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Nexon talks about MapleStory's fifth anniversary
Nexon America is proud to announce that their little browser based client-based (Our apologies! ~Sera) game MapleStory of only 6 million North American players turns five years old today! Who would have thought that this cartoonish side-scrolling chop-em-up would attract such a loyal following? Over the years the game has grown from only a few servers to eleven, from starting off with four classes to having fifteen if counting sub-classes, and countless new zones. Recently the game sported over 70,000 max concurrent users and more than 95 million players world wide. Still, not a single player has yet to defeat Pink Bean, a cute, yet ferocious boss monster. It seems as though there is still a lot to do, see and conquer in this little game that could. We asked the developers ten questions, so jump below to see their answers. Also, check out their Facebook page.
MapleStory celebrates five years by asking you: cake or pie?
We're all familiar with the concept of warring factions in MMOs, and it only makes sense that the sweetest MMO around would give it a sugary twist. MapleStory is celebrating its fifth birthday with Cake vs. Pie as one of the central party games. Players can choose to join the cake faction or the pie faction, competing to gain control of one of four towns. Win the match by defeating or defending the boss according to which side of the wall you're currently on, and you'll pick up prizes from XP boosts all the way to admission into a mini-dungeon. While Cake vs. Pie is bound to be fun, MapleStory isn't stopping this party with a giant food fight. As with any good party, the guests receive gifts -- these come in the form of a brand new set of Fifth Anniversary Durability Items, 20 classic maple weapons that you'll find as drops, and special commemorative fifth anniversary rings. The GMs will be in town handing out buffs every half hour as well. The event is going on throughout May, with all the details on the event schedule.
Nexon acquires NDOORS Interactive
It's not quite as stunning as the earlier announcement regarding Turbine and Warner Bros, but for the free-to-play world a big shakeup has taken place. Nexon, known for MapleStory, Mabinogi, and the upcoming Vindictus among others, has acquired a controlling share of NDOORS Interactive, known principally for Atlantica Online. The deal was announced in Korea late Monday evening, with Nexon explaining that they had acquired 67% of the company's shares including those of the former chairman, Seung-Mun Kwon. Nexon CEO Su-Min was quite pleased about the acquisition, stating that the addition of the technical expertise and experience of the NDOORS team would help with the company's long-term plans and global expansion. There's no word yet on what this will mean for the operation of Atlantica Online in the US and elsewhere, although it's reasonable to assume that Nexon would likely consolidate their operations. We'll have more for you on this story as it develops and as further details come to light.
Offer based incentives added to Nexon games
It's long been a known fact that most "free" services are supported largely by advertising. MMOs, by and large, have stayed away from the advertising model, instead opting for item shops and subscription fees to turn a profit. Nexon America, however, has decided to go in a different direction -- and you can probably guess what it is straight from the introduction. The company, producer of the popular games MapleStory and Mabinogi among others, will be adding offer-based advertising in exchange for item shop cash starting at an undisclosed time. The nature of the offers isn't stated, but it seems poised to run in a similar methodology to Facebook-based games, albeit hopefully without the sometimes rampant scams. No word on whether or not the ads will intrude on gameplay itself, but it seems unlikely -- and at least for now, they simply remain another option on the main site to earn item shop currency without money. Still, it's a notable change in model, and not something that's commonly seen outside of the realm of social gaming. Only time will tell how players will react.
MapleStory's Dragon Master Evan blazes to the live servers
These days, it seems like you can barely cross the MMO portion of the internet without hearing about Dragon Master Evan. While you might have assumed that he was some new musical act or another, he's actually the harbinger of the newest class in MapleStory, as well as the focus of the most recent update to the game. There's been quite a bit of teasing about the update in the time leading up to it, but now it's finally available on live servers, giving players everywhere a chance to take control of their very own dragon. Since the dragon has its own options to be customized as it grows stronger, MapleStory players are going to have their hands full for a while. If that weren't enough, however, Nexon has also put together a number of events to celebrate the deployment to the live servers. They've also rounded up all of the prior lore and quest information about Evan. So rather than spending your weekend out being told how a dragon ought to be trained, you might want to simply go train your own. And if you need more motivation, there's a video past the cut displaying just what a properly-trained dragon is capable of doing.
