[Monday Newspaper = Reporter Wang Jin-hwa]The controversy over the probability of cube items in the Nexon online game’Maple Story’ is gradually fading due to Nexon’s apology and follow-up measures.
However, game users are raising their voices that there is an urgent need to disclose information on probabilistic items to the entire game industry other than Nexon.
According to the game industry on the 8th, Nexon decided to introduce a’probability real-time monitoring system’ on the 5th. Most of the glances say that this originated from the controversy over probability-type items that arose from the 18th of last month.
Maple Story has a system called’additional options’ that improves the efficiency of character equipment items. Among the many enhancement types, adjustment and enhancement of additional options is the most difficult. The controversy began with the cube item’Fire of Reincarnation’ that helps to reset it.
With this item, you can change the equipment’s additional/potential option to’random’ or raise it to a higher level. This is a must for users who want to develop strong characters in the game.
This item, classified as a cube type, can be used when combining paid and free items. Thanks to the current self-regulation’recommendation for disclosing probability limited to capsule-type paid items’, Nexon did not have to disclose the probability of a good option when using the item.
However, users continued protesting for saying that they lie about the probability and deceive the expected level of item acquisition. The share of PC cafes also declined as part of these protests.
According to The Log, a PC room game statistics service, Maple Story’s PC room share in the fourth week of February this year (February 22-28) was 2.80%. This is a decrease of 0.45%p compared to the previous week. On the other hand, Lost Arc had a 1.20% PC room market share in the 3rd week of February, but increased by 0.58%p in the 4th week.
In the end, Nexon admitted to the error in the process of operating the probability of the flame item of reincarnation, and on the 5th, the probability of the cube was publicly disclosed.
Nexon also offered compensation and full compensation related to the controversy. Goods used for changes such as additional options over the past two years will be refunded in the form of’Reincarnation Flame A Point’ and’Reincarnation Flame B Point’ depending on the type and number of flames of reincarnation. In addition, a large number of fixed-term items will be paid from the 11th to the 21st of April.
As of the 8th, among MapleStory users, “It is unfortunate that most of the reward items are fixed-term items.” Therefore, various reactions are pouring, such as “You must ensure that you can receive compensation only if your name is authenticated for prevention.”
On the same day, Nexon provided a’probability real-time monitoring system’ that can fully disclose not only capsule-type items that have been previously disclosed, but also’paid reinforcement/synthetic type’ information, and verify this, the major online games and mobile games that the company is servicing. Said that it has decided to introduce it to.
Nexon said, “We will avoid the use of terms such as’random’ and’random’ that have confusing users recently.” In the case of using, we will provide an additional related probability table so that there will be no controversy.”
Meanwhile, numerous game users are voicing that not only Nexon but also other game companies need an active attitude to disclose information about probability items.
An official in the game industry said, “Neither NC nor Netmarble reflects various opinions such as the industry and users, so I think the wind of change will also blow in the entire industry. I am concerned that I may be able to receive it,” he said.
Another industry official said, “Each game company has different paid items through each game, and there are parts that cannot be defined as a single concept.” “I think it is necessary for the industry to listen and reflect various opinions of game users, related organizations, experts, and the government over a long period of time, rather than dichotomous discussions.”
He added, “Game companies are never in the position of’Do not regulate, we were doing well’.” I think it should be done in depth,” he added.