WC: Can you give our readers who are unfamiliar with the game a rundown on what it is?
Sure. MapleStory is a free two-dimensional, anime-inspired, side-scrolling MMORPG. It combines customizable characters, a vast game world, heavy socialization aspects (guilds, hunting parties) and simple game mechanics for a fresh, fun gaming experience. We're known for our quirky brand of humor in both quests and monsters-where else can you take on an enormous cake monster with your friends? We provide an atmosphere that encourages competition and friendship. A good way to think of it is as "Mario meets MySpace".
WC: How does MapleStory differ from more traditional Western MMOGs?
Well, one of the biggest differences is that MapleStory is free. It never costs anything to play; you just install the client, make your character, and start playing. We don't lock out content, nor do we charge for leveling up or anything of that nature. In addition to that, we also place greater emphasis on community and character customization. Want to look like a rock star warrior? Or maybe a fiendish magician or suave ninja? We root for you to do it. We believe games are most fun when played with friends, so we emphasize community development. The social experience in MapleStory is a massive part of the game.
What else makes us different? I touched on our monsters, and we're proud of them. We have some traditional creatures, like skeleton soldiers, and goblins, but we also have more humorous beasts, such as the pigs, the anniversary cakes, as well as a few odd ones, such as Pianus, which is our giant boss "Doom Flounder".
The game world itself is also very diverse. One of the things we do is add different areas on a regular basis. One minute you could be in the mountains, and decide to visit the beach, a lava-filled volcano, a futuristic city or a haunted forest. We really do have it all.
Customization, Exploration, Competition, Friendship, Freedom. That's MapleStory in a nutshell.
WC: You sell items in the game via microtransactions. How has the Western audience responded to that?
Extremely well. We offer a wide variety of items in the Cash Shop, from hair shop coupons to cool weapons to wedding tickets to pets. Overall, the response is great and hopefully will continue. We've got some exciting items in the works.
The Western audience is used to playing a lot of money up front before knowing whether the game is any fun or not. MapleStory players recognize microtransactions put the choice of spending money in their hands, which is a very value-driven option.
WC: How much does the average user spend on Maple Story in a month?
We don't share this level of information, but our prepaid cards are sold in denominations of $10 and $25. They are available in many major retailers including Target, BestBuy, 7 Eleven, Rite Aid, CVS, Duane Reade and others.
WC: Who's your target demographic? I've seen late night commercials on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim; are you aiming for the 18-24 demographic?
In a broad sense, our target user is someone who likes to play games and socialize online. Our largest age group for MapleStory is 17 and 18 years of age. Generally, we find that our games serve the teen market very well because they have been underserved. Our games our free which allows teens to engage in fun and meaningful online gami
