Private Servers?

General Discussion Started Last reply 34 posts
Himizu #1
Seriously I have to ask, what's the deal with this? I've heard of NCSoft going after some of them, but there's still a lot that still exist. (And I mean A LOT)

Have these servers found a legal loophole to jump through to avoid NCSoft? Or is NCSoft just taking up the cold shoulder act on this one? These servers do hurt the economy in the geniune game servers no matter what the game is, and honestly I seriously want to know why these servers aren't being dealt with. (Heck with other games like FFXI and EQ2 I've heard a private server is almost non existant due to Sony tackling down anyone who tries it. Although I'm aware both games didn't have a long life period before their popularity got shot out of the air.)

So is NCSoft simply ignoring it, or is there something more to it? Because I see that many people interested in the game, and just think it's a total waste to the possible community of the LEGIT L2 servers.
_Meate_ #2
They very publicly went after one a while ago, but it wasn't enough. I hope they continue to get those guys, and everyone that plays on them.
Alyra #3
We are certainly dedicated to going after private servers. I report any that I find to our legal team, and we always appreciate being informed about them (via a support ticket). I'm not sure how the entire legal process works, but many do get shut down. Private servers are a problem for just about every online game out there, popular and non-popular ones alike. It's impossible to get rid of 100% of them, but we do make an effort to shut down all that we can.
Himizu #4

We are certainly dedicated to going after private servers. I report any that I find to our legal team, and we always appreciate being informed about them (via a support ticket). I'm not sure how the entire legal process works, but many do get shut down. Private servers are a problem for just about every online game out there, popular and non-popular ones alike. It's impossible to get rid of 100% of them, but we do make an effort to shut down all that we can.



Wow, glad to hear that, guess I'll be reporting any I hear of too then, wasn't aware you could simply put out a support ticket and they'd look into it. :)
GabrielK #5
And recently many private servers have aquired official Interlude files, or so they say... Not L2j, don't think about that.
Just a thought... :eek:
Slayerized #6
if ALL the private servers would be retail then there would be 35 mill or that tryed l2 not 17 mill

its like there are SO many out there just like a big free trail/promo
Venaja #7
Rumors says that L2p is starting up again. It was the second largest server before Extreme was closed by FBI.
They closed their server aswell cause they were affraid of consequences. Now it does seem that they gained some courage again. I'm not exaggerating when i say, that server had a larger population than any of the official ones (ppl had to stand in long lines to kill the quest mobs for 1st class transfer!!!). I've seen screenshots of that. And let's not forget l2supreme. They are both C5 servers. I really hope we could find a way to make those ppl come here instead.

The one and only thing that makes ppl play Private servers instead of official... Is NOT the cost. It's the soulless ppl on official, that do not exist on priv servers. Sad but true.
If only we could solve that probelm once and for all NCNA would have to open atleast 3 new servers for all the ppl coming here.
Remember when Franz opened. Almost half the ppl that came were from private servers (ok many of them were from the closed extreme server but still). Cause they thought they'd give it a chance since it was a new untouched server. That is the only way to kill Private servers. DEAL with the problems here that scares ppl away.
AshaneFB #8

Is NOT the cost. It's the soulless ppl on official, that do not exist on priv servers. Sad but true.
If only we could solve that probelm once and for all NCNA would have to open atleast 3 new servers for all the ppl coming here.



Bingo, thats the main thing that draws them.

Of course, I'll wait for Spud to come tell me "I've never played on them, but everyone knows thats not true!!11elven"

Also, remember that some operate in area's of the world that the US cannot touch due to no treaties with said nations.

Akin to what piratebay did.
Spudnik #9
sounds like a shoddy server if ppl were standing in lines instead of pvping for hunting spots.
Himizu #10

if ALL the private servers would be retail then there would be 35 mill or that tryed l2 not 17 mill

its like there are SO many out there just like a big free trail/promo



I think on top of that, the fact that NC doesn't offer an upfront immediate trial also deters some people to head towards a private server for a completely free test run of the game.

And if they like it there chances are they'll stay.

On a side note, anyone know if the PlayNC site help section is the right place to send in the names and addresses of private servers, and if not, where should it be sent in?
Venaja #11

sounds like a shoddy server if ppl were standing in lines instead of pvping for hunting spots.



In the shots there were 3 or more higher lvl red chars guarding the quest mobs and making sure ppl stood in line to wait for their turn.
This was at the abandoned camp spot where humans do their rogue quest. Offc this was also right after the extreme server was closed. Many servers, not only official had a large number of new players coming fro there.
I re-rolled from Gusitn to Franz when it first opened and alot of the ppl i spoke to were coming directly from taht extreme server.
AshaneFB #12

sounds like a shoddy server if ppl were standing in lines instead of pvping for hunting spots.



Or a server that was completely filled with people.

