MapleStory Worldsis a content creation platform based on the iconic 2D MMORPG that many of today’s game developers probably grew up playing. AsMapleStory’s young player base has matured, Nexon has decided to provide those players with the tools and resources necessary to create their own worlds, whether they take the shape of a “MapleStoryClassic” project or something from an entirely different genre.
In an interview with Game Rant,MapleStory Worldssenior producer Dennis Bernardo spoke about howMapleStory Worldsstands apart from contemporarycontent creation platforms. In particular, he pointed toMapleStory Worlds' unique social features that enable users to form their own “MapleStory Worldsstudios,” along with howMapleStory Worldsprovides users with tens of millions of assets that can be further modified in a number of ways with a comprehensive arsenal of tools.
MapleStory Worlds' Creator Groups Are Like Indie Game Studios
Of all the featuresMapleStory Worldsbrings to the table, Bernardo especially wanted to highlight the platform’s social features.MapleStory Worldsusers can form creator groups, essentiallyindie game studioswithinMapleStory Worlds,where members can contribute to the project in tandem. Contributions can all be made remotely, just like a real work-from-home game studio, which makesMapleStory Worldsa particularly attractive platform for groups of friends or even classmates tasked with an assignment.
It kind of mirrors a professional development studio, but it allows players to build a community. That’s one of the things that we want to do and we’re focusing on as well during the global soft launch: launching channels where players can build that community on our Discord, on our platform website, live streams, things like this where players can find each other and try to figure out common goals that they want to achieve and games that they want to create, worlds and experiences they want to create and create that themselves.
Alongside the in-platform social tools, Nexon is also invested in bringing users together outsideMapleStory Worlds. The platform’s Discord server and website are places where like-minded players can find one another and form their groups or exchange tips and ideas. This strong sense of community and collaboration that’s personally backed bythe MapleStory Worldsteamat every step will likely lead to projects coming together that otherwise wouldn’t have been possible.
MapleStory Worlds Provides 30 Million Assets
Bernardo also pointed out thatMapleStory Worldsbenefits from twodecades ofMapleStorycontent, including 30 million assets that can be simply dropped into projects with the user-friendly Design mode.MapleStory’s assets cover an astounding range: every floor surface one could possibly need, an MMO’s worth of creature and character sprites, backdrops, weapons, icons, and all of which can be customized, resized, and recolored.
On top of that, the 30 million assets that we provide forMapleStoryI think is a huge benefit to making it accessible and making it easy for people to just jump right in, especially with our design mode. You just drag and drop. You don’t even need to know coding. So it mirrors some of the simpler and more easy to learn content creation platforms out there as well.
Easy-to-useplatforms likeRPG MakerorRobloxhave enabled content creators to deliver some impressive ideas, andMapleStory Worldsseems poised to host a new generation of innovative projects that could take things even further. Bernardo anticipates that users will create shooters, tower defense games, and likely plenty of other unforeseen ideas usingMapleStoryassets.
MapleStory Worldsis available now in North America and South America for PC.
