The Beginning
The Maple-News Network was created 6.30.07 by Savage. Originally most of the members were part of an old fansite created by Savage called, Ossyria’s Gate (which is still up, just not active and closed down). Ossyria’s Gate really didn’t have an exact definite purpose. At first it was created to help maplers, but when that failed to produce anything constructive, it became an Ossyria only database and Wiki. About a week before Maple-News was started Savage rejoined Scania. He was talking to his old friends and they said they would join Ossyria’s Gate…but Savage asked them for ideas…which no one had a clue what would be original. With no ideas, Savage lost hope.
The idea was rather well…obvious. Savage’s mother is a news anchor for Fox News Radio and has worked in Television and Radio News for over 30 years. “It just hit me. It was staring me in the face the whole time. A MapleStory News Network.” Savage loves to write and is an acceptional student in school so this came rather easy. Savage decided that Articles would go out at 12 AM EST every Monday morning. New additions such as a Video Channel and Radio Station we’re soon added.
After discussing things with the Staff and jboy(Now Bryar), the merge was decided.
Thus, Maple-News was born.
Merging
Merging was difficult. Ossyria’s Gate was closing, and a huge forum switch from Invison Free to Invision Power Board Free was made maybe a few weeks earlier. (That’s why on our forums it says “ossyriasgateforums.ipbfree.com” hopefully it will be changed soon.) To avoid more confusion and annoying adding of skins and buttons, the forum was left as it was in hopes to one day get a domain and/or change it.
The decision was made to keep some of the features of Ossyria’s Gate seeing as they could provide an alternative for forum users if they became bored or wanted to do something different. The OG points we’re changed to HP’s or Helper Points. New forum features we’re added to further enhance the forum and website.
“Creating Maple-News took a lot of thinking. I didn’t quite like how Ossyria’s Gate was set-up. Bravenet was too confusing and annoying. It also took a few hours for the site to be published, so I went back to where I first learned web making, Free Webs. It was just so much easier, you could add links without finding them hidden or on another page, and we could do so much more…like adding PRO packages and a donation option. Activity was great as well…I think in the first week we had maybe 10-15 Job Application forms sent out to my email. After the amazing success and potential, I knew we had something special and I had to do my best to make Maple-News the best it could be.” - Savage
The merge was complete fairly quickly and things we’re back to normal for the Staff.
Dilemas
After about a month Maple-News seemed to really lack in activity. “The members we’re probably, and still are on vacation,” says Savage. “I didn’t like being the bad guy, but I knew what had to be done.”
So in late July, early August of 2007, Savage implemented the “Demotion Rules”. In order to keep Maple-News articles published every week, people had to be let go for not being active on the forums and/or doing their job. 6 Staff members we’re demoted in one day.
“This was hard seeing as some of them we’re really good staff members at the time…they didn’t bother to tell me if they weren’t on. I had to do what I had to do. In order to not set requirements for Staff Applications, I had to demote some people. Maple-News was becomming more like a business…which I’m not too crazy about. Writing should be fun, but I guess as an Administrator, I have to do what I have to do.” - Savage
Though some good Staff we’re demoted, new Staff members filled their positions and Maple-News is doing great.
Maple-News Now
Maple-News has been up a little over a month. Though free resources are still being used due to lack of funds and donations, the site is still up and running. New options have been added like the Maple-News YouTube channel which includes News Casts created by Savage (and soon some from other Staff) and some basic Training videos from Savage’s Blog. A Radio Podcast station was also added, which has still not had anyting put up…things still need to be figured out.
“Though Maple-News is really young compared to other fansites like Hidden-Street…we do have our perks. We’re lucky enough to have Natsu No Koi on our affiliates list, they’ve been with us since Ossyria’s Gate. And more recently, a friend and well known for his Bow Master in jMS, Pokgai has decided to help support us. I’ve always wanted to create something special, and I want to thank everyone that has brought Maple-News this far. We have some new items that we’re working on…one of which is our Maple-News E-Newspaper…which will be sent out to all subscribers. Our PRO packages has that information and more. We’re working on earning enough money for a domain, so soon you’ll be seeing maple-news.com instead of Maple-news.net.tc. I hope that day is soon. Thanks for all your support, you’ve really made my efforts and all the staff and members’ worth while.” - Savage
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