As previously announced to our users, this past March 31st was the final day for PC/PS2 servers for Phantasy Star Universe. While we still have an excellent Xbox 360 population for the game — one we will be able to devote more time & resources to now — the closing of the PC/PS2 servers was bittersweet for me for more than one reason.

First, it was through the PC/PS2 population that I was introduced to the game. That’s where I played before becoming a GM, and it’s where I first took on billing support when I worked for SEGA Customer Service. Sitting on a beach at Paracabana Coast (an in-game lobby) with a few dozen players during my first GM Support Session, I realized what a witty & thoughtful community this version of the game had. Not that Xbox 360 doesn’t, but PC/PS2 had a significantly smaller community than the Xbox 360 version of the game — sadly, one of the primary reasons it was shuttered — but that also meant it was very close-knit. Players knew each other, and there was an intimacy there that I valued.

So while it was difficult & sad to say goodbye, that doesn’t mean we couldn’t make sure to go out with a bang. The last day of server operation had a full slate of plans, but what it boiled down to was spending as much time with players as I could, running the game’s missions, taking photo ops, and even performing an impromptu wedding ceremony between players (GMs, like ship captains, can marry players under their charge).

We took a tour of the game’s three planets, we raced on airboards, we killed Alterazgohg one last time, and even Sonic the Hedgehog dropped by for an impromptu dance party. Mostly it was just about spending a last day with friends; many GUARDIANS have already moved to the Xbox 360 version but for many of us, this was the last time we’d see each other in this version of Gurhal.

The last day had many high points — I was able to give away coins for the game’s casino. Ordinarily players are allotted a single silver coin per day, and have to win more than that if they want to get the items available for purchase. Seeing as it was the proverbial end-of-the-world, I was able to give away around 900 gold coins (in other words, 90,000 times the daily allotment) to throngs of people. This lead to some excellent moments at the Casino:

I was able to run a high experience / high drop-rate “rare mission” with Momonpso (that’s me with her below), one of our forum moderators and a player who has been with us since Phantasy Star Online. I got a chance to play one of my personal favorite missions, SEED Express, one last time, and of course it was a blast to see people betting hundreds of gold coins at a time in the casino. I even had a chance for what was seemed to be an impromptu staring contest at the Holtes City juice bar (also pictured below — the enormous rainbow rappy was not technically part of the staring contest, but was a welcomed part of the decor nonetheless).

Aside from gleeful expressions of unbridled end-of-the-world greed, however, the last day was mostly about taking time to enjoy the environments and missions that players have loved through the past few years. The very last mission I ran was Dark God — in the story missions for the game, it is the  final mission, and it seemed liked an appropriate note to go out on. I actually ran it twice — once, where we achieved victory over the game’s chief villain, the SEED . . . and a second time, where we were defeated and laid waste by Dark Falz, the boss monster at the heart of the dark planet Rykros (and one of the main villains from the very first Phantasy Star game in 1987).

In the end, we all gathered at the Falz Memoria lobby, a grassy area replete with a monument commemorating the battle with the aforementioned Dark God. I know not everyone was there, of course — I’m sure some people sought out quiet corners alone, or out-of-the-way lobbies with small groups as friends. This was about finding a way to say goodbye to a community & a server population that we’ve all shared memories with, and both Ruby Eclipse and Clumsyorchid (Clumsy has the distinction of being one of the original GMs for this game) were there as well. In the closing 20 minutes we all put up banners thanking the servers — a heartfelt thanks, to be sure, because for all of us on the Community team here this has been a true labor of love.

There’s more to look forward to for Phantasy Star, and there will be more to talk about soon. This is a bittersweet article to write but there’s no way I could not give a salute & shout out to the PC/PS2 community — to paraphrase the final message banner we put up before server shutdown, We will meet again!