Nexon America's answer about Masteria

Biz Dev and Marketing. I never really came out and said this, but part of me wanted a different challenge. Writing was and will always be my first love, but I wanted to challenge myself and step outside of those boundaries.

It worked to an extent, but there's nothing quite like writing and knowing someone else enjoyed what you produced.

Yeah i wasn't expecting you to be able to answer that. :/

How about this then: What's the deal with the whole plothole feel that the CKPQ release had? Was it just because you were off the team at that time and they wanted to wrap it up quick?

Also, what were your responsibilities when you worked there? With what -hime- said and what you said back during the Q&A some of us are kind of confused as to what your actual position was.

Basically, time--there were/are like 10+ quests that were supposed to go in to both explain and transition you all after that, but, due to time constraints, no dice.

My responsibilities...boy, that would be a long list. Associate Producer/Game Designer sums it up nicely, was never a GM or CS or Community, I talked because enjoyed getting feedback--even if that did result in me putting my foot in my mouth sometimes. No one person did everything, but the team accomplished a lot, hence why I always mentioned it was a team effort.

Basically, time--there were/are like 10+ quests that were supposed to go in to both explain and transition you all after that, but, due to time constraints, no dice.

My responsibilities...boy, that would be a long list. Associate Producer/Game Designer sums it up nicely, was never a GM or CS or Community, I talked because enjoyed getting feedback--even if that did result in me putting my foot in my mouth sometimes. No one person did everything, but the team accomplished a lot, hence why I always mentioned it was a team effort.

10 whole quests. O_O Man, they totally should have gone ahead and put them in even if it was post-release. >_>

i would assume 5 years +

The time period of nondisclosure agreements depend on the circumstances and information of the company though, so it could be as long as they want it to be...

I'd have to look, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't that long.

Doesn't matter anyway, there's really nothing to talk about in terms of the company. For Maple, it would have to be a guaranteed thing that Masteria would never be updated again, in which case there's no harm in saying what was planned, because it has no chance of occurring. But it's not close to that point yet.

10 whole quests. O_O Man, they totally should have gone ahead and put them in even if it was post-release. >_>

Let me clarify--they were supposed to basically prepare you for the next area/wave of content. They were more along the lines of say, Cool As Ice, in terms of revelations.
Intent being that now that you knew what happened, each one would carry a certain amount of weight for you to go "ZOMG!" and do the next one, and leave you anticipating what was coming next.

5+ years would be enough for me to Alt +f4 this game anyway o_O Here's to hoping something new and exciting happens for Masteria.

So am I, but most of the answers aren't going to be given. NDA's last a good amount of time.

But on the other hand, most of the stuff I've seen has nothing to do with the original roadmap. It happens a lot in development, but I'd hoped otherwise.
Some of that stuff was going to be insane. Ah, well.

And why would they change their minds like that? Was it too difficult for them to implement some of the ideas or what? What was your role in the development of Masteria?

Also, I'd like to know about the quests about the Crimsonwood Keep Party Quest which you said had yet to be released and never were.. Is that the reason because many things about the expansion of Crimsonwood Keep aren't clear? It really looked like a rushed and incomplete release to me..

Let me clarify--they were supposed to basically prepare you for the next area/wave of content. They were more along the lines of say, Cool As Ice, in terms of revelations.
Intent being that now that you knew what happened, each one would carry a certain amount of weight for you to go "ZOMG!" and do the next one, and leave you anticipating what was coming next.

I see. So those quests could possibly come as a sort of teaser if they were close to releasing the next area. Assuming they're still working seriously on masteria that is.

Awesome. I'm sure if those quests were near as awesome to read as cool as ice was i would have foamed at the mouth when the next area came out. D:

5 years was my guestimate knowing what rate nexon releases new content and the amount of time Prose and Joe where out of the game, granted i leaned more to the more generous answer then conservitive.

Biz Dev and Marketing. I never really came out and said this, but part of me wanted a different challenge. Writing was and will always be my first love, but I wanted to challenge myself and step outside of those boundaries.

It worked to an extent, but there's nothing quite like writing and knowing someone else enjoyed what you produced.

By reading your post, I guess you wrote the storylines. If that's so, we can officially say goodbye to more quests like those masterpieces of Crimsonwood Keep. Did you write those, too? And do you think that the lack of a storyline writer could slow down the development? One thing is sure: since you left, the exclusive quests' storyline sucked, and maybe now we know why.

My role in the development of Masteria? I'll put it like this: the name comes from an area where people would come to master their skills, the thematic backdrop was Hollywood, and the concept of Subani and Naricain came from a central conflict between Order and Chaos (inspired by Nabu and Mordru). There's more, but I've covered that in interviews. A lot.

Quests I mentioned earlier, just time constraints.

