NX Cards at Canadian Best Buys

Hope everyone had a nice Christmas.  I know those that played MapleStory yesterday and had 2x cards didn’t, but that’s another story.

At around the same time Nexon Game Cards were made available at Future Shops and Shoppers Drug Marts in Canada, they also started selling them at American Best Buys.  What you might not have known is that these cards are also available at Canadian Best Buys. (I’m guessing either as the result of American Best Buys getting it or the fact that Future Shop is owned by them.)

The gigantic chaos we know as Boxing Day shopping saw me go to the Coquitlam Centre Best Buy early this morning, and I was somewhat caught off guard when I saw the game cards sitting there.  I know they’ve appeared at other Canadian Best Buys as well but I was exactly sure what it would be like at others.

And, as a warning, both Future Shop and Best Buy adds tax to these cards, whereas Shoppers Drug Mart does not.  This either means that we’re getting ripped off at Future Shop or the feds are going to be after Shoppers, and I would most likely see former of the two being the correct statement here.  So, if you have a Shoppers with a prepaid card centre nearby, go to it instead.

Automated PIN Reset Is Here

I’m sure there are tons of users that have faced this situation.  They come back from a long absence and have forgotten the PIN that allows them to log into MapleStory, or they were hacked and had it changed on them.  After Nexon implemented their ticket system they started taking PIN reset requests, but as of recent they stopped taking these requests and started work on an automated system.

That automated system is close to being ready to go here, as one Sleepywood user has noticed.  If you look on your Account Info page there is now a button labelled “PIN reset.”

But… how does it compare to the old ticket system way of doing it?

It’s practically the same thing. Well, except that it happens in like 3 seconds… and you know.. small details like that. ;)

-NxJoeW, customer service representative, Nexon America

The system has already be used, and the way it works is a lot easier (although not as secure) than the ticket system.

1. Go to nexon.net and login to the account that you forgot the PIN of.
2. Go to Account Info and click PIN Reset.
3. Follow the instructions for an e-mail to be sent to the address registered on the account.
4. Follow the link in said e-mail to reset your PIN.
5. Log into MapleStory and enter the new PIN for the account.

Mabinogi Global Closed Beta – 42 Days And Counting

Anyone who has visited the Nexon America website today will have noticed a bit of a change: The number of games listed on the main page has been upped to four.  Yes, that’s right.  A fourth game will soon be launched by Nexon America.

The fourth game that will be brought into service, in English, by Nexon America is none other than Mabinogi, a 3D RuneScape-ish MMORPG.  This game has been in service in both Korea and Japan for quite some time now, and now it is being brought over to Western shores.

A preliminary website is currently up for the game, with an introductory video and a countdown timer.  Judging by the length of time given, Mabinogi closed beta will start on January 31st, 2008 at 2:00 PM PST.  I would assume at this point that it would run for about a month before work continues on the game, with an open beta/final being launched a couple months after.  Let’s just hope it doesn’t become what happened with KartRider and the gap between closed and open beta there.

Additional information about this game can be found on Wikipedia.

And just to add… system requirement-wise, if your computer can run KartRider, chances are you can run Mabinogi.  The specs are about the same.

MapleStory Dec. 19th SC – Failed

For the first time in the history of me playing this game, I can consider a server check having been “failed.”  Not because the result of it sucked, but because Nexon was unable to do what they were trying to do.

This server check was to be the first where characters that were scheduled for transfer between worlds would be changed.  However, after taking an extra two and a half hours trying to do it they were unable to, and ended up stopping there, bringing the game servers back up at 1:00 PM Pacific.

For those of you changing worlds, though, an announcement on their website says that they will attempt this again tomorrow, so for all you morning people, you may want to play some KartRider, as once again it could be a long one.  I’ll be doing some Christmas shopping myself. :P

(In addition it seems that some cash shop items are missing, so I would also think they would attempt to add what they missed as well.)

KartRider Patch – Dec. 18/07

Finally, something that will please speed mode players a bit.  Sandpit isn’t technically a speed track, but it can take quite a bit of strategy in order to get it right, especially with a huge dip that acts as a “sandpit” close to the end of each lap.  If you’re really unlucky and get caught in a tight pack there, you could end up being able to not get out.  When I played this on speed shortly after the patch I ended up winning some four times in a row or so.  I’m only about 2000 RP off my blue glove now. :)

 

Also, here’s an interesting event that is a bit better than getting items from.  Much like the Jack-o-Lantern event in Halloween, you’re collecting Christmas bells.  When you collect five bells, everyone in your race gets sent to a bonus track where you have 20 seconds to collect as much Lucci as you can.  Usually you can get as much as about 500 Lucci from this bonus stage, and if you play a lot you’ll probably end up with a load of cash after this event is over, either from collecting bells or being in the same race as someone that collects five bells.

Also, as a reminder about MapleStory’s server check tomorrow that this is in fact the first one where world changes will be done, so it may take somewhat longer than scheduled.