2013-03-04, 04:35 AM
I agree with a lot of what [MENTION=4235]KhainiWest[/MENTION]; said. As long as people continue to buy NX as per usual, the game will continue as per usual.
I long ago quit buying NX personally because I can't justify the expense for a game I genuinely hate a lot of the time. I'm well aware that the NX I buy with mesos continues to support them, but until GMS gets KMS' conversion system, I have no other option.
That's the one thing Khaini misses in his analysis by suggesting players will age out of the game and quit. There is simply no viable alternative for a 2D side scrolling MMO. MapleStory has no direct competition! There are dozens of p2p and f2p MMOs, but the vast majority are 3D and the few 2D games are too small to be any real competition. That's the real reason why MapleStory has continued to survive despite at best questionable business practices.
At the same time, I do have to give Nexon a lot of credit for the Hot Times, event shops, free cubes, etc. that they have come out in the last 6 months. For those willing to put in the effort, a lot of wealth can be accumulated through coin farming and intelligent investment in event items like Tempest rings/shoulders. Heck, the everyday hot time event gave out dozens of Protection scrolls, LDS, 20% clean slates, etc if you were willing to put in the time. I think that was unbelievably generous. When I say unbelievably, I really mean it. If I wasn't there for the event, I'd think it was a hoax.
To respond more directly to the OP:
1. Yes I still think that requiring skill books to be bought from the cash shop is unforgivably greedy. It violates the very sketchy principle that this game can even be played without paying. On the other hand, this is a relatively small amount of money and it's required for only a single class. I have a hard time getting upset about it anymore.
2. I don't think they're punishing the long time players. The very event that gave out 3-6k MP for returning players had a counterpart for active players. Active players got 2 free super miracle cubes! While not quite an equal trade, they weren't exactly giving us the shaft.
3. I was only around for 1 of the BigWig events. I thought the rewards were "meh". As a long time players, of course I would like to see Nexon reward us, but I don't feel the need to demand it.
4. OK wow. People really need to calm down about this whole character slot thing. I have gotten a total of 14 free character slots from Nexon. If I hadn't been banned during AB hot time and 1 day of the check off event, I'd have 2 more. I can't really see how not giving out 1 slot for Kanna or even 2 if Hayato doesn't get one can be all that objectionable. It costs a mere $5.5 for a slot since they're on sale at the moment. That seems like a very reasonable price to me. I've played a wide range of MMOs over the years and I don't think that any of them besides Maple give away slots for free.
I can't see anyone quitting over not having enough character slots. That's probably one of the silliest reasons to quit this game. Character slot sales have are one the few Cash Shop items which do not have a direct advantage for NX users on player damage. Yes you can make an argument regarding Character Cards/Link Skills, but look at it differently. You wanted a reward for long time players right? Here it is. Long time players who collected their free character slots don't have to buy as many as new players! You can't simultaneously as loyal players to get special rewards then object when those rewards aren't given out to brand new players.
I long ago quit buying NX personally because I can't justify the expense for a game I genuinely hate a lot of the time. I'm well aware that the NX I buy with mesos continues to support them, but until GMS gets KMS' conversion system, I have no other option.
That's the one thing Khaini misses in his analysis by suggesting players will age out of the game and quit. There is simply no viable alternative for a 2D side scrolling MMO. MapleStory has no direct competition! There are dozens of p2p and f2p MMOs, but the vast majority are 3D and the few 2D games are too small to be any real competition. That's the real reason why MapleStory has continued to survive despite at best questionable business practices.
At the same time, I do have to give Nexon a lot of credit for the Hot Times, event shops, free cubes, etc. that they have come out in the last 6 months. For those willing to put in the effort, a lot of wealth can be accumulated through coin farming and intelligent investment in event items like Tempest rings/shoulders. Heck, the everyday hot time event gave out dozens of Protection scrolls, LDS, 20% clean slates, etc if you were willing to put in the time. I think that was unbelievably generous. When I say unbelievably, I really mean it. If I wasn't there for the event, I'd think it was a hoax.
To respond more directly to the OP:
1. Yes I still think that requiring skill books to be bought from the cash shop is unforgivably greedy. It violates the very sketchy principle that this game can even be played without paying. On the other hand, this is a relatively small amount of money and it's required for only a single class. I have a hard time getting upset about it anymore.
2. I don't think they're punishing the long time players. The very event that gave out 3-6k MP for returning players had a counterpart for active players. Active players got 2 free super miracle cubes! While not quite an equal trade, they weren't exactly giving us the shaft.
3. I was only around for 1 of the BigWig events. I thought the rewards were "meh". As a long time players, of course I would like to see Nexon reward us, but I don't feel the need to demand it.
4. OK wow. People really need to calm down about this whole character slot thing. I have gotten a total of 14 free character slots from Nexon. If I hadn't been banned during AB hot time and 1 day of the check off event, I'd have 2 more. I can't really see how not giving out 1 slot for Kanna or even 2 if Hayato doesn't get one can be all that objectionable. It costs a mere $5.5 for a slot since they're on sale at the moment. That seems like a very reasonable price to me. I've played a wide range of MMOs over the years and I don't think that any of them besides Maple give away slots for free.
I can't see anyone quitting over not having enough character slots. That's probably one of the silliest reasons to quit this game. Character slot sales have are one the few Cash Shop items which do not have a direct advantage for NX users on player damage. Yes you can make an argument regarding Character Cards/Link Skills, but look at it differently. You wanted a reward for long time players right? Here it is. Long time players who collected their free character slots don't have to buy as many as new players! You can't simultaneously as loyal players to get special rewards then object when those rewards aren't given out to brand new players.