NxProse: Tuesday, June 26th, 2007 Wrote:In response to questions about New Leaf City...

... New Leaf City is NOT Leafre. Two completely different areas. We'll get further in detail as we go along.

How long has New Leaf City been in the works?

NLC has been in development for a while. This is not just something quick and dirty, it's an area that will grow and expand. We have some different features planned for the areas as well. We're not looking at it as "Only level X can train here", it's being developed so everyone will eventually be able to enjoy the area and train. This includes our high-level population.

To address a few of the other questions:

will we get NLC before or after showa?

1) Can't really comment on this one.

is there a gach machine there?

2) You'll find out when it opens...

is there any skin doctor, eye doctor, hair stylist, etc?

3) Yes to all those.

Question 1: Will the town include a Party Quest?

What an interesting question. I'll leave this one for a later date.

Question 2: Will the town include a boss and if so what kind (mushmom type, balrog type, zakum type, etc)?

This is trickier to answer, but I will say this. I grew up in Brooklyn and Manhattan. I've heard plenty of urban legends. So, you'll have to wait and see for this one...

Question 3: How will we access the town? I am guessing the World Tour but can you can confirm this?

I won't say how yet, but it isn't the World Tour.

Question 4: Will there be any user created hairs in the town? I know some people sent them in for the weapon design contest that I would like to see in the game ^.^

Heh, not exactly. =)

What kind of area will it be?

Well, ask yourself what's in a city, that's a good starting point. =)

so... like a Kerning City type of City or like Shanghai from MapleSEA (seen it from screenshots)

Well, there isn't really a city that exists like it in MapleStory to compare it to. Take from that what you will. =)

Have the drop lists been finalized?

We'll go into further details about this a little later.

Will the "continent" take us through different periods of time as well as different parts of the earth?

Hmm. I'll say that we'll revisit this. I don't want to go into extreme details, because we want everyone to discover what's there. But I can say that I'm a big fan of secrets and puzzles. And when you're a mid-level to advanced player, your mind should be challenged as well as your multitude of skills.

As a seperate point, I'm hoping that someone figures out how to get those capes from the Amorian Party Quest...

What will the monsters be off of, like will there be a slum-like area with ganger-like monsters, pitbulls, and the such?

Slum-like area? Not quite. The monster concepts are somewhat different than what's normally seen. They retain humor while expressing something new. Best I can do right now. =)

ahem, like i said before, will there be monsters that are COMPLETELY new.. if you don't answer this time i give up

Heh, I answered this about as clear as I could. Yes.

I know you're saying Nexon hasn't forgotten the higher-leveled players in terms of monsters and maps, but how about quests? (Worth doing, preferably)

Quests either. High-level content is more of a challenge, but rewarding, because we can make them harder. This doesn't necessarily mean drop rate, there's a few things we're going to implement and see if they work for you guys. I'm sure you'll let us know either way =).

-Is NLC gonna be loaded with pop culture references like some of Taiwan's exclusive maps?

Heh, hopefully, you'll see some stuff there that'll make you chuckle. The pop culture references are always fun, so we always do our best to work of this in.

If this isn't going to join the world tour, will we contribute something to the world tour for other versions to enjoy?

Also, is this related to Amoria in anyway (Like perhaps how to get there, or so on.)?

For your first question, details like that are worked out a lot later. And it has no direct relation to Amoria, as in, it's not how you get there or anything like that.

Will NLC be out this year or in 2008?

We don't give exact release dates, so you'll just have to wait and see.

Will you make the monsters plausable to train on... please? Like... not for 2% an hour at 10x...

We'll do our best too, yes. In particular, we're interested in seeing how much you guys can actually handle at once. I don't necessarily mean Zakum style. I grew up playing Gunstar Heroes, Vectorman, Donkey Kong Country, the Marios and Sonics, etc, where you combined platforming, dodging and attacking to win. The last portion of the Amorian Party Quest has some of that, and its' been well-received, so maybe we'll try a few more stages like that in the future.

Do you have any concept art of the place that you'd be willing to release any time soon?

We're talking about it, nothing finalized yet though. When we make a decision, you'll know =).

I'm curious as to your allusion to the Amoria capes. Any hints on how we can get a hold of those?

Hmm. Well, I can say there is a method to it, but you have to figure it out. That's part of the fun.
I wish you luck. And as a side note, good job with the Guide.

what else will Nexon be focusing on aside from new land?

Well, as Stoveboy said, we have quite a few things we're planning, so stay tuned.

Is Cody's dream for a theme park going to be honored in any way, shape, or form?

Yes.

I would like to know if you have a maple story character and if so what lvl, job, and world do you play in? XD

I have quite a few, highest being the 91 I/L Mage and the lowest being a Level 7 Beginner. I like to keep a few characters low level to gauge difficulty for new players.

I know it's difficult, but will you try to make content that requires every class to work together?

It's tricky. Something like this would have to be planned out fairly far in advance. Not saying it won't happen, but we have a lot on our plate the coming months.


I hope there's a gigantic alligator boss in the sewers, obviously you can't reveal anything but I've always been attracted to the gloom and doom of a sewer environment, with something dripping in the darkness.

I've beaten Resident Evil 2 many, many times. The darkness in particular plays well in that stage...

And will there be new cool pots and/or armors and/or weapons available in New Leaf City that are not available in other places?

Armor is not on the table at this time, but potions are (stuff like class-specific ones). Weapons plays into something else, so I'll go into more details about that a bit later.

Seeing that you (NxProse) personally play an I/L Mage, I as a White Knight hope that elemental weakness has been thoroughly considered for the monsters (especially the high leveled monsters) in New Leaf City. Myself and many other I/L and F/P mages have felt limited in the past in regards to variety of training grounds.

We'll be balancing them as best we can, I understand what you mean.

I also was wondering if weapon design would ever be revisited. More specifically, I mean the damage calculations affected by the swing/stab (3:2 ratio with stabs doing significantly less damage) of axes and blunt weapons versus the steadier and higher average of swords, which is not affected by swing/stab.

This is not on the table at this time, our focus is mainly new gameplay opportunities. We're comfortable with knowing you know how to play effectively, and would rather throw a different wrench that requires adaptation of your skill set to emerge victorious. As a reference, God of War has a Treasure hunt based entirely on sound. Something along those lines would interesting, where aural or visual observation is required to progress to another stage. Something like Ludi Stage 8, or the Twisted Switcher for the Amoria PQ with an added Jump Quest component, where two people can only perform the jump quest when the sequence on the ground is in the correct order, with party members on the ground getting the combo right, one person providing cover, and the party leader going for the key to get everyone to the next stage. All while being attacked at different intervals, of course =).

Stuff like that. Now just so everyone doesn't go overboard, the above is just an example, and doesn't exist. But that's the kind of stuff we'd like to experiment with. Because, in essence, training and playing with your friends is one of the best parts about our game (or any game for that matter), and encouraging everyone to work together builds community. And it would be a lot of fun. At least we hope so.

NxProse: Tuesday, June 26th, 2007 Wrote:And will there be new cool pots and/or armors and/or weapons available in New Leaf City that are not available in other places?

Armor is not on the table at this time, but potions are (stuff like class-specific ones). Weapons plays into something else, so I'll go into more details about that a bit later.

Seeing that you (NxProse) personally play an I/L Mage, I as a White Knight hope that elemental weakness has been thoroughly considered for the monsters (especially the high leveled monsters) in New Leaf City. Myself and many other I/L and F/P mages have felt limited in the past in regards to variety of training grounds.

We'll be balancing them as best we can, I understand what you mean.

I also was wondering if weapon design would ever be revisited. More specifically, I mean the damage calculations affected by the swing/stab (3:2 ratio with stabs doing significantly less damage) of axes and blunt weapons versus the steadier and higher average of swords, which is not affected by swing/stab.

This is not on the table at this time, our focus is mainly new gameplay opportunities. We're comfortable with knowing you know how to play effectively, and would rather throw a different wrench that requires adaptation of your skill set to emerge victorious. As a reference, God of War has a Treasure hunt based entirely on sound. Something along those lines would interesting, where aural or visual observation is required to progress to another stage. Something like Ludi Stage 8, or the Twisted Switcher for the Amoria PQ with an added Jump Quest component, where two people can only perform the jump quest when the sequence on the ground is in the correct order, with party members on the ground getting the combo right, one person providing cover, and the party leader going for the key to get everyone to the next stage. All while being attacked at different intervals, of course =).

Stuff like that. Now just so everyone doesn't go overboard, the above is just an example, and doesn't exist. But that's the kind of stuff we'd like to experiment with. Because, in essence, training and playing with your friends is one of the best parts about our game (or any game for that matter), and encouraging everyone to work together builds community. And it would be a lot of fun. At least we hope so.

NxProse: Tuesday, June 26th, 2007 Wrote:Question 1 - Are these "re-called" maps party-able? Because for us lv100+ it's easier to train while partying.

I know. No restrictions have really been discussed for the maps. So, keep your fingers crossed =).

Question 2 - Will there be a mix of different cultures in this new city? Like having Africa on a side, America on the other side, a little part of Europe, etc.. ?

Yup. While it's not splintered exactly like that, there'll be easily recognizable icons for different cultures. One in particular had us laughing when we saw it, because it made perfect sense.

Question 3 - You said there was going to be Beauty Parlor/Hair Shop .. Are we going to get exclusive faces/hair styles?

They'll be new ones there, as much as I can say.

I know a lot of higher level players are asking about maps and levels but what about the new players, low level players and the weekend players?

What's there for new players who are not too fond of the typical grind from level to level?

Yes. I know how it gets sometimes when you can't play all the time, but still want to log in and have fun. We'll have content for you guys as well, where you can hop in and have some fun for a while. And the area will be expanding, so we'll adapt to the needs of the community as time goes on. We might not hit every single thing we want the day of release, but there will be enough of a variety that everyone will feel welcome, either at 36 or 136.

As a generality, are we higher level players going to have any content available for training in the near future? The summer is long, and without anywhere to efficiently train and with the economy in shambles, it's difficult to keep myself motivated. I'm sure this speaks for several other high-level players. I know several people who've switched to jMS, seeing as it's more complete. Is there anything that will be done?

Yes. There's a few things we're working on. Just know that everything can't come in one update, but it's coming. I saw a comment earlier that said "I want something to challenge me"; well, to give you guys an indication of what we're up to, one of our programmers saw the high-level design we came up with and almost puked. Suffice to say, when it goes in, you guys will have your skills tested.
So, I understand your current state, I'll just ask for patience, as what you want is coming, it just takes time to develop, build, test and release.

NxProse: Tuesday, June 26th, 2007 Wrote:Also, if New Leaf City is really to have such a wide variety of level ranges training there, will it be possible to get there from any town, rather than having to travel all the way from the high level training spots (Aqua, Ludibrium) to Henesys to get to Amoria for the PQ?

Still being worked out, but Amoria is a different case in terms of travel. I can say that we've talked about it, nothing finalized yet.

About the Exclusive, this usually pertains to which version it makes the debut in, and best reflects the players for that version. In that sense, it is, as far as it being added to other versions later, that's not up to me. =)

Is the development of NLC affecting any of our other updates? For example, are you guys taking time to develop NLC instead of getting ready for Leafre?

Absolutely not. There seems to be a thought that "If we get X, we may not get Y!" That's not the way we handle things. One area going in doesn't mean another is delayed or anything, nor do we "sacrifice" an area becasue we have to design something new. We have a long-term plan that we stick to, it just stays internal.

NxProse: Wednesday, June 27th, 2007 Wrote:Will NLC Have Maps differently colored?Like i.e. 1 part looks like Elinnia,another one looks like perion and another looks like kerning city,or a mix of all 3?

Not like that, because it's all new. There will be variety though.

What kind of pie do you like best?My favorite is apple pie(And the pie full with ALL kinds fruit)

Apple and Cherry.

What kind of movie genre do you like best?

Action/Sci-fi. Fantasy movies are also fun, but they better be good.

would it be possible we would have a test server to test out the new maps?

At this point, it hasn't been discussed.

In NLC, by past, present, future, etc.. will there be cowboys, Donkey Kong, Bboys from New York (70's), hardcore gangsters with nice looking girls in the videos, and computer-like monsters?

Not quite. It's more of a mythological nature. A gangster or Donkey Kong wouldn't really fit.

Will there be some mini-bosses in NLC? cause I really like bosses like Mushmom and Jr Rog, but the spawn time is so long.

We'll see. It's not completly out of the question. I like shorter, more intense encounters for quick play sessions. No promises, but we'll see.

Can i try to make a cool background tune and send it to you?

We don't take outside submissions, sorry. But you can submit it to a vg remix site so the community can enjoy it =).

NxProse: Wednesday, June 27th, 2007 Wrote:Was it a random name that you picked out of a hat?

