MapleStory
Encyclopedia
MapleStory is a free-to-play, 2D
, side-scrolling massively multiplayer online role-playing game
developed by the South Korea
n company Wizet
. Several versions of the game are available for specific countries or regions, and each is published by various companies such as Nexon. Although playing the game is free, some character appearances and gameplay enhancements can be purchased from the "Cash Shop" using real money.
In the game, players travel the "Maple World", defeating monster
s and developing their characters' skills and abilities as is typical in role-playing game
s. Players can interact with others in many ways, such as through chatting
, trading
, and playing minigame
s. Groups of players can band together in parties to hunt monsters and share the rewards and can also collaborate together forming guilds
to interact more easily with each other.
In July 2010, the Korean version of the game was completely revised in a patch named the "Big Bang". Other versions followed suit and have since received the Big Bang update. Later in the year, the Korean version received the Chaos update which introduces PVP (player-versus-player) and professions to the game.
. The controls for the game are executed using the keyboard
and mouse
. The keyboard is used for many game functions, and much of it can be rearranged to suit users' needs. The mouse is mainly used to trigger Non-player characters and manipulate items. Like most MMORPG
s, gameplay centers on venturing into dungeons and combating monsters in real-time. The players combat monsters and complete quests, in the process acquiring in-game currency called "Mesos", experience point
s, and various items. Players are able to acquire in-game professions allowing them to craft equipments, accessories, or potions.
Players have a variety of options when interacting with others online: They can form parties where loot and experience are distributed from a monster; in-game marriages where the game will recognize the two players as a heterosexual couple; guilds which is indicated with a guild's name listed under their character name; or families, a architecture gathering of juniors and seniors. Players are also able to raise or lower the in-game popularity stat entitled Fame of other players and compete with other players in minigame
s such as Gomoku
or Concentration
.
When creating a new character, there are four branches of classes
currently available: Explorers, Cygnus Knights, Heros, and Resistance. Some classes are currently not available in other versions.
Explorer characters start on Maple Island and begin as a Beginner class. When reaching level 10, 8 for Magicians, the Beginner is able to advance into one of the five classes: Warrior, Bowmen, Magician, Thief, and Pirate. After choosing their class, further class progression is only allowed within the scope of the first class advancement with advancements at level 30, 70, and 120. A class advancement called "Dual Blade" is available for the Thief class at level 20, allowing them to wield a second blade with different class advancements. Another class advancement called "Cannoneer (Global version)/Cannon Shooter" is available for the Pirate class at level 10, they wield Hand Cannons with powerful skills but they are very slow indeed.
Cygnus Knight characters begin as Noblesse class and begin their journey on Ereve. At level 10, they are allowed to class advance into five Cygnus Knight classes, each one parallels to the Explorer class. Upon reaching the level limit of 120, Cygnus Knights are able to change into a level 50 explorer with benefits.
Three Hero classes are currently available, Aran, Evan, and Mercedes. The Legend classes are characters with background stories related to the antagonist of the game, the Black Mage. Arans have the Combo System, a unique feature to the class, allowing them to generate combo counts by hitting monsters giving them buffs and allowing them to cast combo-consuming skills. Evans are similar to Magicians but use a dragon
which fights on their behalf. Mercedes has many of the similarities of an Archer but contains various speed improvements over the regular Archers.
Resistance characters begin in Edelstein, a town taken over by the Black Mage's followers. The characters created under the Resistance branch begin as Citizens and have four available job advancements: Battle Mage, Wild Hunter, Mechanic, and Demon Slayer. A Battle Mage uses a staff for physical attacks, a Wild Hunter rides a jaguar
while wielding a crossbow, a Mechanic uses a robotic suit to fight, and a Demon Slayer uses 'one-handed blunt weapons' while using the DF (Demon Force) system to use their skills.
, Malaysia.
s such as avatars
, digital pet
s, and other in-game items. Most Cash Shop items expire after a period of time. The Cash Shop also offers a shop permit, allowing players to set up a store in the in-game market location called the Free Market.
. An update named Ascension added many features such as party quests, and revamped the skills of classes; Warriors, Magicians, and Archers were changed the most.
is a game based on MapleStory and features a single player experience. The game was was released on April 15, 2010 in Korea.
