"When we took Ryzom back into closed beta, we promised that we would re-open the testing prior to release and invite everyone from the community back," said David Cohen Corval, CEO of Nevrax. "We are pleased to be able to honor our promise and look forward to this final period of Open Beta."

Nevrax also announced today the details of a special advanced test server that will be opening when the game launches in North America. The advanced test server will be where all new features will be tested there before being live, and advanced testers will be the first to try out new missions and other updates.

"The closed tests we've done this summer have proven invaluable in balancing and improving Ryzom," explained Mr. Cohen Corval. "By inviting the most dedicated of our fans to play in this special server after launch, we will be able to continue to receive the input and testing we need to manage Ryzom."

All North American fans who pre-order The Saga of Ryzom will have access to the advanced testing server when it opens in September for the duration of their subscription period. Access to the advanced testing server will otherwise be by invitation only.

Originally scheduled to launch in June, The Saga of Ryzom was in an Open Beta for eight weeks in April and May. Ryzom was delayed to allow further development and focused testing. Since then the game has featured two Open Weekend play sessions over the summer, and more than 120,000 players have registered to join the beta so far. The Saga of Ryzom is now scheduled to launch in North America in September 2004.

The decision to launch Ryzom in September rather than June came with the full support of Nevrax's local partners – Themis Group in North America, Jolt Online Entertainment in UK and English-speaking Europe, and MDO Entertainment in France and Germany. The three companies have provided managed testing and quality assurance throughout the summer, and will provide world-class 24/7/365 customer support and community management during and after launch.

For those interested in participating in the Open Beta:

• The Open Beta officially starts at 5:00am (ET)/9:00 am GMT on Monday August 30th, and will end Thursday, September 14th.
• You will need a valid account to participate. If you need an account, register here!
• Client downloads will be available via BitTorrent, direct download, and both GameDaily and Fileplanet.
• All civilizations and territories will be available.

Featuring an immersive player-driven storyline, a dynamic ecosystem, groundbreaking mass combat mechanics, and lush graphics, The Saga of Ryzom is the answer to the prayers of massively multiplayer gamers seeking a fresh, compelling experience in a true virtual world.