So the Pre Open Beta is starting on friday and the official (rumored) start date for the actual Open Beta will be the following week, I have signed up, anyone else planning on playing the game?

Also if you do plan on signing up, you should do so for the POB as you get a free item as a reward for taking part in the game, currently its only in Japanese but chances are there will be a patch for the OB (there was an unofficial patch for the CB/Benchmark) anyways, instructions for signing up can be found here:

Phantasy Star Online 2 » Phantasy Star Fan Blog

Its basically tells you exactly what you have to do to get onto the list, once signed up you can download the game client again instructions can be found here:

Phantasy Star Fan Blog 

If you are skeptical let me tell you this: the game is free to play and free to download, so there really is no reason not to try it, according to a friend of mine who played the CB (I didn't get in on the CB ; the game is awesome to play and the graphics are very pretty.