Ryzom advertising/marketing issues: how did you learn the existance of Ryzom ?

[iceaxe68]

my story: pure luck

Like some others here, I was never a gamer. I suck at games.

I am, however, an open source enthusiast. (My slashdot number is lower than yours, by the way. ) During the first bankruptcy I read about a game that "might be acquired by players and open-sourced". So I went to check it out.

I was insta-hooked. Never looked back. Even though it didn't get open-sourced.

And yes, I'm one of those slavering junkies who will be coughing up the sub fees ASAP. I don't even care if I get the three months I paid for two days before the last bankruptcy. (but wouldn't complain if I got them.)

And I'm bubbling with happiness to see some old friends in this thread. Can't wait to meet up with you all SOON!

[raisrev1]

At the time when I found the Open beta for Saga of Ryzom I was going around looking at MMO's really for the first time. Admitadly I was looking to see if there was any I wouldnt have to pay for (since I didnt have a Credit card at the time to play UO with friends). I stumbled accros SoR on I think it was Fileplannet.

Been here really ever since. Got accepted into the Closed beta, but missed the Pre-Order when we moved from Omaha to Boise -_-. Couldnt find a copy of the game localy so ended up playing City of Heroes for a while till I came accros the downloadable SoR one day when I was bored of CoH and wanted something else. (about 6 months or so after release). Took a few breaks here and there for RL stuff.

CANT WAIT TO GET BACK IN!!! (might even be able to drag at least or two others with me from WoW)

[stijn]

Well I think I learned about Ryzom while browsing at mmorpg.com (not really sure, been so long). I downloaded the open beta and got addicted, soooo I orderd a copy (even though I dont have a CC). Nevrax promissed new payments "soon (TM)".

Played the free trials in January euhm 2005 I think (around the very first time a kitin invasion took place... I even remember the moment and the hunting spot I was on at that moment). And then, well yeah, followed Ryzom untill one year later they introduced pay by cash. Since then... never been away.

.... About my stoy i think, wi'll reread it tomorrow for typo's... (<---- drunk )

[d29565]

Hmm. I voted that I found out through a friend.

My uncle (Trindle) actually introduced me and my mother (she played as Meyana) to Ryzom as a way to keep in touch with us, since we'd moved a good ways from him. We had been playing Asheron's Call, but we left for some reason I can't recall.

My mom and I shared this account for a while (I think i was like 14/15/16 at the time. Yeah, my memory is that bad). But soon my mother did more working than gaming, and I took over the account.

And I said more than was necessary. But, the point I was trying to make is that it was introduced to me by a friend (who now plays some lame Metin 2 with my mother, while I play mostly nothing, but a little Guild Wars).

I need a Ryzom fix. But this time, I need it to be completely worth my $15, instead of being just a chat program (which I dont necessarily mind).

[final66]

I was on the fileshack website looking for drivers for my GFX card, stumbled across the download for the open beta. Thought what the hell I'm bored maybe this will kill 5 minutes of my time. Totally loved the game couldn't wait for retail to hit. Ended up killing A LOT of my time. I made so many great friends on this game, definiately the best community here. I'm eager to return home to the desert and run around in my pants... maybe hassel some gingos.

[zangan]

I discovered it when it was still on mmorpg.com's top 10 rate games. Was looking for trial to a new game to try and Ryzom looked pretty good so I DLed it, got hooked, and adore the game now and forever.

[bruare]

I learned about Ryzom from full page adds in PC Gamer that ran for around 3-4 months when Ryzom launched.
I played for 3 moths when it first cam out and quit partial because of the low amount of players - figured it wouldn't make it. I did like the game.
Also I wanted to try both WoW and EQ2 -- which I did.

Then I came back to Ryzom just before the first liquidation and played for 16 months till the servers went dead.

Personally I don't think costly marketing right now would really help. The Ryzom videos are good for promoting the game, knowledge of Ryzom is out there, Ryzom has received some nice game awards and of course any inexpensive advertising should be pursued. And with the free trial I've always seen enough newbies, the problem is retaining the new players.

I think the new owners need to improve the playability of Ryzom first till they see the player base increasing. Then would be a good time to invest in advertising more aggressively. Ryzom just has to be made more attractive to customers first.

To start with Silan needs to be touched up with making all those quests function flawlessly -- counters working right -- foraging nodes not taking forever to find. Silan -- great idea -- flawed with not enough attention to polishing.

[bierdose]

someone gave me a cd "unlimited free trail - no credit card" @ the games convention in leipzig

[gcaldani]

I discovered it when it was still on mmorpg.com's top 10 rate games. Was looking for trial to a new game to try and Ryzom looked pretty good so I DLed it, got hooked, and adore the game now and forever.

It's still rated 8.1 at mmorpg.com, would not be hard to move Ryzom in the top ten....

[chadsta]

hmmmm a friend actually found it on a site to long ago to remember which site i was away for that weekend came back to try it out and adored it... my GF at the time did not like the lack of attention ...

about advertisement ryzom is not out there... i find myself mentioning ryzom in games... when im drunk im generally shout out if any one here played ryzom... i have only ever got one reply ( could be other reasons they dont reply )... so it's not out there well not with alot of games i play (guild wars, dream of mirror online, lotro (elendilmir), rappelz and more but running out of time)

i think the right advertisement is needed... i might expand on the subject later