MapleStory
Developer(s)	Wizet
Publisher(s)	& & & Nexon Shanda Gamania AsiaSoft International Image File history File links MapleStory. ... A video game developer is a software developer (a business or an individual) that creates video games. ... Wizet is a game development studio located in Seoul, South Korea, and is popular for its hit game MapleStory. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Korea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 406 pixel Image in higher resolution (1488 × 755 pixel, file size: 35 KB, MIME type: image/png)A blank map of the world as of 2005, with country outlines, for making country locator maps. ... Image File history File links European_flag. ... See Nexon Inc. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China. ... This page meets Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Thailand. ... AsiaSoft is an online game operator in Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia. ... & AsiaSoft Online
Latest version	1.2.43 (Test Server 1.2.99) 1.30 (Test Server 0.03) 0.54 (Test Server 0.11) 0.40 & 0.45 0.56 (Test Server 0.09) 0.37 Image File history File links Flag_of_Singapore. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Malaysia. ... AsiaSoft is an online game operator in Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Korea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 406 pixel Image in higher resolution (1488 × 755 pixel, file size: 35 KB, MIME type: image/png)A blank map of the world as of 2005, with country outlines, for making country locator maps. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Singapore. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Malaysia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Thailand. ... 0.27
Release date(s)	April 29, 2003 (Test Server 2003) December 3, 2003 December 2004 May 11, 2005 & June 23, 2005 July 4, 2005 August 16, 2005 April 12, 2007 Image File history File links European_flag. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Korea. ... is the 119th day of the year (120th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 2003 in games 2002 in video gaming 2004 in video gaming Notable events of 2003 in computer and video games. ... 2003 2003 in games 2002 in video gaming 2004 in video gaming Notable events of 2003 in computer and video games. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... is the 337th day of the year (338th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 2003 in games 2002 in video gaming 2004 in video gaming Notable events of 2003 in computer and video games. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... 2004 2004 in games 2003 in video gaming 2005 in video gaming Notable events of 2004 in video gaming. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 406 pixel Image in higher resolution (1488 × 755 pixel, file size: 35 KB, MIME type: image/png)A blank map of the world as of 2005, with country outlines, for making country locator maps. ... is the 131st day of the year (132nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 2005 in games 2004 in video gaming 2006 in video gaming Notable events of 2005 in video gaming. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Singapore. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Malaysia. ... is the 174th day of the year (175th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 2005 in games 2004 in video gaming 2006 in video gaming Notable events of 2005 in video gaming. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China. ... is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 2005 in games 2004 in video gaming 2006 in video gaming Notable events of 2005 in video gaming. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Thailand. ... is the 228th day of the year (229th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 2005 in games 2004 in video gaming 2006 in video gaming Notable events of 2005 in video gaming. ... Image File history File links European_flag. ... is the 102nd day of the year (103rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... (NOTE: Some release dates listed are not global release dates. ...
Genre(s)	Fantasy Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing Game
Mode(s)	MMO
Platform(s)	Windows(98/ME/2K/XP/Windows Vista)
System requirements	Intel Celeron 500 MHz CPU, 64 MB RAM, 400 MB hard disk space (depends on version), Internet connection (at least 56 kbit/s) and Direct3D support
Input	Keyboard, mouse

This article is about the original game for Windows. For the Nintendo DS game based on the original, see MapleStory DS.

