Polygon: All Posts by James Mielkehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/42931/favicon.ico2020-08-30T12:00:00-04:00https://www.polygon.com/authors/james-mielke-2/rss2020-08-30T12:00:00-04:002020-08-30T12:00:00-04:00How Sega took eight years to bring Phantasy Star Online 2 west
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<img alt="A character swings their sword and you can see their face up-close" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DlN7uNF0RDhUeKBAA6oMTD9aT4A=/1x0:1350x759/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67316435/PSO2_NG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption><em>Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis</em> | Image: Sega</figcaption>
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<p>We cap off our retrospective interview series with a look at the franchise’s latest installment</p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/interviews/2020/8/30/21406035/how-sega-took-eight-years-to-bring-phantasy-star-online-2-west">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/interviews/2020/8/30/21406035/how-sega-took-eight-years-to-bring-phantasy-star-online-2-westJames Mielke2020-08-23T12:00:00-04:002020-08-23T12:00:00-04:00Phantasy Star Online programmers on breaking new ground and their Diablo-style isometric prototype
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<img alt="Graphic artwork featuring a montage of characters from the video game Phantasy Star Online over a dark grey pixelated background" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4VzbOazoaJhoO3Zoq99G4Bw5Bh8=/0x106:2040x1254/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67282248/jbareham_200721_1032_pstar_0004.0.jpg" />
<figcaption><em>Phantasy Star Online</em> artwork | Graphic: James Bareham/Polygon | Art: Sega</figcaption>
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<p>We continue our retrospective interview series for Phantasy Star Online’s 20th anniversary</p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/interviews/2020/8/23/21378092/phantasy-star-online-programmers-diablo-style-isometric-prototype">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/interviews/2020/8/23/21378092/phantasy-star-online-programmers-diablo-style-isometric-prototypeJames Mielke2020-08-16T12:00:00-04:002020-08-16T12:00:00-04:00Phantasy Star Online devs on the story, the graphics, and the angry fans that used to call the office
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<img alt="Graphic artwork featuring a montage of characters from the video game Phantasy Star Online over a bright magenta pixelated background" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/A6w9eFJJepm2caPHXsYh4-554Zw=/0x106:2040x1254/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67211162/jbareham_200721_1032_pstar_0003.0.jpg" />
<figcaption><em>Phantasy Star Online</em> artwork | Graphic: James Bareham/Polygon | Art: Sega</figcaption>
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<p>We continue our retrospective interview series for the game’s 20th anniversary</p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/interviews/2020/8/16/21369887/phantasy-star-online-interview-angry-fans">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/interviews/2020/8/16/21369887/phantasy-star-online-interview-angry-fansJames Mielke2020-08-09T12:00:00-04:002020-08-09T12:00:00-04:00Phantasy Star Online’s music has defined the series for 20 years
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<img alt="Graphic artwork featuring a montage of characters from the video game Phantasy Star Online over a bright green blue pixelated background" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ezikx7Y0W6zxiWQOvu8S71cd6os=/0x106:2040x1254/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67177690/jbareham_200721_1032_pstar_0005.0.jpg" />
<figcaption><em>Phantasy Star Online</em> artwork | Graphic: James Bareham/Polygon | Art: Sega</figcaption>
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<p>In part three of our retrospective interview series, we talk to composer Hideaki Kobayashi</p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/interviews/2020/8/9/21357456/composing-phantasy-star-online-music-20-years-hideaki-kobayashi">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/interviews/2020/8/9/21357456/composing-phantasy-star-online-music-20-years-hideaki-kobayashiJames Mielke2020-08-02T12:00:00-04:002020-08-02T12:00:00-04:00Phantasy Star Online’s director talks Diablo influences, cut features, and Christmas Nights
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<img alt="Graphic artwork featuring a montage of characters from the video game Phantasy Star Online over a bright magenta and red pixelated background" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Lo4KRyD2hbdklXv8uoYPdakwbS4=/0x106:2040x1254/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67145339/jbareham_200721_1032_pstar_0006.0.jpg" />
