What is Azmos Canyon?
Azmos Canyon is a recently introduced MapleStory content designed to make it easier for players to obtain Mesos (in-game currency). In this system, players earn Gold Coins by achieving specific scores and can then exchange these coins for Mesos using Maple Points (a currency purchased with real money). However, this seemingly straightforward reward system has had a major impact on the game’s economy. This article aims to break down how the introduction of Azmos Canyon leads to an inevitable convergence in the exchange rate between Mesos and Maple Points—1 billion Mesos per 1,333 Maple Points.
The Impact of Azmos Canyon on Maple Points and Mesos
To understand how Azmos Canyon affects Maple Points and Mesos, let’s look at its structure. For instance, by achieving a perfect score, players can earn 60 Gold Coins. To convert these coins into Mesos, players need to spend a total of 68,000 Maple Points. Each coin currently yields about 50 million Mesos, which totals to 3 billion Mesos for 60 coins. In other words, it costs about 2,266 Maple Points to obtain 1 billion Mesos.
However, the value of these Gold Coins is not fixed. The amount of Mesos that can be obtained per coin continues to fluctuate, leading to a steady depreciation of Mesos. As Mesos lose their value, the Maple Points required to acquire 1 billion Mesos gradually decreases, ultimately converging to a fixed rate of 1,333 Maple Points per 1 billion Mesos.
This convergence happens due to the following cycle:
- Gold Coin Prices Drop, Mesos Depreciate: As Gold Coins decrease in value, fewer Maple Points are needed to acquire the same amount of Mesos, further diminishing the value of Mesos.
- New Exchange Rate Convergence: As the exchange continues, the rate gradually converges to 1,333 Maple Points per 1 billion Mesos. Since all players operate within this same system, everyone ultimately obtains Mesos at this fixed rate.
The Intentions of the Game Developers and the Problems Arising
The developers introduced Azmos Canyon with the intent of increasing Meso supply for players while addressing the rapid decline in Maple Point value caused by the shift to Meso-based cubes (a key in-game item). With Maple Points rapidly losing value, players became less inclined to purchase Mesos at high prices. Consequently, developers added various content (such as Epic Dungeon and Azmos Canyon) to artificially increase the demand for Maple Points.
This strategy initially aimed to stabilize the in-game economy by encouraging players to spend more Maple Points. However, in reality, it has led to an ongoing decline in both Maple Point and Meso values. As Meso demand increases but supply remains limited, the exchange rate between Mesos and Maple Points continues to drop, leading to the inevitable convergence of 1 billion Mesos per 1,333 Maple Points.
Azmos Canyon vs. Ursus: A Key Difference
In the past, the Ursus content directly rewarded players with Mesos without requiring any Maple Points. This distinction is crucial. Since players didn’t need Maple Points to earn Mesos through Ursus, it had a negligible impact on the value of Maple Points. However, Azmos Canyon necessitates Maple Points for Meso acquisition, directly affecting the Maple Point market and driving the exchange rate down to 1 billion Mesos per 1,333 Maple Points.
To put it simply, Ursus content offered Mesos without influencing the Maple Point market, while Azmos Canyon requires players to utilize Maple Points, thereby significantly impacting the in-game economy.
Who Benefits and Who Suffers?
The biggest losers in this situation are self-sustaining players who primarily rely on in-game earnings. As Meso values continue to decline, these players need to spend more Maple Points to obtain the same amount of Mesos, effectively increasing their real-money expenditure. Meanwhile, this system provides an advantage for players who can spend large amounts of real money, as it allows them to access Mesos more easily.
Ultimately, the decrease in Meso value negatively impacts all players, pushing previously self-sufficient players toward spending real money to keep up with in-game demands.
A Real-World Parallel: Currency Inflation and Economic Collapse
This issue bears some resemblance to currency inflation in real-world economies. For example, in Venezuela, the government’s excessive printing of currency led to skyrocketing inflation, resulting in a catastrophic drop in currency value and severe economic damage. The government’s attempt to stabilize the economy backfired, and the currency became nearly worthless. Similarly, Azmos Canyon was intended to balance the in-game economy, but it has instead destabilized it, driving Mesos to depreciate and forcing players to spend more.
3-Point Summary
- Azmos Canyon requires Maple Points for Meso acquisition, which steadily devalues both Maple Points and Mesos.
- Over time, the exchange rate converges to 1,333 Maple Points per 1 billion Mesos, significantly impacting self-sustaining players.
- In real life, excessive currency supply can lead to economic instability, as seen in Venezuela’s inflation crisis, which mirrors the situation in MapleStory’s economy.
We hope this breakdown provides insight into how Azmos Canyon affects MapleStory’s in-game economy.
The next blog post will write about why the Venezuelan economy collapsed, my thoughts, and how I overcame it. Also, if you’re curious about what you want or my perspective, feel free to ask!