MapleStory (Korean: 메이플스토리) is a free-of-charge, 2D, side-scrolling Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game developed by the Korean company Wizet. Several versions of the game are available for specific countries or regions, and each is published by various companies such as Wizet and Nexon. Although playing the game is free, many player appearances and gameplay enhancements can be purchased from the "Cash Shop" using real money. MapleStory has a combined total of over 50 million players in all of its versions.^[1][2] MapleStory Global, for players mainly outside of East Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe, has over three million players.^[1] Video games are categorized into genres based on their gameplay. ... Smaug in his lair: an illustration for the fantasy The Hobbit Fantasy is a genre of art that uses magic and other supernatural forms as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. ... An image from World of Warcraft, one of the largest commercial MMORPGs as of 2004, based on active subscriptions. ... World of Warcraft, a popular MMORPG Massively multiplayer online game (also called MMOG) is a computer game which is capable of supporting hundreds or thousands of players simultaneously. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, the lead section of this article may need to be expanded. ... Windows 98 (codenamed Memphis and formerly known as Windows 97[2]) is a graphical operating system released on June 25, 1998 by Microsoft and the successor to Windows 95. ... Windows Millennium Edition, or Windows Me (IPA pronunciation: [miː], [É›m iː]), is a hybrid 16-bit/32-bit graphical operating system released on September 14, 2000 by Microsoft. ... Windows 2000 (also referred to as Win2K) is a preemptive, interruptible, graphical and business-oriented operating system that was designed to work with either uniprocessor or symmetric multi-processor 32-bit Intel x86 computers. ... Windows XP is a line of operating systems developed by Microsoft for use on general-purpose computer systems, including home and business desktops, notebook computers, and media centers. ... Windows Vista is a line of graphical operating systems used on personal computers, including home and business desktops, notebook computers, Tablet PCs, and media centers. ... It has been suggested that Keystroke be merged into this article or section. ... Operating a mechanical 1: Pulling the mouse turns the ball. ... “NDS” redirects here. ... MapleStory DS (Korean:메이플 스토리 DS, working title) is the Nintendo DS version of the online mmorpg game MapleStory that is currently under development w0000t!!, with the Korean release date set for late 2007. ... This is a list of freeware video games. ... 2D computer graphics is the computer-based generation of digital images—mostly from two-dimensional models (such as 2D geometric models, text, and digital images) and by techniques specific to them. ... ... An image from World of Warcraft, one of the largest commercial MMORPGs as of 2004, based on active subscriptions. ... Wizet is a game development studio located in Seoul, South Korea, and is popular for its hit game MapleStory. ... Wizet is a game development studio located in Seoul, South Korea, and is popular for its hit game MapleStory. ... See Nexon Inc. ... Gameplay includes all player experiences during the interaction with game systems, especially formal games. ... This article is about the original game for Windows. ... A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of goods and services. ... East Asia Geographic East Asia. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ...

In the game, players walk around in the "Maple World" and defeat monsters and develop their character's skills and abilities, as in typical role-playing games. Players can interact with others in many ways, such as through chatting, trading, and playing minigames. Groups of players can band together in parties to hunt monsters and share the rewards. Players can also band in a guild to interact more easily with each other. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about games in which one plays the role of a character. ... Instant messaging (IM) is a form of real-time communication between two or more people based on typed text. ... It has been suggested that Commerce be merged into this article or section. ... Play might be described as unrestrained, amusing interaction with people, animals, or things, often in the context of learning. ... In Fantastic Dizzy, the player has to complete a sliding puzzle to get an extra life. ... In computer and video gaming, a clan or guild is a group of players who regularly play together in a particular (or various different) multiplayer games. ...

Gameplay

A player engaging in the fighting element of the game.

Like most MMORPGs, gameplay centers on venturing into dungeons and combating monsters in real-time. The players combat monsters and complete quests, in the process acquiring in-game currency, called "Mesos", experience points (EXP), and various items. Players can kill monsters alone, or they can form a party with up to five other characters. Loot is shared based on relative damage and level of characters in the party, more awarded to higher-level members. Image File history File links Maple0030. ... Image File history File links Maple0030. ... An image from World of Warcraft, one of the largest commercial MMORPGs as of 2004, based on active subscriptions. ... Experience points (often abbreviated as exp or xp) are a representation of a characters advancement and improvement in skills in role-playing games and computer role-playing games. ...

Characters advance in level by gaining a preset amount of EXP for each level. The current level limit is 200 and the maximum EXP is 2,121,276,323.^[3]. Upon leveling up, players receive Ability Points (AP) and Skill Points (SP) to distribute among their abilities and skills. The increase in EXP needed for each level increases greatly over the course of the game.

MapleStory's 2D scrolling viewpoint more closely resembles a platformer rather than the typical 3D or top-down view of other games (such as Guild Wars or Mu Online). The controls for the game are executed using the computer keyboard and mouse. The keyboard is used for many game functions, and much of it can be re-arranged to suit users' needs. The mouse is mainly used to trigger NPCs, or Non-player characters, and manipulating items. A simple platform sequence from the game Wonder Boy Platform game, or platformer, is a video game genre characterized by jumping to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles. ... 3D computer graphics are different from 2D computer graphics in that a three-dimensional representation of geometric data is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images. ... Grand Theft Auto Top-down perspective, also sometimes referred to as birds-eye view or helicopter view, is a view used in computer and video games that shows the player and the area around him or her from above. ... Guild Wars is an episodic series of multiplayer online role-playing games created by ArenaNet, a Seattle game development studio and a subsidiary of the South Korean game publisher NCsoft. ... MU Online (Korean: 뮤 온라인) is a 3D medieval fantasy MMORPG, produced by Webzen, a Korean gaming company. ... It has been suggested that Keystroke be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that Keystroke be merged into this article or section. ... A contemporary computer mouse, with the most common standard features — two buttons and a scroll-wheel. ... A non-player character is a fictional character in a role-playing game whose role is generally created and performed by the gamemaster. ...

