The Great GM Meet & Greet -- Part I

http://maplestory.nexon.net/FunStuff/GMB...ageIndex=1

[SIZE="4"]Part I -- Come back tomorrow for Part II![/SIZE]

On May 14, 2010, MapleStory held an incredible event. All our GMs appeared in game to answer a series of pre-submitted questions from you, the players. The questions ranged from the serious to the silly, everything from the significance of the GM suit to the GMs real opinion on the cake vs. pie debate. A great time was had by all and we sincerely hope you enjoyed the event. For those of you who couldn't make it, though, here's Part I of the transcript of the questions and answers as offered up by our GMs.

Thanks for coming and happy Mapling!

 Question 1

JoshHasDrgon/Khaini: Do GMs have a life outside of Nexon?

GM Nebel: Yes! We are normal people! (part time GM, full time MESO RANGER!)

GM Tekonos: GMs do have lives outside of Nexon, we are regular people with regular homes to go to and the end of the regular days we work. Definitely not robots. HA. HA. HA. HA. HA. Definitely not.

GM Meluda: GMs are not allowed to leave Nexon headquarters.

GM Talia: Sometimes. But we like to hang out together so it’s like we’re still at work!

GM Skannar: Yes, but real life tends to pale in comparison.

GM Maverick: Of course we do! We are human beings just like you all. We eat, sleep, and breathe just like you too!

GM Gilroy: GMs enjoy many activities outside of work including professional lawnmower racing, finger painting, and cooking with butter.

GM Crash: Of course! GMs are real people too! And by people, I mean not robots.

GM Irosage: Nexon is Life.

GM Diatia: Of course GMs have lives outside of Nexon. We need a break too. We cannot fight monsters all the time.

GM Daliah: Only on days that end in no.

 Question 2

Daxven/Demethos: Do you play Nexon games when not GMing?

GM Libra: Yes. I play PopTag! a lot as it is one of the few chances I have to be around water without possibly shorting out my internal systems.

GM Nimei: Yes I do. As a matter of fact, I have probably partied with you before.

GM Nebel: Yes! Also, I do not hack so stop kicking me from the pistols only matches in Combat Arms!

GM Tekonos: Yes. Many of us play other Nexon games when not on the job. I am a big fan of Combat Arms and play at least a few hours a week.

GM Meluda: Many GMs play Combat Arms, PopTag!, and Dungeon Fighter Online.

GM Talia Yes! Sometimes I like to work on my Aran in MapleStory, but sometimes I feel more like a quick game of PopTag!.

GM Skannar: Absolutely, we love Nexon games just much as you do. GMs especially like to party up during our lunch breaks. PopTag! anyone?

GM Zinyden: Yes, of course we do!

GM Maverick: I do! I generally play Combat Arms and PopTag! It is very entertaining for me!

GM Cheezpuff: Do not play me in iTCG, because I will destroy you! No joke.

GM Crash: You bet! That’s not just a biased response either. We really do stand behind our games. Sometimes when some of us take a break, we’ll jump in Poptag! or Combat Arms for a quick session. It’s hilarious to hear people yell at/to each other from across the office.

GM Irosage: I play all Nexon Games. I love PopTag!.

GM Diatia: Yes, all GMs play all of Nexon’s games. That’s what a good GM does.

 Question 3

drdragonpro/Kradia: How do you become a GM?

GM Libra: Once the program is downloaded into your network, you sync your systems with the new role and perform the actions dictated.

GM Nebel: Get bitten by a radioactive Mushroom, survive, then send your application to Nexon!

GM Tekonos: Unfortunately you have to work in the greater Los Angeles area. We do not offer satellite positions anywhere in the US. You have to submit a job application just like any normal job.

GM Talia: Lots of hard work and training.

GM Skannar: In order to be a GM you must achieve a level of 201 in MapleStory or you can submit an application at http://www.nexon.net. I recommend submitting an application online, you might find reaching level 201 to be rather unattainable.

GM Zinyden: You must first endure three months of torturous ninja training and pie eating.

GM Maverick: Go to our website and look at the “Careers” section. Best shot there!

GM Bouquis: There’s the “Career” section on Nexon.net. All the positions we are seeking are listed there. You can also try other job search engine such as Monster.com and search the keyword “Game Master.”

GM Crash: By being really awesome at games! Okay, I’m just kidding. You become a GM the same way that you would become an employee of any other job. So get that résumé ready! And yes, you will be required to leave the house, sorry.

GM Irosage: Hardwork, perseverance, and the desire to help others.

 Question 4

HiccupHaddoc/Windia: What is your day like?

GM Nebel: Sunny with a chance of awesome!

GM Meluda: Wake up. Take a shower. Have breakfast. Go to work. Put on GM cap. Swing ban hammer. Have lunch. Swing ban hammer more. Go home. Have dinner. Go to sleep.

GM Talia: Busy!

GM Skannar My day is like a Barrel of Monkeys meets Monopoly. I do not know what that means but it sure is a lot of fun.

GM Zinyden: Protecting vital organs from thrown candy by GM Daliah.

GM Maverick: My day is always an adventure and seems to never be dull. From one exciting thing to another, I’m never bored!

GM Bouquis: Arrive at the office. Check email to see if there are any important projects or updates. Pick up ban-hammer. Find people in violation of our Terms of Use and get smashing!

