Maple Story

From FAS Virtual Worlds Almanac

Maple Story
Developer(s)	Wizet
URL	http://www.maplestory.com/
Software license	Proprietary
Status	Active
Platform	PC
Type	MMORPG
Minimum Subscription Cost	Free Subscription
Free Trial	Yes
Year released	2003
Avatar-based	Yes
Multiuser	Yes
Interactive	Yes
Immediate	Yes
Persistent	Yes

Use and Demographics
Primary use(s)	Community, Gaming
Type	MMORPG
Active users	50 million
Target Audience(s)	Children, Teenagers, Adults
Language(s)	Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish

Features

Graphical and Content Features

Communication

Management and Privacy

MapleStory (메이플스토리) is a free-of-charge, 2D, side-scrolling massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by the South Korean company Wizet. Several versions of the game are available for specific countries or regions, and each is published by various companies such as Wizet and Nexon. Although playing the game is free, character appearances and gameplay enhancements can be purchased from the "Cash Shop" using real money. MapleStory has a combined total of over 50 million subscriber accounts in all of its versions.^[1][2] MapleStory North America (Global), for players mainly in North America and outside of East Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe, has over three million players.^[1]

In the game, players travel the "Maple World", defeating monsters and developing their character's skills and abilities as is typical in role-playing games. Players can interact with others in many ways, such as through Instant messaging, trading, and playing minigames. Groups of players can band together in parties to hunt monsters and share the rewards. Players can also join a Clan guild to interact more easily with each other.

Contents 1 Screenshots 2 Gameplay 2.1 Characters 2.2 Guilds 2.3 Economy 2.4 World 3 Revenue and game population 4 In other media 5 Critical reception 6 In the News 7 References 8 External Links 9 Scholarly Research

Screenshots

Gameplay

Like most MMORPGs, gameplay centers on venturing into dungeons and combatting monsters in real-time. The players combat monsters and complete quests, in the process acquiring in-game currency called "Mesos", experience points (EXP), and various items. Players can kill monsters alone, or they can form a party with up to six total characters. Loot is shared based on relative damage and level of characters in the party, more being awarded to the higher-level members. MapleStory's 2D scrolling viewpoint more closely resembles a platform game rather than the typical 3D computer graphics environment or top-down perspective of other games, such as Guild Wars or Mu Online. The Computer controls for the game are executed using the computer keyboard and mouse. The keyboard is used for many game functions, and much of it can be rearranged to suit user's needs. The mouse is mainly used to trigger non-player characters and manipulate items.

MapleStory characters exist in "worlds" or "servers." Players are allowed to create multiple characters in each world. Each world, similar in content between each other in the same version, is split into at most twenty channels, among which characters are allowed to freely switch.^[3] The ability to transfer entire characters between worlds was added in December 2007 to GlobalMS. However, this feature has restrictions — transfer of mesos is limited to 1 million, and players cannot transfer to the newest world.

Characters

New players are sent to Maple Island, a floating island specifically designed to be beginner-friendly. Unlike in many other MMORPGs, players in MapleStory cannot choose a character job when they create a character. Rather, every character starts with the "Beginner" job. When characters meet certain requirements, they can complete the first job advancement and become a Warrior, Magician, Bowman, Pirate, or a Thief. Further class progression is only allowed within the scope of the first class advancement chosen. There are four class advancements available progressingly through out the game.

In addition to combat statistics, characters have "Fame". Although publicized by the game's creators, fame serves little practical purpose besides fulfilling some quest and equipment requirements. Once characters reach level 15, they are able to raise or drop the fame of any other character once per day. A character cannot raise or drop the same character's fame more than once per month. The maximum amount of fame a character may receive is 30,000. A ranking feature, available in certain versions of MapleStory, keeps track of players that are performing well in total ranking, job ranking, world ranking and fame ranking. Rank information is available from the region website of the player and can also be found in-game.

Guilds

Players can form Guilds^[4] with other players. Guild creation costs a certain amount of Mesos, depending on the version being played. Guild extensions and emblems, which have separate costs, are also available. The purpose of a guild is to be able to find and chat with others more easily, bond with other players, promote cooperation, and battle using teamwork. Members have their guild's name listed under their character name along with the guild's emblem, if applicable.

Economy

Game items can be acquired from monster drops, purchased from other characters or shops, or obtained as rewards for completing a quest. These items are used for various purposes. Players are also able to trade items, but higher value transactions attract a virtual tax.