More details on MapleStory's upcoming Dragon Master Evan quest line
Remember Dragon Master Evan and his baby Onyx Dragon? We're learning more about the upcoming patch for MapleStory thanks to some new information from Nexon and -- even better -- a new video! The character of Evan, played by you, won't be attacking directly. Instead, you'll give your dragon companion attack commands that he'll execute for you, making for a formidable combination. The dragon will carry skill such as Flame Breath, Magic Amplification, Earthquake, Dragon Fury, Blaze, and quite a few more as he grows. The skill combination isn't the only thing that makes the content in this new patch interesting. Your dragon companion will grow and level as you do, thanks to the growth system. As your Evan character levels up, your dragon will go through a "growth stage" and become larger and stronger. The Dragon Master Evan quests promise to bring a fun new element to MapleStory. For a look at what kind of damage a fully-grown Onyx Dragon can do to enemies, follow along after the jump and see the video for yourself!
Dragon Master Evan comes to MapleStory
A new quest line is coming to Nexon's super-cute MMO MapleStory. Dragon Master Evan is the story of Evan and his discovery of an egg that hatches to reveal a little onyx dragon, and the adventure is on. In the first quest, Evan and the the newborn dragon begin their journey together by gaining answers to the all-important question: What do dragons eat? Once assured of a full stomach for the dragon, the pair goes on to battle "fiendishly cute and evil monsters" and helping those in need in their quest for glory. Players will learn more about Evan as the quest line progresses and the character levels up. The dragon companion levels up as well, taking on physical changes and learning new skills as things progress. It's a fun series, and players will definitely want to give it a try. Take a look at the video on the site, and have fun!
Nexon MMOs not coming to Mac or consoles any time soon
There's been quite a bit of talk coming out of Nexon from the time of the GDC -- revealing two games, more news on the venerable MapleStory, and even a developer initiative announced shortly before the conference. But if you were waiting for the other shoe to drop, there is one after a fashion, because the company still has no plans to develop anything for the Mac or for consoles. Both Vindictus and Dragon Nest are apparently popular choices for players to request on consoles, but according to Nexon America vice president Min Kim, neither one is planned for development for the console platform. Kim went on to explain that his company's base of operations in Korea meant that Mac support was a distant afterthought at best -- the market for non-PC games in Korea is minimal. Of course, in both cases he said that the support is something they would like to expand to eventually, but for now there's just not enough reason to expand. Which is sad news if you're one of the many users who prefer a fruit-based computer, especially with more and more games expanding to be playable on any platform. [Thanks Tracey!]
MapleStory introduces Dragon Master Evan
Evan is just an ordinary small town farm boy that stumbles upon a magical dragon egg. Little did he know, it would forever change his life. He had suddenly become a dragon master. In Nexon America's leading free-to-play game, MapleStory, you'll be able to play this new class and character. If you choose to do so, you will be expected to live up to some mighty high expectations, taming a powerful dragon and stopping the Black Mage in his quest to destroy the world. If you want to experience Dragon Master Evan and see what else is new in MapleStory, visit the official website. It's free, fun and can run on older machines so go check it out today. And if Facebook is more your thing, become a fan.
MapleStory pitches leveling rewards
Leveling in our favorite MMORPGs can be a controversial topic. Some of us rush to endgame, but just as many enjoy the journey and find the curve to be rewarding in and of itself. Nexon, publisher of the F2P side-scroller MapleStory, is offering players even more incentive to grind out those levels in the form of their A Perfect Pitch event which kicked off on March 3. In a nutshell, players will receive a Perfect Pitch for every level achieved during the event time frame (currently slated to wrap up on March 30). Pitches can be traded in with Inkwell in Henesys or at the entrance to the Free Market, and prizes include the Spirit of Rock Chair, which recovers 60 HP and 30 MP every ten seconds, and the Wild Wolf Bandana which offers a number of desirable stat boosts. Head on over to the A Perfect Pitch announcement post for complete details.
