MMO Emulated Servers - Private or Pirate?

Chris Maginnis writes:

"Back when MMO games began to grow in popularity, MMO gamers became jealous of a single player gamers ability to pirate their games. Free private server emulation was born. Today many of the latest games, including World of Warcraft, are available on free to play private servers. But are they legal? And what is the benefit of playing on a private server?

A private server is the common name for a server emulator. Essentially, a private server emulates the functions of a normal MMO server. It allows users to login and play as they would on a normal retail server. Private servers have gained their player base by being free to play and through content customisation. At the same time, they have been criticised for poor performance and low player population. There is mixed truth on both sides."

[Glamis]

This is a tough issue. On the one hand, I'd go with private. If you paid for the game box, then you have a right to play the game. If the monthly subscription is for hosting, game dev events, and constant updates, well you should be able to choose not to pay for those.

But on the other hand, the monthly fee is a major part of what pays for the development of the game in the first place.

[cyguration]

I think the other problem is if a private server radically adds new content or actually makes the game more fun than the original. Then there's the issue of the company having to compete with a no-namer who is filtering money in from gamers who like a more enjoyable, private product.

[Muckbeast]

Good point.

I think the private servers that charge money are definitely breaking the law.

[DirtyLary]

You need to read the TOS.

It's all pirating.

[Dark_king]

Well if they are only making the cost to run the servers it wouldn't be as bad.But if they are making a profit without paying the developers a fair share it is bad.

[Graffin]

Interesting debate, though I have to think that if we all went to private servers, there would be no revenue stream to pay for new games.

[vortis]

Most private servers are based on games from publishers/distributors who have a large portfolio of games (viz., NHN, ijji, Nexon, NCSoft, etc.,). So it’s not like a game or two with a private server will cripple a large company.

For smaller MMO distributors the private servers might actually hurt more, but that’s sort of the fault of whoever sold the server files out there to whoever was willing to buy them.

[LiquifiedArt]

Best Free shard ever. I was just running my thief build last night, chasing down PKers and stealing some Vanquishing weapons!!

Woot!

(and i'll be on tonight too)

[Redempteur]

Easy answer for me ..

I'm sorry but it's well know that MMo leveling systems are artificially slowed so that you'll stay in their game longer.

i don't wanna that ... i bought the box of the game and i must pay every month ? NO thanks ...

i don't even consider this like piratery since they wanted to squeeze my money first ..

On that aspect IMO guild wars did everything right

[zagibu]

Why don't you play Guild Wars, then?

[Darkfocus]

he said on that aspect guild wars did everything right not that it was necessarily his favorite mmo