No. Short-term, it's viewed as the growth of something new, i.e. turning over a new leaf. Long-term, it's meaning will become clearer, as there's a reason why it was founded, and the symbology of the city will come into play down the road.

Will there be an update that makes MapleStory compatible with Windows Vista?

Try running it in compatiblity mode, that's worked for a few friends of mine.

Have you guys considered the idea to make Puppet (you know, the ranger skill) a party skill? It would really help us archers to get in parties more easely.

Not really. As I said earlier, we'll be looking at new types of gameplay, so what you're really asking is will it be easier to party with others with your skill set. We'll be looking at specific cases for classes and scenarios that require a mix to progress, so yes, it will be considered. I know how the Bowman class can get the short end of the stick sometimes, so we'll do our best to balance the levels out going forward.

If you could describe NLC in one word, what would the word be?

Radical.

Will there be multi-peice Horntail-like bosses in NLC?

Ah, now that would be telling. You'll have to keep your eyes open.

In NLC, will there be different kinds of quests that what we have? (I mean gather item then give them to someone, talk to someone then someone else, jump quests, etc. as what we already have.)

We're looking into different things.

Ninjas or Pirates?
Ninjas.

Why are you so hush-hush about all of the stuff in NLC?

It's a combination of not wanting spoil information and knowing it's still being tweaked and developed. I know the stuff we have planned there, but until it's ready to go in, I won't list specifics because it can change; and we don't want to promise a certain feature unless we know we can deliver it.

Side point, it's interesting to read some of your theories. So, as I sit at my desk surrounded by concept art, and other things, I'm interested in the reactions, because it's fairly different from what's currently in-game. We hope you guys like it. =)

NxProse: Thursday, June 28th, 2007 Wrote:There'll be more of an emphasis on Lore, yes. Specifcally, stories of how certain NPCs came to be in area A or B. there'll also be deeper storylines for those of you that read the journals and pay attention to such things...So yes, stuff like is coming.

Oh, and we made a decision about concept art, enjoy.

NxProse: Thursday, June 28th, 2007 Wrote:Hence the previous description of "Radical". It's a leap in a different direction, so we're hoping you guys like the other stuff that's there...

NxProse: Thursday, June 28th, 2007 Wrote:Will there be more married couples quests, as I recall from the flash animation that there would be Jump quests and such?

Yes. That's in the works. The PQ was a pretty big step, and we plan on expanding the content there for visitors and married couples.

Also, will there be tie-ins between Amoria and NLC via quests and NPCs? I think that would be pretty cool.

So do I.

Also, rapid-fire answers: I'm African-American and Native American, and I've wanted to make games since playing my first one. And no, we weren't playing Pikmin when we made the Fire Tusk. =)

As far as schedule, nothing is being said about state of completion or time-table until it's ready to go. =)

Are you sure?

Yep.

Is it complete in its current state? Has work been halted on it in favor of NLC for now?

Nothing's ever done, as in completely finished. Are we happy with the current state of Amoria? We're getting there. There's more things planned, but we haven't stopped work on anything. Some things have priority, but we never just say "This is done." and never look at it again.

Thanks for the kind words, and you haven't seen anything yet...

NxProse: Thursday, June 28th, 2007 Wrote:How do you plan on mixing the free areas with the NX areas? You've stated that you plan on making a party quest that's for NX couples (though, of course, I don't expect this to be definite.)

That was in reference to the Amorian Challenge, which is for married couples only. It's one of the features promised when we first introduced marriage, and has been delivered in full. As I stated before, there's not a direct connection between the two areas, they're completely different.

A less serious question: If you were to estimate the amount of conceptual stuff you had for NLC (Text files, rough notes on scratch paper, concept art, you know, places where you put down ideas,) how much do you think you'd have?

Hmm, well, I'll answer your question like this. We've worked on this area for a while, to the point of finalizing documents at 3am. So, a lot has gone into the area, and we'll be unveiling more and more as we complete new areas. A lot of this is new, so it has to be developed, built, tested, adjusted, etc. We have a vision for the area, and we're going to do our best to execute it, brick by brick, metaphorically speaking. Big Smile

Why dont we have 4th Jobs yet?

Well, we have the advantage of seeing an overview of the entire community as far as an area/system being beneficial. When we feel the time is appropriate, we'll look into releasing it. That's as much of answer as I can give. You have to consider that the vast majority of the MapleStory players don't post on forums, and aren't Level 100+.


When are you going to stop giving NX users such a huge advantage when playing this game?

I'm puzzled by the tone of the question; which implies we are giving a giant advantage, when it is nowhere near the vast, grand canyon-like chasm you describe; in all honesty, we don't view it as an unfair advantage. Are there benefits? Sure, they only enhance your gameplay. I also point out that the Cash Shop remains completely optional. If you like what you see, try it out; if not, you're under no obligation to invest in something that doesn't appeal to you. The choice is there for the player to make, whenever they want.

NxProse, Can we expect something stronger then Zakum? Or maybe something similar?

I addressed this indirectly in an earlier post =).

Coco Cola or Pepsi?
Pepsi.

NxProse: Friday, June 29th, 2007 Wrote:There are ~30,000 people at or over level 80. These are also your most dedicated players... why not focus on them a bit more?

Well, to use your example, 30k sounds like a lot, however, if MapleStory had only 1 million players, this is a very small percentage. Putting that in the perspective of 3.8 million, it becomes smaller still. While I understand the situation, you have to realize that we have to service the majority of what the community needs. Past that, there are more factors at work than "Ok, let's just release this map", it doesn't work like that. I've already said that we have a few things up our sleeve for the more advanced players, but those things take time to develop. We're aware that the higher-level players are the most dedicated, and we don't want that to change. We have to balance our resources to serve the entire game effectively, that means releasing areas that the majority can enjoy, while building something that is truly a test of the advanced players skill set.

So, I ask for patience, your time is coming.

NxProse: Friday, June 29th, 2007 Wrote:Ya, you say there are 3.8 million players that play. But have you considered that ppl creat multiple accounts and have multiple chars for mules or have gotten bored and created new chars.

That was taken into account when the statement was made. I stand by it, because we have data for the entire game that supports it.

1. Which do you think high levels would enjoy most: Leafre, Showa Town, or NLC?

In the end, when everything is said and done, we'll let you guys make that decision.

2. Size please? Is NLC bigger/smaller than Victoria?

Again, you're looking at it as one area. This isn't exactly how it's being viewed.

3. Does NLC consist of multiple towns or is NLC the main central hub, and everything branches from there?

Bit of both.

4. U mentioned possibly involving places where ppl would have to work together. Are you reffering to party quest, or do u mean like a actual training area where 4-6ppl can train comfortably??

Again, both. I don't think there has to be a separation there, meaning we could normal hunting grounds and PQ/JQ's that achieve that.

Are you gonna play around with the background on maps? In terms of nighttime/daytime, maybe some maps that are stormy, or covered in smog, stuff like that.

Yes. We're looking into how feasible it is. The Amorian Challenge has some of this in it.

Your "stats" about the Maple Population are very misleading if you think that all 3mill chars and the majority of Maple Story Players are "unique" players.

No, they aren't. We have access to monitor the population, average level, etc; because it's our game. Implying that our internal tools are off is 100% inaccurate. It's the equivalent of suggesting that a phone company doesn't know how many subscribers they have because some of their customers have a land line and a cellphone.

You are giving a giant, vast, grand canyon-like advantage to NX users.

We're not, but you seem intent on maintaining that position, and looking at your post content and tone, it'd be pointless to continue that line of dialogue.

NxProse: Friday, June 29th, 2007 Wrote:Are we following Korean Maple Story patches?
There's not a set path for following another version. There's more to it than merely "Release Map X". As a side note, we don't give out patch dates/release schedule for those asking for estimated dates.

NxProse: Friday, June 29th, 2007 Wrote:Are we different then other versions?

Yes. It's inherent.

why cant we get a little hint about when 4th job relase?

I already commented about this.

NxProse: Friday, June 29th, 2007 Wrote:First off, I'd just like to thank you for taking the time to answer our questions (and your superiors for letting you). Its pretty exciting to actually have some interaction with a member of the programing team for MS for once. I know its your job and all, and the thanks might just sound like a bit of 'sucking up' but hey, a little gratitude can't hurt.

No problem. We won't always be able to do this, but when we have time, we will. I do design btw. =)

I have a difficult time visualizing a map like that for training. Is there any way you could expound on it a bit more?

Well, you'll see. The stage design will better reflect the enemies there, one stage in particular. We'll be trying a few things that will hopefully make it easier to both train, get around and find a comfortable spot to relax.

Also, about the transportation method, you'll just have to wait and see.

NxProse: Friday, June 29th, 2007 Wrote:NLC is based on Urban legends, how many urban legends will be involve in it?
Quite a few. Some you'll see at first, other will emerge later.

Have you been to the cloud fox maps of Zipangu or The Crow maps? In those maps are teleporters that warp u in a certian direction to certain ledges that cant be accesed by ropes and ladders. Good area to train in once u remember which direction the teleporters tele you. Is this somthing we can expect more of in NLC. I for one like that.

I've been there, and like them too.

As for human enemies, etc; I'm going to revisit this at a later date. Have a nice weekend...

NxProse: Monday, July 2nd, 2007 Wrote:How does the Nexon America developing/programming staff handles and interprets criticism towards ingame content?

It's taken into consideration within the overall outlook. Traditionally, a very small portion of the community visits the forums, and even less actually posts. It's easy to forget that most of the people are busying playing the game and enjoying it. So we do consider them, but with moderation.

Do you enjoy your job as a developer?

Yep. I love it. =)

Next one, why do you hate mages so much?

My highest character is an I/L mage.

Rather have you guys test the new maps, would it be possible we would have a test server to test out the new maps?

Not at this time, we do the testing internally.

If I give the Nexon Staff homemade chocolate chip cookies, will they guarantee us Showa Town and Leafre next patch?

Pie would be a better avenue for bribery. =)

I know you can't tell us what the next patches are, but can you give us a slight hint of next patch?

Nope. You'll have to wait and see.

Will New Leaf City stay an exclusive map?

I addressed this one. Not up to me =)

I've done quite a bit research on urban myths since you mentioned the monsters are based off em. Will these monsters include large Alligators living inside the sewer or Exploding Pop Rock People?

Well, I can say that our interpretation is a little different (to use your example, we have Croco already). Something like that would have to be...more exciting.

So far you guys have had areas that are good for soloing, as well as areas that are great for parties. Will this remain the case, or is the intent to begin phasing soloing out completely?

You'll pretty much always have the option of either. Certain maps will lend themselves to grouping or solo tactics, but the choice remains the same.

will this have any content to reflect the global nature of MapleGlobal?

It'll be expanding to include many portions of it, yes. The images/icons we're going for will better reflect the global community.

NxProse: Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007 Wrote:Do you believe that high leveled players play a more important and beneficial role to this game? Edit - Thats not the question I asked, and that is not the question you answered (at least I assume it isn't), but that is what your post could be interpreted as to the other readers.

Edit - Original question was misunderstood. So there's no confusion, essentially, the high level and low-level players are important. Neither is more important, they both are. It's beneficial to have both types of content, because the lower-level players won't be that way forever and the high-levels obviously want more challenging content.

What does the character transfer mean and what can you do with it?

We'll be expanding on this at a future date.

Are you guys going to with-hold Level 100 and 110 weapons from us in Leafre like you did Cursed Scrolls in Mush Shrine?

Two different situations. One of the things that makes MapleStory interesting to work on is that there's other versions, so they get compared. However, I've already mentioned that we don't really follow any particular version, so different things can be changed or adjusted. We have our reasons for the Dark Scrolls, and that will become clear in time.

About specific enemies/features/quests/etc, you'll have to wait and see. Information like that usually isn't available until after/on patch date. The other comment I saw had to do with the area not living up to expectations. It's always interesting to read comments like this, because no one outside this building really knows what were planning. So, if you want to make a call about something you don't know about...

Ultimately, the community will be the judge, but look at it like this: you can either have a burger, or a burger + extra stuff + fries + New menu item. It'd be easy to just toss out something simple; but where's the fun in that? We prefer trying something different--remember, this is a game to us as well. Can we design something both unique and familiar? Can it be a synergy between the Maple World while incorporating landmarks from around the world?

We believe the answer is yes. You'll see for yourself in due time...=)

Is a Linux Version of MapleStory on the works?, because thats the only reason i keep my Windows XP installed.

Not to my knowledge.

NxProse: Friday, July 6th, 2007 Wrote:I (and others)have given multiple reasons and examples as to why many, many of us believe that NX is giving users an unfair advantage and destroying this game.

After you get in and wonder around you see people with fancy new Major League looking uniforms, pro gloves and bats, proper baseball shoes and even protective gear like batting helmets!

[B]If 50 of my Buddies and my 50 Guildmates make up 1000+ of the 3.8million, you cant say 3.8million users are all different people. We know for a fact that they are not.



