MMO's two year anniversary kicks off with a month of special celebratory
events,
by Alexis Dunham
found at Game
Zone - Los Angeles, CA - May 7, 2007
Nexon America Inc., the U.S. division of
Asia's leading online game company Nexon Group, is proud to announce the two
year anniversary of its first massively multiplayer online (MMO) game release
in North America, MapleStory.
In-game festivities during the month of May include five coordinated events
awarding special prizes, and ample opportunities for the community to showcase
its collective talent with contests driven by user generated content.
MapleStory currently boasts more than three million registered users in North
America, making it one of the fastest growing massively multiplayer online
games. According to Xstatics, compiled by Xfire.com for the month of April,
MapleStory is fourth among the top ten MMOs currently being played online, and
15th among the top 20 PC games currently being played online.
"We would like to thank our 50+ million users worldwide and rapidly
expanding U.S. audience for helping us mark the two-year anniversary of
MapleStory in North America," says John H. Chi, chief executive officer
of Nexon America. "Nexon looks forward to celebrating MapleStory in the
years to come by providing even more innovative content and unique gameplay
for our passionate community."
Through the month of May, various anniversary events will take place in the
MapleStory universe in which community members can participate. The
"Massive Maple Item and Weapon Hunt" promotes an all-out hunt for
monsters carrying unique Maple Items and Weapons. The "Birthday Present
Blow-out" features cake and candle monsters designed exclusively for this
event carrying birthday presents for users based on their level. "Cody's
Quest" will offer users who complete the celebratory and birthday themed
quests an extraordinary and rare game item. In addition to these commemorative
events, special GameMaster events will take place in MapleStory each day
during the week of May 9-16. Finally in a special "thank you" to the
community, Maplers will be "Seeing Double" as experience points
(EXP) and drops will be doubled from May 11-31.
MapleStory will also offer players opportunities to submit content for future
in-game inclusion with three contests in the month of May. Building off the
success of previous fan art contests, players will be asked to capture the
spirit of MapleStory's 2nd Anniversary by uploading original fan art for
"Fan-tastic Art!" The Top three submissions will receive limited
MapleStory dolls, one converted poster of their fan art, and 100,000 Maple
Points. The "Design a Weapon" contest invites players to create a
new weapon design with one lucky user being awarded 50,000 Maple Points, the
privilege of naming the weapon, and the honor of having their new weapon
implemented into the game. Lastly, "It's A-A-A-L-L-I-V-E-E!!" will
allow players to design and name a monster to be brought to life in the game;
the winner receives a MapleStory doll and 25,000 Maple Points, in addition to
having their monster join the unique horde already featured in-game.
"There is no doubt that we'll see some very creative, funny, and
downright eccentric designs and artwork submissions from a community exceeding
3 million users," says Min Kim, director of game operations at Nexon
America.
Until May 16, all items in the cash shop will be on sale during the "Cash
Shop Sale" Players will be able to buy hip, popular items for 1,000 Nexon
Cash. Mysterious packages with a bonus 2x Exp cards will also be sold in the
cash shop for a limited time.
MapleStory continues to expand in North America as one of the fastest growing
massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPG). Averaging 45,000 new
registered users a week, the award-winning game is known for its robust and
active community with the ability to personalize game characters in endless
combinations. Filled with vibrant backgrounds and charming characters, players
interact with each other online through chatting, trading, mini-games, and
coordinated events. Groups of players can also ally together in parties or
guilds to socialize, hunt monsters, and venture through the immersive lands on
thrilling quests.
In MapleStory, players can purchase in-game apparel and accessories that
enable them to create unique identities, utilizing an innovative cash shop
system (microtransactions). These features are purely optional, and players
can try out items prior to purchase in virtual dressing rooms, ranging from
colorful outfits to fire-breathing pets.
As the pioneer of the microtransaction, or Item Selling business model, Nexon
has sold millions of virtual items worldwide through MapleStory and other hit
titles such as KartRider and BnB: Crazy Arcade. In 2005, Nexon Corporation
reported $250 million in revenue, driven primarily from millions of
microtransactions.
Free membership to our newsletter with
movie news, film clips and free tips :
Releases amazon mp3 Natassja, The Sweetest Girl, Returns with Feel-Good Sophomore
video game design
Film Clips lovers parents are always asking us what schools we would recommend
their children apply to if they want to learn how to make video games. The
Princeton Review's Top 50 Undergraduate Video Game Design Programs
kindle gift Amazon Sells More Kindle Books Than Real Books
MATERIAL
CONNECTION DISCLOSURE:
You should assume that David Norden, the creator of this website
has an affiliate relationship and/or another material connection to the
providers of goods and services mentioned on this page and may be compensated
when you purchase from him or a provider.
You should always perform due diligence before buying goods or
services from anyone via the Internet or offline. See also our earnings and privacy
updated disclaimers.