Big Bang Is In the Air

In essence, it’s a re-launch of the entire game!

Nothing is safe from the review process. Changes to skills, EXP curves, maps, PQs, UI, and mobs

For right now, remember that the MapleStory you know now will be gone forever once Big Bang launches.

Do not want :-(

So when will the Big Bang get here? It’s coming this winter before the end of the year. I wish I could give you a date, but until we have a stable version of the update that we can use to estimate needed development time, we don’t want to make any promises. I also know some of you were expecting it even sooner, but rest assured, it’s on its way!

That's what I've been saying. The technical people are not always able to deliver the goods when the marketing people want them out the door. Rayhovite has been talking as if BB is done and Nexon can launch it whenever the market is best, but the fact is, it's not ready. I really hope missing the optimal launch window will mean they take their time and do it right, including keeping Tespia open for a good long while and actually fixing what it finds.


On another note, I'm glad to hear Big Bang includes changes to the infrastructure. I hope they really are getting rid of the fundamental design flaws, although it doesn't sound quite that deep.

I'd rather have Ifrit. Feels so weird to have an ice summon.

I always wanted Elquines as opposed to Ifrit. It all works out.

The only disappointment I had with big bang was no animation changes to magic guard, magic
armor, and the archmage/bishop's big bang not reflecting the new elemental properties...

* iamflip waits for Rayhovite's response to this.

And yes... the fact they're voicing that some things that were done in KMS might not transfer over concerns me greatly. |: I don't think we can get a more accurate meaning to that until they open up Tespia again.

/me waits for Rayhovite's response to this.

And yes... the fact they're voicing that some things that were done in KMS might not transfer over concerns me greatly. |: I don't think we can get a more accurate meaning to that until they open up Tespia again.

I think Nexon should combine everything from all versions and make one single version of MapleStory for everyone. And then update content for everyone at the same time. It would make development a lot easier. I don't see why that wouldn't work...

inb4"expcurvereductionwouldnotworkforamericanmarket".

Edit: sup with that space between my e and t? :/

inb4"expcurvereductionwouldnotworkforamericanmarket".

Edit: sup with that space between my e and t? :/

It's pretty much a "anti-spam censor" that adds spaces to very long posts without spaces?

On-Topic: Hoping that the curve will come to GMS.

Not only will the exp curve make it to GMS, I predict that we will not get the nerf to family 2x exp buffs (and other forms of increased exp?).

If they don't nerf the family 2x or other forms of 2x....we'll have people doing 1-200 in a week or two. Just watch. That is, taking the assumption they actually take KMS's exp curve. .....pleasedeargodnexondontfuckthisup

The wording about internal discussions concerning balancing when KMS already did that work leads me to believe they might not leave World Tour and Masteria hanging. At least there is some hope. If they change too much about Big Bang and actually dare to ignore some parts, I predict many a fist in the air, shaking and trembling in holy nerd rage. I think, and hope, that this is about the exp. Since KMS nerfed family buffing and lack 2x exp cardsc there might be something in it that is not fit for the set up we have in GMS. Might be they will leave family buffs alone, might be they won't lower the curve as much to compensate for 2x cards. Exciting!

I think Nexon should combine everything from all versions and make one single version of MapleStory for everyone. And then update content for everyone at the same time. It would make development a lot easier. I don't see why that wouldn't work...

That's a nice thought... but there was a really good reason KMS doesn't have Himes...

The wording about internal discussions concerning balancing when KMS already did that work leads me to believe they might not leave World Tour and Masteria hanging. At least there is some hope. If they change too much about Big Bang and actually dare to ignore some parts, I predict many a fist in the air, shaking and trembling in holy nerd rage. I think, and hope, that this is about the exp. Since KMS nerfed family buffing and lack 2x exp cardsc there might be something in it that is not fit for the set up we have in GMS. Might be they will leave family buffs alone, might be they won't lower the curve as much to compensate for 2x cards. Exciting!

The exp curve for lv 120+ after BB is still pretty steep for those of us who dont use 2x cards or have family/rep mule buffing. I was hoping it would be reduced more for lv 120+.

I'm excited.

During our discussions we’ve identified balance changes that may need to be adjusted. Some features may not be brought over at all because they’re incompatible with some element of Global MapleStory or don’t work within the North American Market. Now nothing is set in stone yet and we’re still working on finalizing the list of changes for the Big Bang.

Watch us not get new dmg cap, mob changes or skills changes because they are too lazy to do changes for exclusive content.

The exp curve for lv 120+ after BB is still pretty steep for those of us who dont use 2x cards or have family/rep mule buffing. I was hoping it would be reduced more for lv 120+.

