NEXPACE announced on the 18th that it will host the game development event 'MapleStory Vibe Camp Season 2' through September 15. The event will take place in 'MSU Space,' a dedicated environment built in collaboration with the AI-based game development platform Verse8. During Season 1, 693 projects were submitted over three weeks, utilizing approximately 340k official assets and generating over 88k game plays.

Season 2 focuses on creating games that offer high immersion in a short amount of time, in line with the short-form gaming trend. The event emphasizes user retention, replayability, and improved controls, introducing three core design criteria: 'Short,' 'Simple,' and 'Tense.' Participants are encouraged to implement 1-2 minute sessions, immediate retry structures, intuitive mechanics that can be grasped in three seconds, and real-time arcade elements.

In addition, an 'AI Brainstorming Persona' has been introduced to 'MSU Space.' Through conversations with this AI, participants can develop game concepts and receive feedback on structural checks and mechanical variations. During this process, the AI helps ensure that MapleStory's characters, world-building, and official assets are naturally integrated into the games.

The total prize pool is $15k (approximately ₩21 million), which will be awarded in NXPC tokens. Awards will be presented in various categories, including Official Selections, Grand Prizes, Excellence Awards by category, Community Choice Awards, and the 'Golden Jank' award, which recognizes inventive gameplay. Participation is free, and users can receive weekly AI credit top-ups by linking their MSU Builder account after logging into Verse8.

NEXPACE CEO Hwang Sun-young stated, "If Season 1 proved that anyone could create games using MapleStory IP, Season 2 will be a challenge to demonstrate how much we can elevate the quality of those games." She added, "By combining intuitive AI tools with the value accumulated from over 20 years of MapleStory, we will support builders in implementing rich narratives, deep world-building, and expanded gaming experiences that are often overlooked in quick-play games." Further details are available on the official website.