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MapleStory

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MapleStory
File:MapleStory.png
Developer(s)Wizet
Publisher(s)Wizet, Nexon, Shanda, AsiaSoft, NXGames, and Gamania
Platform(s)Windows 98/ME/2K/XP
Release2002, 2003, 2004 and, 2005
Genre(s)MMORPG
Mode(s)MMO

MapleStory (Korean:메이플 스토리) is a free, two-dimensional, side-scrolling online game developed by the Korean company Wizet. It is published by various companies, such as Nexon (NexonKorea & NexonJapan), NXGames, Shanda, AsiaSoft, and Gamania. Although gameplay is free, many player appearances and gameplay enhancements can be purchased from the "Cash Shop" with actual currency. Several versions of the game are available for specific countries or regions, each of which has its own set of worlds. MapleStory has a total of over 50 million players in all of its many versions. MapleStory Global, for players mainly outside of East Asia and Southeast Asia, has about one million players[1].

In the game, players defend the "Maple World" from monsters, as in a typical role-playing game (a.k.a. "RPG"). Players can interact with others in many ways, such as through chatting, trading and playing minigames. Groups of players can ally together in "parties" to hunt monsters and share the rewards or they can band together under a common name in a guild.



Unique gameplay features

Although a purely two-dimensional game lacking certain features found in other MMORPGs, MapleStory has many features which set it apart from other online games. For example, by pressing certain keys, a player can have their character temporarily display various emotions viewable by other players; some emotions showcase a confused or angry expression, while others show happiness or sadness.


Minigames

There are three minigames that can be played with up to three MapleStory characters. They are called Omok, Match Cards, and Pachinko. Playing minigames costs 100 mesos per game.

Omok is a remake of a Japanese game named "Gomoku". Omok and Gomuku are akin to tic-tac-toe, except players must instead get five "stones" in a row, rather than only three. Players can not make two unblocked rows of three stones in one move.

Match Cards is also known as the game "Concentration". Match cards games can be opened in grids of 3x4, 4x5, and 5x6 cards. The flip side of the cards contain images of MapleStory monsters, which players take turn matching.

Pachinko is a mini-game exclusive to jMS. Cash Shop-purcashed Pachinko balls (coins) are required in order to play. The player must be in a Pachinko store (located in Kerning City, Shouwa Town, and Ludibrium) to play the game. In order to win, one needs to try to get the Pachinko balls in a mushroom hole below a slot. Once it is in, the slot will start. Sometimes an angel or a lady will try to help the player move the monsters in the slot. There are also winnable prizes if the player obtained a set amount of balls.

Events

During certain days, the GMs (Game Masters) host special events in which any user is capable of participating, given they are online and at a certain map at a certain time. Participants are rewarded with items such as an Event Trophy and a Devil's Scroll (which requires the player to decode it through an NPC (Non-Playable Character) to get a Magic Box and then open it at another NPC to receive a random prize).

Coconut Harvest

Participants are divided into two teams, Team Maple and Team Story. The team which harvests the most coconuts in the set amount of time wins.

Find the Jewel

The goal of this event is to find maps hidden in various rooms to find a map. Players return the map to Vikan to complete it.

MapleStory Physical Fitness Challenge (a.k.a. Hyperdash)

A jump quest with four levels; players must finish the quest within 15 minutes to complete the event without using haste or teleport.

OX Quiz and Minigame Challenge

The OX Quiz consists of correctly answering question asked by a GM. Once players answers them correctly, they are teleported to the Minigame Challenge room, where they compete in minigames. The winner goes on to the next level of the tournament, competing against players in (presumably) steadily increasing skill.

Ola Ola

Ola Ola takes place in a maze set in a forest with three maps. The goal of this event is to reach the end within 4 minutes. At the top of each map there are a series of portals which may bring players to the next map, bring them back to the beginning of the current map, or fail to do anything whatsoever. In Ola Ola, the player is not able to jump, haste, teleport, et cetera.

Snowball

Players are divided into two teams, Team Maple and Team Story. The goal is to push a giant snowball to the end of the stage before the other team by attacking it. The players can also attack a snowman which prevents the other team from pushing the snowball.

Other events include Christmas tree events, wedding events, drawing events and quest events; for example, players might be required to find an item and return it to the event quest NPC or GM.


Controls

File:MSControls.jpg
The original set of controls in MapleStory Global (see link for clearer picture).

The Controls for the game are operated using a computer keyboard and mouse or similar. Some of the controls are capable of being rearranged by the user, to adapt to their preference. As an example, the standard setting to use the attack command is with the "control" or "ctrl" button, although it differentiates for the users that rearranged that setting. However, certain controls are fixed, and cannot be modified by the player. For example, the movement keys are fixed as the directional arrows. This has led to some complaint from players who are used to the more traditional, or at least comfortable, WASD configuration for movement.

Game issues

Main article: MapleStory Game Issues

As with most MMORPGs, there are bugs in the game, and people who exploit them. There are also many third party programs created to simplify gameplay for players, which the GMs believe to make the game unfair for other players. Thus, the use of third party programs is against the rules, and users who take advantage of them are frequently banned from the game. To combat these programs, various security measures have been implemented such as GameGuard and a PIN requirement.

Scamming is also common. Scammers use a variety of methods to mislead other players into giving them mesos, items, or NX Cash.

There is also an occasional misspelled word.

Nintendo DS version

Nintendo DS version of the game is currently under development, with Korean release date set on late 2006 or early 2007. Maple Story DS will be the second Nintendo DS game developed by a Korean company. [2] [3]

Notes

  • Most information obtained from those given during the course of gameplay.
  1. ^ MapleStory statistics
  2. ^ http://www.etnews.co.kr/news/detail.html?id=200605110210 MapleStory on the Nintendo DS
  3. ^ http://english.etnews.co.kr/news/detail.html?id=200605120008 English Version of MapleStory on Nintendo DS
Wikibooks has more on the topic of: MapleStory
Official websites
MapleStory fansites
  • Sleepywood - Message board with an extensive trading forum [GlobalMS].
  • Happy Mapling - Library of game information and a helpful community [GlobalMS].
  • Sauna - Library of information taken directly from game client [GlobalMS].
  • Hidden Street - Library of game information [GlobalMS & MapleSEA].
  • BasilMarket - Item auctioning website and forums [GlobalMS & MapleSEA].
  • Mapletip - Library of information with unique featues such as a MapleWiki[GlobalMS & MapleSEA].
  • A Drop of Maple - Library of game information [JapanMS].
  • Omega Sector - Library of information taken directly from the game client [JapanMS].
  • Extreme - Library of game information & MS background music [JapanMS].
  • Toontowncentral Forums - MS Section - Active MapleStory community with guides.
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