MapleStory characters exist in "worlds" or "servers". Players are allowed to create multiple characters in each world, although that number differs between versions. Each world, similar in content between each other in the same version, is split into at most twenty channels (nineteen for Global MS for bandwidth efficiency and a performance boost), among which characters are allowed to freely switch.^[4] However, characters and their items cannot be transferred between worlds,^[5] although there is limited functionality in transferring items between characters of the same world.

Character progression

StrategyWiki has more information about MapleStory Jobs

New players are sent to Maple Island, a floating island specifically designed to be beginner-friendly. Unlike many other MMORPGs, players in MapleStory cannot choose a character class or job when they create the character. Rather, every character starts with the job Beginner until they meet the requirements to complete the first job advancement. This article is about a concept in role-playing games. ...

When a player creates a character, he or she is able to allocate ability points amongst four different abilities. In addition, the player is able to choose from a limited variety of faces, hairstyles, hair colors, skin colors, and initial equipment for their character. After the character's creation, the cosmetic aspects of these can be modified only through the quest "Beauty and the Beast" (MapleGlobal only) or purchase of special coupons from the Cash Shop.^[6]

The character creation screen.

At either level eight or ten, depending on the desired class, the player can willingly choose to complete the first job advancement and acquire a new class as a "Swordman", "Magician", "Archer", or "Rogue". Image File history File linksMetadata Character_creating_screen. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Character_creating_screen. ...

Once a player reaches level 30, they are able to complete the second job advancement according to their current job. As with the first job advancement, the player is able to choose from two or three secondary professions based on their initial class choice. At level 70 and 120, characters can once again change their jobs. Unlike previous job advancements, the player is only able to progress in their current job to a new-named one. Each job advancement grants access to an increasingly powerful set of skills.

Dying

Dead characters are visually differentiated from living characters.

When a character's hit points reach zero, the character dies. This is depicted by a tombstone falling from the top of the screen, and the character transmuting into a floating, ghost-like body. The character is incapable of moving, but they retain the ability to speak and use facial expressions. Death will normally cost a character a percentage of EXP, depending on how much luck they have, but the EXP percentage cannot fall below zero percent. The beginner class players cannot lose EXP. Items such as the one-use Safety Charm (available from the Cash Shop) and the limited item from the Valentine's and Easter's quest can prevent EXP loss when the character dies. However, a safety charm only works once and disappears from the user's inventory after use. Players are notified upon death with a message box that contains an "OK" button and upon pressing, they are sent to the nearest town. Even if the button is not pressed after a period of time, the character will be automatically revived anyway. Upon returning to the nearest town, characters are revived with 50 HP, as well as the same amount of MP they possessed upon death. Image File history File linksMetadata MSdying3. ... In many wargames, role-playing games, and combat-oriented video games, hit points are an abstraction for the amount of damage an object or player in the game can take before becoming ineffective. ... “Tombstone” redirects here. ... An artists interpretation of a ghostly woman on a flight of stairs, based on common descriptions A ghost is usually defined as the apparition of a deceased person, frequently similar in appearance to that person, and encountered in places she or he frequented, or in association with the person...

Abilities

The character stats window, which allows allocation of Ability Points.

There are four types of abilities and two sub-types of abilities, with varying degrees of value, depending on character class. General effects of each stat do not depend on a character's class; however, damage will vary based on job, level, and the equipped weapon. Characters generally raise one main stat to increase their damage output, as well as one minor stat to meet the requirements to equip weapons and armor and/or increase the specialties that come with some of the abilities. These are raised using Ability Points (AP).^[7] Image File history File links Maple_char_stats. ... An Attribute (also called a statistic, characteristic or ability) is an abstract number (or, in some cases, a set of dice) which represents a single aspect of a fictional character in a role-playing game. ...

Skills

Assassin's passive skill "Critical Throw" and supportive skills "Haste" and "Claw Booster".