GM Crash: Busy, so very busy. It’s just such a great working environment that the stress of a fast paced job doesn’t really get to us. We’re all friends here, and we all make each other laugh. The day goes by in a flash.

GM Tiara: I just keep telling myself, the sun’ll come out tomorrow! But seriously, I’m busy!

GM Daliah: I babysit orange mushrooms.

 Question 5

DragonReid1/Broa: What are the duties of a GM on and offline?

GM Libra: We calculate all probabilities through a complex matrix to seek out those causing mischief and act accordingly.

GM Nimei: Looking on my computer is like looking at a matrix screen. I need more monitors!

GM Nebel: Online, keeping the Maple world safe! Offline, keep the Balrogs from raiding the vending machines.

GM Tekonos: GMs have many different things they need to do daily. We cleanse the different games of rule breakers, host events for players, monitor the games and take metrics on how things are running, create and plan new events for players and do reports. So many reports.

GM Meluda: Online, a GM does what they can to make the game enjoyable for all the players. Offline, a GM is one of the players.

GM Talia: When a GM is in-game, they patrol for players breaking the Terms of Use. When a GM is outside of game, they answer tickets, investigate reported issues, and plan fun events like this one!

GM Skannar: GM duties include catching rule breakers any way we can, hosting awesome GM events for you to enjoy, and eating cake and pie.

GM Maverick: Uphold the priorities we are given from our title and eat pie!

GM Bouquis: GMs have a lot of duties. Here are some of them: We address customer’s tickets and do in-game patrolling (across all worlds and all servers).We also generate reports (bugs, community concerns, etc) and send them off to the appropriate department for resolution and review. In a nutshell, our goal is to make sure the game is operational. We strive to take care of the players, and to make sure no one is cheating or breaking the rules.

GM Crash: Online – Hide, catch the bad guys, hide some more. They never see us watching them . We also monitor the MWLB members, hold summonings or other events, and then there’s the very secrety stuff.

 Question 6

NewAraners/Scania: Is it fun / How great is it? (being a GM)

GM Libra: I would not trade it for all the processing power in the world.

GM Nimei: It is both fun and great!

GM Nebel: It is like being on a rollercoaster ride on planet Awesome!

GM Tekonos: It is fun when we get to play with the players, or host events for you guys. We all get a lot of joy from popping into a game to play a few rounds of Combat Arms, or doing trivia in MapleStory. If the players are having a good time, usually the GMs are as well.

GM Meluda: The only thing greater than being a GM was the moment the Spork was invented.

GM Talia: Awesome.

GM Skannar: Being a GM is kind of like being a super hero. It’s not a job, it is a calling. Being a GM means never saying quit. To answer your question, it is way awesome!

GM Zinyden: It’s a lot of fun, at least during days when candy isn’t being thrown at you!

GM Maverick: It is awesome! Interacting with players and seeing the different types of reactions I get when walking in a map is interesting.

GM Bouquis: How fun is it to swing a ban-hammer? Very. In all seriousness there are always good times and bad times.

GM Cheezpuff: It’s definitely more fun than feeding a llama, I can tell you that.

GM Crash: It is a great deal of fun. It is quite rewarding to catch a cheater.

GM Irosage: It's unimaginable.

 Question 7

iOierMara/Bera: Why do you guys hide so much?

GM Libra: We do not hide! You just are not looking hard enough.

GM Nebel: Our cloaking devices are glitchy, It is lucky that we become visible at all!

GM Meluda: Hide and seek champions, 2005-2010.

GM Talia: We are shy!

GM Skannar: Because we are scared of the dark. Please stick to well-lit areas.

GM Maverick: Since we are inside so much, the light hurts our eyes and we can only stay out for so long.

GM Bouquis: We want to be there for the community as much as we can, but keep in mind that we do have a lot of responsibilities and duties. We get the most work done when we are hidden. When we are not hidden, we are usually followed and get asked a lot of questions which in turn, leads to less bans and more work. Do not get the wrong idea though, we love our players and try to spend as much time as possible with you guys.

GM Crash: We hide for a couple reasons. For one, we get followed by players, asking what they should name their cats, asking for mesos, things like that. And two, we would not want players to know the jig is up. How else are we going to catch them?

GM Irosage: It's a secret!

GM Diatia: GMs hide so much because if we were visible all the time we would never get our work done.

 Question 8

Timmybitty/Broa: Do GMs get paid?

GM Tekonos: Yes we do, thank you for asking. Usually by check.

GM Meluda: Yes, our payment choices are Cash Monies, NX, Cake, and/or Pie.

GM Talia: Yes we do! Being a GM is a full-time job at Nexon.

GM Skannar: Some do, but I work for cookies and ice cream.

GM Zinyden: Yes. We get paid in bacon.

GM Maverick: Of course! We get to choose how we get paid. I get paid in candy, but that’s just me!

GM Gilroy: We get paid in Hot Pockets and free T-Shirts.

GM Bouquis: In mesos.

GM Crash: Of course we do. Like I said, it is a job like any other job, despite the fact that it is not just any job. The common perception is that being a GM is all fun and games, mixed in with taking down Boss monsters in a single attack, but it really is a lot of work!

GM Irosage: Yes.

GM Diatia: Yes and it all depends on if you like cake or pie.

Those craaazy GM's.