crystin-cox
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Flameseeker Chronicles: Looking forward to Guild Wars 2's feature pack
The dust has barely settled on the Battle for Lion's Arch: Aftermath release, but ArenaNet is already releasing blog posts to discuss Guild Wars 2's April 15th feature pack. What's a feature pack? Well, it's exactly what it says on the tin: We'll be getting a big chunk of gameplay updates, quality-of-life improvements, and balance tweaks that don't fit into the living world or have story components. I usually refer to this stuff as "stuff," but "feature pack" definitely sounds more classy. As I write this, we've gotten posts on three of the topics locked up in the official feature pack site's nifty little sidebar doodad: one covering updates to the trait system; another to outline balance changes for runes, sigils and professions; and another to talk about swapping critical damage percentage for a new attribute called Ferocity. I have a lot to say about traits, but I'm also going to spend some time speculating on the next two blog posts in the lineup. There's nothing I love more than making half-baked predictions.
Gears 'n' glory: MapleStory unveils the Mechanic
Nexon's MapleStory has been to the brink of the world's end and beyond with its Big Bang overhaul. Spread out over three significant updates, Big Bang started out with a game mechanics renovation in phase one and a pair of original classes in phase two, not to mention the addition of several new zones. Today, Nexon is happy to announce the onset of the third and final phase to this literal game-changer. In phase three, titled "Birth of the Mechanic" in honor of the newest class in the game, MapleStory is rolling out one of the more unique MMO classes in the genre. Mechanics are pirate tank-drivers who ride into battle on their trusty mech steeds, unleashing robot minions and throwing out long-range damage while retaining the ability to heal themselves. Mechanics can also hit multiple targets at once, making the class an AoE-lover's dream. Players wishing to honor the valiant Mechanic can raise their wrenches high on January 22nd and log into the game at precisely 2:00 p.m. PST to receive an SP Reset Scroll and a chance at a few other goodies. Hit the gallery below to check out the Mechanic in all his high-tech glory, and get caught up on Big Bang with our Crystin Cox interview! %Gallery-16709%
MapleStory developer destroys the world, then this interview
Cataclysm? Ha! A couple chunks of earth missing here and there and a nasty footprint left on the walls of a castle? That's not world destruction; that's moving the furniture around! Look no further for true heart-rending, life-altering, earth-shattering, massive destruction than MapleStory's new update. Well, I might be pushing it a bit far, but really -- it's pretty dramatic. If you're not familiar with the game, you either have an all-weather stone roof or this is your first visit to Massively. MapleStory boasts one of the largest playerbases in the world, despite offering more "primitive" graphics. The game's accessibility doesn't mean that it has no depth. Multiple classes and tons of quests as well as a robust cash shop offer something for everyone. Throw in the fact that this recent patch updated the graphics and added a new dimension to the game, and you will understand why the servers and website were crushed after the update. Well, we decided to interview Crystin Cox from Nexon to help make sense of all the changes. Join us past the cut to read the interview!
MapleStory's Big Bang update takes a bow
There are updates, and then there are updates. MapleStory's Big Bang patch is most definitely the latter seeing as how it's the largest set of changes in the history of the game. It's so big, in fact, that the roll out is going to happen in three phases. Phase one began yesterday and includes overhauled graphics, a simplified UI, rebalanced skills, a faster leveling curve, and two new shards. "Big Bang is going to completely change the way players enjoy MapleStory. We've been listening to our players and this complete overhaul of the game will implement major changes based on their input, making the game more current and modern, allowing them to experience new adventures in a game they know and love," said Nexon producer Crystin Cox. Check out all the details on the game's official website, and don't forget to watch the trailer after the cut.