Every character class has various skills in which to invest Skill Points (SP). As is typical with RPG skills and powers, a skill becomes increasingly powerful or helpful depending on the amount of SP invested in the skill. Each skill can be mapped to a specific button to simplify activation. As characters gain levels, more skills are unlocked. Some skills can only be unlocked when a certain prerequisite is met. Some high level skills also require items such as Magic Rock or Summoning Rock in order to activate the skill. Image File history File links Maple0495. ... Image File history File links Maple0495. ... A Skill (also called a proficiency) is an abstract number (or, in some cases, a set of dice) which represents a learned skill of a fictional character in a role-playing game. ... A Skill (also called a proficiency) is an abstract number (or, in some cases, a set of dice) which represents a learned skill of a fictional character in a role-playing game. ...

Guilds

Players can form Guilds^[8] with other players. The purpose of a guild is to be able to find and chat with each other more easily, to bond with other players, and to make it easier when trying to complete a quest. Members have their guild's name listed under their character name along with the guild's emblem, if applicable. An emblem consists of a pictorial image, abstract or representational, that epitomizes a concept - often a concept of a moral truth or an allegory. ...

Guilds can be created at Orbis for large amounts of Mesos. Additional upgrades to the guild such as a guild emblem and expanding the maximum amount of guild members will carry an additional fee. For each expansion, the cost is more.A guild emblem is an icon representing the guild.

Guilds have a customizable hierarchy of five ranks. The "Guild Master", who initially created the guild, has complete control over the guild. "Jr. Masters", appointed by the Guild Master, have limited control over the guild. Each guild member's rank, level, and job is displayed in the guild window. A special guild only quest called "Sharenian" is available. It is much like a party quest, but more difficult.

There are now guild forums known as the BBS in the Global and Taiwan versions.

Monsters

StrategyWiki has more information about MapleStory Monsters

The mid-level enemy Curse Eye

Killing monsters gives a player experience, mesos, items, or nothing at all. Any experience gained is automatically added to the player’s total experience, whereas the mesos and items are dropped at the location of the monsters' death; in order to obtain the mesos and items, the player is required to pick it up. Image File history File links Curseeye. ... Image File history File links Curseeye. ...

Like human-controlled characters, monsters have defense ratings against attacks. In addition, some monsters have elemental strengths and weaknesses making them more or less susceptible to specific elemental attacks. Nearly all monsters can damage the player simply through contact. Some monsters can use skills similar to the player's.

There are several boss monsters which can be found throughout the MapleStory world. Each boss is located at their respective map and do not appear at other maps beyond their bounds. Most boss monsters have special privileges such as high attack and HP, summoning abilities, and dispelling abilities. Spoils from bosses are also typically dominant over other similar items in the boss' level group. Bosses spawn less frequently than normal monsters. Monsters and boss monsters can also be summoned by monster bags which some monsters drop or by certain quests. Flag Ship from the video game Gorf A boss is a particularly challenging computer-controlled enemy in video games. ...

Quests

StrategyWiki has more information about MapleStory Quests

Quests are varying tasks that players may perform for NPCs in return for experience and possible rewards. There are over a hundred available quests,^[9] each with varying prerequisites; most quests may require the player to have attained a certain level or to have completed another certain quest.^[9] Most available quests require the player to retrieve a certain amount of spoils attained from monsters or to traverse an obstacle course. Some quests can be repeated, although the reward(s) and given EXP may be different from those attained during their first completion.

Accompaniments/Party Quests

Players attempting to find the correct barrel combination in the Kerning City accompaniment.

Although not listed as a quest, accompaniments are a special type of quest where a party of players must work together to complete several challenges. Although officially called "Accompaniments", they are commonly referred to as "Party Quests" or "PQs" interchangeably. Most of the seven PQs have their own level limits that every character in the party must be within to enter the quest. Image File history File links Maplestory_partyquest_barrels1. ... Image File history File links Maplestory_partyquest_barrels1. ...

Guild Quests

This is very similiar to party quests. All participants must be within the same guild. This quest requires jumping skills, party skills, solving puzzles, and teamwork.

Jump quests

Jump quests are a unique type of quest in which a character starts at one area of a map and uses timed jumps to get from one to another specific platform. The player attempts to avoid enemies and obstacles that can knock them off the platform. Enemies in the special jump quest areas are invincible (level 200) and often have different attacking power than the normal versions of these monsters. Jump quests typically require precise timing, and the reaped rewards are re-attainable. Mobility skills are disabled in Jump Quests, as are speed and jump boosts. Jumping puzzles are sequences in computer and video games, particularly in the genre of platformers, where the player is required to use jumping to proceed, often in a manner that requires precise timing or landing in an exact manner. ...

