Give us some ideas on the scope of Legends, how does it impact the player base?

Legends is a huge update for MapleStory that has a big impact on all players. While the biggest news is the three new classes, Legends also brings with it over 20 in game events to celebrate Legends and the great year we've had in 2011. Events range from the simple, to the silly, to hardcore challenges for dedicated Maplers only; there is something for everyone.

Additionally, Legends moves forward the story of the Black Mage and the legendary heroes that fought him hundreds of years ago. Players anxious to know more about the inevitable confrontation to come should definitely login and check out the new characters.

Legends offers some new classes to the game, can you tell us about the Demon Slayer?

The Demon Slayer is a sort of anti-hero with a dark past looking for redemption. He was once a high ranking member of the Black Mage's army but now he brings his dark powers to the Resistance in Edelstein.

The Demon Slayer can do high damage with blunt weapons and carries a special shield available only to this class. The class has a large number of utility powers that use the Demon Slayer's class specific power source Demon Fury. The Demon Slayer is a great asset to any group with his ability to weaken enemies and do superb damage to enemies with high defense.

The Cannoneer has some great features, how does the long range style work for the class?

The Cannoneer has a large array of multi-target ranged attacks which make him one of the deadliest MapleStory characters at long range. He may be light on defense, but enemies never have a chance to get close when facing the Cannoneer's powerful hand cannon and barrage of bombs lobbed by his monkey companion. At high levels, the Cannoneer even gets access to something akin to an aerial strike when he calls in the Battleship Nautilus to blow any enemy on the screen away.

What types of skills are a part of the Mercedes class, how does it interact with the other characters in the game?

Mercedes has the most versatile skills of all the Heroes. She has both short range and long range attacks which are very powerful which means she is useful in almost any fight. She also has some utility powers that enhance her mobility which make her an excellent choice for players that want to focus on PvP.

When building Legends what was your inspiration for the expansion?

Legends is all about more. More classes, more power, more equipment, more everything. As we move forward in the story of the Black Mage and the Heroes that fought him, we want the players to feel the increase in urgency, the preparation for battle, and the discovery of new skills and allies. We want Legends to feel like an acceleration that will propel us into the next year.

MapleStory recently set some high records for online attendence, how does Nexon maintain such an active user base at any given time?

Constant updates. In the six and a half years since MapleStory launched in North America, we have never stopped working on the game. There is always something going on in Maple World. Even though something as massive as Legends only comes once or twice a year, that doesn't stop us from making smaller additions every month. New quest zones, new raids, and new features are added all the time. Along with seasonal events these additions help keep the game fresh and interesting.

What are some of your favorite parts of Legends for players?

Personally I am very happy with all three new classes for Legends. Each is fun and unique and each has a great story. When Legends is complete in January, MapleStory will have 19 playable classes. With so many classes it might seem difficult to find new ways to play, but I think players will be very happy with Cannoneer, Mercedes, and Demon Slayer.

Can you tell us the plans for Maple Story 2012? What's in the works?

We have a lot in the works for 2012, there are no plans to slow down updates for the game. Just in the first half we have major updates to existing classes, new boss raids, and a giant celebration for our 7th anniversary. We also have the return of some of our most loved events and some content designed specifically for North American players. We are very excited about 2012!