Sega Phantasy Star Online v2 User manual

CONTENTS
WHAT’SNEW INPSOVER.2? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -02
BASICCONTROLS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 04
SOFTWARE KEYBOARD - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -05
SAVING - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -05
STARTING A GAME - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -06
CHARACTER CREATION - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 07
MODE SELECTION - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -08
ONLINENETWORK STRUCTURE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10
THE WORLD OF PSO VER.2 ONLINE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 11
A TOUR OF PIONEER 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 16
PLAYING PSO VER.2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 19
GAMEDISPLAYS AND MENUS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 21
OPTIONS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -28
PSO Ver.2 requires a memory card [Visual Memory Unit (VMU) sold separately]. 15 blocks are
required to save the main game file and 30 blocks are required to save the guild
card file. Additional blocks are required to save any downloaded files. This game saves
automatically when you quit. While saving or loading data, never turn the Dreamcast power OFF,
attempt to remove the memory card or disconnect the controller. For details about saving, see p.5.
Thank you for purchasing Phantasy Star Online Ver.2. Please note that this software is
designed only for use with the Dreamcast console. Be sure to read this instruction manual
thoroughly before you begin playing.
Note: “Phantasy Star Online Ver.2” will hereafter be referred to as “PSO Ver.2.”

When playing PSO Ver.2, you will need the serial number and access key for PSOVer.2. It isprinted onthe
inside ofthe package, so please make sure to keep it in the safe place to avoid losing. Also, please do notlet
anyone else know them.
When entering the serial numberand access key, please make sure not to enter them incorrectly.
nNOTES ON NUMBERS:
•Alphanumeric characters for the serial number
Numerals:0-9; Alphabets: A-Z
•Alphanumeric characters for the access key
All numbers and alphabets (both upper and lower) exceptthe following:
Numerals:0,1; alphabets: i,j,l,q, O
2
WHAT’S NEW IN PSO VER.2?
NewCHALLENGEandBATTLEmodeshavebeenadded,andareonlyavailableonline.Nowyoucanequipweapons
anduseitemsusingtheSHORTCUTWINDOW.HolddowntheRightTriggerandpresstheYbutton.
CHOICESEARCHallowsonlinesearchesbaseduponplayercharacteristics.TheDRESSINGROOMoptionwill
appearontheCharacterSelectscreenifyouhaveatleast100,000meseta.Ifyouchoosetospend100,000
meseta,youmaychangesomephysicalcharacteristicsofyourcharacter.
In theONLINEMODE, both PSO users and PSO Ver.2 users may play on thesame server.
PSOdoes nothavethe newly addedmodes and functions that PSO Ver.2has, so there are
some cases where PSO and PSO Ver.2 players cannot play together. Please verify which
version of software your friends are using before you play.
When the PSO Ver.2 usercreates the TEAM, if the user selects “PSO Ver.2”, only PSO
Ver.2 users can join the team. If you play Go Go Ball in the Lobby, only PSO Ver.2 users
mayjoin. When exchanging items, before a PSO Ver.2 user gives an item to a PSO user,
please make sure it isnotand item that is exclusive to PSOVer.2. If this is the case, the
item name will be yellow. If you complete the trade,the item willbe converted to anitem
of the same series in PSO. PSO Ver.2 characters have their names displayed in yellow.
PSO characters have their names displayed in white. Therefore,if you convert a PSO file
to PSO Ver.2, the character’s namewill bedisplayed in yellow.Whenyou convert aPSO
file to PSO Ver.2 toplay, you will first need to enterthe serial number and access key
printed onthe sticker inside the PSO package. If youattempt toplay PSO after the
conversion, an error message will be displayed, and you will not be able toplay PSO.
•Alphanumeric characters for the access key
USE CAUTION WHEN PLAYING WITH ORIGINAL PSO PLAYERS
NOTES ON SERIAL NUMBERS
WHAT’S NEW IN PSO VER.2?
