The new developers of Ryzom have deployed a press release that details some of their plans for the future of the MMORPG.

As many of you have asked us to know what our plans are concerning the future of our MMORPG Ryzom, we wanted to let you know that they are mainly :

• To get profitable and raise enough money to allow us to finance all our development dreams.
• To get all our new Developer Teams up to date with the Ryzom Code - which I can assure you is no little task as the code of Ryzom includes millions of lines.
• Meanwhile, with the help of our new CTO Vianney Lecroart, we are preparing a yearly dev plan of tasks, milestones, and goals that we would like to achieve, prioritize and define; in short, all the things that will make our game even better like completing bug fixes, implementing new missions, creating new content and new game features that we think you will love and deserve to have.

Every day we are thinking about where we want to go and what we want to achieve for you. But we don't want to make the mistake of planning bad decisions because we hadn't prepared enough or we rushed into these decisions too quickly; we want to prepare ourselves as best as possible before giving you any straight answers. Don't forget that an MMORPG is an extremely complex living thing, especially Ryzom.

So as you can see we have quite a lot of work ahead of us, as we now have behind us; lots more thinking and preparation in the pipeline before we can answer for definite all of your questions. Don't think that because we didn't communicate very much these past months that we were doing nothing; don't forget that we've only had the game data for less than three months and look at what we've done so far, it is already something to be very proud of : we have redone our website entirely, we have reopened all three shards for free to everyone less than one month ago and last week we opened our new Nel MMORPG engine open source website : http://dev.ryzom.com where, if you are a coder and want to help us, you can join our new open source community. As well as this, we have been recruiting and forming new developer, customer support and marketing teams at the same time!

A lot of you have probably been wondering how long the testing phase and the associated free access for everyone will last. Well we can tell you for now that Ryzom will stay free for everyone *at least* until the end of October, and possibly longer. If you haven't done so already, or if you don't know what we're talking about and just want to try out game for free, you can download it here, and you can create a FREE Ryzom account on this page (Hurry up, no credit card required for the moment).

Read more here.

Until they offer a fresh server start, nothing else matters. Keep me posted.

i would imagine if they get more than enough paying customers that fresh server would be necessary

anyway, just who are these people - have they even introduced themselves?

Fortunately there won't be a wipe.

The "let's restart together on the same basis"-feeling would be over after two or three months. It would be only temporary, rewarding the extreme grinders and power-levelers and punishing the decent, helpful roleplayers that have other things in mind like community, atmosphere and newbie-help by destroying all their successes.

If a wipe is such a fine and good method to gain new motivated players, why don't the MMOs wipe their databases every two years? Right: because it's damn frustrating, it's a loss of faith and the potential to lose old players is bigger than to catch new player's attention. I wouldn't join a MMO that is owned by a company that kicks their long-time-players and most loyal customers in their butts this way.

You don't attract players through a wipe. You attract them by advertising.

You don't keep players through a wipe. You keep them with content.

As long as there is no technical reason, a wipe would be more harmful than useful for the game.

In addition to that I don't know any other MMO in which long-time-players and new players can experience the game and go together this great like it is the case in Ryzom.

Please read these points before you talk about wiping:

www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/post/2106295#2106295

Who said anything about a wipe?

I don't know how many servers they have currently but because the population is so low, they could combine all the active players onto one server and relaunch the other or just add a new server and most definitely advertise the hell out of the new launch ahead of time either way.

I like Ryzom but I have zero interest in playing on a 4 year old server with an established community. Sorry but I bet I am not the only one who feels this way.

Back when classic EQ was adding new servers every few months, which went on for several years because the game was becoming more and more popular, I used to server hop every so often because the experience of playing in a brand new world and taking part in a new community and watching it grow was a blast. There is a unique feeling when you play a server from launch vs joining an established community.

Personally I think a smart developer would launch a new server every 6 - 12 months to attract new gamers and offer existing gamers that fresh world feeling and option. Either combine existing servers or add a new server in order to accomplish that possibility.