Since MapleStory is free, the developers introduced the Cash Shop to generate revenue. This is a virtual shop where players can buy items using real money, so called microtransactions.^[5] Most Cash Shop items expire after a certain period of time. Pets, modeled after animals such as monkeys, dogs, cats, bunnies, pandas, and pigs, follow the owner around and can be equipped to pick up spoils dropped by enemies.^[6]

The Free Market is a place set aside for people who wish to sell their items amongst other players. Miniature shops can be set up in this area, allowing people to browse their stock. Store permits, which are required to set up a shop, are only available through the Cash Shop. There are two types of store permits: a standard store, which requires the presence of the player, and the hired merchant which does not require the presence of the player but requires additional cash shop money to use this feature. The hired merchant store is only available in time periods of 24 hours, one week, or two weeks. Conversely, the standard store lasts ninety days but only works with the presence of the user. One can meet with players located in other towns, provided the town contains a Free Market entrance. However, one cannot use the Free Market to travel between towns.

Real money trading between players is prohibited in MapleStory, and results in a ban. This includes trading mesos (ingame currency) with NX Cash Items (items bought with real money).

World

There are four main continents common to all versions in the MapleStory world: Maple Island, Victoria Island, Ossyria and Masteria. Maple Island is where every new player begins the game. The beginner-friendly island features low leveled monsters and short tutorial quests to introduce players to different aspects of gameplay. Once a player leaves the island, they are unable to return to it. Victoria Island is where players arrive after leaving Maple Island. The island has eight cities, and is where Beginners will upgrade to their first class. Ossyria is currently divided into seven distinct regions with varying environments: El Nath Mountains, Ludus Lake, Aqua Road, Minar Forest, Mu Lung Garden, Nihal Desert and Temple of Time. Masteria is a new continent that is believed to be off the coast of Victoria Island. There are only three towns on this continent: New Leaf City, the Prendergast Mansion and Crimsonwood Keep.^[7] World Tour regions can be reached by talking to Spinel the World Tour Guide, located in almost every town in Victoria and Ossyria. The World Tour consists of additional continents that are based on real life countries. There are currently four world tour continents: Zipangu, China, Formosa, and Siam.^[8] The newest area is Singapore and Malaysia.^[9]Currently, there are no regional maps for any of the world tour continents.

Revenue and game population

As of February 2006, Wizet has generated 200 million USD from the game service in South Korea. Wizet received 110 million USD for licensing the games to other parts of the world.

Game population (as of February 2006):^[10][11]

• Korea since 2002, 200 thousand subscribers (concurrent users), 14 million subscribers (total)
• Japan since November 2003, 9 million subscribers
• China since December 2004, 25 million subscribers
• Taiwan since July 2005, 3.5 million subscribers
• Thailand since August 2005, 550 thousand subscribers
• South East Asia (mostly Singapore and Malaysia) since June 2005, 550 thousand subscribers
• North America (Global) since May 2005, 3.5 million subscribers

The statistics did not consider that players can have multiple accounts, but it also did not state if multiple accounts were not counted. Therefore, the actual number of players could be less than the announced statistics.

In other media

In 2006, an upcoming MapleStory game for the Nintendo DS was announced, titled MapleStory DS. Unlike the PC versions, the DS game will be a single-player action role-playing game. The game has been repeatedly delayed.

An MapleStory (anime)|anime TV series based on this game began airing on TV Tokyo on October 7, 2007.^[12]

MapleGlobal released its own trading card game on November 6, 2007.^[13] In conjunction with Wizards of the Coast, the release is available in two parts: a starter pack box with a CD case containing 32 cards, two character cards, one booster pack, and game rules; and a CD containing the software for the online version and a card checklist. KoreaMS and JapanMS have since released similar Trading Card Games.

Critical reception

In a brief review of the game, IGN praised the game's accessibility and colorful art direction, while questioning the game's slow pace.^[2] Players often criticize the game for the need for constant " grinding", or repetitive tasks done to level up. At higher levels, it can take up to a month before a player can level once, depending on how often the user plays.

In the News

A KTTV investigative report showed that the game could be addicting and costly, citing cases related solely to MapleStory where children stole their parents' credit cards or PayPal accounts to buy Nexon cash.^[14]

In October 2008, The Register reported that a 43 year old Japanese woman was jailed for illegally accessing her virtual husband's online account for the game, and deleting his character in May 2008. When apprehended, the woman said her reason for doing so was because her online husband divorced her.^[15] When the man had realized his online character had been deleted, he proceeded to call the police. The woman was apprehended by the authorities and jailed for illegally accessing a computer, and manipulating on-line data. She could be facing a five year prison sentence or a fine of up to $5,000. The woman was quoted as saying, "I was suddenly divorced, without a word of warning. That made me so angry.”^[16]

References

External Links

Official game websites

• MapleStory International portal - Official MapleStory website
• Official MapleStory trading card website
• North America (Global) MapleStory site - MapleStory North America (Global)
• Europe MapleStory site - MapleStory Europe
• MapleStory SEA - MapleStory SEA (South East Asia)

Informational fansites

• Hidden Street - A library of game information, such as quest guides. MapleNA (Global) and MapleSEA.
• MapleTip - Includes MapleWiki, a library of game information, guides, and a help forum. GlobalMS (NA), MapleSEA and JapanMS.

Scholarly Research