Playing beyond the mainstream fun.

What's in the fun of playing a MMORPG? Levelling many will say. There are many other interesting elements if it's not. Completing a rewarding quest; challenging in a mini-game (game within game), participating GM events, bargaining a trade or chatting & making new friends. These are the juices that pin players back to the keyboard after again and again.

The mainstream funs are the made of MMORPG. While on other screens, the mainstreams are simply not satisfying. These are some talented packets of players that are creative and intuitive, proving mainstream is part of a game and not the whole. Without controlled by the Admin, neither the GM nor the support from the developer, they create new fun to the game!

A simple dash across maps, posting ridiculous questioning receiving humorous replies, guessing a mute player mission, these organisers put in their own chips as prizes! They supply extraordinary fun to the participated players. Not only for those who have won, had it usually become coffee chat "I saw what this hilarious player did yesterday...lol". After all, it is what makes other happy that make ones day.

User-base games are usually closer to the heart of the players. The organisers have the freedom to set up what interest their players. Unlike the GM, they have less chance of getting blame for organising bias event.

Once in a while, things might not go the way it plans to be. It could be the lack of experience putting on some boring shows, but practice makes perfect! Don’t give up! It is always the last mile that makes you different.

Tips for organising such activities:

Choosing the right game - Make sure the game has the right intent. It should not be crafted to gain reward from the participants. Vice-versa, it should not be the “carrot” that lure the players, so reward carefully. The key is fun.

Keep the game simple and easy to understand. Start with a small group of 10. Once the players know how the game was played, expand it if it proven worth. Get the existing player to be volunteers and enlarge the capacity.

Choosing the right players – You don’t need the whole world to join your game. Select only those who sincerely wanted to. You have the right to ignore critics but do consider their feedback.

Being a player, the freedom to choose the type of activities that fit the liking of individual is important. Playing without involving the masses has its advantages. Getting more attention by the organiser and without getting DC by mass computing needs are fascinating game plays.

While choosing the right game, make sure the game is right. Drop game, for example, are some tricks that scammers had crafted. See Wai Mod: “Stop dropping”.

Rewards are how much fun you achieve, monetary is secondary.

Stop dropping

Drop game, sounded like a new feature in the game. It’s not. Originated from the west, drop game is a dirty trick that scammers crafted. They dare naïve players drop their items then confiscate the drop through the use of vacuum hack, speed teleport with auto pick-up or a normal walk-over pick. Cry or plead the victim may, these scammers are not one that are soft-hearted. If they do, it would not have begin.

The games are sometime hosted by group. They start by daring each other to play the game by dropping (looking if they were stranger to each other). When innocent player join in, they start dropping better items and waited patiently. When the player drop a rare, they execute the hack. The whole gang usually disconnect or channel hop.

When the gang decide to setup a second trap on the same victim, this adds to the bursting of burning point. They acted concern and blame the scammer who took the item and demand return. The scammer (the one who picked earlier) than request the victim to drop another item to show his/her "trust" or "sincerity" for wanting back the item. Whatever reason it could be, the gang persuaded the victim, acted to be the victim's witness. By dropping the second item, the victim fall into the second trap.

It might not occur as a drop game. The same plot might present itself much simpler. In the presence of a high-level, the scammer drops a rare. Thinking that the player is “celebrating the newly gain item from monster drop” or "showing-off", the high-level drop a rare item to show that he/she had one too. Hack will then execute. The scammer simply leverages on the victim "Self-Motivated" behaviour. The psychological effect of "if you can, I can too".

Game moderator and Administrator remove all items found in the account of the scammers. On the contrary, it is not possible to remove such scammers. Players beware.

Wai comment?

Why comment? Because I love feedback. It let me understand myself more. Please throw some lights on me. Need not drag. Short comments helps.

Example:
"This post helps. Thanks alot"
"I beg to differ..."

Of cos, if you will like to share your experience, do feedback to me. Unless, no one is reading... *sob sob*
Nah, I know you read it! Else, you wouldn't be reading this blog.... XD.

Cheers ~

Happenings @ TH Media Conference.

Hi, it's 7am and I've not sleep yet. Still in office T.T
This prove how busy I am trying to clear my load of work. But still, I owe everyone a reply so I better take sometime writing this. I'm sorry for keeping all of you waiting. Ok, this are some of the shots at the Thailand Media conference:

1. AsiaSoft Thailand did a wonderful job by organising a MapleStory Fashion show!


2. They hired Channel V's VJ as their Emcee! Picture with Wizet Vice president.


3. AsiaSoft Singapore's Managing Director grace the event. Picture with MapleStory Mascots!


4. Attractive food and cocktail for the guests.


6. Thailand Media presence was stronger than Singapore plus Malaysia.


7. They gave away MapleStory noob T-shirt although not very alike those in the promo-clips. Sorry, no image. But you can tell from those blue and red T-shirts above.

8. Other well-captured pictures:











Where: Bangkok, Playground (Shopping Mall)
When : 26th July 2005, 2pm.

Invited to TH Media Conference

Before it turns out to be a Monday blues, I better post this before the day breaks. Yeah, I'm invited to attend Thailand's MapleStory Media Conference on Tuesday in Bangkok, Capitol of Thailand. Ops, now everyone know I'm not a Thai... lol.

Let see if I can grab some nice pictures from the event day. Tell me what are the moments or objects you wanted most and I'll try to capture it on my little Sony DSC-T1 Cybershot.

For wish list, please post on the comment section.

My Monster, My Map.

A KSer (meaning a Kill Stealer) , a term used by a victim on the opponent. Have anyone questioned; would the opponent be called a KSer if the player do not feel victimise?

