In the MMO space, there's only one game I really hold dear, and that's Sega's Phantasy Star Online series. Remember dial-up internet on your Dreamcast? Remember playing online on the Gamecube? No? Well, not many would remember that network expansion failure.
Regardless, Sega is going to deliver Phantasy Star Online 2 to as many platforms as they can when they release the fantasy, sci-fi MMO as a free-to-play game on the PC, iOS and Android platforms, and the PlayStation Vita. While the Vita and PC will largely be playing the same version of the game, it's not known what shape PSO2 will take on mobile platforms.
The PC platform will see PSO2 land there first this summer, with the smartphone app coming in Winter 2012, followed by the PlayStation Vita version in Spring 2013.
Taking the game in such an ambitious direction on so many platforms seems like a risk, but PSO2 has the name recognition to power itself in the free-to-play market. I just wish they'd hurry up with that Vita version.
