will be released in Europe and North America. I’m sure we all suspected it was only a matter of time but it’s always nice to know it’s official. 2013 though? That seems like a long, long way away. Then again I’ve waited over a decade for a true sequal to PSO I suppose I can wait another six months.

I only hope that by the time it releases in the west it has all of the updates the Japanese version will have received in the meantime and all available from the start. I really hope there isn’t a repeat of Phantasy Star Universe where the Japanese were always far ahead when it came to updates.

Hit the jump for the press release.

SEGA announces new iPhone games and MMO [update]

I’ll start off with the one that is the most shocking. You might remember a while ago that SEGA trademarked the name Kingdom Conquest. Well, it turns out that Kingdom Conquest is SEGA’s first iPhone MMO and freenium game. A freenium game means that the app is free, but you have to pay for in game items and content. Kingdom Conquest is part hack n’ slash and part city building according to SEGA.

The second new announcement is Chu Chu Rocket. Chu Chu Rocket will be SEGA’s first iOS game to support Apple’s Game Center.

Among other new iPhone game announcements is Altered Beast and Gunstar Heroes. SEGA also hinted at more announcments coming later today on twitter.

[Update] SEGA just updated their twitter with new info. Chu Chu Rocket has all of the DC levels, multiplayer for up to 4 devices via Bluetooth/WiFi, and the iPad version will have 4 player multiplayer on same device.

[Source: SEGA Twitter]
[Thanks: AugieD369]