Its a good game imo. Dont really need a new server imo. If enough enw people start the game out there will be enough people to party with and achieve things together. This game isnt the kind of game to rush through lvls to get to some sort of endgame. Theres a lot of nice environment and aspects of the game to entertain you as you lvl your main path.

Ive only played it for 3 weeks so far but im finding it fun.

Sorry to say but, I have never heard anything so stupid in my life. Sounds like "if i can't be number one then give me a server where I can be". Look if you know anything about the game then you know this simple fact, without experienced crafters out there keeping us in great gear as we progress, that progression would be even longer and more frustrating for players. The simple fact that new players can join with old experienced players and recieve the benefit of their game knowledge and skills, makes the entire game experience for that new player all the more enjoyable.

Try thinking about being in game at skill level 50 in magic and no one can make you a set of qual 75 Light Armor with boosts or a decent pair of amps to make life easier.  Wait you know you can do this if you want to also spend tons of time digging and crafting your skills so they can somehow be equal when you need them. Seriously, most players would not want to wait that long and prefer leveling up their craft and foraging skills once they have reached a point in fighting or magic to survive the areas the need to level in.

To be fair , maybe i'm missing something in this thread but, I don't think so.

Devs, keep things as they are and if someday Ryzom needs another server, then add one if the cost permit it.

Well gee I wonder how those high level players ever survived when the game first launched and there were no high level crafters around to keep the lowbies in good quality gear?  Looks like I punched a big hole in your theory.

I enjoy crafting a lot and maybe I want to be one of the top crafters whose services are in demand.  That's a lot easier to accomplish on a new world where there are not established players with established reputations and loyal patrons, and where the lower level/skill gear has value because everyone is lower level/skill.

Understand?

I can't believe this devolves into a stupid argument about server wipes and who came first.

There are far more important things to think about with this good game.

I was delighted to come back when they re-launched, but I find to my dismay that the client blue screens my PC frequently - this never happened before, but I've changed cards.

I'll play it on my laptop and hope for the best with Ryzom.

i have been playing this game for about a week, and i am really enjoying it, i havnt played sence the game first came out 4 years ago, its very difficult if you dont get to 50  in at least one of the combat trees before you go to mainland, and unlike alot of newbie aries, ryzoms is lethal,dont even think of running around withought a party or getting to lvl 20  in a combat skill, i had a lot of fun , it took me 2 days to get to lvl 30 in the fighter tree and the magic tree, i should have gotten to 50, but i was lucky to find a little isalnd in the tryker area that was inahbited by nonagresssive 30 ish yubos ,anndd sory for rambling, but i am playing ryzom instead of  warhammer online that i already paid for, lol ,..anyway,..great game try it, hopefully youll like it as much as i do

This game had so much hope and promise and great plans in beta.

But after launch Nevrax and the next company to buy it treated it horribly. I'm hoping something comes of this and we see more of what was originally going to be in Ryzom with more rites, guild missions, and a chance to really impact a dynamic world.

Originally posted by RedwoodSap

Until they offer a fresh server start, nothing else matters. Keep me posted.

why would you ask this of ryzom, this is one of the 3 games I can think of wjere higher lvl people are helpful to lower lvls, and is the one game where it seems to be needed, atys is tuff and unforgiving, elders of the game community help the newer members gain  xp and craft gear and ect....

Oh, they did do that once... and after months, the "new" international server (Cho) got merged with the Anglophone server (Arispotle) because of population issues. It did not attract that many new players.

The reason why they cannot merge the current 3 servers to start a new one is precisely that the 3 servers are language-based and it would probably create a gigantic mess in the already established communities due to the language barrier. (Aniro is French, Leanon is German, Arispotle is English).

You don't want to be part of a server with an established community because you are affraid of not being able to get your name out there ? I will have to say that you are silly. It is doable to make a name for yourself in the Ryzom community. Even with no masters at all. It has nothing to do with how many levels you have. It has EVERYTHING to do with how you act towards other homins. The only one who can do it is yourself.