Oh and I just saw the latest Nexon notice, advertising another Cash Shop only "Event". Geeze you guys are proving me right over and over.[/B]

And this is where the crux of the argument is. It's not true. You believe otherwise, and looking at your posts, you don't appear to actually want to be convinced. You've questioned the validity of the numbers data because you can't see it (data like this isn't released, it stays internal, and we obviously know what our numbers are), and mentioned that not everyone can get Nexon Cash when Pay-By-Cash alone disputes this notion. You and a few others also mentioned you don't understand why some things are different in our version, which I've already said will become clear in time. Continuing the line of dialogue isn't going to lead to a new revealation, because I've already answered the questions you asked; hence why there was no response when you keep asking the same question. It's fairly obvious you have an agenda, and I'm not going to partake in that.

You aren’t hiding just because a few of us proved you wrong are you?

What you call hiding, I call "Working". I've already said that when I have time, I'll come and answer questions. It's not exactly an everyday thing. That said, onto some answers.

Would u feel comfortable if NLC were released now, or do u still feel like there are at least a few weeks to a few months work left to do? More to accomplish?

It's coming in sections. We have specific goals for each update, so it's more of an on-going thing to see what we can develop and create.

As a designer, are you EVER going to release a new wallpaper?

Yes. I don't do web design, but that team can only be defined as "Awesome". We're more on some more stuff like this, related to Leaf Gear.

And pertaining to the Human enemies question, did you mean you'd address it much later?

I'm tip-toeing around this because I don't want to give it away, but yes, I'll address this later.

Many say our Mushroom shrine is messed up

That's inaccurate. It's essentially the same as the other versions.

You say high and low lvl'd characters are equally important, but Nexon's actions clearly say otherwise.

Not exactly. It's trickier to build the high-level content, so it takes a while. We'll be focusing on new experiences mainly, because when you do get to 90, 100, 110, 120, etc; chances are you've seen most of the game. So at that point, we'd rather give you something new. I know it's not easy, but as I said before, your time is coming. You'll have to wait and see.

The other thing I'd like to do is lay a few guidelines to help ask your questions:

* Area release dates are never given. Asking for a hint/guess is the same thing. After release, you can ask more specific questions.
* Questions about other versions, why things are different. These may/may not be answered, because some of it pertains to future development and decisions that haven't been made yet.
* Game Hints. These will always be vague until someone deciphers the puzzle. For instance, the APQ capes. You guys are on the right track.
* New Area questions - When these are done, we can be more open.
* Personal questions - As long as it's not too personal, I'll answer.

That said, keep going.

1) Will there be high level content in some of the earlier sections?

There is some, yes.

2) Are you working on one section only at a time right now or are you planning parts of other sections ahead of time?

It's planned out pretty far. It's not just one area. There is an overall story arc, it will become clearer as more areas emerge.

One question I gotta ask is what happened with the missing npc, the quests she has and the maps it makes mention to?

Due time is as much as I can say about this.

Do you have any questions for us that you would rather not answered via "poll" style?

Actually, I do, one thing first though. For those of you doing the The Sakura Garden quest, we're looking into the drop rate for those present boxes, so sit tight. I've mentioned there's a social aspect to the city, and one of the things we'd like to do is bring the levels closer in terms of community and friends. As for my question:

When are you having the most fun in the game? Is it just one activity, is it PQs, just talking with friends? I'd like to know that when you login, what's the thing you do the most (besides hunting)?

Since you're one of the designers, what is the name of the font in the picture below?

Tarzana.

NxProse: Friday, July 6th, 2007 Wrote:In future patches of MapleStory, will it be possible to intergrate a MapleStory Time/Users Computer time Clock into MapleStory?

This is somewhat tricky to do. I agree that it'd be nice, but I'm not sure how feasible it is.

Why is nependeath honey so rare?

Well, it's no different from any other rare items in the game, like say, Ring Fragments; just happens to be the way it is.

Oh, and www.myspace.com/maplestory

NxProse: Monday, July 9th, 2007 Wrote:NLC is based on urban legends, correct? If so will you be using folk tales like the loch ness monster, pop rocks and coke exploding your stomach, and big foot (these are all examples of course, you dont need to say something like "wait and see")?

Heh, well, for those suggesting different types of Urban Legends, I'll say that those definitions need expansion. There'll be some familiar ones there, but we have a few things planned for the more iconic ones.

Will there be a background story about NLC, like Amoria (the Story about Elias and Cecelia)? Note that I'm not really asking for details here

Who said anything about just one? =)

are there any plans to add better quests to amoria?

We'll be adding more quests there yes, and we'll do our best to make them more enjoyable.

NxProse: Monday, July 16th, 2007 Wrote:Will Nexon ever have customer service through phone?

This is not my area, and a better question for Joe.

Can you name some of the pop references that NLC will include?

Well, I could, but it'll better if you just see for yourself.

What exactly inspired the Fire Tusk design? Does it follow with some weird theme of a part of NLC, or is it more of a random enemy?

Heh, there is a theme to it. Where those and a few of the other enemies come from will be explained.

Also, I'm starting to believe that NLC is a continent, a la Victoria Island/Ossyria. I don't expect a confirm/deny on this, but judging from the commentary you've provided so far, I'm inclined to believe so.

*thinks about answering*

*smiles, moves on*

How come I've never seen a GM anyhere?

Well, they work extremely hard. Past that, if you do an event and are ahead of the pack, you might see one smile at you and vanish.

Everyone is always going on about the 'godly' items and the best gear to have, but I'd like to see more novelty items.

Indeed. Nothing concrete yet, but we'll see.

Can you tell us how big NLC will be?

Well, growth and expansion, so you'll see.

Any plans for a single player mode like the DS version?

Past the version mentioned, not that I'm aware of.

Why are new untradeable weapons and armors not available for everyone to have?

Reasons for this can vary. For instance, lore.

Will we ever get a chance to go revisit maple island again? Or to go back to do the relaxer quest that some of us missed.

Heh, the old Relaxer quest. Well, I'm not sure if you'll get a chance to visit Maple Island again, however, there's quite a few people who miss that quest. We may be able to do something down the road, though we're not sure what this would entail yet.

Soooo, if there's a New Leaf City where is Old leaf City?

Well, that wasn't the previous name...which is something we'll delve into a bit later. The actual origins of the city will be explored at a point when everyone can appreciate it a bit more.

NxProse: Wednesday, July 18th, 2007 Wrote:NXProse since your a designer could you please make more pets?

Heh, I appreciate the request, although it's not quite that simple. You'll have to wait and see for what's coming.

Also did your originally live in California or did you move with Nexon America when it was in Korea?

So Cal.

you still haven't answered me prose ninjas or cowboys ;D

Ninjas.

Will NLC have different themes in it as it grows?

Yes.

Hip-Hop or Rock?

Both.

How old are you?

26.

Are the World Tour NPCs going to be added to the other towns?

This really hasn't been discussed at length.

is NLC going to make any special use of MapleTV?

No Comment. =)

I was wondering is there ever going to be a way for the user to alter the User Interface of MapleStory?

In truth, this hasn't been discussed at length. I know that other games offer UI mods. We already have a robust degree
of customization for our game, however. For now, however, it's not on the table.

What I am wondering if there will ever be a way to sort of "make" an item into a cash item?

This isn't something we're thinking about at this time.

Will NLC be well-integrated with the rest of the Maple World (in terms of lore, storylines, quests, overall game design, and the like) or will it be more of a stand-alone area that doesn't have much to do with the rest of the World (similar to the World Tour areas)?

It will have ties, yes. However, the area has a story of its own to tell...

Will we ever get a true "walking path" to Amoria from Henesys? It doesn't make much sense that we Maplers, who are capable of traversing all kinds of terrain and fighting off all kinds of monsters, have to be escorted to and from Amoria by that smarmy-looking Thomas Swift.

Eh, this one is a bit tricky. Not impossible, just not on the table at the moment. And you made Thomas cry...for shame.

Oh, and whats your favorite song?

Too many. Waaaay too many. The playlist this morning included The God of War 2 soundtrack, Ratchet and Clank, Depeche Mode, Metallica and Ice Cube. It's diverse.Big Smile

Is it coincidence that this happens a week or 2 before the patch that you have been working on so hard?

Pretty much. While I'm going to disregard the time frame in your question, I appreciate the sleuthing; but nothing is related.

So, let me ask you all a question: How do you feel about Background stories?
Not the stuff in-game, actual short stories about certain characters?

NxProse: Monday, July 23rd, 2007 Wrote:Any chance you're going to be experimenting more with modes of play, and perhaps making the game I bit more complex?

We're laying groundwork for some of that, and it takes a long time to build. I believe a lot of this will become clearer in time, as there's a lot I'd like to say, but must keep my lips sealed for the time being.

NxProse: Wednesday, July 25th, 2007 Wrote:I think it's time they gave us SOME answer or a hint, or a comment, OR SOMETHING.....

We're aware of it, but that's about all we're saying at the moment.

So, I've been reading a few threads here and there, and it's rather interesting what's been posted and speculated about. Not just about patches, but about hints, etc. Now, we may also may not be able to say certain things based on the situation, particularly when it comes to future content. Not just maps currently in existence, but others coming as well. However, sometimes clues can be staring right in front of you, in or or out of game. Most times, we don't actually give hints; whether it's about how obtain Item L or how to reach Area C, but sometimes, it's right there.

That said, we have a very long patch to do tonight. However, I suspect that it will take quite a bit longer for people to discover what exactly it all means, if and/or what is coming--perhaps how terrifying or exciting it may be. Just keep in mind that sometimes the answers are looking right back at you, and every now and then, they smile.

So what else? Oh, patch notes on the FTP server. We know they aren't there. Yet, anyway.

NxProse: Wednesday, July 25th, 2007 Wrote:So, I'll be back a little later before we begin, but before I go...

It is interesting to read sometimes, that I'm rather cryptic. This is a fair accusation, as it's a concious choice, much like arising in the morning before work and/or school, or selecting which drink one consumes next. For instance, if I'm tired, I always have a Red Bull. But if I want something with more punch, a Monster is fine.

But what of the days when the hunger is not there? One still must sustain strength, lest you lose it. So whether you're in the wilderness of an urban jungle, or far away from home, it's always good to have something to sustain yourself. Always. You never know what can pop up.

Now, at this point in time, that may seem rather cryptic. However, with proper knowledge, it's not impossible to decipher the delicious center of that message--it's just currently wrapped in the hard shell of a riddle most wicked.

See you in a while~

NxProse: Wednesday, July 25th, 2007 Wrote:The calm before the storm...

NxProse: Wednesday, July 25th, 2007 Wrote:Haven't seen it yet.

NxProse: Wednesday, July 25th, 2007 Wrote:Nope, no riddles. At least not for the time being.

Can you tell me if i should go to bed, or stay up for a while more?

Get some sleep, my friend. MapleStory will be here for quite some time.

NxProse: Wednesday, July 25th, 2007 Wrote:i guess you are on break, lol. hows your coffee?

Funny enough, I don't like coffee.

NxProse: Wednesday, July 25th, 2007 Wrote:I'd like to mention something as well. The storyline is long term, and I encourage you to read some of the quests as you're doing them, as it will help you understand the coming events a bit more.

NxProse: Thursday, July 26th, 2007 Wrote:I was thinking of becoming a game Developer / Coding and stuff and would like to learn that at an gaming university.

I would like to know.

[B]1. is it hard?[/B]

Depends on what area you go into. Design is one area, actual coding is another. It's a lot of hard work, but if you're determined, you'll be fine.

Do i need any kinda drawing skills for it. (caz i can't draw)

Not really, I can't draw either, but that's why we have photoshop and other tools.

and last.. if i become really good at it.. will i get a job at Nexon?

Heh, while I can't guarantee you a job with us, I can say that if you're good, someone will hire you...it just might take a while

NxProse: Thursday, July 26th, 2007 Wrote:What kind of music do you listen to, Prose? Throw a few bands at us.

Sevendust, Depeche Mode, The Game, Busta Rhymes, Disturbed, Godsmack, older Metallica, Oakenfold, DJ Shadow, Dr. Dre...it's a long list lol

NxProse: Thursday, July 26th, 2007 Wrote:Favorite color is blue, Prose is a pen name (not my real name), and I know some html that I haven't had to use for a while--our developers are tremendously skilled. Currently, I'm playing Ninja Gaiden Sigma and Odin Sphere.

And as for what monster you can train on, well, you'll see tomorrow =).

NxProse: Thursday, July 26th, 2007 Wrote:Well, I'm off. We're happy you're enjoying things.

NxProse: Monday, July 30th, 2007 Wrote:i thought these really cheap pots are really good at first, but then i thought its changing the prizing of all other pots (such as elixers) in the entire game, why would you do that?

We felt that the prices were a bit high, and that was cutting into the ability of a few classes to enjoy playing.

So, can you give a hint on how to obtain the Amorian Relaxer?

