To survive and make a decent amount money to maintain it, a game company cannot count on a few loyal fans. They must appeal to a greater audience and that is what Ryzom needs right now. Otherwise it will slowly die and diseapear in about 5 years. If the bigger audience are not loyal ones, then how can you attract them ? I think you can estimate that 50% of the needed audience will come and leave. So if the game can still attract 50% of the player mass each month to replace the 50% that left, they have to find a way to to do this and if you are excluding marketing then you are left with very little choices that can apply to Ryzom right now.
I do not know the numbers for any game but I think 10% of the player pool are loyal ones that will stay for a few years. The rest will play for anywhere from 1 month to 6 months and then just move out. You have to keep attracting new players to replace those that left and know why they left so you can help change whatever is necessary to attract those new players.
I do not know the numbers for any game but I think 10% of the player pool are loyal ones that will stay for a few years. The rest will play for anywhere from 1 month to 6 months and then just move out. You have to keep attracting new players to replace those that left and know why they left so you can help change whatever is necessary to attract those new players.