World

Map of Maple World

StrategyWiki has more information about MapleStory Towns

There are three main continents (Maple Island, Victoria Island, and Ossyria) common to all versions in the MapleStory world. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Maple Island is where every new player begins the game, and has short, tutorial quests. When a player leaves the island, they are unable to return to it (except in ChinaMS).

Victoria Island has six towns: Lith Harbor, Henesys, Ellinia, Perion, Kerning City, and Sleepywood. From Lith Harbor, one can travel to Florina Beach. From Henesys, you can access the town of Amoria. From Ellinia, one may take a flying ship to Ossyria.

Ossyria has six regions: El Nath Mts., Ludus Lake, Aqua Road, Minar Forest, Mu Lung Garden, and Nihal Desert, with eleven towns: Orbis, El Nath, Aquarium, Ludibrium Castle, Omega Sector, Korean Folk Town, Leafre, Mu Lung, Herb Town, Ariant, and Magatia. Players first arrive in Ossyria at Orbis in the El Nath Mts. region. From Orbis, players can reach El Nath and the Aqua Road region by descending the Orbis Tower. A flying train from Orbis station can transport players to the Ludus Lake region, which is separated from mainland Ossyria through an ocean. Omega Sector can be reached by descending Eos Tower in the west side of Ludibrium Castle. Korean Folk Town can be reached by descending Helios Tower on Ludibrium Castle's east side, or by traveling to the eastern end of Aqua Road. Orbis station also provides rides from a giant blue bird transporting players to the Minar Forest region. A giant crane transporting players from Orbis station to the Mu Lung Garden region. Mu Lung Garden can also be reached via a Dolphin Taxi NPC in Aquarium that transports players to Herb Town. A giant genie can also transport players from Orbis station to the Nihal Desert region. Genera Grus Anthropoides Balearica Bugeranus Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds of the order Gruiformes, and family Gruidae. ... Genie is the English term for the Arabic جني (jinnie). ...

World Tour regions can be reached by talking to Spinel the World Tour Guide NPC, located in almost every town in Victoria and Ossyria. The world tour consists of additional continents that are based off of real life countries. There are currently four world tour continents: Zipangu, China, Formosa, Siam^[10]. World Tour features ten towns: Mushroom Shrine, Showa Town, Kaede Castle, Shanghai Wai-Tan, Yuyuan Garden, Ximending, Night Market, Taipei 101, Floating Market, and Golden Temple. The newest area, Singapore^[11], has been released on MapleSEA, with two new towns: CBD (Central Business District) and Boat Quay Town. Currently, there are no regional maps for any of the world tour continents. The English word Japan is not the name used for their country by the Japanese themselves: it is an exonym. ... Formosa is a place name which comes from Portuguese (*from Latin formosus, meaning beautiful). The following places bear the name: The island of Taiwan was historically known as Formosa, the name given by Portuguese sailors due to the beauty of its coasts. ... For the country formerly called Siam see Thailand SIAM is an acronym for Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. ... The trendy shopping district of Ximending is a popular gathering place for young people. ... Chichicastenango, Guatemala traditional market Market stall in internally displaced persons camp in Kitgum, northern Uganda Mercado dos Lavradores, Funchal (Madeira Islands) A market is a mechanism which allows people to trade, normally governed by the theory of supply and demand. ... Taipei 101 (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; Hanyu Pinyin: Táiběi Yīlíngyī; Wade-Giles: Tai-pei I-ling-i) is a 101-floor landmark skyscraper located in the capital of Taipei, Taiwan. ... There are a lot of markets in Bangkok, Thailand, the most notable are Chatuchak weekend market (The Mother of All Markets) Suan Lum Night Bazaar (next to Lumpini Park) Pratunam Market (Bangkoks largest wholesale clothing market) Patpong Night Market Sampeng Lane and Pahurat Textile Market (Wholesale Market) Bo-bae...

Masteria is a new continent currently only available in GlobalMS. It is believed to be off the coast of Victoria Island,^[12] though there are currently no world maps or regional maps to show this. Currently there is only one town located on this continent: New Leaf City.^[13]

There are also two marriage areas called Peach Blossom Island and Amoria, each available in various versions. Happyville and Shalom Temple are event towns, and have limited availability, only accessible during a certain period in Winter. Premium Road is accessible only if the player is connected to the game from an Internet Cafe that has contracts with its local MapleStory version. Coke Town is a town with a Coca-Cola theme, only available in KoreaMS. These continents are not shown in any official MapleStory maps. It has been suggested that PC bang be merged into this article or section. ... The wave shape (known as the dynamic ribbon device) present on all Coca-Cola cans throughout the world derives from the contour of the original Coca-Cola bottles. ...