I managed to make a name for myself in less than a year. I'm not a very famous homin, but a lot of people on Arispotle know my name and greet me warmly when I log on or when they see me. That's probably just because that's how the community rolls in this game, though.

Also, back at launch, homins had no other choice but to cooperate to survive. But after having been through it all once, it doesn't necessarly mean you want to do it all again. You can still set yourself the challenge to refuse all the gifts of the Veterans and see how long you will last.

Originally posted by RedwoodSap

Until they offer a fresh server start, nothing else matters. Keep me posted.

There are plenty of other games out there, so have fun playing them. Is there *anything* on this site people don't complain about?

Originally posted by RedwoodSap

Who said anything about a wipe?

I don't know how many servers they have currently but because the population is so low, they could combine all the active players onto one server and relaunch the other or just add a new server and most definitely advertise the hell out of the new launch ahead of time either way.

I like Ryzom but I have zero interest in playing on a 4 year old server with an established community. Sorry but I bet I am not the only one who feels this way.

Back when classic EQ was adding new servers every few months, which went on for several years because the game was becoming more and more popular, I used to server hop every so often because the experience of playing in a brand new world and taking part in a new community and watching it grow was a blast. There is a unique feeling when you play a server from launch vs joining an established community.

Personally I think a smart developer would launch a new server every 6 - 12 months to attract new gamers and offer existing gamers that fresh world feeling and option. Either combine existing servers or add a new server in order to accomplish that possibility.

You don't know how many servers there are but you want a new fresh server? The population is low but you are not playing the game right now? 

Well, let me give you some news. The population is not low, there're plenty of people in Silan, and I see refugees arrive at the mainland everyday. And we already know there is an established community.  I see no evidence of a low population and I'm currently limited to the desert and forest regions.

You want a fresh feeling, a new server, because you don't want to be part of an already established community?

Ryzom is a four year old game, so you need to stop thinking of it as if it were a fresh new game. If you really like the game you play it. The established community is one of the most helpful and welcoming communities I've had the pleasure of encountering in any game. I'm glad that it is there. I played Ryzom back in 2004 but was unable to continue to play then. Now that it is back, I grabbed the oportunity to return and even brought some friends with me. We started a new guild, which was welcomed by the community, and who are helping us grow and get established. An experience never seen in any game I've played. We've been able to keep our independence and be part of the community without any dificulty. That feeling of new that you describe can still be have in an already established server. It only takes one person to make that work, you.

To start fresh all you need is a new character and friends who are starting fresh and new to game. And this you can find in game now. You don't need a new server.

Ok thanks for the advice, let me know when they offer a fresh server start and I'll be back.

Originally posted by RedwoodSap

Ok thanks for the advice, let me know when they offer a fresh server start and I'll be back.

Well they haven't started a new server, so I guess you can go back the NGE and WoW for the time being. That way, 1) WoW can always give you a new server, and 2) SWG can give you a new game with every update.

Bye now...

Sorry but I agree with Redwood. When a new server starts its like a new community, a new world, and your there to experience it grow. When you jump into a server full of people who've been there for years it almost feels like your completely out of it, everyones ahead of you and you've missed all the memorable events and community bonding thats gone on.

It wont really stop me personally playing said game, but I certainly feel the difference and its a big drawback.

Not sure why a fresh server would be so important.

I was one of the orginal beta testers and played until GF took over.

I am so happy for Ryzom to come back.  It is a great game and when you consider it is 4 yrs old it still looks great.

Just start a new character and you start over and can work your way up.  I started a new one only cause I forgot how to do anything :)  The community in Ryzom is truly one of the best in all MMORPG's.  It is more like family than a game.  Most are helpful, will tell you how to do things.  Give you hints on how to do things.  Come rez you if you are dead.  One of my most valuable things I think :)

Why would a fresh server be so great no reason for it. 

Welcome back to everyone who has returned to Ryzom.  Lets hope the new owners do great.  I would hate to lose it again.

I am sure you will be able to find a fresh server somewhere RedWoodSap

the payment options still worries me