Nope. =)

NxProse are you the NLC mayor?

Heh, no.

Any comment about Versal, Esorp?

Ah, Versal. I thought that might come up. I've seen quite a few threads about this in the past few days. Some of the theories are close to the mark, some off, but there was one that came really, really close. I'm not saying who/where it was, but they get a Ginger Ale from me.

Will a Free Market and/or Storage Keeper be implemented in the NLC town? Also, will the Nearest Town Scroll eventually work with NLC and Amoria?

We're looking into this now. No promises, but we'll see.

Will there ever be more towns in Masteria besides NLC?

Yup.

Who would win in an arm wrestle, NxProse or NXJoe?

Good question. Arm wrestling, I'm not sure about. I can only vouch for Street Fighter and KartRider. He knows.

Why don't any of the monsters have etc. drops?

We wanted to minimize them to an extent. More will be added as time goes on.

Does that literally mean as soon as they finish them, or on the set patch date every month?

Patch date. =)

They used to say 20att, but in essence were 80 att, and now they say 80, but are 20 att. Kinda sucks paying 1m for 2 of them, only to be disappointed while I'm at zakum and I needed the boost the most.

Yes, this was a typo in the data, they were only supposed to give +20, not 80.

You have me stumped on the graves in Bigger Ben. Is it a puzzle to complete now? Or do we have to wait for more areas to complete this? Is it for future quests?

If I were mean, I'd say yes. However, that riddle is pointed at future content. Again, I've read some interesting theories about this, but none that solve it yet. The fruits of said solution won't be presented yet, however, it would be better to solve this sooner, rather than later.

Just imagine, if we didn't have New Leaf City ever, what will you put in this patch? Nothing? Exactly. You DID delay a different update.

Heh, that's not how the schedule works. If you didn't get NLC with this patch, it would've been something else that was already scheduled.

do you happen to know if the other version's communities are as vocal as our own, as far as content we want or additions we think could benefit the game goes?

I'm not sure, however, I'd imagine that they are just as vocal.

are there any suggestions you have considered adding to the game, for previous or future patches?

Most of them we've talked about and more.

NxProse all my Bowman friends are upset that they got the Arrows from the Lita Lawless quest rather than a weapon or hat or something permanent.

They'll have cause to rejoice a bit later.

Another note, keep in mind that there's multiple backstories...

So, your question of the day: How do you feel about Jump Quests?

NxProse: Thursday, August 2nd, 2007 Wrote:Ok, I'll keep this brief.

- The potions prices are being adjusted again. They'll be a good deal cheaper than what they are now; in particular, the Honster, Mana Bull, and Ginger Ale. Hindsight being 20/20, the hike was a bit high and we'll be rectifying that.

- The Boomers. Basically, we're still adjusting these.

- Free Market/Storage are coming, though we don't have an exact date. We're aiming for sooner rather than later.

- About the updates, I've said this before. The schedule doesn't work like that.

NxProse: Thursday, August 2nd, 2007 Wrote:High-levels (and by this I mean the 90+ crowd) have a few things coming. For instance, one of the things you guys sometimes miss out on is PQs. The Amoria PQ doesn't have a "ceiling" as far as levels. We'd like to do more stuff like that in the future. However, as I said before, some of this takes some time to be built.

And no, backlash really doesn't prevent us from being innovative or trying something different.

We believe that the forthcoming content will be more of an evolution that shows this.

NxProse: Thursday, August 2nd, 2007 Wrote:-Will Amoria be of easier access for everybody in the future?

Not out of the question.

-Rather than just 'urban legends', will there be (more) references of mythological and religious nature in NLC?

To an extent. It's one of those cases where we define urban legends a little differently. A broader definition allows for more monster concept variation.

-What's the thing behind wolf spiders?

It's a combination of things. We thought a spider enemy would be rather cool, and wanted to give a sleek kind of feeling to it. The name, however, comes from an actual spider.

On the same line, is there any chance that you can give us some hints of the references all over NLC?

Heh, nope. There's quite a few of them there, though.

Is the developing team working to make at least a part of NLC/Masteria look like a real town rather than a Hollywood dump?

Well, personally, we don't think it looks like a "Hollywood dump". And yes, the town is expanding. =)

Why the music style of choice for NLC was techno/eletronic music?

We felt that a new style was needed for the city, and continent in general. As it was once home to a technologically advanced society, we think it's appropriate. That's not to say that every area will have that type of music, however.

What's the role of Prof. Foxwit in NLC? Will we be able to visit the past Masteria continent?

Ah, now that would be telling. You'll have to wait and see.

Is Eastern culture being taken in consideration for future NLC releases, as a form of inspiration for ingame content? Many people of other races, cultures play this game...

Possibly. There's a connection between East and West, in particular when it comes to martial arts, so there'll possibly be some content down the line that plays to that.

NxProse: Thursday, August 9th, 2007 Wrote:I WANT, and DESPERATELY NEED more than a lost promise from someone that there wil be higher level content soon. I dont want a promise, I want a time frame.

While we can't going to give a time-frame, we can say that there is something coming to serve those needs.

Do you guys have anything planned for maple island, specifically for islanders?

Not really. You aren't exactly supposed to stay there =)

Will you be reducing the size or changing the design of the Maple TVs so they don't cause some players to experience Lag?

We haven't discussed this at this time.

Also, whoever asked about Pirates or Ninjas forgot to ask about Robots and Zombies too.

While I prefer ninjas, I'm also a fan of Zombie Pirate Robots.

Seriously, it sounds like we've got a lot of awesome content coming for the game that I can't wait to check out in the coming months. So far, I'm guessing sooner or later NLC will have a new Party Quest with Dark Scrolls as some of the rewards, a possible expansion onto AR someday, and definitely more Masteria expansions. Am I hot or cold? I'd like to know if you can give us any hints on anything to come soon.

Lukewarm. All the hints in game are the best ones that can be given at the moment, but that being said, watch for clues.

NxProse are there plans for a Buddy BBS similar to the Guild BBS?

Well, discussions about the Buddy List have happened before. While I won't go into specifics, we can say that we talk about a lot of things.

Will you consider making existing monsters in NLC as well as ones in development weak to ice, fire, and lightning elements?

Some of them have an elemental weakness, but as I said before, we'll be considering this for future monsters.

[Map Design I - Ropes VS Teleporters] Easy question: Leaving the storyline aside, why teleporters instead of ropes?

Speed. Ropes have their place, but we feel that using the Foxwit Doors to get around is a bit faster. This doesn't mean you'll never see ropes again. =)

What was Nexon America's inspiration when designing the NLC maps? Most of them seem to resemble the design of a platform 2D game rather than MapleStory.

We felt that a bit more variation was needed, and some of that curbs to certain skill-sets. As well as immersion, when you're in a map that isn't just flat, you have to pay a bit more attention to your surroundings. That being said, we've gone in-game and played/studied how people fight on the new maps, so when we're making new ones, we'll have proper adjustments in mind and a few new things to try out.

Will the bossing concept used in the Amoria PQ (referring to the Geist Balrog and the map he is at) be used in the Masteria bosses' map(s)?

In a word, yes. The forthcoming bosses will have more variance than previously seen. I said before that when you get mid-to-high level, your platforming skills, wits and battle prowess should be tested. This is more true of bosses than anything, as those should be encounters where it's you and your friends against a terrifying power. So I'm going to be a bit more mum on what coming, but we'll do our best to make sure that it lives up to those ideals.

I also was wondering about John Barricade's brother, I believe he was named Jack. The quest says that he went to Aqua Road... At level 90, there are several quests about an expedition to the Ocean Floor that takes place. Did Jack Barricade have anything to do with this expedition?

Sharp eyes, but no. You'll learn about Jack soon enough.

Who arose Masteria from the sea? Was it you and the Nexon staff *dun-dun-dun?! If it's not you guys, will this mysterious little character have some role later?

Heh...definately not little if you think in terms of power

NxProse: Monday, August 20th, 2007 Wrote:I think Prose died.

Nope. Been busy with a lot of stuff. Answers to the last pages will be coming over the next few days. =)

NxProse: Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007 Wrote:Hey Guys,

I'd like to say that the European IP block was a technical issue, not a new policy. We'll be fixing that ASAP so you all can play again.

NxProse: Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007 Wrote:I'd recommend that they check their computers for spyware, keyloggers, etc; but as far as action from us, nothing is on the table at this time.

The issue is actually fixed now, so you should be able to login. =)

NxProse: Friday, August 24th, 2007 Wrote:Back. So much happening these days...let's see what I can answer here...(a few off-topic posts were deleted--like 'PIN' retrieval).

I was wondering if there will be a storyline connection between the alternate dimension Versal, where Eplam Gorlab is from and the alternate dimension that the Papulatus Clock came from in Ludi?

Ah. Very sharp. Now, I can't actually answer this question yet, but I can say that kind of thinking is more of what we want, story-line wise.

I understand how Bigger Ben is in the 'clock tower', but Bigger Ben is only one map, and then it leads to MesoGears. Is MesoGears part of Bigger Ben, or are you not done with Bigger Ben yet?

You are currently exploring the MesoGears section of Bigger Ben, not the whole thing. There's still stuff coming.

I was just wondering if VINELAND (The unreleased place in NLC), and Leafre might be the same.


Nope.

Will stage 5 (the running stage) be re-implemented into the Amoria PQ? That was my favourite part. Granted, I haven't APQed in like two weeks now, but my girlfriend said it's still gone, so just wondering.

There was an issue with it, hence the temporary disabling of that stage, but it's all fine now. Don't get cooked by lava. =)

could you tell what was intended with Boomers?

Sure. Basically, we wanted to create a different sort of monster. The inspiration was Tribbles (for those of you who've seen Star Trek). Issue was, they worked, but the potential went beyond the design we envisioned. They caused way, way too much lag; and some people abused them to level at a faster pace than intended. Hence the change. Now, that said, we know how much fun you had/have with them, so we MIGHT try to tweak them a bit more down the road.

EMS is rapidly getting content, so fast its not even funny, and i know to translate content to 3 languages is hard, but, if you can do that to EMS, cant you do that to GMS?

There's much, much more that goes into gettting a map or area than just translate and release. Obviously, I can't go into details, but it's a lot more than anyone on the outside thinks.

On the website's page on NLC, there is a screenshot of Krakian Jungle with land shaped like "NLC". In the game, we only see a hole carved out of the mountain in the shape of "NLC"
Is this a very early screenshot or an unintended preview of Versal?

Heh, it's from an earlier shot of that area, not Versal.

Will you put in new music for the subway ride like you did with orbis tower?

Hasn't been discussed. Most likely, no. The ride is pretty short.

NXProse... will you join our protest group?

We asked the Squid earlier. While he appreciates your efforts, he's cool with his name. However, he says "All those weapons hurt."

What, or is there going to be anything done about glitching at the Orbis Party Quest?

This is fixed as well.

Will you make the NLC pots drop from monster in masteria?

There are a few that already do.

Would i be close in thinking that because this world lies in darkness, that most of its monsters would be "holy weak" ie weak to light?

Well...ok. I'm going to try explain this a bit, because I've seen quite a few theories on what Versal is/isn't. Quite a few of them miss the mark. The main issue is that they deal with traditional concepts--these aren't exactly accurate. I've still only seen one or two that aim closer to what it's like there, beyond the clues offered in game. Now, that said, there's no rule that says "All monsters weak to Holy", or anything like that. We'll get more into that as time passes. But the one known as Mushmom being the most dangerous creature there is rather telling.

Will there ever be class-specific bosses? Or otherwise limited access bosses?

Eh. The class-specific bosses is tricky, but the limited access is a bit more appealing. For instance, I personally wouldn't mind if you solved a puzzle on your own and it led to a Hidden Street area and a secret boss--without a quest, just hints here and there. So, we'll see.

Speaking of Papulatus and its' quests, is Versal the "other dimension" mentioned in so many maple quests? For example, Papulatus is from this other dimension, and the fight against the Job instructor clones takes place in the other dimension as well. It even has an effect on areas like Korean Folk Town which are merely near the crack in the dimension.

See above answer. =)

Is there something gameplay-wise planned that is completly new?

Yes. It takes some time to develop and refine the ideas we have, but they're coming.

I just noticed that there is now a "To Spouse" chat option in the game. Thank you so much for adding it. I just have to know, was it because of my suggestion that it was added, or was it already in the works?

In the works. It was a request we received more than once. =)

Now, as I make this map my new training home, I'm wondering if its even worth while to renew my pet merchandise (Meso Magnet, Item Pouch, Wing Boots and Binoculars), seeing as the mentioned monsters don't appear to have any drops.

We're actually looking into "No drops" issue for those enemies.

What Parts of NLC have you Designed?

In all honesty, we don't really look at it like that. It's a team thing. =)

NxProse: Friday, August 24th, 2007 Wrote:Billing-related issues are not in my department. =)

If you have suggestions, send a ticket to Customer Service.