MapleStory adds two new levels: Neo City and Kerning Square
If you thought that MapleStory was all about livin' in the here and now, then you can just forget it. MapleStory's looking towards the future because they have a new toy to play with -- a portal through time! Oh, and a shopping mall too, but the time portal is way cooler. That's not one, but two new areas to enjoy! Maplers can now go back to the future (Flux Capacitor not included) to Neo City and help the new NPC Andy save Maple World from becoming a dark wasteland. By jumping back and forth through time, players can help alter history to make sure the Maple World doesn't fall apart at the seams! But, if time travel isn't for you, then you can go shopping in Kerning Square! Oh, just make sure not to get your face rocked off by a spirit of music, or fall victim to the home appliances that have taken on a life of their own. Ok... maybe the mall isn't any safer than time travel. Either way, there are loot rewards at the end of both areas that players will certainly want to get their hands on. If you want a visual look into the two new zones, however, just check after the break! We have two teaser trailers just waiting for you! Plus, we have patch notes. Everybody loves patch notes.
MapleStory releases videos for new content
Earlier this month, we told you about some fun new content for MapleStory fans -- Nett's Pyramid and the Abandoned Subway. While they were both designed for mid-level players, they are worlds apart in style and content, offering up two very different challenges. Venture into the Abandoned Subway to battle hordes of Ribbon Pigs and Horny Mushrooms (no, really). For a change of pace, visit Nett's Pyramid to take on Pharaoh Snakes, Skeletons, and Mummies while being told "The curse of the pyramids will be upon you!" by a very large and annoyed guardian of the pyramid. Want to see for yourself? Nexon has given us a closer look at the two new areas with some short combat videos of both the Subway and Pyramid. We've included both of them here for you to enjoy. Follow along after the jump to take a look, and good luck with the pigs, mushrooms, snakes, and skeletons!
MapleStory introduces new quest areas
Nexon America's long-running MMO MapleStory is introducing two new areas to their players, less than two months after an extensive content update with a brand new class and storyline. Players can now explore Nett's Pyramid and the Abandoned Subway, party quest areas available soon to all mid-level players. Nett's Pyramid is an ancient-Egyptian themed area full of pyramids and hieroglyphics, along with plenty of creatures such as mummies and skeletons to battle. The Abandoned Subway is a gloomy underground map full of creatures waiting to attack those brave enough to venture in. The new areas are great for hunting and leveling, and will allow players to experience the "Monster Survival" feature, as well as some nice extras. Players who manage to clear all stages in one of the new maps will be rewarded with bonus maps, medals, and buffs. The content will be introduced to MapleStory soon.
Nexon bringing Poptag to North America
Hey, you guys know about Nexon America, yeah? The people who brought us MapleStory and Dungeon Fighter Online among many other titles. Well, they've announced that Poptag is coming stateside, which is sort of Bomberman only fully online and with water balloons... So, it's definitely got a specific "thing" going on. While throwing water filled balloons may not quite match up to tossing explosives, the game goes for a fast paced arcade style that should still appeal to people looking for that sort of experience albeit with cutesy water balloon throwing characters. And yes, this will be a free-to-play title with an item store, but that being Nexon's only business model thus far should've had you guessing as much already. But hey! The game also features a "sweetie" system that actually allows players to marry one another in-game proper -- aww. Poptag is scheduled to be released sometime during the first half of 2010, so if you find yourself interested in playing, keep on the lookout.
MapleStory releases television promotion
If you're pondering some last minute holiday gifts for the younger set, a gift of Nexon cash may be a welcome pre-emptive strike. MapleStory is hitting the television airwaves this season with a new holiday promotional commercial. The commercial -- which is oh-so-conveniently included here -- showcases MapleStory's brand new update. The Aran update added a fair amount of new content, introducing a new and storyline and namesake warrior class, the Aran. The new content also added a brand new start-up tutorial intended to give players "an easier and immersive entry into the world of MapleStory," so Nexon seems to be planning on an inrush of new players for their long-running game. The commercial is scheduled to run on Disney XD, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Nickelodeon, and Teen Nick. It began yesterday and will continue showing until January 3rd. Follow along after the jump for a firsthand look at the new MapleStory commercial.