The Japan
ese anime
, entitled , was adapted of the game and produced by Madhouse Studios. It was aired on TV Tokyo
between October 7, 2007 and March 30, 2008, spanning 25 episodes. The plot revolves around a warrior as he journeys to revive the world tree.
The North American publisher, Nexon released its a trading card game on November 6, 2007. Nexon Korea and Japan have since released similar Trading Card Games while Nexon North America has discontinued this service.
Two adaptions of MapleStory have been released for iOS by Nexon Mobile, the one called "MapleStory: Thief Edition" and the other called "MapleStory: Cygnus Knights Edition". The Thief Edition has only one job, thief, while the other edition features two jobs: a Soul Master and a Fire Wizard. The games do not have multiplayer.
On the 27th July 2011, Nexon released a public beta of a MapleStory Adventures
as an adaption for Facebook gaming format. The game consist of mainly single-player but incorporates the main goals and themes of the full MapleStory game which includes, creating an avatar, fighting monsters and completing quests.
revealed they earned over US$ 300 million from Maplestory. In Global MapleStory (GMS), more than a million players have bought items in the cash shop. MapleStory has a combined total of over 100 million subscribers worldwide. Maplestory Global has over 8 million users as of 2011.
2D computer graphics
2D computer graphics is the computer-based generation of digital images—mostly from two-dimensional models and by techniques specific to them...
, side-scrolling massively multiplayer online role-playing game
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
developed by the South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n company Wizet
Wizet
Wizet is a game development studio located in Seoul, South Korea, and is popular for its hit game, MapleStory. Wizet developed a franchise system and expanded its services to Japan, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, the USA, Europe, Brazil, and Vietnam...
. Several versions of the game are available for specific countries or regions, and each is published by various companies such as Nexon. Although playing the game is free, some character appearances and gameplay enhancements can be purchased from the "Cash Shop" using real money.
In the game, players travel the "Maple World", defeating monster
Monster
A monster is any fictional creature, usually found in legends or horror fiction, that is somewhat hideous and may produce physical harm or mental fear by either its appearance or its actions...
s and developing their characters' skills and abilities as is typical in role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
s. Players can interact with others in many ways, such as through chatting
Instant messaging
Instant Messaging is a form of real-time direct text-based chatting communication in push mode between two or more people using personal computers or other devices, along with shared clients. The user's text is conveyed over a network, such as the Internet...
, trading
Trade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
, and playing minigame
Minigame
A minigame is a short video game often contained within another video game. A minigame is always smaller or more simplistic than the game in which it is contained. Minigames are sometimes also offered separately for free to promote the main game...
s. Groups of players can band together in parties to hunt monsters and share the rewards and can also collaborate together forming guilds
Clan (computer gaming)
In computer and video gaming, a clan or guild is an organised group of players that regularly play together in a particular multiplayer games. These games range from groups of a few friends to 1000-person organizations, with a broad range of structures, goals and members. The lifespan of a clan...
to interact more easily with each other.
In July 2010, the Korean version of the game was completely revised in a patch named the "Big Bang". Other versions followed suit and have since received the Big Bang update. Later in the year, the Korean version received the Chaos update which introduces PVP (player-versus-player) and professions to the game.
Plot
Player's assume the roles of citizens in the Maple World with no specific objective to win the game and work on improving their characters' skill and status over time. The antagonist of the game, the Black Mage, was sealed away years ago by five heroes. Fearing his resurrection, Empress Cygnus enlisted the Maple World to join her Cygnus Knights in preventing his evil from returning. However, they failed and the Black Wings resurrected the Black Mage resulting in a cataclysm known as the Big Bang.Gameplay
MapleStory is a 2D scrolling platform gamePlatform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
. The controls for the game are executed using the keyboard
Computer keyboard
In computing, a keyboard is a typewriter-style keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches...
and mouse
Mouse (computing)
In computing, a mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held under one of the user's hands, with one or more buttons...
. The keyboard is used for many game functions, and much of it can be rearranged to suit users' needs. The mouse is mainly used to trigger Non-player characters and manipulate items. Like most MMORPG
MMORPG
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
s, gameplay centers on venturing into dungeons and combating monsters in real-time. The players combat monsters and complete quests, in the process acquiring in-game currency called "Mesos", experience point
Experience point
An experience point is a unit of measurement used in many role-playing games and role-playing video games to quantify a player character's progression through the game...
s, and various items. Players are able to acquire in-game professions allowing them to craft equipments, accessories, or potions.