3
Sega Corporation/Sonic Team/Isao reserves the right to temporarily orpermanently ban a user's account if the
player logs onto the PSO Ver. 2 servers with aninvalid item and/or repeatedly disturbs other players by violating
the rules of conduct (seepage 32 and www.sega.com/pso/help). The ban for a first offence, such as owning an
invalid item may bea single day (even if the item wasgiven to theplayer by someoneelse) and the player will
be allowed to reconnect a full day after deleting the item. Repeated violations may result in a permanent ban of
the player's account at Sega Corporation/Sonic Team/Isao's discretion. Refunds will not be given for banned or
terminated accounts.
RIGHTSRESERVEDTOTEMPORARILYORPERMANENTLYBANACCOUNTS
A warning message for using false data will be displayed. Read the message and select YES to confirm. If
you select NO, you will return to SELECT MODE screen. If YES is selected, you will be connected to
network. At this point, you will not be able to connect if you do not have the Hunter’s License.
WARNING ON FALSE DATA/NETWORK CONNECTION
PLAYING PSO VER.2 ONLINE
In order to play PSO Ver. 2 online, besides having an ISP provider, you must purchasea HUNTERS LICENSE. To
purchase a HUNTERSLICENSE, select WEBSITE at the title screen, and select the button "PURCHASE HUNTERS
LICENSE." Please note that a valid credit card is required. The fee for the Hunter'sLicensedoes not include ISP
and possible telephone fees. There is regularly scheduled maintenance on Wednesday-Thursday each week.

4
SOFTWARE KEYBOARD
When playing online, select “Quit Game” from the main menu. To confirm disconnection from the
Network, use *@ to select “YES” or “NO” and press Ato enter and save your game. If you are playing
with a team, you will disband from the team. At this time, any experience points gained in battle or items
collected, etc. will be saved. If you disband from your team while on a quest and should the team
complete the quest without you, the entire team may not be eligible to receive the reward unless all
members go to claim it together.
SAVING ONLINE
When playing offline, select “Quit Game” from the main menu. You will be asked if you wish to save.
Use *@ to select “YES” or “NO” and press Ato enter.
SAVING OFFLINE
A memory card is required to save PSO Ver.2game data. 15 blocks of free space are required to save
the main game file and 30 blocks are required to save the guild card file. Additional blocks are required
to save any downloaded files. To save your game data, select “Quit Game” from the main menu. Never
attempt to turn OFF the Dreamcast power, remove the memory card or disconnect the controller while
saving. Also, the data may not save correctly if the memory card is removed/re-inserted during gameplay.
If you quit the game without saving properly (via “Quit Game” on the main menu)or if for
any reason you are disconnected from the server while playing online, any items or money (Meseta) held, left in
the city or game field will be lost.
CAUTION
Use the software keyboard to chat with other players while playing PSO Ver.2 or connect a Dreamcast
Keyboard (sold separately) to Control Port B, C or D.
D-PAD/ANALOG THUMB PAD - - - - Select Characters
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Enter (to display text)
BBUTTON - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Delete 1 Character
XBUTTON - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Toggle Screens
YBUTTON - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Close Keyboard
TRIGGER L/R- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- Toggle Symbols
BSor
SIGNor
ENTER
EXITor
SOFTWAREKEYBOARD
SAVING
BASIC CONTROLS
ANALOGTHUMBPAD SELECT MOVECHARACTER
NOTUSED ROTATECAMERA
ENTER USELOWERACTIONPALETTE
DISPLAY INFO USELEFTACTIONPALETTE
CAMERAVIEW(Resettobehindcharacter)
GAMESTART RETURN DISPLAYTHEMAINMENU
NOTUSED NOTUSEDROTATECAMERA TOGGLEACTIONPALETTE
CANCEL USERIGHTACTIONPALETTE
SELECT SELECT
ENTER
CANCEL
NOT USED
NOTUSED DISPLAYSOFTKEYBOARD/WORDSELECT(TOGGLE=X)
DIRECTIONALPAD(D-PAD)
TRIGGER L
TRIGGER R
ABUTTON
BBUTTON
XBUTTON
YBUTTON
STARTBUTTON
TITLESCREEN/
GAMEMENUS/
SHIPSELECTIONSCREEN CHARACTER
SELECTION VISUALLOBBY/ WITHINTHECITY IN BATTLE
5
PSO Ver.2 is aone-player game (four-player when playing online). Connectthe controller tobe used toControl Port A.
