Name: MapleStory

Company: Nexon

Established: April 2003 (Korea), May 2005 (Global), May 2007 (Europe)

How it Works: It requires the install of its own client and Direct X, and runs in its own app. Navigation is accomplished mostly via basic keyboard shortcuts and arrows, with some mouse-click for menus and interaction.

Overview: MapleStory is mainly classic MMO with some platform-style gaming elements mixed in-- it's unique in that it's a 2D sidescroller, rather than the usual three-quarter or first-person 3D environment. Users travel the various brightly animated fantasy worlds and defeat monsters, ideally in groups, to earn experience and goods. Players can also interact socially, participate in minigames and events, and even get married.

Payment Method MapleStory is free to play, and earns its revenue through microtransactions (prepaid cards are available at retailers like Target) and licensing-- Nexon has reported over $200 million in earnings.

Key Features
-Four different Job classes, with multiple sub-branches and levels therein
-Massive play area with multiple worlds divided into several regions
-Levies in-game virtual taxes

Useful Links:
MapleWiki
Gamasutra Q & A: Nexon Talks MapleStory
GM Blog

MapleStory: In-Depth Tour

Signup and set-up for MapleStory is relatively involved, with security in mind. First, you sign up for a username and password on Nexon's site-- some personal info is required. After receiving a validation code via email, you can activate your account. Next, download and install the MapleStory client, and when you input your username and password in the client when it runs, you will be asked to pick an additional 4-digit PIN.

After that, it's time to pick an avatar, against the backdrop of a large tree and vivid, peaceful music. Caveat -- your avatar's gender will be restricted to the one you indicated as your own when you signed up for an account, and it can't be changed. Starting sets are fairly limited, but MapleStory's avatars are highly customizable in terms of other accessories you can purchase or earn as you progress through the world. Cartoonish anime faces and wild hair on top of small bodies are the look, for a rather cute effect.

Once you've chosen, you can choose from a vast number of channels in the MapleStory world -- your channel choice isn't permanent as it is with some MMOs, so you'll be able to change channels to stay in touch with the friends you meet each time you play.

New characters arrive at the door to the Training Program inside a big hollow tree, where a cute NPC directs you inside. A brief popup instructs you to the basic controls first -- the mechanics of walking and fighting are basic keyboard, and the menus and shortcuts are largely self-explanatory. It'll feel very intuitive to the experienced gamer, while those less familiar can quickly learn.

Inside the training program, your character arrives in a full-body green seedling suit, complete with a little sprout on the hood. You're immediately introduced to the available jobs in the MapleStory world-- warrior, magician, bowman and thief-- as you ride a conveyor belt past movie screens that show characters demonstrating each job. Newbies must reach level 10 before they can choose a job, though.

Inside the training program, NPCs explain the basic game mechanics, like combat, item pickup and usage, while your fellow new trainees follow along. The training program is actually optional, but it's a good way for new players to get acclimated -- and you can even gain your first level or two by combating the practice monsters. When you gain a level in MapleStory, you allocate your own skill and ability points to various categories like hit points and strength; each job requires a base statistic in various categories, and with an accompanying guidebook for beginners already in your inventory, you can learn what these are and begin planning for the job you might like to do.

After the training program, your character starts off in a 2D sidescrolling world with platform elements-- moving from one end of the screen to another, you can hack and slash your way to greater levels alongside your fellow players, picking up whatever items your enemies discard. Although the screen often is crowded with many players edging for the same monster-hunting space, you can't actually pick up dropped items unless you were the one to make the kill -- however, after a period, the game seems to consider these abandoned and let you lift them if nobody else does.

While I was fighting a particularly strong snail in hopes of a big XP boost, another player leapt in and poached the battle from me. It's pretty evenly divided as to whether other players will respect your space or not, but I'd soon have my revenge on her -- moments later, she disappeared, and from the sky tumbled a tombstone with her ghost swirling around it. I'd just witnessed my first player death. Characters who die lose XP and are transported to the nearest town -- to recoup my own health as I battled, I had to find a snail-free patch of land, like a raised platform, to stand still for a while.

