MapleStory is currently in its prime. The summer 'OVERDRIVE' update has brought in a massive wave of new and returning users, and with many influencers joining the fray, the game is enjoying a festive, bustling atmosphere every single day.

And here, we have a MapleStory content creator who is also experiencing a new prime: 'Jingyeok Cannon.' He recently made waves in the community by revealing his face on stream.

By lifting the 'no-cam' restriction, Jingyeok Cannon has jumped several levels in terms of his presence! Today, we sat down with him to discuss the story behind his face reveal and his thoughts on the MapleStory summer update.

※ This interview was conducted in writing (July 4). Please note that excessive profanity or defamatory comments directed at the interviewee may be deleted without notice, and sanctions may be applied.

Q. He has finally revealed his identity to the world! Today's guest is one of the hottest MapleStory creators right now, 'Jingyeok Cannon.' Welcome. This is already your third interview with INVEN. Could you start with a brief introduction.

Jingyeok Cannon = Hello! I'm Jingyeok Cannon, and I've recently started streaming with my camera on!

Q. The MapleStory community has been buzzing lately following your decision to reveal your face on camera, Jin-gyeok Cannon. You had been streaming without a camera until now—was there a specific reason you decided to show your face this time?

Jingyeok Cannon = I had many concerns regarding the limitations of 'no-cam' streaming, such as reactions. I decided to reveal it because I felt it would be difficult to sustain the stream for a long time otherwise.

Q. The user response after your reveal was quite enthusiastic. Did you expect this level of reaction.

Jingyeok Cannon = Honestly, I didn't expect this much of a reaction... Haha;;; I'm just so grateful that everyone received it so well...

Q. Now, let's talk about MapleStory in earnest. First, what were your thoughts on the 'OVERDRIVE' showcase.

Jingyeok Cannon = As expected of a summer showcase, it was a patch with so much to enjoy! I was particularly convinced that a new job wouldn't be released due to the test server period, but it defied expectations and launched.

True to the reputation of 'Shin Chang-seop' (a nickname for the director) for convenience, so many things were improved. Overall, it was a satisfying showcase, and I look forward to seeing many new users join!

Q. There were a lot of updates this summer season. First, what are your thoughts on the new job, 'Lete'? Would you recommend it to beginners?

Jingyeok Cannon = Lete is a really solid job right now!

It's definitely recommended for beginners, and its strength lies in being able to deal damage continuously even in situations where there might be some loss in sustained damage.

However, since it's a reset-based job, you have to deal with changing situations moment by moment, and your hands can get busier than expected during burst damage phases. But because skill resets maximize the 'thrill,' you'll likely enjoy the exciting gameplay.

Q. I understand you've also tested Lete at a super-high spec. Do you think Lete has enough competitiveness in the high-spec tier?

Jingyeok Cannon = I think we need to wait and see on that!

While there is talk that its base stats are good, I don't have enough knowledge in that area yet, so we'll have to see how it plays out.

Q. You are currently raising a Demon Slayer in the Challengers World. What is your review of the Demon Slayer after playing it yourself?

Jingyeok Cannon = Raising a Demon Slayer was more doable than I feared.

From a high-end perspective, I definitely saw a lot of trade-offs, especially in the 4th-level Ring of Restraint burst cycle.

I adopted a cycle that sacrifices some things, and new players will find it easy to get into if they learn a new cycle after reaching a certain level of growth and upgrading to a 5th-level Seed Ring. The burst damage has a clear appeal thanks to the 6th-job Origin skill. However, the 2-minute burst feels relatively bland, so there are times when you're just waiting for the Origin skill...

In terms of sustained damage, it was actually a bit boring. There was less to press than I thought; it was just holding down the main skill and occasionally pressing Cerberus—nothing more, nothing less. From a newbie's perspective, it's definitely not as bad as its reputation suggests. Its early-game stats weren't as low as I thought, either.

However, there is a polarizing issue for newbies regarding movement skills like gliding and flash jumps. Of course, veterans are used to it and consider gliding a great utility, but it can definitely be difficult for those experiencing it for the first time.

Since there are many jobs better than Demon Slayer, I can't go as far as recommending it... but if you want a job with cool effects, it wouldn't be a bad idea to give Demon Slayer a try.

Q. It seems like the number of new and returning users has increased with this summer update and the Challengers World. Are you feeling the change in the user base on your stream?

Jingyeok Cannon = I can definitely feel that a new user base has joined. I'm happy because there are so many questions on the stream!

Q. The biggest change in this Challengers World is likely the ability to use the Auction House. While some say 'the fun of starting from zero has decreased' or 'the joy of finding rare items has dropped,' others say 'the difficulty and burden of item setting have been greatly reduced.' What do you think about this change?