That almost sounds like you think that 200 is some level that must be archieved. MS is MMORPG, of course it's not meant to be completed. However when you reach 200, game is pretty much over, since there is no end game content in MS, outside bossing.

A few months for the Maple department to get their act together. Hell, lets speculate how long BB will be delayed. I'm starting off guesses at 72 hours. Also, they better not screw around with the patch. I swear if they Americanize anything it'll be a horrible fail on Nexon's behalf.

If they don't nerf the family 2x or other forms of 2x....we'll have people doing 1-200 in a week or two. Just watch. That is, taking the assumption they actually take KMS's exp curve. .....pleasedeargodnexondontfuckthisup

Implying that if they do nerf 2x, 1-200 will take all of 4 weeks?

They never said anything about finishing Big Bang before the end of the year.



I really hope at a later date they will put the old maple skin as an option.

That and new UI with multiple color choices. Pleaseee Nexon

+

I wonder when they will open Tespia, cause it seems they will do it very early, so they have time to fix out even those harder bugs.

I also think it is a mistake for Nexon to start hyping BB 4 months before it will be released. If they knew that they didnt have a release date(and they still dont as of the blog post) then all I see is things turning negative and against them. One month would have been plenty of time for them to hype BB, 4 months and the excitement could turn to frustration, anger or apathy, plus a lot have already stopped playing in anticipation of BB...thats got to have some effect on Nexon's revenue.

That's already happening. Everyone is nitpicking the blog and finding certain wording to be a little worrisome. Now rather than looking forward to Big Bang, users are starting to dread it. And that's not including the minority that don't want Big Bang to arrive. Hyping something up too early is just as foolish as delaying something. Polyphony Digital can tell you all about that.

This blog could not be any more damaging for Nexon in the way it is structured. Who's going to be leveling now? Who's going to be buying NX? If the big update will make life easier in the digital aspect, why charge NX now? I certainly won't put a few bucks down for 2x exp. Yes it will always be easier to level, and leveling, as Fiel sorta pointed out, follows a similar pattern to Moore's law. However, this update is on the horizon, so a lot of people aren't going to be leveling or charging NX because the update and the teasers are so close. It's just dumb marketing at the most crucial time of the year. I'd fire some people over this.

On top of hyping BB up so soon (and in the worst way possible [hint: don't mention changes to exp curves]) that's a problem, it's also not releasing it in time.

Do not want :-(

That's what I've been saying. The technical people are not always able to deliver the goods when the marketing people want them out the door. Rayhovite has been talking as if BB is done and Nexon can launch it whenever the market is best, but the fact is, it's not ready. I really hope missing the optimal launch window will mean they take their time and do it right, including keeping Tespia open for a good long while and actually fixing what it finds.

On another note, I'm glad to hear Big Bang includes changes to the infrastructure. I hope they really are getting rid of the fundamental design flaws, although it doesn't sound quite that deep.

WRONG. i have been talking as if Nexon SHOULD launch Big Bang as soon as possible. I have already shown graphs and explanations about why that should be the case. This blog serves more as damage control rather than an explanation of why they are launching this update so late. How long had KMS finished with a decent version of Big Bang? You can't argue that Nexon had to wait for each test version's continuous changes since they plan on making their own changes, so they could have grabbed any variety of the later code.

My question is: what took so ****ing long? How did you miss such an important time target? You can't even get a release date down? Are you ****ing kidding me? If you had concerns at all, at least once, over the release time interval, why didn't you hire more programmers? All the other MMOs are getting their sh!t together and barely making their schedules on 3D games, so what the hell is your excuse with a 2D game? Why should you not be fired? Pretty sure I'd be fired if I missed such giant milestones in my line of work!

Let me make that clearer. Everyone is bringing their big guns to the fight this holiday. Nexon doesn't even have a switch blade. They say it needs more testing to see if it will pierce butter. If I were an MMO publisher, I would put Nexon as the laughing stock of the year. While other companies are putting up notices detailing their major updates which are arriving on time, Nexon gives you, the Maple community, a blog that basically tells you they can't get it done on time and they want your pity. Oh you want me to test and report teh bugs?

