MapleStory's Big Bang update will finally be complete on Jan. 19 with the release of the new Mechanic class. It joins the previously released Wild Hunter and Battle Mage classes in the fight against the Black Wings cult. Most Mechanic skills must be performed while mounted on a Mech, which can be upgraded into the ultimate fighting machine. For more details on the new class, check out Nexon's Mechanic guide.

The Big Bang update kicked off on Dec. 7 to completely revamp MapleStory with improved graphics, a simpler user interface, redesigned and rebalanced skills and an easier EXP curve.  The second phase of the update came two weeks later with the introduction of the Wild Hunter and Battle Mage classes, as well as the quiet mining village of Edelstein.

It looks like the Big Bang update has brought old and new players back to the world of MapleStory. According to Nexon America, more than 136,000 people played the game at the same time on Wednesday, nearly doubling the previous concurrency record in North America, set in July 2009.

Earlier this month, the first part of the Big Bang update completely changed the world of MapleStory with improved graphics, an easier EXP curve and more. On Monday, the second part of the update went live and introduced the Battle Mage and Wild Hunter classes, as well as the quiet mining village of Edelstein. The third phase will launch in early 2011 and introduce yet another character class to the game.

Two weeks ago, Nexon launched the first part of the Big Bang update to completely change the world of MapleStory with improved graphics, an easier EXP curve and more. Today marks the launch of the second phase of the Big Bang, and it introduces two new classes and a new zone to the free-to-play game.

Players are invited to join the Resistance as a Battle Mage or a Wild Hunter to fight the minions of the Black Mage that have taken over the quiet mining village of Edelstein. The maintenance is currently scheduled to end at 10 a.m. PST, so get ready to become a part of the Resistance and take on the Black Wings!

The Big Bang has begun in MapleStory! The first part of this multi-phase update is officially live, and it completely reshapes the game. The Big Bang introduces improved graphics, a simpler user interface, redesigned and rebalanced skills, an easier EXP curve, and two new worlds, one of which is the first world to be hosted on the East Coast.

If you'd like more details, be sure to check out Nexon's Big Bang launch guide. It includes an introduction to the new leveling curve and an interview with the development team. Will you be trying out the revamped version of this free-to-play MMO?

Many MMO players have Dec. 7 marked on their calendars as the launch day for World of Warcraft's Cataclysm expansion, which will revamp the game. Well, it looks like Dec. 7 is also the day that the Big Bang will completely reshape MapleStory.

The Big Bang update will introduce an updated user interface, higher resolution, better graphics, new character classes, a higher EXP curve, updated maps and more. To put it simply, everything will change. For more details, head over to the Big Bang teaser site and check out the trailer after the jump.

The upcoming Big Bang update will completely revamp MapleStory beginning in December, and Nexon is starting the preparations with the launch of a new teaser site. The site provides details on the update, which will introduce an updated user interface, higher resolution, better graphics, new character classes, a higher EXP curve, updated maps and more.

In celebration of the Big Bang, Nexon is asking players to share their MapleStory memories through Nov. 30. The grand prize winner of the contest will win a customized iPod Touch.

"This winter, everything will change." So says the new MapleStory trailer Nexon America recently released in anticipation of the Big Bang update, which will completely revamp the free-to-play MMO. The first phase of Big Bang is set to go live in December, followed by two other phases that will introduce new and different aspects to the game.

So what's changing? Big Bang will introduce an updated user interface, higher resolution, better graphics, new character classes, a higher EXP curve, updated maps and more. Check out the trailer after the jump and prepare for the Big Bang!

Because Korea's MapleStory is a few updates ahead of their North American counterparts, fans have been eagerly expecting the release of Dragon Master Evans for some time now. In fact, most players had the release date of Evans pegged for sometime in the Summer of 2010, or perhaps as late as winter, but the MapleStory team has surprised everyone with their release of Dragon Master Evans this spring!

In keeping with MapleStory lore, Dragon Master Evans is, essentially, the successor to the famous, ancient Magician Freud, who fought alongside his partner, the Onyx Dragon King Afrien. Apparently the Black Mage was jealous of Afrien and Freud's combined power, and so he attempted to trap Freud in ice in order to break their pact. Unfortunately, the Black Mage underestimated Afrien and Freud's friendship, and Afrien intercepted the spell, thereby saving Freud. The Dragon King also left behind a dragon egg, which would hatch at a much later date, and so Freud hid the egg in the hopes that, one day, another Dragon Master would rise.

In terms of game play, Evan and his dragon, Mir, will fight side by side, and Evan will be able to cast spells through his Dragon (or using his Dragon). Mir, the Dragon, will also upgrade in appearance and ability up to ten times over the course of the player's levelling experience. You can read Part I of Nexon's introduction to the Dragon Master after the jump, or at the Nexon forums.

Nexon America, developers of the classic and popular MapleStory MMO, recently launched a new online trading card game called MapleStory iTCG Online. Based on the franchise, MapleStory iTCG Online "is an online flash-based, in-browser trading card game using the characters and monsters that occupy the world of MapleStory," according to the official release.

Nexon says "the new website offers players details about the online card game including news, rules and information on how to play and shows the art style used for the game," although the game is just in the process of launching its beta testing phase, which starts today.

"iTCG Online players will be able to choose one of the four MapleStory classes currently available as their main character," according to the release. "The classes include Warrior, Magician, Bowman and Thief. Pirate and Cygnus Knight characters will not be available at launch." Check out the full press release after the jump.

It looks like one of the biggest Free-to-Play MMOs is finally heading to the mobile phone as AT&T has announced that their customers will be the first to be able to download MapleStory from their AT&T MEdia Mall directly to their cell phones. AT&T will be the first U.S. wireless carrier to launch the mobile version of MapleStory, and whoever purchases the game right now will be able to claim a special item for their MapleStory PC Game.Glenn Broderick, the Executive Director of Gaming for AT&T has stated that "MapleStory has a loyal global following, so we are thrilled to let AT&T customers be the first in the U.S. to experience that same adventure and level of excitement on their wireless devices."

Users can purchase the game for $6.99 at the AT&T MEdia Mall.