To return to the title screen at any time
during gameplay,
simultaneously press
and hold the A,B,
X,Yand Start Buttons.
Never touch the Analog Thumb Pad or
the Triggers L/Rwhile turning the
Dreamcast power ON. Doing so may
disrupt the controller initialization
procedure and result in malfunction.
ANALOGTHUMB PAD
XBUTTON
YBUTTON
BBUTTON
DIRECTIONALPAD
ABUTTON
It is not possible to play PSO Ver.2 without a memory card. Insert one before startinggameplay.
TRIGGER LTRIGGER R
Whenusingthe Jump Pack (sold
separately),alwaysbesureto
inserttheJump Pack into
ExpansionSocket2.
CAUTION
Inserta memory card (sold separately)into
ExpansionSocket1ofthecontroller.
STARTBUTTON
IN BATTLEONLY: DISPLAYSHORTCUTWINDOW(Rtochangedisplaycontents)TRIGGER R+YBUTTON

7
CHARACTER CREATION
To customize the appearance of your character, use *@ to select a modification item and press A. Then
use $ ^ to select a style for that item (the available settings will vary among different character base
types). Use L/Rto rotate the character. Press Aor Bto return to the previous screen. Note that if you
press the Start Button while on the CHARACTER CREATION screen, all of your settings will be erased and
you will return to the CHARACTER SELECT screen. Once you press OK your character will be assigned
one of the 10 available SECTION IDs. Press Ato continue. (It is not possible to cancel after entering OK.)
MODIFY YOUR CHARACTER
You will need to create a character whenever you start a new game.
Use $ ^ to select the type of character you wish to use and press Ato enter. A brief summary is
displayed under each profession/species header alongside a graph indicating the attributes of each
character. Press Aagain to proceed to the CHARACTER CREATION screen or press Bto cancel and
return to the previous screen.
SELECT A CHARACTER TYPE
STARTING A GAME
Select to begin a new game starting from character creation. Select the memory card to which you want tosave
the main game data. Only onemain file (one character) can be saved to any one memory card. If a PSO file
alreadyexists, you will be asked whether tooverwritethe olderfile. Also, it is not possible to save game data
without a memory card. If you would like to transfer an original PSO character to a PSO Ver.2 character, do not
choose this option, choose CONTINUE instead. Ifyou’re creating more than one character, the Serial
Number/Access Key Input screen will be displayed each time when “Character Select” is selected. The currently
registered Serial Number and Access Key will bedisplayed,so you only need to verify the contents.
NEW GAME
Select to continue playing a previously saved file or to transfer an original PSO character to a PSO Ver.2
character. Once the memory card selection screenappears, use*@$ ^ to select the memorycard containing
the PSO file you wish to playand pressA. A mini-menu with the options “OK” or “DELETE” will appear. Select
load (“OK”) or delete the file. Press Bto cancel.
CONTINUE
Here you can modify the various game settings. See p.27 for details.
OPTIONS
Use this link to access the official PSO Ver.2 website or the SONICTEAM homepage. If you have a
Broadband Adaptor attached to your Dreamcast (sold separately), when you select WEBSITE, you will be
able to configure your Broadband Adaptor for play online. PSO Ver.2 does not support PPPoE, which is
what many DSLs use.
