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Why Isn't Ryzom Getting the Attention It Deserves?
Taken from the Ryzom Official forums:
Being an avid MMOG player, I was busy playing my City of Heroes, Final Fantasy XI, Lineage 2 (ugh), Star Wars Galaxies, EVE Online, and Planetside before Ryzom came around. Just like every other hardcore MMO person out there, I was eagerly awaiting EQ2, WoW, and MEO and had my preorders set for their release.
One night I was browsing the web, reading up on the gaming sites, when I saw an ad for Saga of Ryzom (which they did a heck of a job doing, I've seen tons of Ryzom ad banners on different gaming sites). I checked out the link and read up on the game. I noticed beta was open so I downloaded the "august_client.exe".
The screenshots are what got me interested. Everything looked so well done. The world looked immersive and I couldn't find one picture where the armor and weapon did not look cool. "Nice designs", I thought as I sat staring at a Fyros with a full helmet and a flaming axe in hand. There was apparently a lot of attention to detail.
So I hopped into beta and to me, it was somewhat of a turn-off. The very first thing I noticed was the lack of music and even sound (some sort of sound driver issue where they had to take the sound out of the game for a few days). The servers seemed unstable too. The other thing I noticed was some choppy animations and a few bugs (nothing game stopping however). Other than these problems, I had a blast with the game. Everything was so different, like it didn't even resemble a "just another MMO" game.
So the beta ended and I thought nothing of it: "Back to playing City of Heroes I suppose". Then it hit me. I needed it and I couldn't stand being away from it. My urge to play Ryzom hit me so hard and so fast, I thought I was going to collapse.
Like I said, I'm an avid MMO player. I've played too many MMO's perhaps. It was getting to the point to where it didn't even feel like I was playing a game anymore, like it was just another job. Well, right when I thought I was completely burnt out on the genre (kill-loot-level-repeat), Ryzom suddenly breathed new life into my MMO experience. I was instantly hooked.
Each and every day, the only thing I could think about (besides my schoolwork and my girlfriend) was Ryzom and how I couldn't stand the wait. Release day was so close, yet so far away. Oh, and let me tell you, EB Games and Gamestop delaying their delivery was just about the end of me. It was sheer torture.
My friends thought I was nuts, they couldn't understand why I loved the game so much. One of my best friends tried out the beta, spent 5 minutes in the game, then decided it wasn't worthy of his time (he too was turned off by the missing sound and such). He's very picky and very impatient about his games. If it doesn't entertain him in the first 5 minutes, he's out. His loss I suppose.
Finally, I got the game. I swear I wanted to kiss the Fed Ex lady, but that would result in my arrest and further delaying my Ryzom game time. I loaded it up and played until my body completely shut down on me from the lack of sleep and food. It was like I was playing an MMO for the very first time. "I haven't felt this way about a game in years", I said to myself.
Now before I go on with my newly found fan-boyisms, let me first say that Nevrax pulled a complete 180. They must have put in some long hours because they really turned the game around from the end of beta to the day it released. Almost everything that had bothered me with the game had been fixed. The release version was like a complete makeover of the beta version. It's like they spent an entire year working on the game from the time beta ended up to the hour it hit the stores.
Anyway, here I am sitting at my desk wondering why The Saga of Ryzom isn't such a big hit? This game is truly amazing. I've never been so immersed in a world in my whole life. On top of that, the game is actually fun. It amazes me how much thought went into crafting even. I could go on and on about how great this game really is and how I came to love it so much. I know I haven't been around as along as some of the other Ryzom players who have been waiting for this game for years, but I can tell you that I love the game just as much, if not more. This game has persuaded me to completely forget about EQ2 and WoW. Those preorders have been cancelled as I know already that this game is thrice times better than what they will be.
So why aren't the servers packed? Why aren't we seeing swarms of players flowing out of noobie island? Where's the publicity, the magazine ads, the bright lights, and all the attention that this game deserves? Why hasn't this game gone platinum yet, huh? Well, I can dream though can't I?
I would love nothing more than to see this game succeed far beyond the developers' wildest dreams, because they deserve it. To me, The Saga of Ryzom > than any other MMO I've experienced so far.
Ryzom truly is the answer to my multiplayer prayers.
Comments
Well, thanks for that Stellus. I guess you like Ryzom.
I tested for about a month and a half and found many, many bugs. I did enjoy my time testing, however, and saw the potential that SoR has.
I could go on an list what I liked and didn't like, but your post may get more people interested in checking out the game instead of my rambling.
