[Participating in the Nexon PEAK Post Challenge]

https://peak.nexon.com/post/1736

Hello, this is Edgar.

When you have been playing games for a long time,
you start to notice that each genre has its own distinct appeal.

I used to spend quite a lot of time on RPGs as well.
Choosing a character, leveling up,
putting together gear, improving my specs,
and gradually becoming stronger was a lot of fun.

But these days, if I go by my current tastes,
sports games with the thrill of a single match
seem to suit me a little better
than progression-based RPGs.

If I were to compare Nexon games,
MapleStory is the first title that comes to mind for progression-based RPGs,
and FC온라인 for sports games.

There are clear reasons both games have been loved for so long.
That said, the way they deliver enjoyment is completely different.

RPGs like MapleStory
have the appeal of building things up slowly.

A character who starts out weak
levels up, changes equipment,
gains stronger skills,
and that gradual process of growth is content in itself.

It is not the kind of game where everything changes in a single day,
but that is also what gives you a reason to stay with it for a long time.

One day you do a bit of hunting,
the next you prepare for a boss,
then you work on your equipment,
and there is a real satisfaction in setting goals one by one like that.

When I played RPGs,
even if I did not have a major result right away,
I liked the feeling of thinking, “Still, I got a little stronger today,”
and that is what kept me logging in.

Especially in a game like MapleStory,
where the direction of character growth is clear,
there is a strong sense that the time I put in builds into visible results.

When your level rises, your damage goes up,
and you finally beat a boss you could not beat before,
there is a very definite sense of satisfaction in that moment.

I think that is the biggest appeal of progression-based RPGs.

By contrast, sports games like FC온라인
are less about the fun of long-term growth
and more about the excitement of a match that unfolds in a single sitting.

Once the game starts,
within roughly 10 minutes,
passing, shooting, defending, and tactical changes all lead directly to the result.

If RPGs are games that build up over the long term,
FC온라인 is a game that pulls you in quickly and intensely.

These days, that suits me better.

After work, there are many days when
spending a long time on one game feels a bit burdensome.

At those times, FC온라인
still gives me the feeling that I really played, even with just one or two matches.

If I win, it feels good,
and if I lose, I end up wanting to play one more.

Matches decided by a single goal are the most fun of all.

If I concede first in the first half,
change tactics in the second half to level it,
and then score the winner right before the final whistle,
that match stays with me for quite a while.

Moments like that
are a completely different kind of pleasure from the satisfaction of growth you get in RPGs.

If the appeal of MapleStory is,
“My character is steadily getting stronger,”
then the appeal of FC온라인 is closer to,
“That decision I just made was the right one.”

When I spot the timing for a run and make the pass,
when I cut off the opponent’s shooting angle in advance,
or when a substitution works exactly as I hoped,
the satisfaction is immediate.

Because of that immediate sense of achievement,
I think I naturally find myself drawn more to sports games.

There is also a difference when playing with friends.

In RPGs, there is fun in hunting together with friends
or preparing for bosses together.
Because there is a sense of growing together,
they are good for sticking with over time.

But with FC온라인,
what I like is that you can go up against a friend right away.

Showing each other your squads and saying things like,
“This player feels great to use,”
“For that money, you would be better off buying someone else,”
or “If you lose this match, admit my squad is better,”
adds to the fun
before the match has even started.

If you play a 1-on-1 friendly,
your pride gets involved more than you expect.

It is less stressful than an official match,
but because you are playing against a friend, somehow you want to lose even less.

If someone scores, there is teasing,
if someone makes a mistake, everyone laughs about it for a while,
and if a ridiculous goal goes in,
that one moment alone becomes something you keep talking about.

This is one area where sports games are especially strong.

Of course, that does not mean progression-based RPGs are lacking.

Games like MapleStory
give a clear sense of satisfaction to people
who are willing to spend time raising their characters.

The growth that builds day by day,
the pleasure of reaching long-term goals,
and the process of becoming attached to your character
are strengths unique to RPGs.

Still, based on my current routine and preferences,
sports games like FC온라인 fit me more comfortably.

Even if I log in only briefly, a single match is still satisfying,
every game plays out differently,
and when I play with friends, the competitive side becomes even more enjoyable.

Progression-based RPGs feel like a marathon run over time,
while sports games feel like a short, intense contest that demands full focus.

Both have their own appeal,
but these days, the one that suits me better
is definitely the latter.

So in this game genre match-up,
I would choose the sports game side.

FC온라인 in particular
is easy to follow at a basic level even if you do not know soccer very well,
and even if you come back after some time away,
one or two matches are usually enough to bring your feel for it back.

There is also a lot of fun in thinking about player combinations and tactics,
and comparing squads with friends
or playing friendly matches together is enjoyable in its own right.

If MapleStory
is a game that shows the appeal of growth built up over time,
then FC온라인
is a game where your judgment and skill in the moment show up immediately in the result.

I like that immediate tension and sense of accomplishment.

In the end,
I think what matters most in games is how you personally find enjoyment in them.

If you enjoy building something steadily
and reaching your goals one by one,
then a progression-based RPG may be a very good fit.

On the other hand, if you want to become immersed in a short amount of time
and feel the thrill of direct competition,
then a sports game may suit you better.

My choice is FC온라인.

A game where the flow can change within a single match,
where one decision can determine the outcome,
and where playing with friends creates moments that stay in your memory even longer.

That is why, for this topic,
in #게임장르대결
I want to cast my vote for sports games over progression-based RPGs.

#NPC01
#게임장르대결
#확률형아이템포함
#피크챌린지
#메이플스토리
#FC온라인
#넥슨게임