Items

Items can be acquired from monster drops, purchased from other characters or shops, or as rewards for completing a quest. In some versions of the game, items can be obtained through cash with the Gachapon system. Players buy gachapon tickets with cash and each of these tickets can be exchanged for a random item. Unnecessary items can be dropped (where they can be picked up by any other character), sold to any shop for a sum of meso, or sold/traded to other characters. Generally the stronger the monsters are the better the items they drop. Due to the time required to sell valuable items to other players as well as the quantity of items received, many players create a mule account to store excess items and act as a dedicated trading account. MapleStory has a virtual tax system. Alternate character, often referred to in slang as alt or alt char, is a term primarily used in MUDs and MMORPGs. ... Virtual tax is a proposed tax on internet gamers for items bought or traded solely within the virtual world (Internet game worlds). ...

Inventory

There are five different item categories in the game: Equipment (clothes, accessories, and weapons); Use (potions, scrolls and other consumables); Set-up (decorations); Etc. (monster drops, ores, and quest items); and Cash (items bought from the cash shop). In the inventory window, each category has its own section, each of which is only able to contain a limited amount of items; however, extra inventory space can be purchased in the Cash Shop. Extra inventory space is also awarded after certain job advancements.

Equipment can be upgraded by using item upgrade scrolls that give stat bonuses to equipment. Using a scroll on an item can only be attempted a limited number of times irrespective of the scroll's success or failure. The number of attempts varying with the item type. Scrolls have a certain percentage of success, and the lower the success percentage, the higher the stat gains provided by the scrolls. Scrolls can only be used when you have equipped the item that you wish to upgrade, but in KoreanMS, MapleSEA, and JapanMS, there is a new beginner skill that allows you to scroll an item without the need of equipping it.

Cash Shop

Since MapleStory is free, the developers of MapleStory introduced the Cash Shop to generate revenue. This is a virtual shop where players can buy items using real money, so called microtransactions^[14]. The items sold in the Cash Shop include clothing items, appearance-changing coupons, pets, and usable items that provide special bonuses, such as a bonus in experience gain.^[15] Most Cash Shop items expire after a certain period of time.

Players are able to try out the cash item before purchasing.

Pets, modeled after animals such as monkeys, dogs, cats, bunnies, pandas, and pigs, follow the owner around and can be equipped to pick up spoils dropped by enemies.^[16] Image File history File links Maple0667. ... Image File history File links Maple0667. ...

In MapleSEA, in addition to credit card payment (through PayPal), it has also released Prepaid cards.^[17] As for GlobalMS, Prepaid cash-value cards, or "Nexon Cards", are now released.^[18] Credit cards A credit card is a system of payment named after the small plastic card issued to users of the system. ... eBay North First Street satellite office campus (home to PayPal) PayPal is an e-commerce business allowing payments and money transfers to be made through the Internet. ...

The Nexon prepaid cash cards are currently available in all U.S.A. Target stores. They are in the Music Card Section.^[19] In the patch before their release, an event quest named "Spot On" was added to introduce the partnership. Completing the quest involves talking to two NPCs who give information about the sale of cash cards. This quest has since been discontinued.

Some users are trading mesos for cash shop items. This is against the terms and conditions. Those who were caught doing so were given suspension to their accounts. As a result, the ability to gift someone Cash Shop or Cash Shop items has been permanently disabled.

Free Market

The Free Market is a place set aside for people who wish to sell their items amongst other players. Miniature shops can be set up in this area in which people can browse their stock. Shop permits, required to set up a shop, are only available through the Cash Shop. There are two types of store permits: a standard store, which requires the presence of the player, and the mushroom house which does not require the presence of the player but requires additional cash shop money to use this feature. The mushroom house store is only available in time periods of 24 hours or one week. Conversely, the standard store lasts ninety days but only works with the presence of the user. One can meet with players located in other towns, provided the town contains a Free Market entrance. However, one cannot use the free market to travel between towns. There are entrances to the Free Market in many of the various towns, but not all. In MapleStory Global, a storage keeper named Scrooge was available in Free Market Entrance, making it much more convenient (albeit more expensive) for players to access their mesos and items, but after the release of Maple T.V., Game Developers chose to put it where Scrooge was previously standing.

