My 2 cents...
I'm pretty happy with this so far (they've only owned the game for a few hours now...but so far SO GOOD!! lol)...but they've already done two very important things that win them some good community browny points as well as prove that they at least have some gaming savvy coming into this....
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1) They've decided to keep many(so far) of the current nevrax devs. Whether you agree or disagree with the upkeep nevrax has done of the game, they did make the thing, and are probably the best guys to continue the job as well as anyone if given resourses, which gameforge seems to be giving them. From how i look at it, most of their past problems were due to lack of money to progress any farther with their original plans post launch, now is the real start that the game deserved...hopefully!
2) Jolt. Anytime you read a review about ryzom, or someones thoughts on the game, the first thing that sticks out is the grade A service. This is all Jolt(the company that runs the servers and provides customer support for those that don't know), and is not to be confused with Nevrax, as they are two seperate entities.
It'd be a shame if they kicked them out to host a possibly cheaper way...or with new CsR's, this was a very important first move in my eyes, and also to their credit. The CsR's we have kick so much @$$ it'd be pointless to even go into it. Everyone who's played ryzom knows em, and has had em come to their aid at least once (in my case many times), and i sure hope they decide to work out a deal with them past january to keep them onboard.
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As far as them making "crappy web games" as many have stated, i disagree. Dofus' and Maplestory are other success stories of net games, and are proof that people make a bundle on these things. Hell, i still have copies of X-com and Master of Orion on my comp, 2 of the best games i've ever played, both have sub par graphics by todays standards, yet both are priceless additions to anyones library. Graphics aren't anything, and say squat about anyones ability to produce quality gameplay.
Any company that can have 2.5 million people subscribe to something is not producing a crappy product...and at the very least, is making a steady income off of the consistent cashflow. They've managed to do SOMETHING right here with their own company it seems, so where you see crap, i see a potential goldmine for Ryzom. Since i would guess these games dont take as much to update/upkeep as more graphically intensive games, that means they probably have more money to invest in this project then you'd be guessing.
I think they seem more like an eager company looking to broaden its gaming catalog to include different genres than any of the "conspiracy theory" type scenarios regarding ports and what not i've been reading about. They saw potential in ryzom, and took the initiative, and are probably as capable as anyone to take the lead here.
Best of luck to both Gameforge and jolt in the future, and i hope this is the start of a glorious rebirth of a game that never quite got the chance it deserved. Here's to second chances....