Exclusive Interview with the Maple Team
The MapleGlobal Maple Team was kind enough to sit down and answer a few questions that you, the MapleStory community, submitted.
Maple News Network Q&A
Q: What was the inspiration behind Jett and will we be seeing more exclusive content in the near future? MishMihile of MardiaWe
A: We wanted to create a GMS-exclusive character that hasn’t been created before. We created Jett according to the general storyline that Jett was a bounty hunter who was framed for a terrible crime and as a result, became a wanted criminal herself. With this background story and character development, we wanted to provide an entertaining story to follow that also sparked the desire to know more about her and help her redeem her reputation. We love creating exclusive content for our Global MapleStory players, but because it takes so much time and resources, our decision to do so in the future depends on how players respond to Jett.
Q: What inspired the destruction of Masteria during the Alien Invasion and will we be seeing a “revamp” of Masteria? If so, what can we expect? Loose of Windia
A: Masteria has typically been known as a world that was fairly free from the Black Mage’s threats. However, we wanted something scarier than the Black Mage to spice things up in Masteria. With this thought in mind, we decided that aliens would threaten Masteria. To achieve their goals, aliens will become much more hostile. On the other hand, Maple World will also advance further with the aliens’ new technology. Thus, you can expect the Alien threat on Masteria to continue.
Q: Will we ever see the return of a new and improved Sharenian Guild Quest? Spadow of Culverin
A: We are currently not preparing for guild quest revamp.
Q: Are there plans to expand the Cash Trading Feature to allow users to trade all cash shop items like in other MapleStory versions in the future? SwordStaker of Scania
A: There are no definite plans to introduce this at this time, but we are always testing out various options and don’t want to rule anything out.
Q: Is the North American version of MapleStory still called ‘MapleGlobal’ or ‘GMS’ as many users still refer to it as or has it assumed another name? Was the original plan for MapleGlobal to be a ‘global version’ as the name implies, or just strictly North American? Do you feel that the different versions of MapleStory have spread the player base too thin? Revengesader of Scania
A: The version of MapleStory serviced by Nexon America is sometimes referred to as “Global MapleStory” (GMS) or “MapleGlobal” because we service regions other than just the North American region. The reason we have different versions of MapleStory around the world is to provide the most immersive and engaging gaming experience to all of our players. Each version is localized to suit the region it services, meaning it is translated into the region’s language and is infused with various aspects of the different cultures from the countries we service. This also allows us to customize each version of the game with slight variations to make it that much more enjoyable to our different audiences.
Q: The exclusive cash shop inventories present in many different classes are unpopular among many maplers. Are there any plans for a universal/shared cash shop inventory or storage system? xSarina of Broa
A: We are not planning to create a universal/unified Cash Inventory at the moment. However, we will thoroughly examine the advantages and disadvantages that may result and review future plans.
Q: Will we be seeing more transparency and interaction in the future with players and fan sites? ManaSpiral of El Nido
A: Our players and our fans are very important to us and we do our best to stay connected. Just last month, we hosted a fan site and blog event where we invited some of our bloggers and fan sites out to our Nexon America offices to meet the MapleStory team, take a tour of the office and participate in some very cool brainstorming sessions. To end the weekend events, Nexon America had a small get together with the bloggers, fan sites, and fans. It was a huge success and we hope to have more events that include our players and fans in the future.
Q: When the Cash Shop was implemented in October 2005, a promise was made to the community that users who chose to purchase NX Cash would never be given an unfair advantage over those who did not, a promise that many maplers feel has been broken. Knowing this, would Nexon consider leveling the playing field by re-evaluating Cash Shop items like miracle cubes and the unfair advantages many other cash items give players as well as other features like the potential item system? KhainiWest of Khaini and MrChefBandit of Bera
A: The development team works hard to create a balanced and fun environment in MapleStory for our players to enjoy. Although there are items that can only be purchased, we also provide opportunities for players to obtain items and benefits through various events and in-game promotions. Moving forward, we’ll turn our ears to our players even more and do our best to implement more of their suggestions.
Q: It is extremely easy to obtain large amounts of mesos for only a few dollars through meso websites that are often seen advertising in the Free Market in every world. That, along with the increased amount of duped or glitched items obtained by hackers, has made it difficult for the average ‘legit’ mapler to compete. What is Nexon doing to make legitimacy a more attractive option for maplers new and old so that they don’t feel the need to hack or use illegal means to obtain mesos, items, and NX cash to play the game enjoyably and competitively? Iweenana of Demethos
A: We are constantly working hard to level the fields in terms of mesos and the Free Market economy in many areas of MapleStory. It’s an ongoing battle against those who want to ruin the overall experience in the game and many of our teams are doing what they can to put a stop to such unfair activities. Our Legal team tracks and shuts down gold sites that sell illegally obtained mesos. In addition, our Fraud team tracks gold farmer accounts and confiscates mesos that would’ve inflated the prices of items in Free Market. These teams are dedicated to improving the game experience and preventing uncontrolled market inflation.
In terms of duped items, we’ve been proactively chasing down said items and removing them in batches. (Examples of this can be found at: http://maplestory.nexon.net/News/News.aspx?boardNo=101&contentNo=00Dtt.) With the help of our developers, the Nexon America MapleStory team gathers information from player reports and data to determine what kind of action is needed for the health of the game. We take many factors into consideration when we remove items or mesos in large scale, and we look for creative and effective ways to prevent cheaters from gaining an advantage over the legitimate players.