Unique gameplay features

Although a purely two-dimensional game lacking certain features found in other MMORPGs, MapleStory has features that distinguish it from other online games. For example, by pressing certain keys, a player can have their character temporarily display various emotions viewable by other players; some emotions showcase a confused expression, while another conveys happiness. Additional expressions can be purchased in the Cash Shop. A massive(ly) multiplayer online role-playing game or MMORPG is a multiplayer computer role-playing game that enables thousands of players to play in an evolving virtual world at the same time over the Internet. ...

Fame

Fame is the designation for one of the statistics on a character's character sheet. Although publicized by the game's creators, fame serves little practical purpose besides fulfilling quest and some level 40 and above equip requirements. Once characters are at the minimum requirement of level 15, they are able to raise or lower the fame of any character once per day. A character cannot raise or lower the same character's fame more than once every thirty days. Some quests may award a player fame points and some may take them away too. Maximum fame allowed in the game is 30,000.^[20]

Minigames

StrategyWiki has more information about MapleStory Minigames

There are various minigames that one can play, both solo and multi-player: Omok, Match Cards, Pachinko, Gachapon, Rock Paper Scissors, and Fishing System. In Fantastic Dizzy, the player has to complete a sliding puzzle to get an extra life. ...

• Omok is the Korean cognate of the Japanese game "Gomoku". Omok is akin to tic-tac-toe. To win, a player needs to place 5 of their pieces in a horizontal, vertical or diagonal line.
• Match Cards is also known as "Concentration". Match Card games can be opened in grids of 3x4, 4x5, and 5x6 cards. The facedown side of the cards contains images of various monsters, which players take turns matching.

Players having a Maple Minigame (Match Cards 5x6).

• Pachinko is a mini-game exclusive to JapanMS. Pachinko balls may be purchased in the Cash Shop and are required in order to play. The player must be in a Pachinko House to play the game. In order to win, one needs to get the Pachinko balls in a mushroom hole below a slot. Once it is in, the slot will start. If the player obtains a certain amount of balls, he or she may win in-game prizes.
• Gachapon is a slots minigame, in which the player inserts a ticket and a random prize comes out. To play Gachapon, one must first purchase a Gachapon Ticket from the Cash Shop. The Gachapon machines are located in various towns.
• Rock Paper Scissors is a one-player minigame based off the actual game, in which one plays against an NPC.
• Fishing King currently available in TaiwanMS^[21] and ThailandMS^[22]. The player can complete a quest to obtain a diving suit before being send to a map that resembles an Aqua Road map to catch fish. Once a player has acquired a diving suit, the player may enter back to catch fish as many times as they want to.
• Fishing System currently available in all versions except KoreaMS, GlobalMS and EuropeMS. You can buy cash shop items (fishing rod, fishing chair, etc.) and talk to a NPC in various towns to go fishing.

Gomoku, go-moku, or gobang (Japanese: 五目並べ, Gomoku Narabe, five points), or in English Connect Five (also spelled Connect 5 or Connect5) is an abstract strategy board game. ... Tic-tac-toe, also called noughts and crosses and many other names, is a paper and pencil game between two players, O and X, who alternate in marking the spaces in a 3×3 board. ... Variously themed cards are available for children of all age groups. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Classic pachinko machine Pachinko parlor at night Entrance to pachinko parlor in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Gashapon (ガチャポン in katakana - more accurately, gachapon), also referred to as Candy toy or trading toy, is a Japanese onomatopoeia, made up of two sounds: gacha for the turning of a crank on a toy vending machine, and pon for the sound of the toy capsule dropping into the receptacle. ... Rock, Paper, Scissors chart Rock, Paper, Scissors (sometimes with the elements in its name permuted and/or Rock replaced with Stone and/or Paper with Cloth, but also known as Roshambo, Rochambeau, Ick-Ack-Ock, Janken, Mora, Morra Cinese, Gawi-Bawi-Bo, JanKenPon or Farkle) is a popular hand game...

Marriage

Wedding photo of a married couple from MapleStory Global

Players may participate in in game marriages. Weddings occur at one of two special areas, based on the version played. Guests may be invited to the wedding, and the marrying couple will receive wedding rings. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This article is about the marriage ceremony. ... This article is about the marriage ceremony. ... A wedding ring or wedding band consists of a precious metal ring, usually worn on the base of the left ring finger – the fourth finger (with the thumb counted as the first finger) of the left hand. ...

