Notes

Breakfast Topic: Are Private Servers Really That Bad?

Blizzard has a clear policy regarding private servers: they are not allowed. If you have one or play on one, you're going to get in trouble. Your account will be shut down and you'll face some legal issues if you don't capitulate to their demands.



But is their stance true? Is it really that big an issue for private servers?



There are two ways I approach the issue. The second is to view the issue through the lense of morality or legalese. In this sense, Blizzard is on solid footing. They control Warcraft and all the games that go with it, as well as the servers we use. When we buy the game, we're not buying the property. We're buying the right play the game as long as we continue paying a monthly fee and for as long as we operate within their guidelines (the terms of service).



Some might argue that we have an inherent right to privacy once we've purchased the game and all associated data. Blizzard does not have the right to dictate what we do with the game or the way we use it. Although I'm not a lawyer, this is a fascinating debate.



No matter what the legal debate might look like when it comes down to it, playing on a private server is ethically and legally legal. It's illegal and should not be done.



Let's examine it through the prism of consumerism and capitalism. Blizzard is therefore on less stable ground.



The goal of Blizzard, just like every other corporation (yes, even WoW Insider at the end), was to make profits for its investors. They achieve this by making a product that people love to use and purchase. They've done an incredible job at this. We all spend hundreds of Dollars a year on World of Warcraft. You can also spend thousands of dollars on World of Warcraft by attending BlizzCon and the World Wide Invitational. The lion's share of this money goes to Blizzard.



Take a moment to think about what a private server can do.



It lets people play games they enjoy for free.



What happens when you play a video game that you enjoy? Particularly one with addictive qualities like WoW?



You want to play more. You want to play more. And more!



If you're playing on a private server you'll soon find yourself in a situation where you'd like to play on the retail servers offered by Blizzard. And what does that mean? Only more money in their pockets.



While the amount we're talking about isn't significant in comparison to the cash cow Blizzard is milking, it isn't negligible. If they do see an increase in profits from the private server market as well, it's in their capitalist interest to allow it to continue as it will generate more demand for their product and put more money into their pockets and make their investors happy.



You may not agree with some of the arguments, but that's fine. My reasoning is flawed. You can argue about it for years. blogging is good for your If you're familiar with the philosophy and history behind parts of the internet the same argument is often used to support software piracy or warez.



This raises an interesting question. Is it really that bad to have private severs?



It is important to note that neither I, as well as WoW Insider or anyone else associated with our site, condones private servers or software piratery. It's a bad idea , and it drains money from the hardworking developers who make these games. Don't do it. If you need to make some money, you can go out and cut some snow or shovel some grass.


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