For Broadband users, to purchase a HUNTERS LICENSE, you must either insert your modem, select the
WEBSITE option, and go through the process of purchasing a HUNTERS LICENSE, or use a PC and go to
the following website: https://www.dricas.com/pso/signup_top.html
WEBSITE
6
The character attributes graph will give you a general idea of the strengths
and weaknesses of each character type for the following attributes: CHARACTERATTRIBUTES GRAPH
Accuracy rate when attacking.
Hit
Health Points availability.
HP
Technique Damage - rate at
which TP decreases when used.
TD
Technique Points availability.
TP Armor Class - level of defense
against enemy attack.
AC
Attack Damage - level of damage
inflicted upon enemies.
AD

8
MODE SELECTION
The first time you connect to the PSO network to play online you must input the unique serial number and
access key from the label that was included inside your PSO package. Use *@ $ ^ to select each
character and press Ato enter. Press Bto cancel. Enter the serial number as it appears on the label and
SERIAL NUMBER & ACCESS KEY
ONLINE MODE
A screen displaying information of charges to play will be displayed. Select YES to confirm and advance
to the next screen. Select NO to return to the previous screen.
If this is your first time playing the ONLINE MODE, select the WEBSITE option, then choose the HUNTERS
LICENSE option. Then follow the instructions on your screen to set up your account.
If you have played PSO Ver.2 already, pleaseselect “TAKE OVER DATA FROM PSO”. If you don’t, you
cannot take over the Guild Card Files and Hunter’s License Info toPSO Ver.2. When selected, the screen will
change to Serial Number/Access Key Input screen.
If you have notplayed PSOVer.2 before, please select “YOU HAVE NOT PLAYED PSO BEFORE”. Serial
Number/AccessKey Input screen forPSO Ver.2 will bedisplayed. Please see the section on Playing PSO
Ver.2 for the first time for details on how to enter. Once registered, this screen will no longer be displayed.
CONFIRMATION OF CHARGES
WHEN YOU SELECT ONLINEMODE FOR THE FIRSTTIME
CHARACTER CREATION
MODE SELECTION
After you have created your character you will proceed to the mode selection menu. Use *@ to select
whether to play PSO Ver.2 online or offline and press A. The content and how to proceed will vary
according to which mode is selected.
OFFLINE MODE
The NORMAL level is automatically selected the first time
you play PSO Ver.2. After you clear the game at this level, this screen will appear the next time you play.
Use *@ to select either NORMAL or HARD and press A. Press Bto cancel. Clear the game in HARD to
earn the right to attempt VERY HARD. After completing VERY HARDmove onto ULTIMATE mode.
GAME DIFFICULTY
9
CHARACTER PROFESSIONS
Proficient with
bladeweapons,
we excel in close-range combat.
HUNTER
In the world of PSO Ver.2 each of the nine character types is one of three species (human, newman or android)
whose profession is either Hunter, Ranger or Force. While members of each profession start out with the same
equipment level, the attributes of each character vary according to their species.
Proficient with
gun-type weapons,
we excel in long-range combat.
RANGER Proficient with
techniques, we are
best suitedfor combat support.
FORCE
select the enter key, then do the same for the access key. When you have input both the codes, select
ENTER and press A. This information will then be sent to the PSO Ver.2 server and once verified, will be
saved to the main file in your VMU so that you won’t need to input the serial number and access key
every time you connect. However, it is very important that you do not lose these numbers or allow
a third party access to them before you can register with the PSO Ver.2 server.You must
use the same Dreamcast to play PSO Ver.2 in the online mode.
PLAYING PSO VER.2 WITH A PSO FILE
When you select “CONTINUE” from the Game Menu, if you have a memory card with a PSO file (main file
[character] or Guild Card files) attached, you must select either CONVERT or GO TO TITLE SCREEN. PSO
characters cannot be played in PSO Ver.2 unless the file is convertedto a PSO Ver.2 file. Once the PSO file is
converted to a PSO Ver.2 file, you will not be able to play PSO with it. Also, uponconversion, all illegal items
will be deleted and attributes may be adjusted.