Nexon Korea has decided to disclose all information on probabilistic items that are applied to games in service and games to be released in the future. This is a reinforced measure that goes beyond the existing self-regulatory guidelines.
This is evaluated as responding to voices demanding strengthening of self-regulation while actively accepting requests for information transparency from users in the wake of MapleStory’s probability notation error.
As Nexon has expanded the scope of probability disclosure, the market is expected to draw more attention to whether each game company will respond accordingly.
On the 5th, Nexon Korea CEO Lee Jeong-heon bowed his head directly, saying, “I reflect on” the item probability controversy triggered by Maple Story through an in-house bulletin board. It announced a plan to relieve users’ distrust by revealing not only Maple Story, but also all the probabilities of the game in service.
CEO Lee Jeong-heon said, “Everyone of the staff must know that there is a lot of controversy over the probability-type items in our game,” and “Everything is entirely up to the management, including me. I sincerely apologize for not meeting the expectations of users. “He said.
Lee added, “Nexon, Nexon games, and our society’s level of dealings with games is changing, but from me, I did not recognize these changes and stayed in place. I reflect on them.”
At the same time, he emphasized, “I will start changing. I will meet the level of our society that has grown Nexon. I will not be insensitive to the voices of users anymore.”
Nexon plans to disclose information on probabilistic items of the game in service through this event. Starting with Maple Story, the task of revealing the existing paid probabilistic items and paid enchantment (enhanced) probabilities is sequentially executed.
Decision to expand the scope of disclosure of probabilistic item information…Maple story begins
Maple Story’s probability controversy started this decision. MapleStory users knew that last month’s Flame of Reincarnation paid item was given a random option with the same probability, but raised suspicion that it was different from the actual probability.
Upon raising the suspicion, the company announced that it had found an error in the probability organization (structure) and adjusted it to the same probability, and provided compensation, but the complaints of users did not cool down. The reason should have been more transparent and clear, but it is because Nexon did not meet the expectations of users.
Most users expressed this situation as item probability manipulation or probability fraud. They also demanded improvement by participating in truck protests and boycotts.
The common reaction of the industry is that Director Wonki Kang and CEO Jeongheon Lee directly apologized and opened the door to solving the situation. Many view that the reason that CEO Lee himself came out was because the seriousness of the situation has increased dramatically.
Increased disclosure of probability information…”Maybe it wasn’t an easy decision”
If so, how are industry insiders reacting to Nexon’s move?
It was evaluated that it may have been a difficult decision in the industry. This is because the probability logic could be a business secret, and additional research was needed to relieve the revenue burden caused by the leakage of business secrets.
In particular, it was heard that this decision could be a burden for Nexon, who suffered trial and error such as investing a lot of time and money for the study of probability logic.
Nevertheless, the reason Nexon decided to disclose all the information on the probability items applied to the game is because there was a feeling of crisis that he had to quickly get rid of the stigma such as’probability manipulation’ and’probability fraud’, and Lee Jeong-heon’s regret, who put emphasis on the usual best service. .
Until now, users have asked for transparent disclosure of not only paid probabilistic items, but also probabilities applied to reinforcement. As all game companies increased their dependence on probability-type items, the burden of spending increased. Nexon’s Maple Story was a big start, but the reality is that users are complaining about all game companies.
Reinforcement of self-regulation of probability-type items?… pay attention to the wind of change from Nexon
There is also a prospect that Nexon’s decision could lead to another change in the game world. It is in the same context as the wind of raising the annual salary after Nexon announced that it would increase the annual salary of its employees by 8 million won.
In particular, users are expected to raise their voices asking each game company to expand the range of probability disclosure, using the case of Nexon.
Some in the industry predicted that Nexon’s decision could also be an opportunity to change the framework of self-regulation. Although there is a movement for compulsory regulation by the National Assembly, it is that each game company can expand the scope of disclosure of probability earlier.
On the other hand, it is not without voices of concern about expanding the scope of disclosure of probability. This is because it can be difficult for all game companies to disclose probability information transparently like Nexon. There is also an eye that it may not be possible to disclose the probability of publishing works produced by overseas game companies that are not self-developed. Representatively, it is a game made in China.
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A high-ranking official in the industry said, “Game users have continuously raised the issue of probability-type items. It is understood that users’ patience has exploded due to the recent Maple Story probability controversy.” It is difficult to do, but it seems clear that they have made a big decision. With this work, each game company will listen more to the voices of its users,” he said.
Another game company official said, “Nexon’s decision to disclose the probability of the game may affect other game companies. This is because users can strongly request each game company to expand the range of probability disclosure.” “It can be a deeper concern. It can be difficult to expand the range of probability disclosures unless you are a production company,” he added.