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Greetings Maplers, yesterday I saw this maple notice for the first time: "[Notice] Gambling creates a disruptive enviroment for other players, and is harmful to the long-term health of the game."
By definition of Gambling we have this: play games of chance for money; bet; take risky action in the hope of a desired result. Basically Lucky Games.
Now that being stated, what is the most obvious Gambling system we have in the game? Potential system, of course. We must pay real money on cubes to try our luck on getting the desired potential, which is needed in order to advance to late/end game and to be able to fully enjoy the game. You can say "no, we have free cubes as drops or events" but these are not even close to the results of the paid cubes, and we all know that, we all know we are stuck on paying for cubes or like some people does, paying someone with mesos for cube service. With everything here explained, I ask you, is this a way of Nexon to admit they are wrong and they will change this eventually to make the game and comunity healthier instead of making the cash shop a real casino for kids and others? By long-term I can only think that this Paid-Potential system had been a thing for too many years. But we can't just say like "well, it is what it is, nothing is going to change, if you don't like it don't play it". I don't want to give up on making the game I love be healthier to everyone. Cash shop should be a feature for people who want to pay for clothes, chairs, even pets, but not a Gambling place. I know reboot has cubes for mesos, but seriously, reboot mesos system is terrible, farming is exaustive and repetitive to in the end you use the hard earned mesos on - again- a Gambling system, now where you use your time as a coin (which in my opition is risky enough).
These are just some things I have in mind for years and decided to talk about after I noticed this Maple Notice that clearly states they know they are wrong. I hope this reach enough players, I want their opinion. And I hope that maybe Nexon - not a volunteer - say something about this. Gambling is not cool, and is ilegal in many countries. Is not something you expect to see in a game for people of all ages.
Comments
I do notice this addictive feeling too. That is why I take breaks from playing this game. Especially during events.
Other then that it is free to play, but your own health is your responsibility. like choosing to eat a salad over a burger. That is similar to mental and physical health. But I only ever took one class of Psychology at a College and not a Licensed Psychologist. Though I like to think I can help people. But remember its also your interpretation, and how much your willing to agree on that.
But what MapleSapo is saying. I too understand that this game is a "Gambling" game.
Playing grinding games is a preference, we put up with it until the abuse become too much.
As much as gambling is bad, the pleasure you get from from gambling is different from a guaranteed reward after a certain point is reached and appeals to different variety of players. (roller coaster of emotion vs anticipation) (technically monsters is a walking lootbox that fight back if it strong enough)
As far as revenue go, there are significantly less fashion whales than p2w whales.
we as maplers have been and are tolerating the level of RNG, predatory lootboxes, and slot machine type rewards. we might not in the future.
but for now , game designers are making content for those 'MVP diamond/Red ch1 arcane river bosser' type maplers.
This meme says a lot about what this game have become.
I don't know about what would be legally be considered gambling, but placing what we have in a simple example is more than enough to prove that this is gambling, and even if it is legal or not, it is not healthy and goes against what Nexon itself says "All acts of gambling violates the ToS" and "Gambling creates a disruptive enviroment for other players, and is harmful to the long-term health of the game."
IE: You pay real money to try your luck to obtain what you want. This simple phrase can be about Cubes in game, or a simple slot machine in a casino in real life. The phrase don't even has to be changed, because the act of gambling here is basically the same.
I know that many people does not care about paying if they have the money. But this game could benefit of having the cash shop only for clothes, pets, mounts, chairs, etc. Could be a healthier game in my opinion. Most people that ask me or friends about the game, if they should start (or come back - pre bb players), they always ask "is this game pay to win?" or "can I do the end game without using real money?". It is sad to see what this game become. So much potential, but not a healthy game. It is heartbreaking.
I'm not saying Nexon can't be downright predatory with regards to cubes and other cash shop stuff, but the MapleTips are very much not about that.
Yeah I get your point.. But still, this feels so hipocrit of them. "We don't like gambling, this is harmfull to the comunity, unless of course we are the house".
I know everything is about money in this world, im not a kid anymore.. but I trully have some hope that maybe someday Nexon really starts to hear their whole comunity and think about the game as the masterpiece I see on it, not just another farm where they milk their players till they give up and new players come to their trap.
Gambling for money is illegal in Japan, so casinos have a clever (well, maybe not, since it's not a secret) way to get by that law. Pachinko machines and similar devices other dispense Pachinko balls, which are not money, but can be exchanged at the casino for prizes or tokens, which can then be exchanged for cash by a merchant who is nominally not affiliated with the casino. One prize exchange merchant may serve a number of nearby casinos, getting a percentage of the prize's value when it is collected by the casino.
Kind of like a Chuckie Cheese game room for adults.
Fully legal, and not in violation of any law, and that is exactly how the gambling in Maplestory works, via a legal loophole
There aren't any RNG-based events in the game that would legally be considered gambling in most western countries.
Sadly Nexon is just like all the rest and nothing will ever change; it is all about $$$ and not you or me as a player.