I just wanted to say that Saga of Ryzom has been a mmorpg that began the beta in aweful shape and turned out to be pretty good towards the end of open beta. I did not plan on purchasing the final just yet because I felt that Nevrax had far too many issues still to fix and that it would take them a few months patching and such. I figured I would wait and see. Maybe that is what many players from the beta are doing, and perhaps there are other people who just haven't heard of Ryzom yet?
I'll admit that I have Everquest II pre-ordered and my attention will be all on that when it comes out. But if Saga of Ryzom turns out to be even more improved from when I last logged into the beta, with all of the features implemented and all of the big bugs fixed, then maybe it will change my mind about which game to focus on.
If there is one thing you wrote that is 100% agreeable, it's that Saga of Ryzom is different from all other mmorpgs I have ever played, and I noticed this early. I have even been caught saying (in-game chat) that SoR feels like the real next generation mmorpg I've been waiting for.
Look at WoW. It is the samee type of mmorpg as the rest, just in the World of Warcraft setting. It has the same features and they all work well. There is nothing bad about this to some players, especially new players coming over from the RTS games. But for an experienced mmorpg players like me, I am looking for a game with innovation and brand new ideas and features. Saga of Ryzom is such a game.
Just to let you know of what's to come:
Re: Patch 2.
"Races are getting diffrent attrubites."
This should have been done in beta...Months ago so they could balance it.
So they are going to take your charecter you have worked on for 2 months and suddenly change fundemental gameplay elements about him based on his race. Without the ability to change races/sell skills this is a disaster waiting to happen.(As some race or other will undoubtably be over/under powered)
If you can not know all the attrubites affecting your gameplay when you make the charecter how can you effectivly plan?
This game'll be in beta for another year:P
True, pretty much like every MMORPG out there and those to come in the future.
They're adding more diversity and more distinguished attributes to the different races. It isn't going to be something that's game-stopping or something that is going to completely change how the characters are played. I think Nevrax is a little smarter than doing that.
My prediction is that the races are going to be diversified through the storyline and other background elements affecting the world, not through its mechanics.
I would suggest not being stubborn about it, accepting the first thought that pops through your mind about it. There's more than one possibility and your theory is not set in stone.
Like I said, the game has taken a much better turn since beta as its release version has proven that the game has been ready. It is a completely stable game that runs better than that of Star Wars Galaxies, which sadly enough has been out for almost a couple years.
Played it.
Didnt like it.
Simple as that.
I think many people felt the same. It just doesnt have a good MMO feel to it and the combat UGHHH.
ROLEPLAYERS UNITE!!!!!
Critical thinking is a desire to seek, patience to doubt, fondness to meditate, slowness to assert, readiness to consider, carefulness to dispose and set in order; and hatred for every kind of imposture.
There already are differences between races, they're just a little more subtle than what one expects from the usual MMOG and consequently many players even didn't notice the difference. The differences are not in the plain character stats but are hidden in the environment of the different races.
Just to give you an example, the Zorai are described in the lore as the race most attuned to using magic - but other races can use magic as well as the Zorai do. However, the subtle difference is that there are no Gingos in the Zorai refugee territory ... and Gingos are the mage-killing mobs per excellance, fast, immune to the fear spell, with high hitpoints. On the other hand you have the Matis, they're used to live by the sword and consequently Gingos swarm their territory.
Think about it for a moment, a race that lives in a land where many mobs with magic resistances roam the landscape won't develop a great magic tradition, a civilisation that lives in a land where mobs can be defeated by magic will develop a magic tradition.
That's how race differences work in Ryzom.
I maintain this List of Sandbox MMORPGs. Please post or send PM for corrections and suggestions.
I have seen these unique and very differences between the races in Saga of Ryzom. It was very nice to see things done differently compared to other mmorpgs. I think many players missed these subtle features of the races and other parts of the game that are new. Players aren't expecting them, I guess, or they just don't want to see the innovation that SoR has brought to the mmorpg genre.
The less I have to look at my character Stats and attributes, the more immersed in the game I feel. When I can see an advantage my character has by simply paying attention to the environment and other factors, it makes the game exciting and keeps me immersed.
Saga of Ryzom is based on the environment, the living planet, Atys. Nevrax has done a pretty good job of making the basic parts of gameplay link to the environment and particular race strengths that may not be immediately noticeable, but discovered through experience.
As far as the completeness of the game and the upcoming patching, it is expected. The game has been improved a lot since early beta, it's not like Nevrax hasn't been doing anything. Let me know when a mmorpg comes out that is complete and needs no patches. Even World of Warcraft will need patches, and coming from the most meticulous game developer on earth, that says something about how mmorpgs are designed. They are made to be changed all the time, especially the new ones coming out.
