Nexon America is opening up beta for its online card game, iTGC Online starting Wednesday, Jan. 20 with initial play hours set from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Time.

iTGC Online is based on the wildly popular Nexon massively multiplayer online game, MapleStory. It is also Nexon America’s first browser-based game and requires no download to play. iTCG Online players will be able to choose one of the four MapleStory classes currently available as their main character. The classes include Warrior, Magician, Bowman and Thief.

Players will have several abilities in the game including being able to attack other players and monsters, perform non-attack actions such as refreshing their hit points, as well as adding items to their character and take side quests. Users can also customize the starter deck that comes with them for free and they can purchase booster packs using the game points they have gained through game play. Additionally, there will be a trade lobby, where users can trade cards in real time or make a trade post that specifies what type of cards they are searching for.

For more information on iTGC Online, go to: http://itcg.nexon.net/

Not content with drinking tons of beer in the real world, MapleStory is recreating the German festival in their online realm.

To take part in the event-which is open to everyone and can be participated in once a day for the duration of the promotion-players must deliver a hidden sample of ‘malt’ to MapleStory Europe’s ever present event-NPC Charles. Doing so rewards them with entry to an exciting new beer tent map, where they can enjoy a traditional, hearty German atmosphere of ale, sausages and lederhosen. By completing special objectives within the beer tent, such as fighting off a horde of red-faced, staggering monsters, players can win themselves special Oktoberfest themed items such a German sausage-shaped hat and power boosting mugs of (non-alcoholic!) beer. Players are also encouraged to collect empty beer glasses dropped by monsters, which in turn can be exchanged for special stat-enhancing food items.

Sounds like fun to me. MapleStory has added new features frequently over it’s life span, which definitely adds to the gameplay.

Here’s the full press release:

MapleStory Europe says “Cheers!” to Oktoberfest

World-famous German cultural event is set to appear in the popular online RPG MapleStory Europe, with beer-drinking monsters in tow.

The latest content update for MapleStory contains the new class, Cygnus Knight. Players can choose to be a Cygnus Knight at level 20 and the class has its own class specific quests and more. Read more!

Nexon America releases new MapleStory update featuring new character class set, the Cygnus Knights

The Cygnus Knights update allows players to take on new roles and experience a slew of new adventures with new skills and abilities in Maple World

Nexon America has released a new major content update for MapleStory, its epic massively multiplayer online role-playing game with more than six million registered users in North America, which adds an entirely new set of classes called the Cygnus Knights and brings a whole new storyline for Maple World inhabitants.

The Cygnus Knights characters are available for players at level 20 or up. Once enlisted as a Cygnus Knight, players start at level one, but after training and a few adventures, they will quickly be able to reach level 10 and select between a set of five new jobs: Dawn Warrior, Blaze Wizard, Wind Archer, Night Walker or Thunder Breaker.

Sort of.

MapleStory is an MMO that plays like a side scroller from the 8-bit era of videogames. There are five possible professions to chose from, Warrior, Magician, Bowman, Pirate, and Thief. As with a typical MMORPG, characters level with experience points, doing quests, and killing mobs. The simple graphics and 2D-side scrolling gives the game the look and play of a handheld game.

It is embracing these roots, and is now available for as a download for AT&T Mobile phones and Black Berries. Although, it is not the real game that is available. It is a smaller version, with no online support. The only playable profession, at least for now, is Warrior. It will offer a few levels, minigames, and a chance to level up this character.

From July 15th until August 15th, MapleStory is offering a host of special events to drum up interest in the 2D MMORPG.

These events include:

• A starting pack for new player registrations.
• Free pets for those who level up and reach level 20.
• A VIP Teleport Scroll for those who add at least 10 buddies to their list.
• Get a prize for getting your first job.
• Get extra experience for the Moon Bunny Party Quest.
• Earn 10% cash back on all cash shop purchases.

The summer events scheduled for MapleStory players have been detailed in the latest press release from Nexon. Find out what’s in store and see a couple of screens below:

Big summer announced at MapleStory Europe: New maps, new monster and striking special events released

July 1, 2009 – MapleStory, the popular free-to-play online MMORPG, promises a great summer season for its 1 million+ players with today’s patch.

Starting off with a significant update of its present game system, players can now make use of even more convenient and handy interface features, including jump-downward function, various functional upgrades and hotkey add-ons.