NxProse: Wednesday, September 12th, 2007 Wrote:Hey everyone. It's been a little while, basically, been really, really, really, really, really, busy. Nothing specific, but we're looking forward to your reaction for some of this. No hype or anything, you'll just have to wait and see. Onto some questions...

Did the citizens of Old Sappe Village ever have any contact with the Sharenian civilization that used to rule over Victoria Island? I ask this because it seems like Masteria's heyday and the time that the Sharenian ruled overlap, and if Masteria is just off the coast of Victoria, they might have had some contact, maybe even been at war.

Interesting thinking. This is all I'll say about this. =)

Jacob of Amoria talks about the "Sakura Garden" opening. Is this the Purple Plains/Purplewood Forest area, or is it something completely different? Is it even going to be an area at all?

Hmm. I'll decline to answer this for now, but it's not the Purple Plains/Purplewood Forest area.

Hey, NxProse what is your personal favorite part of maple story being monster, map, feature, etc...?

Many things. A few of them can't be listed yet...

What came first chronologically, the Crimsonheart, or the Crimson Rogs?
Bluntly, do they have anything in common aside from a favorite colour?

Heh. Nothing really in common as far as appearance. That's as much as I'll say.

What if Professor Foxwit has something to do with Versal as well? He does have the foxwit doors and that cube thing in the sky...

You'll learn more about Foxwit in due time.

Is it possible/How is it possible to become a GM without having to go get a job at Nexon?

Nope. Have to come here. =)

Will there be an uprise in GM - player interaction?

Well, we'll see what happens. It's not quite that simple, they have other responsibilities and are doing a great job.

What I ask you Prose is what you think about the concept of jacking up the price of a pot to "maintain the balance of game play in the sight of the 4th job advance?"

We haven't really discussed this. As of now, it hasn't come up in regards to GMS.

About how many monsters are being designed at the moment?

Future content is not talked about until post-release =).

Have you (Don't mean you specifically NxProse, more Nexon as whole, but just using you is a lot more convenient and if you do happen to be doing anything with any of my questions, all the better.) considered doing any new mini games for MS?

Yes. We're not ready to say anything yet, because nothing's final. But we have a few ideas. We'll see what happens.

Have you considered having a jump or party quest(Heck even an alone quest.) that you can only do on one of the rides to and from a continent?

Stop looking on my hard drive. =)

Same question for the Library at the bottom of Helios Tower. Seems to me like you could have a lot more stories than those few, perhaps a few that even take you all over MS, and I could particularly see a few NLC based one to help explain more of the story that goes along with it. In fact, I'd like it if there was at least one for every continent if not more.

Well, I'm a big fan of lore. It's a bit tricky to do this for certain areas, but it's not out of the question. One of those cases where it's a possibility, but not on the agenda right now.

Is this forum going to eventually become the offical MapleStory Global forum?

Not up to me =).

NxProse, would you ever consider adding match card and Omok point ranking categories on the website, or hosting sanctioned tournaments for the minigames with prizes or funky trophies like the GM event ones?

Well, this would have to be supported by the amount of people that play Omok. We'll get back to that in a second.

Has NXProse been kidnapped by Mateons to keep him from answering this thread?

They tried. There's a Yeti on my desk. He saved me.

What's your favourite looking weapon in MapleStory?

One isn't out yet, the other is the Nocturnal Staff.

will New Leaf City ever get Duey or a storage NPC?

Yes. It's on the way.

hey Prose what do you prefer Console Games or Maplestory?

I have a PSP, PS3, PC and will get a 360 in a few weeks. No reason I can't play and love all of them. I'm a fan of fun.

This isn't really a question, but I would really like to see skills affect the map, which would give advantages to certain classes on those maps (assuming there was also another map for everyone else)

This is tricky. No promises, but it's not the first time it's come up...

Ok, some questions for you:

1) How many of you have played or play any of the Minigames? Omok, Match cards, etc.

2) Favorite boss to fight?

3) Which area are you looking forward to the most?

Till next time...

NxProse: Friday, September 21st, 2007 Wrote:Quickly...

We're looking into the curse filter--not necessarily just the words, but also the way it handles them. Not being able to say Christmas isn't a good thing. Again, no time-frame, but we're aiming for sooner rather than later.

NLC prices are the same! I hope a server check fixes that.

Yes. Basically, this should be applied next Server Check. If for some reason, it's not, I'll give you guys an update.

Again, I can only answer questions when I have time to do so. There's a lot coming, so back to work...

NxProse: Monday, October 1st, 2007 Wrote:*Cross-posted*

This will be brief, but to follow-up, there were quite a few details missing. The paraphasing lost quite a bit.

First, it was a 10 minute conversation, not a sit-down interview. I'd met many Maplers all weekend, and enjoyed talking with them.

To clear up one thing--Leafre wasn't addressed like that, nor was any schedule mentioned about it. We already know it's not just an area for the 120+ guys, 3rd jobbers can benefit as well. I spoke about the high-level community in terms of content and actual activities/areas to do and visit. Leafre was mentioned as something important for them, and because the community is so tight-knit, we'd be working on more things for them in addition to that.

That's all for now. I'll answer the next round of questions when I get a chance. =)

NxProse: Monday, October 1st, 2007 Wrote:Essentially, certain things can come out at certain times (like potions prices). Other times, not so much. For instance, even though everyone would like to know what we have planned over the next few months, etc; there's just certain things that can always change. Because of this, vaguery is sometimes necessary. When I can give that information out, I do. I can understand being a bit frustrated, but it goes hand-in-hand with content development.

NxProse: Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007 Wrote:Heh, I heard of sleep once before. Sounded nice.

Hmm...I'll answer this one straight up. It's because I love my job. There's really nothing like reading/seeing/hearing responses that people enjoy what you helped create. And I love games. To answer the question above, the last time I played a game all night was Ninja Gaiden Sigma, undoubtedly one of the hardest games I've beaten.

NxProse: Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007 Wrote:PSHAW Waniou.... say hi to Mel but not to me.

To NXProse:

Judging from the fact that you're online in the forums but not really talking that much and it's the middle of the night... I've come up with the following reasons as to why you're so quiet:

a) NXJoeW is in a close match against you in Kart Rider and he might actually have a hope at winning against you, but being the kind, loving, caring coworker that you are.... you've decided to ease up on him a little to raise his spirits, before massacring him in the final lap.

Nope. I'm not that nice. =)

b) LambCook pulled out a portable DDR pad and has decided to become Canadian for the moment and declared an impromptu slumber party where the loser of the DDR match has to log into NXProse' account to answer questions.

I am not good at DDR. At all. Some of the guys and gals in the office are though.

c) The mateons have succeeded in kidnapping you.

Yeti 1, Mateons 0.

d) You've taken the Jr. Yeti out for a walk... but then realized that it is indeed a Yeti and you've just taken it for a walk in the Californian heat, wound up getting arrested by the humane society and you're currently sitting in jail for animal cruelty. You are reading this thread on a palm pilot you some how managed to smuggle in after you were cavity searched... to try and contact -Hime- or Joe to come and bail you out.

Nah. They're asleep.

e) You got the short stick. (figure out the context of that)

Nah. Our work ethic is pretty much universal. When it's done, we're done.

f) Out of the kindness of your heart, you've decided to pull a late night shift at the Nexon offices as everyone is busy hustling and bustling about on a top secret project of some sort which will greatly improve game play, but you can't talk about it but all you can say is that it will be great.

This is a much better guess.

NxProse: Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007 Wrote:LOL.

It's a start. See you guys tomorrow~

NxProse: Monday, October 15th, 2007 Wrote:NxProse, i want to alert you to a glitch in the Jr. Reaper pet...

We're looking into that, just sit tight.

Is there any plans fro monsters or areas specially designed for one class? (Like monsters giving higher EXP if you're a Bowman, or maps you need to be a Thief for)

Hmm...well, anything's possible.

Besides that, I wanted to ask about the Prendergast Mansion. How could it have been there for decades if the continent of Masteria was only recently risen from the ocean? O_O

Heh, you missed a rather large detail. Something that's not immediately apparent...

Also, is Agent Falcon in any way related to Agent Marco in Omega Sector? And might we be seeing more of these MBI agents in the future?

Nah, no relation between Falcon and Marco. As for your other question, you'll have to wait and see...

So, are you going to be fiddling with the curse filter further and is this just a temporary measure?

To an extent, the curse filter is always evolving, but no more "conversation stoppers", we'll do our best to make sure that doesn't happen.

Will future areas and Mu Lung & Herb Town have any ties with New Leaf City?

This is another wait and see.

By any chances, do Hafrings, the little furry people of Leafre, work at Nexon? And how bout Lupins?

Hafrings, no. Lupins deliver our mail and Jamba Juice.

By any chances, would our boat ride, in which we have to complete a Jump Quest, be how to access some sort of Outer Space map?

Heh, everyone wants to know that. You'll have to wait and see about this one.

Do you have anything you would like to mention about the new Pirate class?

No Comment.

Will the "continent" take us through different periods of time as well as different parts of the earth?

Ah, well, it's only a few months ago that the area launched; and I think if you do the quests you'll have an idea of what's coming.

I know you're saying Nexon hasn't forgotten the higher-leveled players in terms of monsters and maps, but how about quests? (Worth doing, preferably)

This is included in "you'll have to wait and see", but no, we haven't forgotten.

What's there for new players who are not too fond of the typical grind from level to level?

We've added quite a bit of new content for the lower levels. I believe the path to 1st/2nd job is much easier than in the past.

Also, if New Leaf City is really to have such a wide variety of level ranges training there, will it be possible to get there from any town, rather than having to travel all the way from the high level training spots (Aqua, Ludibrium) to Henesys to get to Amoria for the PQ?

Well, the NLC Transport is rather sturdy. We'll see.

Prose could you give me one hint about the Amoria relaxer?

Nope. Good luck =).

Also, I saw a question about housing earlier in the thread. So, how do you guys feel about it? As a precursor, this has nothing to do with future plans, this is for my own personal knowledge. How do you guys feel about housing?

NxProse: Thursday, October 25th, 2007 Wrote:Yes, I've been less active lately. Things have been pretty busy around here. =)

NxProse: Tuesday, November 13th, 2007 Wrote:Thanksgiving: Macaroni and Cheese, BBQ Tofu/Chicken, Yams, Cranberry Sauce, Cornbread/Biscuits, Rice, Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing and of course, Pie.

This will be brief: I'm not dead, just very busy. =)

Answers are forthcoming...*back to work*.

NxProse: Thursday, November 15th, 2007 Wrote:I understand what you're trying to say, but there are better ways to go about making your point.

That said, news is forthcoming.

NxProse: Thursday, November 15th, 2007 Wrote:You can run MapleStory in compatibility mode for Vista and it should work fine. We tested it in the office here.

NxProse: Thursday, November 15th, 2007 Wrote:I sympathize with the concern or current aura of "I'm being left out", but that's not the case in any sense. To me, you guys and gals are the frontrunners. Just because we're silent for the time being doesn't mean we're not working.

Speaking of which...

NxProse Wrote:Everyone take a deep breath...

So, the notice went up early. However, that also means that the other notice which goes along with it didn't go up, it will go up on patch night as usual. I've stated previously that we haven't forgotten, and we haven't. Period. It's nowhere close to "Doom and Gloom", far from it in fact.

Back to work.

And actually, while I'm here, 4th Job isn't in Masteria. Don't know where that came from.

NxProse Wrote:As I said earlier, they were both supposed to go up at the same time on patch night. This wasn't some hastily planned appeasement, we've been working quite hard over here for an extended period of time. Again, just because we don't say anything sometimes doesn't mean we not working. We always are.

Past that, there's a reason why there are no images on the post as well. Again, everything will become clear in time.

About parallels, I don't see any, no.

At any rate, back to work.

NxProse Wrote:Hey Everyone,

I haven't had time to answer a lot of questions lately, and looking at our current schedule, I'll won't have time for a good, long while...However, that doesn't mean I won't be reading. So be good and play hard. A few things before I go though...

Can/will Foxwit's nemesis have any henchmen that look like Robocop?

I lol'd. I always liked those movies, even now. Nothing like an 80's-early 90's action movie.

We need more of Masteria to flesh out more of the background story behind Leafre before we can get Leafre, right?

Not exactly, no.

What can we expect soon for Masteria? Any towns OTHER than NLC?

Massive, massive spoilers. You'll see.

The question now is, what that coincidental, or is he a ninja?

If only. One can solve many things with say, a Shinobi Bracer.

Hi NxProse, I hope that yetie hasn't chain yah to your desk and forcing yah to work hard xD

He's asleep. As usual. The Porcupine is here though, and I thought he was attempting to skewer my leg, until I realized it was a hug.

I suppose if Prose could comment about this whole server check went-wrong and could tell us the news he's secretly holding; heck, maybe even comment about when to get Leafre, let alone 4th job; I think that would help a lot, for now.

