Phantasy Star Universe Online Play Will Not be Free

Contrary to the rumors, Sega's Massively Multiplayer RPG which is due out this year, will cost users a ten spot every month to play online.  Orange Lounge Radio reported a while back that the MMORPG would be free for Xbox Live Gold members, and has corrected their statement after an email from Sega.

There has been a lot of speculation about fees for MMORPGs on Xbox Live.  Because the monthly charges are meant to sustain servers and an infrastructure, some believed that the $50 a year paid for the Xbox Live Gold service would provide the needed systems and cut down on extra fees charged directly by developers.

It seems, at least with Phantasy Star Universe, that will not be the case.  To be clear, folks who pay fees to play PSU will not have to cough up dough for the Xbox Live Gold service and can stick to the Silver membership.

I don't play RPGs, MMO or otherwise, but if my favorite shooters got the MMO treatment and asked for 10 bucks a month on top of the price of the game, I think I'd be skipping.  Yes, Gold service already costs $50 a year, but it allows me to play many games online.  A per game fee only applies to one game.  That can make for a fairly expensive Silver membership.

How many 360 games do you currently play online?  Would you pay 10 smackers a month for each?  Will the $120 a year effect your decision to purchase  PSU?  So many questions.

The long awaited new title in the beloved Phantasy Star series is on its way! Phantasy Star Universe delivers a rich, ever evolving world and will provide hours of entertainment to both online and offline RPG enthusiasts. Single-player fans will embark on an offline quest as Ethan Waber, a 17-year old cadet intent on saving his sister from an invasion of mysterious life forces called THE SEED. While online players will create their own characters from a range of races, and then set off to explore all three planets in the Gurhal solar system. Fans will travel with a squad of other adventurers, enter urban sprawls teeming with hundreds of other players, and build their avatars into powerful warriors.
Features:

Three enormous planets to explore. A gigantic overworld and more than 20 enormous dungeons are featured.
All-new ene mies to fight. Along with a brand-new roster of standard opponents, there are more than 15 major bosses to challenge.
Player-controlled vehicles. Players no longer need to travel everywhere by foot, adding a new dimension to exploration.
The best online Phantasy Star experience to date. Features a game world that will evolve with new content over the course of several years.