[비즈한국] Recently, Nexon's flagship online game, MapleStory, faced severe backlash over its probability-based item controversies. Now, Nexon's Sudden Attack is drawing intense criticism from users for the continuous release of firearm items that undermine fair play. Users report that obtaining just one such weapon requires spending between 200,000 and 300,000 won. BizHankook investigated the details.
Why users have to spend 200,000 to 300,000 won to draw a weapon
On October 21, 2020, Nexon announced an update for Sudden Attack introducing the '[M] Noble Weapon Permanent Selection Ticket,' sparking public outcry. The reason for the anger among Sudden Attack users is that it added content that violates the fairness of a First-Person Shooter (FPS) game, which should be played under equal conditions for everyone. Obtaining a Noble weapon and reaching a certain amount of experience points grants bonuses like 'increased reload and weapon swap speed.'
Sudden Attack, as an FPS game, should guarantee a fair play environment where victory can be achieved through skill alone. Since 'fairness' is the most critical factor, many feel that Nexon has officially introduced items that undermine this core element. True to the name 'Noble,' the cost to draw a single weapon is approximately 200,000 to 300,000 won. There are two ways to draw them: a random draw called 'My Gun Mart' and a 'Multi-Count' draw.
In My Gun Mart, the probability of drawing the weapon is 0.2% and 0.8% respectively, and it costs about 2,000 won in cash per attempt. The sales list refreshes every 5 minutes. The Multi-Count method involves collecting 600 total days through draws. Components include durations of 1, 3, 7, 30, 50, and 100 days. Each draw costs between 2,000 and 2,400 won.
If you are lucky, you can get it without spending a lot, but the cost to secure one weapon is typically between 200,000 and 300,000 won. A (28, male), who has played Sudden Attack for over 10 years, criticized, "When Netmarble operated Sudden Attack, it was a fair game where you competed on skill without special pressure to spend money. But since Nexon took over, it’s become hard to enjoy the game without paying. In particular, the Noble weapons released since last October create a clear gap between users who have them and those who don't. You need nearly 1 million won just to get the three main weapons. I believe these elements clearly destroy the game's fairness."
B (27, male) explained, "After My Gun Mart was added on April 8, I spent 150,000 won trying to get a Noble weapon, but it took less than 3 minutes to burn through that money without even getting the weapon. Even if an item you want appears on the list, it disappears after 5 minutes. It makes you feel anxious and leads you to spend money without thinking clearly."
Sudden Attack's pursuit of fairness
On October 28, 2020, Sudden Attack officially announced that it would ban custom skins created by users. Since there had been no restrictions for over 10 years, it sparked debate among users, but Sudden Attack pacified them by explaining, "Changing in-game images based on personal preference can unintentionally affect the 'fairness' of the game. We ask for your restraint."
C, an avid Sudden Attack player, remarked, "I think banning map skins was the right move because they affect fair play. However, they keep releasing Noble weapons constantly, which is actually undermining fairness even more. Since they only release items for assault rifles, sniper rifles, and pistols—the most commonly used weapons—the gap felt when facing an opponent is even greater. If they keep releasing these kinds of weapons, only paying users will have the advantage."
A representative for Nexon's Sudden Attack stated, "We will strive to ensure that users can play in an even fairer environment."