Reorganization at Nevrax - 2nd Phase

[glipe]

Nevrax pulled Ryzom out of NA. Nevrax did this because it wasn't making a profit there. Therefore Nevrax file a Chapter 11 - Reorganisation and pull out entirely. Not as bad as it sounds at all. Just a process that was probably needed at the end of that. I don't think it will affect their progress over here and on the French and German servers. Less overheads, more profit.

[zukor]

Nevrax pulled Ryzom out of NA. Nevrax did this because it wasn't making a profit there. Therefore Nevrax file a Chapter 11 - Reorganisation and pull out entirely. Not as bad as it sounds at all. Just a process that was probably needed at the end of that. I don't think it will affect their progress over here and on the French and German servers. Less overheads, more profit.

I don't really understand what you just said. Obviously Nevrax pulled out of NA to cut losses. Just as obvious, now, is that they still are in financial trouble. Whether they are profitable anywhere is not clear; they definitely aren't making enough to cover their debt service, and may still be losing money everywhere. They have less overhead, true, also I'm sure they now have very few NA players.

The legal action they are filing is in France. It has nothing directly to do with what they did in NA. I'm sure most if not all of their creditors are French.

Doctor Z.

[ahlmea]

Doctor Z, have you thought about the negative influence you might have on potential players reading this? You might actually scare people from playing...we wouldn't want that now, would we?

[mmatto]

Doctor Z, have you thought about the negative influence you might have on potential players reading this? You might actually scare people from playing...we wouldn't want that now, would we?

Dunno, if potential customers act sensibly they would wait for couple of following Nevrax announcements to see if Nevrax is able to pull trough.

Doctor Z seems to be right except number of NA players on new Aristopotle. Everyone I have met seems to be positive about merge as a whole.

I can't understand what does location of server matter anyways, especially if it located just other side of pond and connected with massive NA-EU communication infrastructure. Nevrax may still advertise Ryzom on NA markets, I do not see this as definitive move to pull out from NA markets.

Might be a good idea for Nevrax to extend free trial period so it won't end until Nevrax has announced more about its future. If I was at free trial I would not pay for initial fee + subscription until things clear a bit.

[zukor]

Doctor Z, have you thought about the negative influence you might have on potential players reading this? You might actually scare people from playing...we wouldn't want that now, would we?

Look, I call it like I see it. I'm not trying to scare anybody. On the other hand, there is a real possibility that people investing time and effort in their characters will see it go for naught, if SoR is not able to come through this. It's not right to mislead people, IMO.

Also, I think it ultimately helps to air one's dissatisfactions, if this is done constructively. It can give the game company insight as to why people are unsatisfied or leaving, and hopefully give them ideas to correct some of these issues. Again, in SoR the main issue for me has been the lack of a living, "dynamic", world for us to interact in (despite it being advertised). I've actually left several questions for Xavier in the Q&A threads regarding whether there would ever be a war of hominkind versus kitin, if that's where the game was going. Or if it was going in more of a PvP and GvG direction. I've never gotten an answer, though.

Doctor Z.

[myseren]

posted in wrong account - sorry seren

[zukor]

Sorry, Dr Z, I'll attempt to be clearer. The loss that they made in NA has put them in a situation where supporting the rest of the servers needs a little restructuring in order to keep things running at a decent profit. I have assumed that if they were in real difficulties 1) they wouldn't be telling us about it so freely and 2) they would probably have cut their losses altogether. And you may call it as you see it, that's fair enough, but then again you did stop playing the game a while back didn't you? We all have certain bias one way or the other.

I still have an active subscription and I log in occassionally. If they weren't in "real difficulties" they wouldn't be filing chapter 11; that is a serious step, one which many companies don't survive.

How do they "cut their losses altogether" if they don't have enough subscribers to support their overall operation? If they start to let go of their core staff, the game will deteriorate. The rate of innovation/improvement has already been quite slow. At some point you get into a vicious cycle beyond which you cannot cut anymore, or you might as well just close down.

There is a difference between restructuring their servers, an internal matter that of course Nevrax will address as they see fit, and restructuring their debt. It may be that the NA operation lost them some money, but I'm certain that's not the whole story by any means. Otherwise they would have cut the NA operation some time ago, and moved on.

Look, MMO's cost lots of money before they ever see the light of day. So once they do get started, to break even they not only have to pay their operating expenses, but also generate enough income to service the debt load which they have accumulated. Clearly, in this case that is not happening.

Doctor Z.

[kibsword]

I've actually left several questions for Xavier in the Q&A threads regarding whether there would ever be a war of hominkind versus kitin, if that's where the game was going. Or if it was going in more of a PvP and GvG direction. I've never gotten an answer, though.

I dont think you would get an answer as that would be revieling the story before it was told. I for one love the lore and the mysteries and I don't want to be told, I want to find out as it happens, when it happens.

As for nevrax being in "serious trouble" the truth is we don't know much, just a few lines from xaviar. Lets wait and see what David C. says before we start assuming things and telling tales of woe and doom.

I for one believe in this project, I can't see myself going to another MMO, and I know others feel the same.

Once David C. or Xaviar give us a clearer picture on what is happening, discuss it then. Rather than assume things about their situation that maybe arn't nearly as bad as you are suggesting.

I recommend we just wait and see, and stop this before it turns into a flame, afterall theres nothing we can really do to make this particular situation any different other than to spread word of ryzom to our friends and get them playing.

Just my two yubos and a bodoc...

-Kibs

[borg9]

I have been avoiding this thread!

Whatever happens, much to the annoyance of my WoW playing friend, I will be playing Neun till the world ceases to exist!

Both Subs - auto renewing.

I love this game.
Nervax, the CSRs, the entire team have put so much effort in they have earned my respect and loyalty.
I love the community, every last one, even the trolls and the flamers!

Its plain and simply the most orginal, captivating, enjoyable online game I have ever played.

No one can predict the future, we can just influence it will our actions!

[mrozzy]

Well, Nevrax is protected from its OLD depts for 4 to 20 months (the judge probly will evaluate the situation each month).

I'm looking at the situation in a positive way:

- The judge thinks Nevrax will be able to pay off its current bills and will be able to pay off its old debts soon, based on a new, changed buiseness plan. If the judge was convinced Nevrax wouldn't make any profit soon, the company would have been bankrupt already.
- The new business plan has to be based on the current income (eg: the current number of paying customers), the company asking for such a protection, as Nevrax just did, is enforced to draw a business plan based on the average income during the past few months. So, Nevrax will survive if they stick to the plan and if the number of players doesn't drop much.
- I'm not really supprised they are in trouble. The game did cost twice as much as originally intended (€12 million in stead of €6 million), and it took 2 more years to develop it. So, I'm not very supprised they are in trouble, but the good thing is, the judge thinks Nevrax can generate twice as much income then originally intended!
- 33% of the investment comes from a governement fund. The frensh governement apparently regulary invests in "innovation". Getting cash from the governement, usually is a good thing


Anyway, don't start to panic yet. A lot of new companies go trough something similar. The judge is convinced that Nevrax will be able to pay off all its depts in the upcoming year, so actually if you see it that way, its good news