New Aran class fights gigantic beast in this MapleStory trailer
Nexon has released a video featuring their new Aran characters in MapleStory. In the video they fight a Balrog, although this isn't the exact beast most of you will remember from Tolkien's books, it's a close proximity... Okay, who are we kidding? This Balrog looks like a giant hairy beast with armor. At least it's more frightening than that cute kitty in the image above. Nexon says, "The Balrog Party Quest is available for players with characters level 50, up to 120, and rewards the victors with formidable prizes like the Chaos Scrolls and White Scrolls." which to us, says you've basically got to put a hefty amount of time into playing before you'll even see this guy. However, the real focus of the video -- at least in our minds -- is new polearm wielding Aran characters whooping butt, so to speak. So if you're curious to see what this is all about, take a gander at the video below the cut.
Nexon plans new content for MapleStory
Nexon America is planning a new content expansion for MapleStory, scheduled to launch in December. The story of Aran represents a new class of players for MapleStory, and tells of five legendary heroes who fought the Black Mage years ago. One of those heroes was Aran: "After being cursed by the Black Mage and spending hundreds of years trapped inside ice, Aran woke up one day as an average man -- no powers and no memory of his past." The story is rounded out by Lilin and Tru. Lilin is a young girl, the lone member of her clan who still believes in the prophecy that says the five heroes will be revived someday. She remained behind, waiting for their return after the rest of her clan had moved on. Tru is an information dealer and member of Lilin's clan who helps her as much as he can, even though he moved on with the rest of the clan. More information on the new content can be found here, and a teaser video of the new content can be seen after the jump.
Nexon announces MapleStory news and events
Nexon is bringing plenty of news from the land of MapleStory lately, from new player perks to holiday events to pets. For starters, those venturing into MapleStory for the first time will enjoy the First Job event. Players now have five classes to choose from (Thief, Pirate, Magician, Bowman, and Warrior), each with its own quest line and boss. New players and experienced players alike will enjoy the cash back event, running from now until November 29th. Players will earn 10-15% back, depending on what they spend. Looking for something to spend all this cash on? If you're a pet lover, permanent pets will be available in the shop for a limited time -- you can choose from a Kino, a White Tiger, or a Mini Yeti. Finally, Thanksgiving is approaching in MapleStory and the turkeys there aren't the kind that are served with stuffing and cranberry sauce. These turkeys come in the form of invading "turkey commandos" that you will attack in the hopes that they will drop their eyes. Turkey Commando Eyes can be given to Professor Foxwit in exchange for mesos, so happy hunting! Check out the official site for all the information on the upcoming events.
Nexon America's financials continue to impress in Q3
We reported back in August that Nexon America had begun the third Quarter of 2009 with a very solid July; their revenue for the month grew 35% over the numbers for July 2008. Now that Q3 is over, they are happily touting some additional (and still impressive) figures. August 2009 beat out last year's August revenues by 32%, and September hit a lofty 44% growth in revenues compared to the same time in 2008. Overall, Nexon America's third quarter revenue grew 36% compared to Q3 2008.Nexon America's CEO David Kim pointed out that this success comes without the bump that releasing a new game often brings: "Increasing our revenues without having added any new games to the company's portfolio for more than a year tells me that we are on the right track. Dungeon Fighter Online is just ramping up, so no revenues generated by that game are reflected in the outstanding third quarter we've had.Dungeon Fighter Online is still in open beta, but an item mall has just been launched for the game. We can only imagine that Nexon's growth will continue when these revenues begin to show up on future financial reports.
Europe gets a MapleStory Oktoberfest
North Americans, we've been had. MapleStory Europe is getting a crazy drunken Oktoberfest with monsters, parties, and beer.... wait a minute, non-alcoholic beer?! Oh, right, it's MapleStory...In any case, European MapleStory players can look forward to a giant beer tent filled with "drunk" monsters (unless non-alcoholic beer sends them into a woozy state -- they are monsters after all, so who knows) and a brand new map featuring a new PvP play mode. The Ariant map, home of the Ariant Coliseum challenge, pits players against one another in capturing monsters "alive" before the other player does the same.Lastly, one final event will have monsters dropping special boxes filled with rare items for the duration of its run in October. These boxes, however, can only be opened with keys bought from the item shop, which means you're going to have to spend a little coin to enjoy this final event.The MapleStory European only Oktoberfest (curse you Europe, we like Oktoberfest too) will be running from now until October 7th. (*Hears the sound of the Europe crowd rejoicing at NA's lack of Oktoberfest.*)