When players regard the game as theirs, they became defensive and at the same time offensive. "My Monster, My Map" is the 4M. This is where the KS/KSer/KSing conflict begins.

"I suggest you don't touch my Monster"
"Can you change a channel? I was here first...”

Regardless how polite, the player crossed the line of owning rather than playing the game. The root of being overly self-conscious, words like "My or Mine" build tension. Although a KSer appears to be wronged, it was merely a convenient way of the player putting the fault on others.

The word "My/Mine" arise primarily due to desire and laziness (this is blown up but the purpose is to scope in and enlarge the micro).

A common example:

The general desire is to level-up but at the same time, do not want to share the map or monsters. The player is reluctant and indolent to move to another map, channel or world.

On the other hand, it is definitely not etiquette to steal monsters from another player (but it is also not wrong). The fact is, behide the screen of the opponent, it could be a kid or a Mother trying 1st time player on the keyboard.

To avoid such conflict, on the initial engagement, always assume the potential KSer did not do it on purpose. Avoid confrontation. These are some guide that can be helpful:

1. Assume that the player (a potential KSer) hit the monster accidentally or unintentionally. Pause and hint the player with a F3 emotion if it continues. The hint usually works without a conversational confrontation.
   
2. If point 1 doesn’t work, the opponent might not catch the hint. Ignore and move to another area of the map (share the M) if situation allow.
   
3. The player might randomly cross the line picking the monster again. The monster belongs to the public, so play as per normal (some call it "KS back").
   
4. If the opponent suggests the player to change a map instead, giving whatsoever reason (eg. "Your level is too low for these monster" etc.), make a consideration. Think twice before deciding to stay. To stay on, ignore replying. Mute is the best way to avoid confrontation.
   
5. If the opponent is too strong, change a map / channel or world. If it's dealing against the King (Mushmon or Balrog), play as per norm.
   
6. If the opponent follows the player everywhere (within the same map or even if channel have been change), this is when the potential KSer become a real KSing. This probably happen due to the cause and effect (meaning the opponent dislike something about the player). Anyway, the opponent could had a bad day at work. There are three options (choose one all use all):

• Keeping mute throughout, KS back with F2 pressed on random. F2 provoke and challenge the opponent mentally. Move around the map to waste each other time (it could take at least 10mins to hours). Having the first hit gain advantage. Nevertheless, avoid this if on single floor map, if the opponent can move faster (eg. equip with teleport, haste or better shoe) or if opponent prove the player is overly weak.
  
• Logout, change a char / world or take a break.
  
• The opponent is likely ignorant. Ask "Have you heard of the 4M theorem?". Refer him/her to this blog. This will educate the KSer how others feel. The KSer learn learn something new about playing MMORPG and respect other players in return.

It's easy to say "I've tried but it doesn't work". Practice makes perfect.

Wai's 4M theorem:
A KSer is not when victim is not.There is no such thing as My Monster My Map.

If someone complaint about being KSed again, refer him/her to this blog.

Be inspired...

I kinda miss this thread and decide to share it again.
Originally from :http://forums.asiasoft.net/thread.asp?qid=9644

MapleStory is a great game to play
My story unfolds throughout the day
Brothers from four seas came, upbeat
Beyond the lands more arrived to meet
My buddies are my soulwhere in MapleStory,
we are never too old.
- Wai & Rainfyre

Blue snail, red snail
bronze ores, maria's mail
Baseball racket. baseball cap
endless days without a nap
All night, all day
I ate and play!
- magician2264

Null Defame, for reason no.

"Someone defame me for no reason!"
"I got defame while afk! There are more and more unreasonable people!"

I bet you've seen such comments if you played MapleStory. Definitely not only within MapleSEA community. Such comments can be spotted in KMS, JMS, GMS, CMS or TMS too, perhaps only different ways of putting it across.

There is no reason why you got defame by someone you don't know; *pause* or perhaps there is? I came across two threads this morning and realise something interesting between the two. I conclude they are somehow linked.

Mapler A in his D&D thread:
"This guy mass defame me because I don't want to party him..."
Mapler B in his Genreal Discussion thread:
"I got defame for no reason while I was AFK!"

So how are both thread linked? Read on:

Mapler A in his D&D reply:
"I took revenge by training a few more characters and defame him back when I once found him AFK in town... "

Not saying this represents to all null defame cases, I conclue that such possibility are on the high side. Taking revenging could also happen to those accident KSer, legal or intentional pick-ups or a simple reply of wtf while in conversion. It need not be within the same day. It could happen even a month later.

The player might not have good momories but a pencil always does.

So, next time if your friend tells you a familiar story, ask him
"Have you forgotten"?

Blog what you wanted.

Okay, finally the second day arrived (although only couple of hours had passed since the first post). This is sooo exciting ~ I'll update this bloggy as often as I could.

To begin with, the reason I created this Blog is to get to know more about myself. Huh? Confuse? What am I talking about??? LOLx. Things are really funny. The more you wrote, the more you get to understand about yourself. It's true. Especially after receiving comments from others.

Anyway, I suppose many would assume "you already know yourself" more than anybody would, just like myself, right now! I already know myself and I couldn't comment further. So, why not tell me what I could possibly tell more about myself to help me know myself ^ ^;;

Own space owned.

Finally my own space, no one can KS.

Like what other blogger said, you have just intruded into my space. These articles are written for my own reading. Okay, I won't mind you reading it but you have no rights to stop me ^ ^. Share my views. Comments are welcome. No grammer check; no spell check. So, please bare with it.

Curse if you wish, but since I'm a moderator, I decide what to be removed.
Moderating is what this blog about anyway XD.