Players coming into SoR may not get what they are after, but players with an open mind and who are looking for new types of features may like this next generation mmorpg.
Ryzom didn't have much for advertising or PR. The game is great and word of mouth will be enough to boost the game. It will take probably a month more I'd guess. Other games like EQ2 and WoW have huge advertising departments so alot of sales will happen at release.
Do not count Ryzom out just yet. I think we will be surprised. I know a few friends who are just now thinking about buying it. Problem is they only heard about the game near release. It will catch on.
The $50 includes the cost of the first month, or if you want to look at it a different way...
The $50 is the cost of the game and the first month is free.
Ryzom is getting exactly the attention it deserves. As said several times in beta, this would be its future as the game worked. Not adding anything to anything, just another fantasy MMO. Of course, as in any beta, the fan bois quickly silenced anyone voicing those concerns and screamed insulted and threatened anyone that spoke up about the problems Ryzom would face, and that it needed more to be attractive.
So here we are... A lot of people said this... No one believed it. You believe it now? You will believe it even more i a year.
Only game I wait for right now: Imperator.
Go Mythic!
"This is not a game to be tossed aside lightly.
It should be thrown with great force"
Actually i kind of disagree. Eve-Online went the same way Ryzom is heading in terms of marketing. It was very quiet at launch, and is still keeping a low profile (compared to WoW or EQII). And it worked to their advantage.
Look at AO. It was hyped beyond belief, they had major problems at launch, and even now after years of sorting the launch problems out, these problems still stick in the minds of potential would-be-subscribers.
Ryzom doesn't really add anything to fantasy MMORPG's, but then neither does WoW or EQII and they are getting unrivaled coverage and hype.
As for beta and retail versions. I had the same thing with Eve. I too thought "this game is no-where ready for launch yet". But they went retail. It needed shedloads of work done to it to make it a playable game, but they got it sorted. I only played a small part of beta in Ryzom and felt the same way, but not enough to stop me trying the game. And personally i'm glad i did, and i find it extremely enjoyable.
Call me a fanboi all you want, but if a game holds my attention and i enjoy playing it, then why can't i give it some praise? Certainly my thoughts as a retail player are more valid than someone who played in the Beta.
But going back to the question, as long as they continuely improve the game then it has a good grounding to thrive. Starting small and working your way up isn't a bad strategy at all as shown by Eve and CCP.
/Barf
no real difference between this and any other pve item centic fanatasy game. Just the new kid on the block. I could give a rats butt on Wow ( its for kiddies ) and eq 2 doesnt impress me either i despised eq 1. My back ground is hashing it out in UO pre renaisance. SO i usually have a different idea of what a mmo should be .
heres a nice quote from Darthus on MMos. he can be found at pker.org
"Wow, always asking the huge almost unanswerable questions eh Erratic? What do gamers want? That's almost like asking "What do people want?". If you want to know what they want right now in an MMO, it varies from person to person, and it's usually related to their best MMO experience + 10. Since a lot of people here have experienced the PvP, skill based, living world aspect of UO, a lot of people here want UO + 10. Or even set their sights low enough to be UO back as it was. People like Jil want EQ + 10. But he's experienced PvP, so he wants a bit of that too.
But if you're talking about the general MMO population, I'd say the majority either want EQ + 10 or DAoC + 10. And that's exactly what WoW is giving them. Unforunately, a lot of the people here are still waiting for their UO + 10.
Now me, I consider my most compelling experience to be the old full PvP MUD I used to play, Avalon, so I want that + 10, but in an MMO environment.
But also, I try to think not only in "What do players want?" but instead, "What COULD players want?". That's how the great games are made that break genres and set standards. They don't look at what's been done before, and what players want to play. Because that way, you only come out with slightly improved derivative sequels. Most people do not have much imagination, so as I said, they just want to relive the same experience they had with their previous best game.
And that's what Blizzard is a master of giving, and I respect them for that. But the people I respect more are the Richard Garriots, the Peter Molyneaoux's, the pioneers. They're people who just come up with an idea in their mind, which is obviously based on experiences they've had before, but they're bringing new things to gaming saying, "Hey, you may not want this yet, but let me tell you about it, and maybe you'll decide you'll want it now."
And that's what I try to do when I'm designing my own game ideas. Take things that haven't really been done before. And not just because they haven't been done. Then you just get games that are weird for the sake of weirdness. I try to think, "What would be really fun, that hasn't been done? What is the potential of this genre, that hasn't been tapped?"
And trust me, with MMO's, there's a LOT of untapped potential. "
pretty much that site gets good arguments going on games and devs check out pker.org
Orky Name Generator, only at www.bigchoppaz.com
Uh, what do you say? "Oooo, lunch time!"
