Sega recently allowed a handful of members of the press to sample Phantasy Star Online's network component. Unfortunately, the game's key online feature - the ability to form parties and engage in multiplayer games - wasn't functional. However, the lobby areas were functional, so we spent plenty of time frolicking through the game's 3D chat areas.

　　PSO's lobbies are where most of the player-to-player interaction takes place. Each player present in the lobby is free to roam around and engage in conversation with other online players. Games are initiated by accessing a central console, which lists all the games currently in progress in your particular lobby. If you are initiating a game, you're allowed to set the game's parameters, which include the game's name, its difficulty, and whether or not player killing is allowed. We were able to create games and explore the planet solo, but as soon as another player attempted to join our game, the software would crash.

　　While we were all waiting for the meat of the game to actually work, several players kept themselves occupied with footraces and games of rock-paper-scissors. There was a good amount of chatting in the game, and we found that people were more boisterous and less reserved while chatting as their PSO characters.

　　Needless to say, we're looking forward to the moment when we'll truly be allowed to check out PSO's network component in all its glory. Till then, we'll happily indulge all the footraces and other lobby activities our fellow editors can muster.