By reading your post, I guess you wrote the storylines. If that's so, we can officially say goodbye to more quests like those masterpieces of Crimsonwood Keep. Did you write those, too? And do you think that the lack of a storyline writer could slow down the development? One thing is sure: since you left, the exclusive quests' storyline sucked, and maybe now we know why

.

Not just me--those quests were the product of literally hours of conversations and research, from the ones in NLC to the Haunted House to Crimsonwood, etc. It takes a lot of time to actually do that.
And honestly? I think that for the most part, the content is pretty good. The key is improving with each round, which is something I know they're still committed to, even if it seems otherwise. There's a lot that may seem simple to do, but really isn't.

Oh hey! I have something I've been wondering to ask for a good loooong while, close and personal.

Did I have anything to do with the goggles? It haunts me everytime I see them. Just that I made that thread putting goggles everywhere, and there started the craze.

OR you may have not even been aware this whole time, and I'd be looking like a fool now. :p

My role in the development of Masteria? I'll put it like this: the name comes from an area where people would come to master their skills, the thematic backdrop was Hollywood, and the concept of Subani and Naricain came from a central conflict between Order and Chaos (inspired by Nabu and Mordru). There's more, but I've covered that in interviews. A lot.

Quests I mentioned earlier, just time constraints.

Wow. The original plan must've been ENORMOUS. I still wonder why they changed it..
But.. Wait. Does that mean it was YOU who created the Myth of Masteria?
And thinking that Hime only said you gave a hand..

disregard

Oh hey! I have something I've been wondering to ask for a good loooong while, close and personal.

Did I have anything to do with the goggles? It haunts me everytime I see them. Just that I made that thread putting goggles everywhere, and there started the craze.

OR you may have not even been aware this whole time, and I'd be looking like a fool now. :p

Well, let's just say that part of staying on top of things is seeing what your players like and leave it at that. =)

Wow. The original plan must've been ENORMOUS. I still wonder why they changed it..

you have one or two people working on a greatly respected project. they leave.

choices are:
1. continue development based on what was left behind and hope to do it justice
2. continue development and take it in a different direction and hope your ungrateful fans don't peach and whine
3. leave it alone as the treasure it is and work on things your new team are passionate about in the same way the old team was passionate about masteria.

they clearly have chosen 3. and honestly it's the best option. neither 1. or 2. would've made anyone happy; look at the haunted house expansion. they tried to expand on masteria and it ended up pissing everyone off.

Well, let's just say that part of staying on top of things is seeing what your players like and leave it at that. =)

I'll pretend I'm awesome then.

*triumphant pose*

Not just me--those quests were the product of literally hours of conversations and research, from the ones in NLC to the Haunted House to Crimsonwood, etc. It takes a lot of time to actually do that.
And honestly? I think that for the most part, the content is pretty good. The key is improving with each round, which is something I know they're still committed to, even if it seems otherwise. There's a lot that may seem simple to do, but really isn't.

I never thought that making such long and complex quests was easy. In fact, I always knew there must've been a lot of effort behind them.

Not gonna say that the current staff isn't competent enough to do it, but really, the quests (if there will ever be another expansion) won't be the same anymore without you, I'm pretty sure of that.

No, they won't be the same; But all that matters it is at least similar and fitting with the masteria we've come to love.

Now, a few questions:

- Why did the other person leave/get fired? (I can't remember his name.. dam'n it.)
- Was there ever plans to make an american world tour before nexon decided to take on masteria?
- Do you know anything about the Korean plans with reusing content from various version specific areas?
- Is the nexon customer service + public addressing really as incompetent as it appears from the player's aspects?
- Oh, and if you can answer this one: Is this "planned" next masterian area anything we've heard of before?

Thanks for whatever you can answer. It's nice to see someone who has been on Nexon's insides come to Southperry.

No, they won't be the same; But all that matters it is at least similar and fitting with the masteria we've come to love.

Now, a few questions:

- Why did the other person leave/get fired? (I can't remember his name.. dam'n it.)
- Was there ever plans to make an american world tour before nexon decided to take on masteria?
- Do you know anything about the Korean plans with reusing content from various version specific areas?
- Is the nexon customer service + public addressing really as incompetent as it appears from the player's aspects?

Thanks for whatever you can answer. It's nice to see someone who has been on Nexon's insides come to Southperry.

Well, we can clear this one up right now--I was never fired or anything of the sort, I left. I explained why a bit earlier. As for Joe, you can ask him. =)

American World Tour...well, not exactly--there were unused assets, but nothing concrete in terms of a workable area.

Did they ever get around to replacing you two with someone as competent and awesome as you guys? Because.. if episode 1 was their attempt at custom stuff, they kind of half-failed at that. There's too many flaws I can clearly see. The story is kind of boring, and there's quite a few map errors that i've seen from working out of that Map Creator haha01 threw together; there's a rope that isn't connected fully graphically or on the rope footholds. There's a few awkward platforms, and other things. :|