Adam Riley, Cubed3 Operations Director: First of all, why was the decision made to bring MapleStory to the Nintendo DS and not a different console?
Kim Hyung-Ho (), Head of the MapleStory DS development team: There is a lot of overlap between the users of the online version of MapleStory and the Nintendo DS because Nintendos portable system has become almost ubiquitous in Korea!
AR: How long has the game been in development, and is there a release date available for the Korean market?
Kim Hyung-Ho: The game was originally planned in the middle of 2006 and has taken approximately three years to produce. MapleStory DS launched in South Korea on 15th April, 2010.
AR: Is the team working on the Nintendo DS version the same one that created the PC game? And what are your experiences working with the DS hardware so far?
Kim Hyung-Ho: The staff that produced the PC version of MapleStory were not involved in the MapleStory DS project. However, the game is a representative of the company, and the companys employees all have an understanding of MapleStory on PC. I wanted to create a new style for MapleStory DS, though, yet there had to be a nice balance for users of the original PC game and in this respect we received plenty of advice and feedback.
As you can imagine, dealing with the Nintendo DS hardware was very different from the PC due to the limited resources of the system. There are both advantages and disadvantages for a developer related to this! Whilst there is a drawback in the amount of expression that can be put into the game, the benefit is that you can concentrate more on the game, putting more imagination into the final product.
AR: Is Nexon working directly with Nintendo of Japan, or is Nintendo of Korea also involved in the project? How much input has Nintendo had in the game?
Kim Hyung-Ho: Both Nintendo in Korea and Japan helped out, giving assistance on the project to help make it a well-rounded end product. As for the amount of resources committed overall, please note that I do not know the specific details of the breakdown.
AR: How long will it take to complete the game and are there any extra features included to ensure good value for money for the consumer?
Kim Hyung-Ho: There are four heroes, the members of MapleStory, and each one has a different scenario to play through. So that is four different scenarios that will take approximately thirty-forty hours to complete in total. There are also additional features that open up when the game has been cleared, plus even after that there are coupons to collect. These codes can be used to gain items in the PC version of MapleStory.
AR: MapleStory is well-known for its online play. Why does the DS version not feature a similar online network using the Wi-Fi Connection, or any multiplayer content?
Kim Hyung-Ho: We eventually decided to not include multiplayer features for MapleStory DS. The MapleStory experience is fun in multiplayer on the PC, but the development team has instead focused on making the single-player mode extremely fun on the DS.
AR: Just how much customisation will there be in the final product? And have you considered the idea of letting players download new updates on a regular basis?
Kim Hyung-Ho: The level of customisation is very small compared to the PC version. As I mentioned earlier, there is no online community for MapleStory DS, with the main focus being on the single-player mode. In terms of downloading content, initially we did plan to develop such a service, but due to cost-related problems and development issues, unfortunately this feature had to be removed.
AR: Will Nexon be partnering with Nintendo to release the Nintendo DS version of MapleStory in the Western world? Will online features be eventually added to the global edition?
Kim Hyung-Ho: The situation with the overseas market, including all Western territories, is yet to be determined. As mentioned earlier, there will be no multi-player features, though, but there are the coupons that can be used in the PC edition. I want to ensure that this function is definitely retained for the overseas edition.
AR: Do you think the idea of an online community can be recreated on the Nintendo DS? Or will there be limitations compared to the PC game?
Kim Hyung-Ho: The Nintendo DS, at least when compared to a PC, is very limited in its online capabilities. Obviously there is still a lot of fun to be had with the DS online, and it is expected that Nintendo will continue to improve the service further.
AR: It has previously been stated that a special Nintendo DS and MapleStory bundle will be released to help promote the game even more. Is this also something you would like to see released in the West?
Kim Hyung-Ho: It is true! MapleStory DS can also be purchased in the form of a bundle that includes a limited edition red Nintendo DSi model. Whether subsequent releases in overseas territories will include a similar offer, this is something we will be consulting with Nintendo about on a per market basis.
AR: Previously it has been reported that Nexon has signed a deal with Nintendo for creating games on the DS. Does this mean that you will be bringing any of your other properties to the portable system?
Kim Hyung-Ho: The agreement is limited to MapleStory DS. Bringing another project from Nexon to Nintendos portable game machine will require further discussions between the two companies. Perhaps if our first DS game is successful enough it will happen.
AR: With Wii also very popular in South Korea, is your team planning to support that console?
Kim Hyung-Ho: Nintendos Wii console launched in the Korean market in the first half of 2008. We do not currently have anything planned that fits the Wii philosophy, but our team is still considering creating a game for the console.
AR: What are your thoughts on the WiiWare download service? Is this something that you believe will be extremely popular? And do you believe this would be a good channel for a company like Nexon to take advantage of?
Kim Hyung-Ho: I think that this is the natural evolution for home consoles. If the market becomes large enough, then we might consider it.
AR: In general, do you think many other Korean developers will be choosing to support systems like DS and Wii to help expand their business?
Kim Hyung-Ho: Success has to be thought about before committing to anything, so I would believe they will approach it cautiously. Choosing to outsource work to reduce the risks involved with development is something that will have to be considered.
AR: Also, how impressed are you with the progress Nintendo has made in such a short time in Korea, considering the country is very PC-centric? Has the market changed enough for a console to become more popular than the PC?
Kim Hyung-Ho: Whilst it is indeed very impressive for Nintendo to have achieved great success in Korea in a little over three years, there is still room for improvement as the status of the videogame market in Korea is still nowhere near comparable to that of the PC market.
AR: Finally, what are some of the games you are anticipating in 2010?
Kim Hyung-Ho: I am looking forward to God of War 3. Has this been released yet? I look forward to it even if it has because I have not bought it yet!