<figcaption><em>Phantasy Star Online</em> artwork | Graphic: James Bareham/Polygon | Art: Sega</figcaption>
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<p>We look back with the second entry in our six-part interview series</p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/interviews/2020/8/2/21348946/phantasy-star-online-director-diablo-cut-features-christmas-nights">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/interviews/2020/8/2/21348946/phantasy-star-online-director-diablo-cut-features-christmas-nightsJames Mielke2020-07-26T12:00:00-04:002020-07-26T12:00:00-04:00Yuji Naka looks back at Phantasy Star Online, 20 years later
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<img alt="Graphic artwork featuring a montage of characters from the video game Phantasy Star Online over a bright blue pixelated background" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/W1rC7x7qOiI3KU34YdacBZZKZ9A=/0x106:2040x1254/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67110156/jbareham_200721_1032_pstar_0001.0.jpg" />
<figcaption><em>Phantasy Star Online</em> artwork | Graphic: James Bareham/Polygon | Art: Sega</figcaption>
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<p>How Sega’s Dreamcast and <em>Phantasy Star Online</em> connected the world by ushering in the true first generation of online console gaming</p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/interviews/2020/7/26/21332950/yuji-naka-sega-phantasy-star-online-20th-anniversary">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/interviews/2020/7/26/21332950/yuji-naka-sega-phantasy-star-online-20th-anniversaryJames Mielke2019-06-25T09:00:00-04:002019-06-25T09:00:00-04:00How R-Type came back from the dead
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<img alt="spaceships hovering below a planet with balls of energy near them" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SOw83FgYPyv8erKR58sOWaCxmR0=/177x0:1738x878/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64114075/RTYPE_FINAL2_main.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Image: Granzella/Irem</figcaption>
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<p>Granzella’s R-Type Final sequel marks the 16-year return of the series no one saw coming</p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/interviews/2019/6/25/18645066/r-type-final-2-kazuma-kujo-interview">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/interviews/2019/6/25/18645066/r-type-final-2-kazuma-kujo-interviewJames Mielke2018-04-30T12:00:02-04:002018-04-30T12:00:02-04:00Panzer Dragoon Saga: An oral history
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<img alt="Panzer Dragoon Saga - Edge concept art" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Knhhpxdj6uAxDuOOKwGSQMmMZBI=/0x30:1792x1038/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59573377/edge_01_BIG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Concept art of Edge, the protagonist of <em>Panzer Dragoon Saga</em>. | Team Andromeda/Sega</figcaption>
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<p>For the 20th anniversary of one of the most beloved role-playing games, we tracked down 15 people who worked on it and asked them to look back</p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/2018/4/30/17286042/panzer-dragoon-saga-sega-saturn-oral-history">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/2018/4/30/17286042/panzer-dragoon-saga-sega-saturn-oral-historyJames Mielke2017-10-31T12:00:02-04:002017-10-31T12:00:02-04:00The original PlayStation boss
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ChSKNEB8ZWwwI_pOlUk5Vzfhhu4=/0x0:2000x1125/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57325371/B0007509.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Shigeo Maruyama (left) and Tetsuya Mizuguchi (right) | <a href="https://www.irwinwong.com">Irwin Wong</a></figcaption>
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<p>We look back on the early PlayStation days with former SCE chairman Shigeo Maruyama</p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/features/2017/10/31/16550652/the-original-playstation-boss-shigeo-maruyama">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/features/2017/10/31/16550652/the-original-playstation-boss-shigeo-maruyamaJames Mielke2017-04-10T12:00:02-04:002017-04-10T12:00:02-04:00The making of Samurai Shodown
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hPpJxD7nF78M2_j1035GhS6daYk=/0x124:1331x873/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54145405/Samurai_Shodown.0.jpg" />
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<p>A rare interview with three former team members</p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/2017/4/10/15223966/the-making-of-samurai-shodown">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/2017/4/10/15223966/the-making-of-samurai-shodownJames Mielke