The first Massive Multiplayer Online Role Play Game (MMORPG) to be Science Fiction. Previously all MMORPGs were set exclusively in fantasy settings.
Began development under the working title of "Third World." When Sega Art Director, Satoshi Sakai drew up the image of a dragon and showed it to Yuji Naka, Naka decided to tie it into the Phantasy Star franchise.
To help promote the game as well as the Sega Dreamcast, then Sega President, Isao Okawa gave players a year of free Internet service by personally paying out of his own pocket.