The MapleStory team is very aware that there is much more work to be done, and we are always looking for player feedback and suggestions to help us keep up the health of the game.
Thank you for your questions!
Comment and let us know what you think of the interview below!
Posted on August 17, 2012, in General MapleStory, MapleGlobal News, Nexon and tagged GMS, Interview, maple, Maple Team, MapleGlobal, MapleStory, MS, Nexon, Nexon America. Bookmark the permalink. 12 Comments.
Not much needs to be said aside from the fact that the answers varied between vague and generic to “lolable”. The Jett answer being the most “lolable. However, one cannot expect much as nexon has to be this way. They dont want to openly state what really is going through their minds (“how can we make the most money with the least amount of effort”)
The only question with a decent answer, is the one regarding duping, but the only problem is that they havent deleted much of anything in several months (the link is from May), so I doubt they’ll go after any more items any time soon.
Agreed.
I hate those one-line answers. For The Sharenian Guild Quest, they could have at least comforted us by being open to the possibility of its return. Even acknowledging that players enjoyed it would have made me felt better. The second last question is the one I was really looking for an answer to. What bugs me is that their response almost seems to suggest they think it’s reasonably balanced.
I don’t think a bit more transparency could hurt Nexon, but apparently, they beg to differ.
1st Q: Making resources is tough after all, and the final results weren’t a bit satisfying at all. If only Jett wasn’t a complete copy of rehashed post-revamp Corsair/BUccaneer skills with a flexible Merecedes jump, and added in some unique original skills with newer mechanics that help benefit our gameplay style overall, hardcore fans would actually be okay over Jett. I know some people liked it and has even made Jetts their main characters, but I’ve seen more people invest in time for Phantoms than Jetts. I think you should stick with making new map/world content in the future, even thoguh new Masteria is crap with cheesy cutscenes, boring quests and aliens that grant more exp than all the KMS monsters lvl 90 – 130, at least it’s not a ripoff.
2nd Q: Something scarier than Black Mages and you chose aliens as the bigger threat? Please. Their henchmen are idiots with stupid dialouge and a boss that’s easy to defeat within seconds. What a let-down.
3rd Q: Well, okay…
4th Q: >_>
5th Q: I heard rumors that Aswan will not be nerfed like in KMS, but gaining Honor EXP outside America is a pain. I hope you do make so exp applies at all times. I like how you removed the PvP restrictions, I hope you strike lightning twice.
6th Q: Fine, whatever.
7th Q: Well, I’m slighthy happy will more interaction with meetings and tours, but I think this question is talking about interaction between players IN-GAME, liking GMs not hiding and actually talking to players like human beings. The GM notices with hackers being banned is a good step, the forums moderators replying to bugs/glitches in the forums is another good step, but we like to see more progression like this in-game.
8th Q: This is why the 4th question regarding trading NX items to non-NX players is asked. The option is RIGHT THERE. Either come up with a plan to balance the strangth of ALL players without paying NX SOON, or open the cash item trade system already.
9th Q: Okay.
we also provide opportunities for players to obtain items and benefits through various events and in-game promotions.
That’s utter crap. When you actually provide a means to wipe potential in game, I’ll change my opinion. Right now you can buy all kinds of scrolls and cubes to win in this game.
They ocassionally, maybe once every 8 months give you a 100% potential scroll. You’re out of luck on your rare gear if you get a bad set of stats.
I do not understand how players are okay with this– and pay out of the ear to just wrap up one piece of equipment to play content that doesn’t even work 80% of the time.
I am referring to bosses, by the way and I am level 200.
Potential was the worst thing to happen to this game.
Either tweak the system to benefit all players or make it streamlined so that users can trade for these services.
As it is I think people don’t complain since you can pay in mesos to get something different through the free market– which is another horrendous mess.
Finally they answer the questions, albeit hald-assedly. I’m a bit surprised that my question (the last one) was answered with such length. I like how they are so “up to it” in deleting duped/generated gear but they are still missing the obvious 2x+ attack shoes, 2x+ raccoon masks, etc (the ones with hackers’ names on them). Nice little promises, but you haven’t told me anything I didn’t know already.. and what you’ve been doing is nowhere near good enough (thanks for acknowledging that Nexon).
Oh, there’s also duped ele staves (tons were duped), and duped GMs/etc scrolls. shouldn’t have been made untradable but should’ve been deleted instead. Get your heads out of your asses Nexon..
Er, I actually was excited for the responses Nexon was going to answer but now… it’s just a killjoy. :/
i think that nexon should bring back all kinds of events that happened in the past unwelcomed guest/ random makeover event/ cake vs pie / holiday events that was good bring those back make more money NUFF SAID
Q: 2005 Cash Shop implemented, you promised not to give players who paid for NX an in-game advantage, Why do you continue to give NX purchasers huge advantages?
A:Uhhh we implement items through events for you non buyers.
The people who bought nx cubes and other BS that makes them BETTER also have access to the SAME items you release during events? So how would that make the people who don’t buy your NX up to par with people who pay to win? Nexon youre SCUM!
It’s true that Wizet had made the promise and Nexon gobbled it up,
but it’s not a manipulated history that it impliedly vomited it.
As we all know, it’s Nexon. That accounts for everything.
This is all wrong. In 2005 that promise was made and shortly thereafter NEVER kept again. There are absolutely no if ands or buts about it!