katriell wrote:Only the naive would believe that Ryzom can compete with the big MMOs. It shouldn't even try. It has a distinctive niche and success* will come from being sustainably the best it can be within that niche. The downside of this is that it won't have monthly patches brimming with fantastic features, huge content expansion packs, and the like. If WG picks up their seeming slack a bit, it will have just what it needs to be functional, modestly fresh, and overall far above life support level but not living beyond its means.
You´re absolutely right Kat.
I fear though that this is exactly what will keep players from throwing their lot with Ryzom. Because modern players don´t care what happens behind the scenes.
They don´t give a bits digital rearend for the financial situation of a company.
Especially new Players that probably don´t know the eventful history of this game.
Most new Players want exactly these things out of a Game.
Constant feed for their need to compete.
Sounds cheesy, but that´s the situation.
I´d guess that about 80 - 90% of the modern playerbase take "thegamewhosenameshallnotbeuttered" as a "role model" for each and every MMO they encounter.
So it´s only logical that they expect monthly fixes/updates and "new contend" on a regular basis. Sometimes they expect even more.
Just take a look at some WoW Forums and wonder at those jerks who keep complaining about "too little content and too slow fixes".
Wow is sadly dictating the market and the whole industries image.
Most companies try to serve this image and either become a success because they copy/paste the "right stuff" without being a blatant carbon-copy,
or they create enough of a unique feel that players take on a different view. (Eve)
The only decent chance a game of Ryzoms history and setting has against such competition, in my view, is to break the mold and go "outside the box".
To try and create a huge splash in the pool next to the one that´s already overcrowded.
The Ring was a first attempt at this, why it failed is known and does not need to be discussed any further,
but keeping this direction may just be what the Rest 10 - 20% of players need to become interested in Ryzom in the first place.
Massive advertising provided.
I truly hope that our new friends at Winch Gate do realize this, or have some other ace up their sleeve to get Ryzom out of the pool that´s crowded with two massive whales and lot´s of smaller pilot-fish.
To become a happy little goldfish in a nice pond of its own, regularly fed by passers by and some elderly folks sitting on benches and enjoying the view
CU
Acridiel
