attention at the time. The publisher was Winch Gate. After the initial release, several updates were released as "Chapters", providing new features and content. The first update, titled Changing Times, featured the addition of a merchants system in which players could sell their crafted items using vendors. It also revamped several of the game's key systems, including prospecting and harvesting. On December 13, 2004 the first part of three from Chapter Two: Open Conflict was released, the third on January 13, 2005. Major features included the addition of the encyclopedia system and the addition of player mounts. Chapter Three: Outposts was released on December 19, 2005. Major features included the introductions of PvP outposts as well as major changes to the game's fame system. On June 15, 2006 an update called the New Player Experience was released. It replaced the beginning area with an area called The Ruins of Silan, which provided more tutorial material for beginners. On October 3, 2006 an expansion called Ryzom Ring was released, offering players the ability to create their own content in the form of scenarios. It provides a scenario editor where players can design content, and subsequently upload it to the game's main servers. Other players may then access the player-created areas through terminals located in each race's capital city. In August 2006, the game's name was simplified to Ryzom for marketing purposes. Commercial problems and "Free Ryzom Campaign" Since the game was not a commercial success, Nevrax announced, on November 20, 2006, that it would enter receivership sometime in December. On November 21, Nevrax confirmed that "Nevrax as a corporate entity will probably cease to exist in a few weeks" and announced that "several companies and/or individuals are actively engaged in negotiations to take over Ryzom". In response, the "Free Ryzom Campaign" was launched in order to gather enough funds from crowdfunding donations to purchase Ryzom and release the game as free software. On December 14, 2006 the Free Software Foundation pledged a donation of 60,000 dollars, but the campaign ultimately raised €172,988 instead of the €200,000 requested. Nevrax and Ryzom sold On December 21, 2006, Nevrax SARL was eventually sold to the owners of Gameforge AG, a German company specialising in browser games, which started up GameForge France SARL as a 'sister company' and transferred all the rights. Less than a year later, Gameforge France had filed for bankruptcy. As GameForge