We've been around this particular block many times, but I want to try to point out some scenery that might not have been duly discussed before.
First, let's acknowledge that psychology matters.
When you tell people that the only things they can do for Ryzom are either to subscribe or to go forth and recruit new players, they are most likely not going to be encouraged. They are more likely to feel powerless and directionless.
If you give people a specific task instead of a very broad and undefined task, they are much more capable not only of tackling that specific task themselves but also of convincing other people to help with it. For example, "vote for Ryzom here!" or "submit your best screenshots to this website over here! (because they don't have many good Ryzom screenshots)" or "please submit this announcement to every gaming website you know about".
The developers have better things to do than guiding word-of-mouth advertising efforts, and they aren't necessarily the people best suited to this anyway. I propose that a volunteer marketing coordinator position be established.
Immediately on reading this, I'm sure players and devs alike would think, "But why? A person doesn't need to be sanctioned by Winch Gate in any way before they can do those things you mentioned." True, anyone can do those things. But they won't. Eight years of history has proven this. Occasionally someone makes an effort, and some people have made semi-consistent effort. But clearly this has not been enough.
There has to be a person who feels directly responsible for making sure that all announcements and patch notes reach as many relevant websites as possible. That person (or maybe a second person, to keep the work load light and thereby minimize the occurrence of burnout) must also feel directly responsible for making sure that their fellow players know exactly what they can do to help Ryzom. If this person (or these people) has no official or semi-official standing, when they get tired of this stuff or they don't have time anymore due to RL circumstances or they leave the game, no one will feel obliged to take their place. Consistency is then lost. At that point months or years could go by in which everyone outside the Ryzom community forgets--again--that the game still exists. If there is a position like "volunteer marketing coordinator" established, someone will feel compelled to fill it whenever it is not filled and whoever the current "volunteer marketing coordinator" is at any given time will feel that they can't just neglect or abandon their tasks without telling anyone and/or stepping aside.
A "volunteer marketing coordinator" would not have a special relationship with Winch Gate beyond the fact that their position's existence and duties would be acknowledged and described in something like a pinned forum thread. They would not act as a special conduit of communication between the developers and the players. They would not have access to any internal aspects of Winch Gate. They would not receive perks like a free subscription or in-game rewards; although I imagine an appropriate in-game title could easily be created and given, there should be no incentive for someone to sign up as a "VMC" for one month and do as little as possible during that time just to get the title (plus, a title might draw unwanted attention to them in-game: frequent questions from people who want to know how to get the title themselves and then what a VMC is and so on). In any case, a VMC would not have very much to do, so they shouldn't feel a need for compensation of any kind beyond the satisfaction of helping Ryzom.
I'd like to remind whoever reads this about the existence of this service:
http://www.projectwonderful.com
That might be something that Winch Gate and/or enthusiastic players with a bit of extra money could afford from time to time.
On the subject of fundraising, a wide variety of projects and, yes, game developers are having success with Kickstarter and IndieGoGo. Something to look into?
Also, it's high time some Ryzom merchandise was set up and sold! A lot of people want plushies and figurines, but that's not likely to be feasible. It would be enough to give players a way to buy t-shirts, mugs, mousepads, tote bags, etc.
First, let's acknowledge that psychology matters.
When you tell people that the only things they can do for Ryzom are either to subscribe or to go forth and recruit new players, they are most likely not going to be encouraged. They are more likely to feel powerless and directionless.
If you give people a specific task instead of a very broad and undefined task, they are much more capable not only of tackling that specific task themselves but also of convincing other people to help with it. For example, "vote for Ryzom here!" or "submit your best screenshots to this website over here! (because they don't have many good Ryzom screenshots)" or "please submit this announcement to every gaming website you know about".
The developers have better things to do than guiding word-of-mouth advertising efforts, and they aren't necessarily the people best suited to this anyway. I propose that a volunteer marketing coordinator position be established.
Immediately on reading this, I'm sure players and devs alike would think, "But why? A person doesn't need to be sanctioned by Winch Gate in any way before they can do those things you mentioned." True, anyone can do those things. But they won't. Eight years of history has proven this. Occasionally someone makes an effort, and some people have made semi-consistent effort. But clearly this has not been enough.
There has to be a person who feels directly responsible for making sure that all announcements and patch notes reach as many relevant websites as possible. That person (or maybe a second person, to keep the work load light and thereby minimize the occurrence of burnout) must also feel directly responsible for making sure that their fellow players know exactly what they can do to help Ryzom. If this person (or these people) has no official or semi-official standing, when they get tired of this stuff or they don't have time anymore due to RL circumstances or they leave the game, no one will feel obliged to take their place. Consistency is then lost. At that point months or years could go by in which everyone outside the Ryzom community forgets--again--that the game still exists. If there is a position like "volunteer marketing coordinator" established, someone will feel compelled to fill it whenever it is not filled and whoever the current "volunteer marketing coordinator" is at any given time will feel that they can't just neglect or abandon their tasks without telling anyone and/or stepping aside.
A "volunteer marketing coordinator" would not have a special relationship with Winch Gate beyond the fact that their position's existence and duties would be acknowledged and described in something like a pinned forum thread. They would not act as a special conduit of communication between the developers and the players. They would not have access to any internal aspects of Winch Gate. They would not receive perks like a free subscription or in-game rewards; although I imagine an appropriate in-game title could easily be created and given, there should be no incentive for someone to sign up as a "VMC" for one month and do as little as possible during that time just to get the title (plus, a title might draw unwanted attention to them in-game: frequent questions from people who want to know how to get the title themselves and then what a VMC is and so on). In any case, a VMC would not have very much to do, so they shouldn't feel a need for compensation of any kind beyond the satisfaction of helping Ryzom.
I'd like to remind whoever reads this about the existence of this service:
http://www.projectwonderful.com
That might be something that Winch Gate and/or enthusiastic players with a bit of extra money could afford from time to time.
On the subject of fundraising, a wide variety of projects and, yes, game developers are having success with Kickstarter and IndieGoGo. Something to look into?
Also, it's high time some Ryzom merchandise was set up and sold! A lot of people want plushies and figurines, but that's not likely to be feasible. It would be enough to give players a way to buy t-shirts, mugs, mousepads, tote bags, etc.