Lol. Go **** yourself. I'll be playing Black Ops while you should be doing your ****ing job. Seriously, how much of an insult is that? While all the big games and entertainment come flooding in, Nexon wants YOU the gamer to do their work for them, all in the name of releasing an update they should have already finished months ago. This deserves a major:



Is it a mere coincidence that this blog appears a day after Blizzard releases a giant patch on schedule which revamps much of the WoW game? Is this a pathetic attempt to diverge people's attention away from a super MMO that has just been made a lot easier and more fun for casuals? I'd say it's pretty inexcusable they couldn't get this patch out the door in time. Consumers don't want to hear excuses. Whether you're marketing or technical or executive, it doesn't matter. Think about it. The name of the game is differentiation. Maplestory was among the first successful MMOs, right? While that is awesome, it will look terrible for Nexon to release Big Bang after WoW Cataclysm because now Nexon looks like it's playing catch up, and is late to the party at that. "Oh, Maplestory is revamping everything? But WoW did that already, and FFXIV is doing that too. What's so special about that?" The last thing you want to do is make yourself look like an imitator (let's forget all the crap they stole from Ragnarok Online for a second!), because it makes it all that much harder to grab market share.

All I can do is shake my head Nexon's way because they will have completely skipped over the best time of the year to make a good buck. But hey, not my portfolio. I'm glad my fellow Maplers have discussed much of Big Bang with me, whether they believe I am right, wrong, or confused. I'm glad they have educated themselves just a bit more.

By the time they get BB out the door, I'll have dabbled in WoW, Assassin's Creed, Black Ops (definitely!), and gotten some new tech goodies like the new AMD 6xxx graphics cards. I imagine many of my fellow peers will have the same story to tell. A lot of that money could have gone to Nexon, but, can't say the same now.

Southperry is full of some of the brightest folks in the Maple community. You can't fool them. Nexon might not be the most transparent company, but the wonderful thing is that it has made the brilliant Maple community figure them out through extractions and excellent deductive reasoning. With all that in mind, pretty sure most people see this as an inexcusable blog post for what ultimately reveals yet another chapter in Nexon's journey through incompetence.

Implying that if they do nerf 2x, 1-200 will take all of 4 weeks?

At 10+ hours of grinding a day, perhaps. I'm referring to the hardcore of the god damn hardcore here. The "maniacs" out there. Casual players will still take several months I'm sure.

However when you reach 200, game is pretty much over, since there is no end game content in MS, outside bossing.

I can guarantee you that I'd have faaar more fun and enjoy myself way more in Maple if I was lv 200. For me the fun stuff in the game starts then. Grinding for levels is no fun at all.

WRONG. i have been talking as if Nexon SHOULD launch Big Bang as soon as possible.

But will it be ready by October? If they do a rush job just to release it before the competition... I predict a lot more bugs than Nexon's usual crop, especially a total mishandling of World Tour areas.
One would hope they release it when they have it complete, *and* Tespia-tested for a decent length of time, and not a second before.

Will it be ready? No. Emergency patches? Most likely. Will this be tolerable? yes.

You didn't say "should", you said "will". Assuming they will just because they should. Alas,

Southperry is full of some of the brightest folks in the Maple community. You can't fool them. Nexon might not be the most transparent company, but the wonderful thing is that it has made the brilliant Maple community figure them out through extractions and excellent deductive reasoning. With all that in mind, pretty sure most people see this as an inexcusable blog post for what ultimately reveals yet another chapter in Nexon's journey through incompetence.

This I agree with. You explained very clearly how incompetent they are in your field of expertise.
I can tell you, as a programmer, that it's clear their development team is not given the best conditions to work in, and that's without making any comment on their skill. Their version control software, if they even have any in place, must be as ancient as the Windows XP they work with, or maybe their procedures for using it are faulty. We see old bugs crop up when new updates are copy-pasted (instead of merged) in. That may be why they waited for KMS BB to be complete before starting to port it.

We'll just have to wait and see how many kids will read this blog and say "oh yay, bb is coming, I will save my xmas money for that" and how many will do as you predict, say "*** them", and spend it all on other things.
Or maybe Nexon is counting on Maple still being there when those kids have grown tired of whatever game they spent their Christmas money on. And being F2P means the kids will be back to playing Maple even when they have no money... and only after they're re-hooked they will go beg their parents for NX. This is unlike a cartridge type game, or P2P, which the consumer has to pay for before they are addicted.

No doubt they are incompetent, but they might just pull through from this fiasco.

At 10+ hours of grinding a day, perhaps. I'm referring to the hardcore of the god damn hardcore here. The "maniacs" out there. Casual players will still take several months I'm sure.

Who cares what the hardcore of the god damn hardcore can do? They level absurdly fast with or without family 2x.
Casual players will still take several months, even if family 2x remains intact.
So basically, nerfing family 2x is not necessary to the balance of the game or w/e, and will just make the lazy Americans angry.