The traditional Chinese marriage system that takes place at Peach Blossom Island is only available in ChinaMS, TaiwanMS, and MapleSEA. In order for the couple to enter the ceremony hall, players will need to don Western- or Chinese-style wedding outfits and a special ring purchased from the Cash Shop. After the ceremony, both players will receive a Diamond Ring as proof of the marriage.

Amoria is a town where marriage based activities occur. A marriage system based on western culture, is available in ThailandMS^[23] and GlobalMS. It requires the completion of various quests, including receiving an engagement ring and the blessing of the parents (Cathedral weddings require blessings). Unlike other versions, players may attempt to make a variety of rings. Each of these rings carries various bonuses. If you buy a premium wedding ticket from the Cash Shop, you will be able to have a party after the ceremony. In Amoria Dungeon, players can fight exclusive monsters. Currently, the monsters found there include the Orange Mushroom, Blue Snail, Slime, and exclusive to these maps, the Sakura Cellion, Crystal Boar (GMS), and Indigo Eye (GMS).

Events

Players gathering in Lith Harbor waiting for a GM event to start, with a GM's yellow message on the top of the screen.

On certain days, the Game Masters (also known as GMs) host special events in which any player is capable of participating, given their character is at a given map during the event time. All participants receive a trophy, and winners receive a random prize. Image File history File links Maple0123. ... Image File history File links Maple0123. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Users are notified of an upcoming event by a scrolling box at the top of the game screen. Events are known to bring an influx of players to the event's respective locations, which generally causes massive connection lag and sometimes even disconnections.^[24]

Special events include Christmas tree events, wedding events, drawing events, and quest events; for example, players might be required to find an item and return it to the event quest NPC or GM.

Occasionally, certain versions of the game hold events that celebrate a certain event in real-life or an event specific to that version, such as a holiday or new server release.^[25] During these events, certain aspects of the game are modified in celebration; for example, the experience rate or drop rate may be increased, or special items may be released.

Rankings

Ranking feature is available in certain versions of MapleStory. It keeps track of players that are performing well in the these divided categories: total ranking, job ranking, world ranking and fame ranking.

Ranking feature is available in the KoreaMS, Korean test serverMS, JapanMS, ThailandMS, MapleSEA and GlobalMS.

Versions and registration

StrategyWiki has more information about the content differences between versions at Latest patches.

Version	Language	Countries	Local publishers	Number of worlds	Released
MapleStory South Korea	Korean		NEXON Korea Co., Ltd.; a South Korean identification number is required in order to properly register.	Twenty-one (21) and one Test server (Tespia)	April 29, 2003
MapleStory Japan	Japanese		NEXON Japan Co., Ltd.	Ten (10) and one Test server (Galicia)	December 3, 2003
MapleStory China	Simplified Chinese	(PRC)	Shanda Corporation Co., Ltd; a China identification number is required for registration.	Gateway 1: 22 - Named after enemies in the game Gateway 2: 8 - Named after ores in the game Gateway 3: 2 - Named after Non-playable characters in the game and one Test server (Tespia) Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Korea. ... A national identification number is used by the governments of many countries as a means of tracking their citizens, permanent residents, and temporary residents for the purposes of work, taxation, government benefits, health care, and other governmentally-related functions. ... is the 119th day of the year (120th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... is the 337th day of the year (338th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... For the Chinese civilization, see China. ...	December 2004
MapleStory Global	English	Any country without a localized version	NEXON America Co., Ltd.	Seven (7)	May 11, 2005
MapleStory South East Asia	English	+ +	AsiaSoft Online Pte, Ltd.; an identification number is required for registration.	Four (4) - Named after constellations	June 23, 2005
MapleStory Taiwan	Traditional Chinese	(ROC)	Gamania Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.; a Taiwan identification number is required for registration.	Twelve (12) - Named after enemies in the game and one Test server (Tespia)	July 4, 2005
MapleStory Thailand	Thai and English		Asiasoft Corporation Co., Ltd.; a Thailand identification number is required for registration.	Four (4)	August 16, 2005
MapleStory Europe	English, French, German, Spanish, and Dutch.	Any country within Europe	NEXON Europe Limited GameGuard performs an IP check.	One (1) with three channels for English and two channels devoted to each other major language	April 12, 2007

The Korean version was the first to be created, ergo it has the most features as of yet;^[26]. Other versions are at different stages of development and most are not as advanced in content as Korea's. With this advantage comes the problem of players (mainly from the Global version, but some from others) trying to play KoreaMS. These players are often referred to as 이주자, or "immigrants" by a majority of the Korean MapleStory players. These "immigrants" are the reason why a Korean Social