I'm sure you've seen the notice by now.

You mentioned that the idea of boomers multiplying was inspired by Tribbles from Star Trek. Are there any other inspirations drawn from Star Trek? Particularly, Versal reminds me a lot of the "Mirror Universe" of Star Trek. Would that be a valid comparison?

Talk to O-Pongo. =)

I mean when the time comes to head to Versal will the main plot just be centered around 1 town after you enter Versal or will there be more than 1 town and area, showing the "Mirrored" version of some areas. And will Versal be a Mirrored Masteria or a Mirrored Victoria Island?(Versal Mushmom reference but it's possible for her to be somewhere other than a mirrored Henesys).

Well, I'm not going to answer anything specific to Versal, but I'll say what I said a while back. There is a long-term plan for Masteria, and we'll do our very best to ensure that it's awesome.

2) How have you and the other developers been?

Working hard. =)

I think we'll get Happyville ^^.

Safe Bet. =)

Any changes you are excited about?

Actually, yes. There are a few, but as usual, I can't talk about them till they're released, However, the "White Christmas" Quest in-game should be fun for you guys.

Do you think the community will be blown away by next years content?

We certainly hope so. =)

Overall, based on the communities response, was Nexon successful in what they released this year? If not, is there a lot of thought being put into how to remedy the issues next year?

Overall, I'd say yes. We've done many things: nix hackers (Joe's ginormous Banhammer), improve the Economy for more affordable equips and training, New Areas implemented, and making the path from 1-70 easier. So next year, we'll do our best to take MapleStory to a new level.

What was your favorite addition to the game this year?

Celestial Staff. This is the other favorite weapon by the way. Pet - Jr. Reaper. Lovable Little Devil.

What are you most hoping for in your stocking this year?

A temperpedic bed. Since I am my own Santa, I like those odds.

Leaf Crystals last for 12 minutes not 20 as said in the descritopion. I tested it multiple times. Are they supposed to be 12 or 20 minutes duration?

12 Minutes. We'll see if we can adjust that one.

# Any "suprises" for the end of the year?

Yep.

And now, a non-'in-game' question. Will we see real life events where we get to 'party with GMs' and you guys tour around the country?

LIke a fan-fest? Not my area, but it would be interesting and fun. Although those of you who play Street Fighter would leave sad after our match =).

Is Icebyrd Slimm Nexon America's Representation of YOU?

Lol, nope. I don't draw or sketch. Design = Game Design. We have two very talented artists for sketches.

Is Maple Claws going to pay the little Maplers a visit along with the renovation of Happyville we've heard so much about?

Yep.

Give me 4th job, and I'll level to 140 in two weeks soloing Hime without 2x exp. Current level is 129. Mark my words.

We'll see. =)

Well, been great talking with you all, I'll be back eventually, just not for the near future. That being said, enjoy the game. It's only going to get better from here on out...thanks for playing and see you around. =)

NxProse Wrote:Is there going to be any new equips for the non-nx users? It's disappointing to see that you've made thousands of new stuff for the cash shop, but not one free to use equip for maplers.

100% false. You just haven't got them yet =).

NxProse: July 7th, 2008 Wrote:Hola,

As you have noticed, this thread is currently locked, mainly because it isn't the 8th yet. =)

But so we avoid some issues that popped up last time, here are a few ground rules:

1) Keep it civil. Opinions aren't wrong, just make sure they're typed coherently so everyone understands what you want to say. Well-veiled flaming earns nothing.

2) "When are Pirates coming?" Since some people will ask this question, I'll answer it now: when we announce it. =)

3) "When is X coming?" These usually will result in a pass, as specifics aren't given out.

In general, it is best to ask questions that don't fall under the NDA and make the Yeti upset. Broad strokes. Also, to avoid the massive build-up of questions, after I post the Masteria teaser for the day, I'll answer questions for an hour or so in the thread, and then it will be locked again until the next Masteria teaser is posted. It won't be daily, but will be on a regular basis.

__________________________________________________ _________________________



Fire Away. I'm here. =)

NxProse: July 8th, 2008 Wrote:Masteria or Ossyria?

Good pizza or good burgers? Both leave you satisfied. With all the effort put into that fantastic place, it'd be rather arrogant to say Masteria
at this point. Maybe in a few years, the players can decide that for themselves. =)

What level range is the new Masteria expansion for?

Lowest monster is 45, highest is 120.

Did the Bronze Sack you guys release do any good for the economy like you guys planned? Will you continue to sell them in the future?

We're still evaluating it, so we'll see.

Does the recent iTCG code items have anything to do with the new content?

Story-wise, yes.

Any Party Quests involved?

Maybe. =)

When is the next Content Test Server sign up going to be?

For Masteria, there isn't going to be one. Everyone is going to experience the update at the same time. =)

why was Maple Island altered?

To make it easier for beginners to start out and get into the game.

Has anyone thought of porting maplestory to linux? There is a fairly large base of maplers that use linux and are interested in playing but
face extreme difficulty doing so.

No, this isn't something we're pursuing at the moment, but in the future, you never know.

Has anyone toyed with the idea of a new major boss? Something a little superior to krexel while at the same time being in the same league as horntail, zakum, pianus, and papulatus.

I will say this, my ideal boss fight is more similar to the Amorian Challenge. Not exact, but the same ideals of strategy, attacking, and dodging.
Thinking under pressure is always an excellents way to gauge how good you are. =)

I'm glad to see that you solved the problem with windowed mode (i've seen dxwnd running around since 06') so that leads me to are you going to create original software like that in the future?

We're always looking into different ways to play the game, so just stay tuned. =)

Will there be new content for higher lvl players (lvl 120+) to enjoy in this next patch?

Yes.

How long has it taken for the development of the Masterian Expansion?

A long, long time. It'll be worth it! =)

Will we expect to see future locations in Masteria in a faster pace? (Not once every year =X).

Well, the key is not once per year, it's how many areas you actually get. That said, good stuff takes a while =).
I'd love to do one a month, but that isn't really feasible. Once you see the new area and the scope, you'll understand a bit better.
[B]We wanted a lot more than just a new background. =)[/B]

Will the new area be any good for mages in general?

See the Logo in the other post. =)

Have 2hour 2x Cards been discussed? I can find a 2 hour playing window but I can’t usually find the time for 4 hours. I think 2 hour cards would be far more practical and flexible and suit casual gamers like me much better.

We discuss a lot of things, but nothing concrete yet.

You've mentioned before that high level content is hard to design. Making me feel like you guys are cooking up something unique and challenging, not just higher level monsters with more hp. Are you satisfied with the progress your team is making on future high level content? I hope we're not waiting in vain.

It's trickier, but you are not waiting in vain =). We're pretty confident that it will be a true test of your skills.

Do you like Pirates or Ninjas more?

Ninjas.

About the masteria map (image) it seems that the map show a part of the continent, we are going to get the other parts of the continent?

It would be nice to visit those areas, wouldn't it?

will there be new weapons? for all classes

That logo really does say everything.

what lvl is your masteria favorite unreleased monster?

The *Yeti Smash!*.

I was wondering if you guys would ever consider cutting Axe and BW users some slack by giving them a weapon up to par with swords that they can use in higher levels, maybe one with a fast attack speed like the Ribgol sword, or any other bonus to give Axe and BW users a pat on the back. It doesn't have to be remarkable, just something to keep the motivation alive.

This is fair point, and you guys are important, and we do have some stuff that balances it out in-game, so we'll defeinately keep you guys in mind for the future.

In comparison to the first part of Masteria, how would you rate this upcoming release of Masteria? Better, worse...

Bigger is always better. =)

Do you plan to add more areas in Masteria that we still don't know about?

Heheh...there's always stuff to add!

What are your goals for the remainder of 2008 like?

Basically, make this year the best that Maple has seen. We've added a lot, and it's only going to get better.

How do you put up with people's insults towards your job,and towards the company as a whole,and still find some sort of enjoyment out of your occupation?

That's easy. If you make a couple million players smile and a couple thousand frown, you enjoy the smiles and see what needs to be done to get the others to join them.
We aren't always perfect, and we do make mistakes. Even so, people enjoying something I created is what gets me out of bed in the morning.

Some are ranting one how pirates are gonna be censored due to the "guns not fitting into the E rating", would it be "edited" to fit the rating?

I'll say this: My Yeti laughs well everytime he sees a thread like that.

What are some of your favorite obscure shows?

Firefly, NY Undercover...the Mysterious Cities of Gold.

Is the annoying return scroll disablement in Masteria there for something, or is it just for laughs?

Nope, it's there for a reason. Eagle-eyed sleuths can probably deduce this once they finish the new quests.

did you readded aqua seraphim to cash shop because u were fixing the bug of the pole arms/spears having wrong animation?

Yep.

Just one question. What is "X"?

"Anything specific". We don't give dates. =)

what's your opinion on the new KMST area, the Time Temple? It looks awesome and it'd be neat to see what the team at Nexon America thinks of it.

Heh, everything they make is awesome, so there you go.

What goes through your minds when making a map?

Out of order, navigation, new wrinkles, intent, mobs, playability, overall scope are a few.

Why did this company recieve an F from the BBB?

We basically had to contact them and show them we responded to the inquiries. It's a BB now.

Are Masteria's graphics done in-house or do you guys send the concept art to Nexon Korea for processing?

Concept Art here, sent for in-game design.

So, will Nexon America add special Nexon America features? For example, something not tested/made in Nexon Korea?

The Masteria/Amoria updates are an example of this. There is stuff there that doesn't currently exist anywhere else.

My Skunk, he wants to go there so bad! Maybe open the doors for him

Who said its a door? =)

That person... looks a lot like John Barricade. Might this be his brother Jack?

They do look alike don't they? In due time, this one will be answered.

And, lastly, pepsi or coke?

Neither. Tropical Punch FTW.

Which side (of NLC) will the expansion be on?

As Beyonce would say...to the left.

are there any plans to fix the disconection problem that marksmen have when doing over 100k with pierce?

We're looking into it.

NxProse: July 8th, 2008 Wrote:Misread one of the questions:

"Will there be any content for Level 120 players in the next patch?"

In this area, yes. Next patch, no.

No Masteria content is coming in the patch tonight. =)

NxProse: July 11th, 2008 Wrote:Fire away. I have some time today.

NxProse: July 11th, 2008 Wrote:Can I call you Percy? I asked you again. <3

LOL. You can call the Yeti "Percy".

I'm just wondering what's the gap between the level 120 monster, and the next highest monster?

You'll see on release day. =)

And can you give us hints on whats gonna happen on the next part of summer break updates?

Other than we're packing a lot into the next update, not really. Not just the next patch, the rest of the year has stuff that we're pretty excited about.

Oh, also, any word on a further compensation on guilds as -Hime- had said before?

We apologize again for that.
I know we bumped the amount of GP for the Guild PQ, but not that many people knew about it at first.

6.What does the new claw look like if there is one?
Hypothetically speaking, if such a claw existed, I would not be allowed to to tell you how awesome it looked.

Do the quotes you gave us actually give out any hints, or are they randomly selected quotes? Perhaps the numbers of the Maplers sent in to fight the "thing" have something to do with the numbers mentioned in the Enigma Chamber?

Ah, not bad. There are usually hints within the text. While the numbers don't apply to the Enigma Chamber, this is the type of thinking that will lead to success in Masteria. Think outside the box. =)

Have any of you thought in make a quest in masteria that give a skill as a reward?. (I mean, a skill made in GMS just like KMS made begginer, and legendary skills but that people can get through a quest in masteria).

We've talked about a lot of things, but anything like that requires a lot of work. I always find it interesting to see some horribly inaccurate
pictures of the development process. If it was only that easy.

About how long does it take for you guys at Nexon America to have to draw/make-up a single map in Masteria in general?

Depends on the map. Maps always take a large chunk of time, especially these. =)

Will there be a party quest like the Amorian Challenge?

See previous answer about this.

will masteria be as big as vic?

Again, you can answer this for yourself in few years. The area is built for multiple expansions though.

w/e happened to versal?

Hmm. If I tell you, it'd be like spoiling your steak dinner with a bagel. You'll find out eventually.

Will the drop rate of the jungle lilies ever be increased

We're looking into a way to get a better rate of Level 80 Taru stuff out there.

But how is it possible for the Bosshunters to fight Papulatus if Pap Broke through the dimension about 2 years ago?

Heh, that particular iHint is meant to show what you can make and who to fight. Don't read too much into it. =)

Any plans on making a strong boss that is weak to Elements? Some people have talked about a boss favoring Magicians would become immune to everything except a certain element for short periods of times, much like Zakum uses wDef Ups.

We've talked about similar ideas, so you'll have to wait and see what comes.

will there be more ways to access masteria? im often in aqua road and i hate to rely on a nlc mule to get my potions.

We've thrown around some ideas, nothing concrete yet. We'd like to make such any possible alternate route interesting though.