Players have a variety of options when interacting with others online: They can form parties where loot and experience are distributed from a monster; in-game marriages where the game will recognize the two players as a heterosexual couple; guilds which is indicated with a guild's name listed under their character name; or families, a architecture gathering of juniors and seniors. Players are also able to raise or lower the in-game popularity stat entitled Fame of other players and compete with other players in minigame
Minigame
A minigame is a short video game often contained within another video game. A minigame is always smaller or more simplistic than the game in which it is contained. Minigames are sometimes also offered separately for free to promote the main game...
s such as Gomoku
Gomoku
Gomoku is an abstract strategy board game. Also called Gobang or Five in a Row, it is traditionally played with go pieces on a go board ; however, because once placed, pieces are not moved or removed from the board, gomoku may also be played as a paper and pencil game...
or Concentration
Concentration (game)
Concentration, also known as Memory, Pelmanism, Shinkei-suijaku, Pexeso or simply Pairs, is a card game in which all of the cards are laid face down on a surface and two cards are flipped face up over each turn. The object of the game is to turn over pairs of matching cards...
.
Characters
MapleStory characters exist in worlds or servers. Players are able to create multiple characters in each world though the characters in different worlds can not interact with each other. Each world is similar in content with each other and are divided into channels, among which characters are allowed to freely switch. The ability to transfer entire characters between worlds was added in December 2007 to Global Maplestory with restrictions placed on items.When creating a new character, there are four branches of classes
Character class
In role-playing games, a common method of arbitrating the capabilities of different game characters is to assign each one to a character class. A character class aggregates several abilities and aptitudes, and may also sometimes detail aspects of background and social standing or impose behaviour...
currently available: Explorers, Cygnus Knights, Heros, and Resistance. Some classes are currently not available in other versions.
Explorer characters start on Maple Island and begin as a Beginner class. When reaching level 10, 8 for Magicians, the Beginner is able to advance into one of the five classes: Warrior, Bowmen, Magician, Thief, and Pirate. After choosing their class, further class progression is only allowed within the scope of the first class advancement with advancements at level 30, 70, and 120. A class advancement called "Dual Blade" is available for the Thief class at level 20, allowing them to wield a second blade with different class advancements. Another class advancement called "Cannoneer (Global version)/Cannon Shooter" is available for the Pirate class at level 10, they wield Hand Cannons with powerful skills but they are very slow indeed.
Cygnus Knight characters begin as Noblesse class and begin their journey on Ereve. At level 10, they are allowed to class advance into five Cygnus Knight classes, each one parallels to the Explorer class. Upon reaching the level limit of 120, Cygnus Knights are able to change into a level 50 explorer with benefits.
Three Hero classes are currently available, Aran, Evan, and Mercedes. The Legend classes are characters with background stories related to the antagonist of the game, the Black Mage. Arans have the Combo System, a unique feature to the class, allowing them to generate combo counts by hitting monsters giving them buffs and allowing them to cast combo-consuming skills. Evans are similar to Magicians but use a dragon
Dragon
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
which fights on their behalf. Mercedes has many of the similarities of an Archer but contains various speed improvements over the regular Archers.
Resistance characters begin in Edelstein, a town taken over by the Black Mage's followers. The characters created under the Resistance branch begin as Citizens and have four available job advancements: Battle Mage, Wild Hunter, Mechanic, and Demon Slayer. A Battle Mage uses a staff for physical attacks, a Wild Hunter rides a jaguar
Jaguar
The jaguar is a big cat, a feline in the Panthera genus, and is the only Panthera species found in the Americas. The jaguar is the third-largest feline after the tiger and the lion, and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. The jaguar's present range extends from Southern United States and Mexico...
while wielding a crossbow, a Mechanic uses a robotic suit to fight, and a Demon Slayer uses 'one-handed blunt weapons' while using the DF (Demon Force) system to use their skills.
