Maplestory and Social Class
MapleStory, a Korean role-playing game launched globally in the 2000s, captivated players with its beautifully and intricately designed world that blends fantastical and realistic elements. In this game, players start at level 1 and progress by exploring various regions of "Mapleworld," hunting monsters to level up. Introduced to the game by my cousin at around 8 or 9, I was immediately struck by its unique appeal. The game's regions ranged from magical, fairytale-like settings to real-world cities like Tokyo and Shanghai. For many young players, especially those from rural areas in China, Mapleworld provided a window to the broader world. In 2018, MapleStory still boasts impressive visuals and music, but it has lost a significant portion of its player base compared to a decade ago. This decline followed a major redesign in 2010, known among players as "the big bang." While intended to make the game more engaging, this overhaul had unintended consequences. One o...