NxProse: July 22nd, 2008 Wrote:How many more updates will be in the topic about the chronicles of masteria? and could you please tell us when you'll update it?

Pretty much whenever I have time. The one on Patch Night will probably be the biggest.

Will you guys maybe consider makeing joypad/controll for MapleStory? Much more comfortable with a controll on my hands <3

Indeed. We've talked about implementing this, and personally, I don't really mind adding it. If we do, we'll definitely announce it.

Nexon online shop? Selling T-shirts, plushies, keychains etc?

Another thing we've talked about, nothing concrete yet for the near future. I know that many, many, many people would like a plushie, though.

I've seen that JMS and MSEA have made new mounts for events, is there any chance that we might see new mounts in the Masteria Expansion? I, for one, would love a Headless Horseman's horse mount...

Hmm. I will say something new is in the works, mount-wise. Zip it!

I know that KoreaMS had a different version of the Mansion for their halloween event, and it sported a short little PQ. I had an opportunity to do that and it was pretty fun, though i never understood its purpose. Might there be a chance of merging this PQ into our own version of the mansion?

We're working on something interesting this Halloween. =)

While Crimsonwood Keep always has been my most favorite of the hinted expansions, (I suppose mostly because of the veil of mystery that has slowly been lifted since the TCG came out.) I remain curious if some of the other areas we've heard of might also be packed in to this expansion, such as the Yetinx, Affluent Tower, or Krakia? (A simple "yes" or "No" will suffice for this question, I know you can't give details.)

None of the areas you mentioned are directly expanded in the new update. As far as Maps go. This answer will become clearer once this chapter is completed.

With the Amoria map laid out, there doesn't seem to be much room there for anything else. Would you say that, more or less, Amoria is in a finalized state?

Nope. We haven't forgotten about it, just taking a bit longer to build what we have in mind. And just because its not on the map, doesn't mean it won't be there. Wink

Also, will there be any bowman friendly bosses in future?

Let's just say you'll have to work together a bit more for the new areas.

Will the keep have hidden streets? Surely an awsome keep must have a load of secrets.

Hidden things? Oh yes. There is something to be said about paying attention to detail.

In the future with masteria is there going to be major economic shifts as seen with NLC and their massive glove att and illbi deflation?

We're anticipating a few things, yes. Perhaps nothing as drastic as with the NLC potions, but we have expectations.

Any hints on Masteria things after Crimsonwood Keep?

When they're available, do the quests. Movie

Side note, we're interested to see how much you enjoy the new music...

Quote:oh im curious what time is your business hours?

Normal Business hours: 9am -6pm. Of course, we have to stay late for patches, work etc, so it can vary.

Are you going to release anymore new leaf city content?

Yep.

In Maple whats your favorite weapon and why?

White Fangz and the Crimson Arcannon. Both are nice to me, though I have a soft spot for the bow.

will you guys ever fix the aqua road glitch?

We've actually addressed this one before, just tricky to eliminate once and for all. Believe me, we can't wait to get rid of it either.

Quote:Heh, I'm fairly sure no one actually knows its open...Stick out tongue

nethescania made a fun appearance will that gm come to play with us again?^^

Keep your fingers crossed, you never know. =)

how come nexon decided to push back the FREE BAN!! day? it seemed really nice.

Just some more stuff to prepare, we're still doing it, and will announce details when everything is ready to go.

does the gm's monitor things that goes on normal gameplay? like the super megaphone battles.

Yes. Keep in mind that we have a very, very large community. =)

Last time I checked (which was like a couple of months ago), it wasn't updated. Will you or have you updated the list again?

That would be a long list. I know we've talked about it in the past, but I'm not sure if we're goig to update it in the near future.

Will you ever allow weekend volunteer moderators on the forums?

Again, talked about, but nothing concrete at this time.

Can you give me some tips on how to talk to girls in real life, and not be a nerd that plays maple story all day?

Be yourself and find someone who likes you and games.

Can we have a super awesome ask a GM thread like this one on the Combat Arms forums?

Wouldn't hurt. We're got some stuff in the works in terms of being more open, but I'm not sure how that will materialize yet.

Do you know the meaning of life?

Heh, this is a more interesting question, as it varies from person to person. For me, I believe the meaning of life is to do what makes you happy so long as it doesn't cause harm to someone else. I also believe in the constant pursuit of knowledge. Also, life would not be complete without pie.

Quote:Heh. Hime's at the other end of the office, and I'm sure you can ask her yourself one day. =)

Well, before I go, I'll make a few notes about tonight patch:

Pirates - You now have rewards for Cleaning the Streets quests, as well as the quests in Amoria.

Valentine Day will have some nice changes for Amoria.

Finish your Masteria quests. Soon.Wink

Quote:*returns*

Ok, give me a moment to get caught up, and we'll get some answers...

Firstly, I was curious as to some of the process that goes into making Maple Story. What programs do you use to create the backgrounds and characters, and the programming behind it. I can understand if it's a trade secret.^^

Actually, I think Min (aka best boss ever), has an interview on Gamasutra where he talks about some of that. I can say that on our end, whenever we design something for a new area, we use a lot of common tools, quest scripts in word, that sort of thing.

Second, I have a quest from Maple Island that is uncompleteable under my "In Progress" tab on the quest log, is there any way that it can be removed? I'm a bit of a completionist and it's really bugging me to have it on there, especially since the quest no longer exists. xD

I'm fairly sure I know which one you're talking about. We're doing some more work in terms of both bugs and hackers, so we can get down to the more fun stuff.

Thirdly...ah yes! Captain Latanica. I'm sure you hear thousands of questions about the guy, but is what's currently happening with the portal intentional or accidential? You know, the portal basically "locking" after entry until a server check.

See above. We know it exists, and we're working on it. Sit tight, all that waiting won't be in vain.

Will this change and the classes be more balanced when it comes to making areas and designing and/or translating content?

Well, I'm sticking to what I said, essentially, some of the classes that didn't see as much of a benefit will be needed in the future.

Does "reporting" actually work?

Yes. Our GM's investigate them, just realize that its thousands of requests. =)

I am from New Zealand but find it very hard to relate to many things in the game due to timing. I heard there will be Maple story released for New Zealand and Australia coming soon but I have been playing since beta - will there be a way to transfer your account when this is released as I don't want to start all over again.

Can't say anything about what region is getting what version, as that's not my area.

So many people in NZ play Maple story but we dont have the itcg cards and other products that you sell - will we ever see these in NZ?

Not my area, although I personally want to see our games and products everywhere.

As you can see, my questions are to the prevention of hacking, and to the banning of hackers. Hackers are ruining MapleStory, and it's frusterating to see this.

Completely understandable. While I can't say anything about a timeline, we are looking into a few different solutions.

As a quester my ETC inventory is pretty much full, are we going to need the Omni Key or Sand Bandit Badge down the road at all, or am I safe chucking them xD?

You can toss the Omni Key.

What happened to Content Testing? Many people are wondering about it. Why did you close Tespia, and will it open again anytime soon? Testing contents before they were released on the Main Servers not only was funny, but it was also useful because we could report bugs and let you guys fix them before patching the official servers. I know you're hiring testers right now, but why doing it when you could've opened Tespia again for the latest patches and let users test the contents for you, and for free? Please reply to my question, because I'm asking myself that for a long time now. You can see I also made some posts about the question.

Well, here's the deal with Tespia. When we opened it, our original thinking was that we'd be able to catch a lot more with the community involved and reporting things. So, typically, we'd get a few thousand reports. However, when we actually went through them individually, we got stuff like:

"OMG. I got selected."
"How do I become GM?"
"fix it"
"My ticket didn't get answered."

So, for every useful bug that we did get, we'd get around 40-50 bugs like above. So, we looked into it more, and found that only a handful of people were actually testing. So when you're dealing with thousands of potential reports, the return has to be enough for you to keep maintaining it. It takes manpower to maintain essentially 2 servers every test period, and the bottom-line is we didn't get enough legit reports for us to continue--at that point, we already knew that CWK would be experienced by everyone at once, so we made a decision to close it for the time being. Will it ever come back? Don't know for sure, but that's why its closed for now. Hope that clears things up.

Are you guys going to put The Knights of Cygnus into Global MapleStory THIS year?

No comment. =)

Q: Why did Nexon release a Lunar Event(mind of maple) that would require NX use in order to upgrade an item(Mind of maple necklace) which expires after what I think is a short time...I thought the events were meant to offer players WITH or WITHOUT NX to join in the fun of the event??

You still can do the quests, etc so far as I know.

Q: When can we expect to see the expansion of Masteria's CWK?

Soon. I'll say this now, past the actual madness we have planned for the adventure within, there's plenty of other stuff there, both overt and covert. And its not as big as the first expansion, but it is more intense.

1) Don't want to be mean but what was up with the animation "gltiches" with just about every monster in Crimsonwood Mountain/Phantom Forest? I'm mean look at it, Firebrand, Windraider, Strombreaker, Nightshadow, Elderwriath, Bigfoot, Crimsonwood Guardian all had (and still have....) animiation errors. But were some of them intentional? I mean it's annoying at times, like Elderwrith, Hit it, takes a long time to respond(compared to just about any monster outside the area) and is invincible when getting knocked back. The Curupted soilders (E.X Windraider) all react to knockback later than they should.

Well, let's just say we wanted to try something different, and obviously, it hasn't worked quite the way we envisioned it, so these will be addressed shortly. =)

2) Have you taken trainning spots into concideration when it comes to making content? I mean, Crimsonwood Mountain/Phantom forest does have some spots (Notable Crimsonwood Gaurdian, Leps, Windraider after exp buff and Typhon) but there really isn't much after that, especially with the mixed spawns with the monsters having different experience and hp. Heck, does Crimsonwood guardian drop equips? (never heard of this that's why I'm asking) Your doing a nice job adding the platforming element to Maplestory but don't forget about trainning spots too (which are lacking as a player approaches the Newtie/Skelegon level).

Of course =). Now that there's been some time, I've seen guides pop up (like SimplyBowman's) that explain how to train for the different monsters there to get the best exp. The two main things we wanted in that area were more fun training/gameplay, and being able to both solo and group for exp. Looking back on it, we accomplished that with some areas, while others might need a tweak or two to make them more functional.

1) In regards to Pirates, can we expect to see GMS made equips (weapons at least)? If so, how far off could it be before we set eyes on them?

Heh, you'll see.

2) With many of the equips being released through iTCG, with some being non-weapon (Face Stomper is not a weapon D Could we be seeing newer non-weapon equips later on as well?

There's some items that were never released that are pretty nice, and will be out soon enough.

3) In the CWK II expansion, many things and stories we have come to learn from the CWK I expansion should be coming to a close, but will there be any over-arching story points that will not be finished completely with this expansion? Such as the story behind Christopher Crimsonheart.

Yes. You can already learn quite a bit via the quests, but there's two threads in particular that will be wrapped up. Also, I'd say to do some of the Magatia quests, they'll help explain parts of it. The world is built to encourage speculation, and sometimes, we like to let you put 2 and 2 together. I've seen plenty of other threads that have some speculation right, and other speculation wrong, but that's all part of the fun. That said, you'll get some more answers soon enough.

Before I go... How are we getting into that 7th day market? a NPC pops out of nowhere on Sunday?

Mimi will be to the left of the Free Market. Also, I saw all of your questions about the Monster Book, just not answering for the time being. =)

I just hope that as a 12x archer I'll actually be able to take damage from the monsters inside (unlike Crimson Guardians)

You'll be fine to a point--the deeper you go, the harder it gets. The amount of friends you'll have to bring will make sure you're fine. =)

I'm having a really hard time getting the Ancient Storybook to obtain the Concentrate skill. The book is really rare, and the only monster it comes from is Sharks...Is there any chance that Storybooks might drop from Crimsonwood Keep monsters, or we could have an event like the chest one which so greatly helped in lowering the prices of skill Mastery Books?

Well, I'll say that we know there are Mastery/Storybooks that are simply hard to get, and we'll be addressing some of that.

So here's a question for you guys, what kind of prizes do you like? We've given out a lot over the past few years, but does stuff like concept art appeal to you guys and gals?

NxProse, Feb. 13th Wrote:Can you say what level range the new party quest will be.

90-200. However, while you can go in at 90, the bosses there are all 4th Job and up status.

Will any of the new boss/s will be nice to mages

Well, let's say that elementals will be handy. Also, the only class that actually can't go are like, Beginners. If you exist, and are within the level range, you are needed. We're aiming so each class will have their moments during the PQ.

Whats going on with the hacker situation?

Basically, we never address with specifics because we're working on it. That's all I'll say.

What is going on with the forum error message message in correlation to people with high post counts?

Still working on this as well.

Will CWK2 ONLY be the PQ? I'm not a fan of playing with others, and it would be a real bummer if it were pure party quest. Besides, it's tiring training in leafre.