The Cash Shop is available from the main menu; it's the relatively new microtransactions store, and users can buy items that change the avatar's appearance or provide leveling bonuses. There are also pets, cute animals that can follow characters around and assist them -- and I saw quite a few users toting a cuddly pal. The in-game currency is different, though; called "mesos," the maple leaf-branded coins are used for other in-game purchases, like the cost required to register a guild. They seem to be a system of ensuring that less experienced players can't obtain high-level opportunities, as you'd need to kill a fair amount of monsters or complete a number of quests to obtain enough mesos to afford certain things. It also provides an additional incentive, beyond the level-grinding, to stay engaged with the heart of the gameplay -- the fighting, accomplished largely just by tapping the Ctrl key repeatedly.

The game also has a "fame" system -- once above level 15, characters may earn or lose fame, either allocated by other characters for their benefit, or on completion of quests. Fame, too, provides another incentive to keep accomplishing, as there are certain types of equipment that can't be had without adequate fame.

Characters may also play minigames for prizes by contacting various NPCs in towns; the Monster Card game, for example, requires that you collect cards dropped by monsters, and there are opportunities to play fishing games or even simple rock-paper-scissors.

Chat's not common in the monster areas, but some conversation does take place in town, along with announcements regarding who's doing what on which channel scrolling in the bottom of the window. I saw more than one wedding announcement -- MapleStory allows characters to get married if they fulfill a number of requirements beforehand, and they get rings, too. Buying a special ticket in the Cash Shop lets characters throw a party after the ceremony.

When you're done playing, exit the MapleStory world via a pop-up menu picked by mouse from the toolbar. When you login, you'll return to the character selection screen (MapleStory allows you to make more than one) and the character you pick will have its items and progress saved.

MapleStory: Conclusion

Maplestory's interface is pretty stable. I didn't have any issues getting tossed out of the server or having the client hang on me, which is a bit surprising considering the massive userbase. It's a bit slow loading, though, especially at logon -- still, only a minor issue.

The gameplay is somewhat limited. The primary element is definitely fighting monsters to gain stat boosts, what gamers call level-grinding, and the battle system is very simple; simplicity's a good thing, but this means your experience is essentially walking left to right tapping the Ctrl key to attack. On the other hand, though, the bright, colorful 2D sidescrolling environment with its adorably animated and unique overall look is a pleasant bit of nostalgia, putting one in mind of the sort of niche platformer titles that began to crop up everywhere during the 16-bit console gaming era. It feels, then, a lot like playing an old videogame, and that can be fun.

A lot like an old game -- except, of course, for the multiplayer element. You get a real sense of crowd in MapleStory, but not in a way that detracts -- it's fun to be one of so many users working for the same goals. But goal-focused the users are; to chat and combat at the same time isn't really practical, so you might be in a hunting area full of dozens of other players, none of whom speak at all. Chat in the town areas primarily revolves around in-game issues, and is succinct, generally. Socialization being relatively simplistic, it's fairly safe to surmise that most of MapleStory's players are young folks, tween-aged, perhaps -- though it's certainly occupying enough for older players to enjoy.

The most appealing thing about the MapleStory world is just how huge it feels. On the other side of that, though, the heavy emphasis on the stats and leveling system feels a little bit limiting, because you generally must meet certain requirements to expand your exploration, or be, at the very least, of adequate strength to take on a new area's stronger monsters. The barrier to entry, then, might be a bit daunting for the impatient -- new users can expect to spend at least a couple of hours leveling up on Maple Island, the beginner's area where all newbies start off, before they can choose their character's job and start branching out.

There's plenty, though, for the old-fashioned roleplaying gamer to sink teeth into -- each job class is distinctly different, and users can allocate their own ability points and customize which sub-branch of a job they choose to pursue.

The community of MapleStory, which has forums at the various MapleStory sites, seems very vocal and tight-knit. Kids rate one another's avatars, ask for in-world fashion advice, and even post personal ads ("IM LOOKIN FOR A GF"). They tend to discuss out-of-world issues too, from jokes and riddles to more serious requests for advice on how to talk to girls, or how to know whether a boy likes you. So while MapleStory may lack the complexity of more adult-looking MMOs, it's clearly a strong community for a broad age range of young people to play together.