I would say: "Hey, what kind of a$$ would walk their dog down a street and let it poop on the street?"
Just a note, I really would say the $'s
HAYO!!
HAYO!!
I'm not a PvP'er. I enjoy PvE. I enjoy grouping with others for the PvE. One of the things that I HAD liked about SWG was getting together with my guildmates for krayt dragon hunts.
And that's what makes Ryzom different. It's definitely more PvE from what I've experienced so far. If you're looking for PvP this is not the game for you.
Also, it's not a game if you want everything cut and dried, black and white. In Ryzom, you're able to alter your skills as you go along. You get say Increase Damage 1, 2, and 3 and Attack 1 and 2 (examples only..not real items)...and you might find that by combining Increase Damage 2 with Attack 1 you take less of a beating to your hit points. So you create that skill for yourself. Might not work for someone else.
The customization is a nice feature. But again, it doesn't work for everyone. Not everyone wants to have to think about what might be mixed together for better play...they just want X ability period.
So, Ryzom's different and I'm enjoying that.
The beta was rough and extremely unfinished. Even the biggest fans say that. The look of the game was nothing special for me and my friends who checked out the beta. The combat was boring to a lot of people.
Those are the ingredients that keep people away from MMO's. The big fans disagree, but their numbers are not that large. In addition to that the budget is more limited for marketing then the bigger titles have.
Having said that I believe this might be a positive thing for SoR. Keep under the radar and slowly add to their subscribers as they get things tuned up better in the game. Eve appears to be doing well at that approach. Hopefully for those of you who like this game SoR will get tuned in better and grow.
[quote]Originally posted by Baerf
Ryzom doesn't really add anything to fantasy MMORPG's, but then neither does WoW or EQII and they are getting unrivaled coverage and hype.
[/b][/quote]
While I don't agree with the fact that Ryzom doesn't add anything to fantasy MMO's, the second 1/2 of that statement is so very true. I played the open beta of WoW and I can tell you there is nothing in that game that is new. It's the exact same thing that you can find out there now. Just with nicer graphics.
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The only game I have really enjoyed is Earth and Beyond. A tale in the Desert was a close second (lack of players caused me to quit). Tried Rubies of Evertide, Linage, Dark age of Camelot, and Anarchy Online. Liked none of them.
Have to agree, the majority of those that dont like the game and have left can't be bothered to un-hype the game as all the fanbois/fanatics are hyping it.
People will buy the game out of interest because there is a distinct lack of a decent game atm but hype is only hype and once people have played the game for several months+ as some of the older beta testers did they will like those old beta testers realise the problems that we with more experience and wisdom see.
Lets let people make their own mistakes, no point preaching to those who wont listen. That is why we dont see people un-hyping it :P.
No, maybe people buy the game because they like it. I did. Why do people think anytime someone talks about a game in a good fashion they are fanbois? What I find really funny is those who post that this game sucks and that a game that isn't even out yet will kill it.
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I waited 3 months for promised live events in City of Heroes, they never happened. All that was given were excuses. With Ryzom I waited 2 weeks.
I agree that this game is getting exactly the attention it deserves.........
NONE.
Most of us here got into the beta and played the game. We don't spend a lot of time talking about it because theres nothing to talk about. Its a poor game. Its not good so we didn't buy it when it released and thus we don't play it OR talk about it.
I think most of us wish we could forget the time that we did play it. I feel dirty because of it... I wash and wash and it just wont come off...
AARRGHH.......
ROLEPLAYERS UNITE!!!!!
Critical thinking is a desire to seek, patience to doubt, fondness to meditate, slowness to assert, readiness to consider, carefulness to dispose and set in order; and hatred for every kind of imposture.
i will give it another try
i have played in first beta with ati card ....to many crashes
but is the best looking game universum i think
its strange and full of realy weird looking mobs
I believe it is unfair to judge the current SoR by the status of the beta. I wasn't in the beta. I bought out of curiosity -- I didn't know anyone playing as it had only been available at retail outlets a couple days.
And if there's nothing to talk about, why troll the boards trashing the game? Sure seems like a lot of talking about "nothing to talk about". If you don't have something constructive to say, keep it to yourself.
If SoR hasn't been publicized as much as you think it deserves, then it could be Nevrax is working with a budget trying to figure out how to market in multiple countries. If you like the game, the best advertising is word of mouth.
Aasha (fighter / spellcaster)
aashaaten@aol.com
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Current Game: nothing
Retired Games: Star Wars Galaxies, World of Warcraft
Looking forward to: Stargate Worlds, Aion, Earthrise