No, there's other maps there, but the main focus is the PQ.

When will Bob The Snail's quest be finished?

Ah, old Bob. Eventually is about the best I can do with this one. (tongue out)

Speaking of which, will the alchemy drops in magatia be removed or is the Maker skill to be released soon enough that removing them would be pointless?

While nothing will be divulged in regards to any future release, you're always better off keeping what you may find there.

Will we ever be getting Mu Lung Raid?

Hmm. Let's just say that part of our plan involves giving more content to the folks that can conceivably Boss Rush with the best of them. Stay tuned.

How much do you love time travelling?

Depends on the ship. (wink)

How many maps are there going to be in CWK 2?

We actually haven't counted. Less that the first expansion, it's 10+, but we don't count, say stages within a stage.

Any new weapons?

Yes. Capes too. Also, The Arclancer is being adjusted slightly.

What about monsters?

Mainly the bosses. None of which have been seen in any form, anywhere.

Why do some bosses have HP bars but others don't? For example, Zakum has an HP bar but Anego (female boss) doesn't. Even some/most area bosses have HP bars. I think it would be really helpful if bosses such as Anego & Horseman had HP bars.

Mainly just development time. Our aim is for them all to have it, it just takes a second to actually add them all, and do other stuff.

Have you guys thought about upgrading the GUI? I think a better looking interface would be cool (HP Bars, Level, etc)

Yep. We've done stuff internally, but none of that is really ready for live. Maybe down the road.

will the world ever know how many licks it takes 2 get to the center of a TOOTSIE POP?!

3 if you're a cartoon owl, 0 for me because gummy bears are made of win.

Is Big Bang 30 a glitched drop in GMS?

Just rare. We know it drops.

It is said Christopher Crimsonheart mastered all four classes, so I thought the statue was / represented him, but then I saw a gun. Two questions about that. Question in a question.. isn't it funny? Anyway, first one is: did you add the gun in the statue AFTER the release of pirates or was the sketch plan already like that? It looks like you added the gun after some time because you forgot to add something that represented the pirate job on it.

Not exactly. They weren't necessarily called Pirates at that time. If you're concerned about how exactly Pirates fit into the Keep, don't be. You'll know fairly soon.

Will there be new monsters that appear outside the PQ in these regular maps? Or will these maps be mostly populated by the current monsters?

Current. One of the things we noticed was people wanted more pure spawn maps aside from the caves, so think of the seperate maps as enemy guild halls.

Couldn't help but notice that giant statue had a pistol. I'm interested in how exactly have you guys worked Pirates into the crimsonwood lore. Any clues for this?

If you look at some of the other questions I've answered, yes. There's a fairly large connection that's been overlooked. Its logical, and doesn't require a massive leap. But relax, you'll know more when the time comes.

How much will we learn about Krakia, or some of the other potential Masteria areas, from this patch? will the gain of knowledge be comparable to Crimsonwood's initial release?

I'll say that you'll know a lot more after you beat the bosses, because it's not exactly the last stage. As for more, we're aiming for at least one big reveal, and several minor ones, but all that quest text might be added shortly after (it's purely dependent on time, but it will be there eventually). One of the features about Masteria is the big reward at the end of each, so all I can say is aim high, the reward and payoff is worth if you've followed the storyline.

First, are you planning on making Balanced Fury Throwing Stars rechargeable outside of NLC?

Nope. That's intended.

Thirdly, any chance you will give an easier method of obtaining Crimsonwood, i mena, there are 3 or 4 maps, with Crimson trees, and with the low droprate, and low spawnrate, collecting the hundreds it takes to make the weapons is really difficult.

We upped the drop rate last patch, and we know how long it actually takes. We're still evaluating if there need to be more trees, so if something is adjusted, we'll announce it.

NxProse Wrote:Is this "automatic defense system" just as lethal as the Menhirs surrounding the keep?

Heh. Well, I'm not sure if I've ever heard of a friendly defense system.

Are any etc. items that are available now needed for quests in the keep? (Has done all the CK quests! xD)

If you've done them all, then I wouldn't worry. There is one rather obvious thing, but I wouldn't worry too much about that.

Is the Jump Quest in the keep more difficult to overcome than the Valley of Heroes?

One would have to consider that JQ difficult. I'll say its more intense, but you'll be able to tell.
For reference, I consider Battletoads' Orb Race to be maddeningly impossible. So for ours, yes, it is hard, but it is not unfair.

There is a problem many players have with their accounts and trying to get married.

We know. We're working on a broad solution now, and we apologize that it's taken a while, but we are working on it.

Nexon's Vancouver department was closed, according to an article i read. Since that was based on "development" for new games, i was wondering if that also dealt with new content for existing games. CWK II has been in the works for a while, but would the closing of nexon vancouver affect future GMS developed content?

Yes, that was a sad day for us. However, all of the Masteria content is and was built here, so that won't affect future GMS updates.

Also, any chance that the Ticket system will be refined?

I know that our GM/CS manager looks at ways to improve that system all the time, and if something changes, you'll know.

I was wondering for a while what "No Mercy" meant exactly since you mentioned it in a question I asked you before. I have my ideas as to what it is but...is it related to the jump quest in the keep?

Nope, it's related to the entire PQ. For instance, puzzles. Twisted Switcher is around a 5 on a scale of 10. This one is harder. By the time you reach that level, you should be used to some stuff as well as be able to figure it out on the fly.
This PQ will put these skills to the test. Improvisation and Skill Utilization for Total Devastation.

I try to put 10 rules on my Guild BBS, but it gets cut off at the end of the 9th one. Will you be fixing that glitch?

Yes. Not this patch, but soon enough.

What is the point in having a Q&A if you're just going to dodge questions?

There are some questions that I can't answer directly, so that's part of it. I know it can be a tad frustrating sometimes, but some things, you just have to wait and see for. Hope that helps.

I expect we will have more "NLC" after CWK Update during this year, any clues as to whats next in the pipe line, that portal has been inactive on Pharoh Yeti since NLC came out.

Everyone wants to know what's in old Yetinx. We'll see.

Is it intentional that only Lith Harbor/Omega Sector has the Nautilus Port travel system (I.E. Taxi and the Portal)? Or will that be addressed "in due time"?

Due time. If we know its coming down the line, then we won't add a temproary one, as that would removed upon the other system coming. We can only get so much finished every 4-6 weeks, so a big part of that is Dev time.

Can we expect to see some skill book drops in the new expansion? Big Bang 30 and Genesis30 is a big problem right now. Neither drop as often or hackers ruin it for everyone to get. Your options are: You'll see =), Yes, No, or "Interesting...I cannot say, but I'm hinting for something big".

I'll say that we know that there are storybooks, skillbooks and mastery books that are exceedingly rare, and that we're going to address some of that.

And I plan to go to college and hopefully train to my dream of working at NEXON (Seriously! Flame me all you want people. I LOVE IT!). Any tips for me (and you can't say look at the website!)?

Be willing to learn and have a sense of humor.

NxProse Wrote:Are there any specific class skills that will be needed in the PQ?

Each class/sub-class has a specific skill for use in the PQ. Don't worry about this too much, as the skills themselves are pretty common. For instance, for an Ice/Lightning Mage, you'd need Ice Strike. However, its not quite that simple is regards to where/when you use it. More will be revealed in time.

And are the prizes something we'll want again and again? Or is it something that once you've earned the pirze you wont need to do the PQ anymore, just for fun.

The prizes, shall we say, can vary. There's Boss Drops and a Vault, so you'll keep coming back for rewards and fun.

Could you explain more what kind of ship (time travelling)?

Nope. =)

Are there any plans for higher level content ( like 4th job+ such as an equip to further boost AM's (arcmages ) power such as elemental wands/staffs?

Yes.

How do you pronounce the name, "NxProse"?

N - X - Prose.


And...that's all for now everyone. Enjoy the 2x this weekend and have fun!

Nexon America Wrote:
Released pieces (left to right; top and bottom)
Part 1: 3/6 (Facebook); Part 2: 3/7 (Basilmarket); Part 3: 3/8 (Twitter); Part 4: 3/9 (Facebook)

Nexon America Wrote:[video=youtube;qtxVm645JaU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtxVm645JaU[/video]

Nexon America: 3/12/2012 Wrote:

The Stirge of All Alienkind

Stirgeman’s Call to Action



The Bigger Ben clock tower pitched as Stirgeman raced across its roof. He was almost there, almost to the tower’s edge. Tiles buckled under his left foot, but Stirgeman was quick. He jumped, throwing all of his might into one powerful leap.

He soared through the air like a robust eagle, his manly belly jiggling with fire, and hit the platform hard. The ground moaned as it shook once more. Stirgeman steadied himself and pulled out his telescopic Stirge-noculars.

The mayor, Icebyrd Slimm, was organizing the masses. Jack Masque, the miscreant masked crusader, was helping a group of shaken old ladies. Lita Lawless was yelling orders to her deputies. Stirgeman’s ever-loyal sidekick, Rob, was...running full-speed out of town?!

“Rob!” he yelled, “My paragon of friendship! Where are you going in our town’s time of need?!”

His most trusted ally was taking the coward’s way out! Stirgeman’s heart tore in two. To protect the city he loved more than any gourmet hamburger in Maple World or to follow after his dearest friend?

“Why, cruel fate?!” Stirgeman thrust his fists into the air. “Will the trials of Stirgeman never end?!”

“That chubby guy in the cape is yelling at the tower!” yelled a hooligan from the street below.

“He must be causing this! Let’s throw rocks at him!” yelled another.

Stirgeman’s decision was made. He ducked and weaved as a hail of pebbles rained over him.

The earthquakes were subsiding. Stirgeman would return when the criminals came out to prey on the weak. New Leaf City would never understand how much it needed him, its guardian, but he would never stop protecting it.

He bounded toward the Masteria fields, where he had seen Rob moments before.

Rob’s Time to Shine



I shoulda called Stirgeman to help me! Rob thought as he peered out at the strange worksite below him. I’m not ready to take on a bunch of aliens!

The gangly figures that walked amidst the site had large, glassy eyes that made it hard to tell where they were looking, and their strange, squeaky language sent a shiver down his spine.

Rob pressed himself against the ground. The aliens might see him if he tried to leave, but sitting here was a surefire way to get caught up by their patrols. He was so swept away by the strangeness of it all that he didn’t even notice when Stirgeman trampled up the trail behind him.

“Rob! The city is in danger and I find you here practicing your fauna identification?!”

“That’s not what I was doing, Stirgeman! Get down or they’re gonna—“

Sirens drowned out the rest of his words. Rob and Stirgeman stood dumbstruck as the spotlights swung toward them and a horde of beanpole beasts from beyond the stars merged on their position.

They were trapped with only one route left...

“We’ll win this day together, Stirgeman,” Rob said.

“We will indeed, my forever-friend.” Stirgeman replied, “And it shall be the greatest battle in the history of Maple World.”

The Greatest Battle in the History of Maple World

Space Memo Number: 0094488503-30-04
Subject: New Prisoner Report

We’ve made first contact with the bizarre beings of this planet. We now have two in custody. For the time being, we’re calling them “Maplings,” but we will soon reach consensus on a name that’s more descriptive, like “Headmonkeys” or “Goblinfaces.”

There was some minor surface damage to the Galacto-Drill during their capture. The Goblinfaces proceeded to throw pebbles and twigs at it for approximately three minutes, resulting in a dented fender. Gleebor, the Galacto-Drill mechanic, assured me he would have it fixed within the hour.

I stuck them in the Cell of Everlasting Itch earlier this evening after our mining operations caused minor seismographic anomalies in a nearby city. The Headmonkeys were dressed strangely, in masks and capes that we assumed to be symbols of shameful surrender but are now believed to be outfits of war.

I’ve been watching them for the better part of an hour and I’ve discovered some interesting things. Their odd grunting is a form of rudimentary speech, which I’ve programmed into the universal translator.

The two Maplings call themselves “Stirgemanandrob.” They seem to identify themselves as a sort of collective organism. Perhaps these Maplings are a hive-mind race similar to the Buggonian Brood of Roachikon VI? I’ll begin dissection as soon as I get my lab privileges back (and that “How to Dissect Foreign Species” guide I was promised when I signed up for this job).

I believe we have nothing to fear from these Maplings. Their oversized heads seem to have no bearing on their intelligence, and their technology is primitive at best. We will take their precious Lianium Ore and leave their planet a hollowed-out shell!

I would also like to use this space as a reminder of my request for transfer away from guard duty. I am tremendously sorry for missing little Gloopglop Bleeperson’s Ceremony of Great Largening, but I feel my talents are being wasted on guarding deformed Maple Goblinfaces. I would be much better suited to piloting a Deathbot or being a movie star.

Reporter: Glorp the Guard
Galactic ID Number: 24601

http://maplestory.nexon.net/FunStuff/Articles.aspx?boardNo=406&contentNo=00Dig&pageIndex=1