Jingyeok Cannon = I think it has both pros and cons.

The advantage is that it reduces the burden of setting up items while keeping the main server's economy somewhat alive.

However, the fun of finding rare items in the Challengers server has certainly been halved, and many have commented that since people just buy items like Dawn or Pitch-Black sets, it's a different direction from the previous Challengers servers.

Q. This Challengers World had significant changes compared to previous seasons, such as the Auction House, increased growth speed, and Sol Janus support. What was the most impactful change for you?

Jingyeok Cannon = Naturally, the most impactful change among those mentioned is the Sol Janus support.

Unlike the beginning of the previous season, where I had to worry about which job to pick because of hunting efficiency, this time, hunting wasn't a factor, and I think it's huge that people can play the job they actually want.

Q. Conversely, what are some disappointing aspects? Could you also share what you'd like to see improved next season.

Jingyeok Cannon = There were a lot of minor errors this time.

In particular, the hunting error in Challengers World 4 was a really critical issue, and while it won't be easy, I hope these errors are minimized!

Q. I'm also curious about your evaluation of the season boss, 'Maylin.'

Jingyeok Cannon = Maylin is definitely a well-made boss.

There's a clear goal in selecting skills, and you get special skills by choosing three job groups.

Since it's an honest boss, you can easily clear it if you study the patterns. And I think it's a boss with a very attractive design.

Separately, there is a variance in the special skill selection for those playing at the minimum cut-off. It would have been great if there wasn't the 'ASCENT' recovery. If I had to nitpick, that's about it; I'd definitely rate it as a well-made boss.

Q. I know many beginners visit your personal stream. Among the mistakes 'Maple-newbies' often make, is there anything you find particularly unfortunate?

Jingyeok Cannon = It happened frequently that users received the Item Burning, didn't like the job, deleted the character, and then created another one.

Item Burning cannot be reassigned to a newly created character even if you delete the designated character... T_T...

Q. Are there any Challengers World tips that many users miss, or any advice you'd like to give to beginners.

Jingyeok Cannon = MapleStory is a game where the more you rush, the more money you end up spending. Don't worry about how many people are reaching the Challengers rank; it's better to go at your own pace.

Q. Which of the upcoming updates are you most looking forward to? Conversely, is there any update you're worried about?

Jingyeok Cannon = For me, the new boss is the most anticipated. There's nothing as fun as analyzing a new boss.

As for an update I'm worried about, it's the Auction House, given the recent issues. I hope it's implemented perfectly without any errors. (Editor's Note: The interview was conducted on July 4. Since then, an error related to the Auction House actually occurred and became an issue, and that error has now been fixed.)

Q. We've talked a lot about Challengers World. I'm also curious about the status of your main character, Cannon Shooter. What is the current state of Cannon Shooter?

Jingyeok Cannon = Cannon Shooter is in a state where its relative power has dropped, having received the second-to-last efficiency in the new common core, a 0% increase rate due to being a semi-burst job, and the effects of the Recon patch and Seed Ring integration.

Also, the lower the level, the more the Cannon Shooter's power drops, so I recommend it only to those who can reach the 90ks in Hexa conversion to utilize party synergy.

Separately, if a Cannon Shooter adopts a 2-second cooldown hat, it's a job with advantages like an easy cycle, short invincibility utility, and high-performance hunting with Full Maker.

Q. Are you planning to challenge the first clear of the new boss 'Bellona,' which is scheduled for the 3rd summer update?

Jingyeok Cannon = Of course, I plan to challenge it. I'm working hard on my spec-up accordingly!

Q. MapleStory is recently putting effort into IP expansion, such as the Lotte World collaboration and the release of a theatrical animation. I know you've participated in various events; which one was the most memorable?

Jingyeok Cannon = Actually, Lotte World is the only event I've been to recently. I had great memories riding various rides and eating food there. Since I've revealed my face, I'll turn on the camera if there are any offline events in the future!!!

Q. MapleStory is continuing to undergo major changes. Are there any parts you feel are lacking, or elements you'd like to see updated in the future.

Jingyeok Cannon = I can't think of anything in particular yet. I just leave it to Shin Chang-seop.

They've always released patches that defy expectations, so while there are many changes, I think there's joy in that as well. However, I wish they would do balance patches more often!!!

Q. Thank you for the interview. Lastly, please say a word to the MapleStory users and your fans.

Jingyeok Cannon = Please continue to love MapleStory, and I hope it has a long run!! The reason I revealed my face to my fans is to be with you all for a long, long time!!!

I hope we can stream together for a long time!!!

▶ [Shortcut] Jingyeok Cannon's YouTube Channel