World
There are three main continents common to all versions in the MapleStory world: Maple Island, Victoria Island and Ossyria. Maple Island is where adventurers start off their characters. Victoria Island contains eight cities, and is where most classes begin. Ossyria seven distinct regions with varying environments: El Nath Mountains, Ludus Lake, Aqua Road, Minar Forest, Mu Lung Garden, Nihal Desert and Temple of Time. Ereb and Rien are separated from another land which is the beginning of another job of the game. The World Tour regions contain in-game versions of real life locations such as Zipangu, SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Malaysia.
Cash Shop
The Cash Shop is an in game shop where players use real-life currency to purchase unique virtual goodVirtual good
Virtual goods are non-physical objects purchased for use in online communities or online games. They have no intrinsic value and are intangible by definition....
s such as avatars
Avatar (computing)
In computing, an avatar is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character. It may take either a three-dimensional form, as in games or virtual worlds, or a two-dimensional form as an icon in Internet forums and other online communities. It can also refer to a text...
, digital pet
Digital pet
A digital pet is a type of artificial human companion. They are usually kept for companionship or enjoyment. People may keep a digital pet in lieu of a real pet....
s, and other in-game items. Most Cash Shop items expire after a period of time. The Cash Shop also offers a shop permit, allowing players to set up a store in the in-game market location called the Free Market.
History
MapleStory was developed and released in South Korea and was localized to ten different regions as of 2010. As other publishers license the game for their region, proxy blocks are put in place (excluding the Korean version, it requires an KSSN), forcing players to play their localized version. On July 7th 2011, LevelUp! Games announced that Nexon will not be renewing the contract for localization in Brazil.Updates
An update entitled Big Bang was released in Korean Maplestory in July 2010 with other versions following suit. Big Bang changed the games core coding, and changed many aspects of the game. An update entitled Chaos features the introduction of professions, and PvPPlayer versus player
Player versus player, or PvP, is a type of multiplayer interactive conflict within a game between two or more live participants. This is in contrast to games where players compete against computer controlled opponents, which is correspondingly referred to as player versus environment...
. An update named Ascension added many features such as party quests, and revamped the skills of classes; Warriors, Magicians, and Archers were changed the most.
Media adaptions
MapleStory DSMapleStory DS
MapleStory DS is a role-playing video game for the Nintendo DS. It is an adaptation of the original MMORPG game for Windows titled MapleStory. The game was released on April 15, 2010 in Korea, and was developed by Nexon and published by Nexon and Nintendo of Korea.-Gameplay:The player starts out...
is a game based on MapleStory and features a single player experience. The game was was released on April 15, 2010 in Korea.
The Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
, entitled , was adapted of the game and produced by Madhouse Studios. It was aired on TV Tokyo
TV Tokyo
is a television station headquartered in Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Also known as , a blend of "terebi" and "Tokyo", it is the key station of TX Network. It is one of the major Tokyo television stations, particularly specializing in anime...
between October 7, 2007 and March 30, 2008, spanning 25 episodes. The plot revolves around a warrior as he journeys to revive the world tree.
The North American publisher, Nexon released its a trading card game on November 6, 2007. Nexon Korea and Japan have since released similar Trading Card Games while Nexon North America has discontinued this service.
Two adaptions of MapleStory have been released for iOS by Nexon Mobile, the one called "MapleStory: Thief Edition" and the other called "MapleStory: Cygnus Knights Edition". The Thief Edition has only one job, thief, while the other edition features two jobs: a Soul Master and a Fire Wizard. The games do not have multiplayer.
On the 27th July 2011, Nexon released a public beta of a MapleStory Adventures
MapleStory Adventures
This article is about the social game for Facebook. For the original MMORPG game for Windows, see MapleStory. For the Nintendo DS game based on the original, see MapleStory DS. For the anime, see MapleStory ....
as an adaption for Facebook gaming format. The game consist of mainly single-player but incorporates the main goals and themes of the full MapleStory game which includes, creating an avatar, fighting monsters and completing quests.
Reception
In 2006, WizetWizet
Wizet is a game development studio located in Seoul, South Korea, and is popular for its hit game, MapleStory. Wizet developed a franchise system and expanded its services to Japan, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, the USA, Europe, Brazil, and Vietnam...
revealed they earned over US$ 300 million from Maplestory. In Global MapleStory (GMS), more than a million players have bought items in the cash shop. MapleStory has a combined total of over 100 million subscribers worldwide. Maplestory Global has over 8 million users as of 2011.