I hope this is true:

"Some new details have emerged about Sega's next title in the Phantasy Star series.

According to recent news Phantasy Star Universe will allow more then four people to wonder around in a team at once. Apparently several thousand players can create a team and wonder around the universe together.

The new game also includes several new planets and races. The title will be released in Japan before the end of next year. Cube-Europe will, of course, bring you more news on this title as it breaks!"

Source:

http://www.cube-europe.com/news.php?nid=6761

Damn why must you tease?? And at the end of NEXT year??? *groan*

--d-_-b

So I guess this confirms its an online title, huh?

End of 2005 eh? I just hope it doesn't take as long as it did Square to get FFXI over here.

Wow... Japan by the end of next year... That means March, April... JULY for us here in the states. I would rather not know about a game until I can at least see the release date. I mean the light at the end of this tunnel hasn't even been installed yet.
Also, it seems like this is going to be a GameCube Next game. Possibly a release title.
I am confused about the "allow more than four players in a team at once." Then it says "several thousand players can create a team and travel together." What could that mean? Obviously, several thousand people can't play a game at the same time together. That would cause any computer to supernova and suck us all into the blackhole only to be spat back out as wasted radiation. Could this mean that a group (clan, if you will) like AT could set up a guild? Like a home base, or home ship. And use it to transport everyone on it to other locations? Then many smaller groups, of 4 or however many, would go off an fight?
Hrm... i guess we have a year and a half to wonder about it.

I just hope the game isn't the same thing over and over like PSO was. I got board of that quick.

...

several thousand might be a bit much, especially the coordination of it all - this aspect sniffs of ffxi.. >.> i'll be fine with it so long as players can still finish the quests solo with playing co-op as optional fun..