Over 10,000 in fact.
Ito #13
Besides the efforts to close the private servers, i think we would have more people here is some changes are made:

1.- Efficient farmers-botters control
2.- New addons to make lineage more "playable", less hostile: more armor and weapons quests, less grinding, different rated servers maybe, permanent auction house, better quests (new CT1 is a great effort in this direction)

I still have a hope that NCSoft will make a big turn
Oldfart #14
Well, Alyra already said in this thread to use the link on this site for Contact Support, which does take you to PlayNC Support.
Kojihaus #15
I think private servers loophole is that they use java versions of older lineage 2 files. Also, not every country has strict regulations and laws about intellectual property (which current versions of lineage 2 would be), they stay under the radar basically because their code is fairly different that what older versions of Lineage 2 are. ie, Tetris for example... how many versions have you seen? They are different, whether they share the same theme/idea/concepts.
HO_Paulino #16

On a side note, anyone know if the PlayNC site help section is the right place to send in the names and addresses of private servers, and if not, where should it be sent in?



Ask a Question (http://help.plaync.com/cgi-bin/plaync.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php)

About the topic, the millon dollar question is: "Why NCsoft have a bad Security System?!" If they wouldn't have "lost" the server of C1 and C4 there wouldn't be any private server.
And out of topic, if they wouldn't have "lost" the code of Lineage III we would be playing L3 next year!
KingdomForCoin #17

...Heck with other games like FFXI and EQ2 I've heard a private server is almost non existant due to lack of demand.


fixed.
Himizu #18


...Heck with other games like FFXI and EQ2 I've heard a private server is almost non existant due to lack of demand.


fixed.



If that were the case I'd wonder why -free games- such as gunbound (old 2d mmo type game) has private servers. Since obviously the demand for a private server on a FREE game is so huge. :p And both games had their time in the sun, but were killed off by larger games. They've also had private servers developed (well, EQ2 has, FFXI people had trouble getting past certain aspects) but a couple hundred thousand people play EQ2 still easily, and yet it's nearly impossible to find a private server.
AndreasK #19

The one and only thing that makes ppl play Private servers instead of official... Is NOT the cost. It's the soulless ppl on official, that do not exist on priv servers. Sad but true.
If only we could solve that probelm once and for all NCNA would have to open atleast 3 new servers for all the ppl coming here.



You have no idea what you are talking about.

1) Money is not an issue? Really? Get out of your little wrold. There is a huge number of players in private servers from countries that 15 $ might be a amount of their family monthly income (Latin America, Eastern European countries).
2) 30x servers ring a bell? People want to get fast to end game and enjoy it rather than grind to eternity. What options we have here? Let's see:
-Legit way. Make several toons (for money). Buy a second account(support toons). Play many hours or play for a really long time. Result: pay lots of money to NC Soft.
-Illegeal way. Bot for experience, ebay for money. Result: pay a lot of money to 3rd companies)
See any similarities to result?
3) There some other reasons of minor significance (e.g. the friend who introduced you to L2, plays on the xxxx private server)

Bots (and botting of normal players) is certainly a problem but you can't possibly suggest that it is the main reason for the existance of so many private servers.

I don't care if they shut down or leave alone the private servers. I couldn't care less. All I want from NC is to deal with the issues in our own backyard. Here I give my money to.

PS. Are you aware that many private servers try to implement anti-botting systems (mainly to prevent players from botting)? Why NC doesn't even try to do such a thing?
bigGuy #20
Bots/ebuy is the reason, why lot of ppl dont come to retail.
Look at forum - here, blah, everywhere. Contstant thread about bots, and how they make this game impossible to play. Even if some ppl trie, they see noob towns and quit.
Situation in East Europe not so bad, u know. 15$... U can easy spent more in bar in one evening. But again - ppl are afraid they cant achieve in game something without buying tons of adena and few 78+ buffers.
Kojihaus #21
Since lvls, gear, buffs are soo majorly important in this game there is less emphasis on strategy and tactics. There are no checks and balances that prevent a lvl 78 char from owning lvl 40's at sieges or open field and class balance is pretty difficult to do apparently with such specialized roles to choose from... infact there hardly is a choice for pvp chars as you get maybe 3-4 fotms that consistantly prawn nub face cake each chronicle.
Zeracheil_BD #22
i know why Privet servers are on the rise and Nc can't do a thing about it. if you jump onto hopzone.. the voting site that lists all the privet servers. you go through a read them nearly 99% of them are L2J. if you look at L2J they changed enough in the programing that it voided out NcSofts copy right. and then to protect themselves placed on their own copy right. thats why L2J sites never get banned.

but i can understand what the people above me are saying, money is going to be one issue that drives people to privet servers, not everyone can afford the monthly payment to play a game, and not many want to pay or put a credit card down just to try out a game they may not like when they can go off to a Privet server that has like x1000 rate and be lvl 80 and all subs in like 2 days.

also the bot problem that we have here.. i hear is none exsistant on those servers, they have programs that sense the bot programs and auto ban accounts.

I've been on official since c-2 and i'll die on official. if people want to play on privet servers more power to them.

just get rid of the bot problems!!!!
HO_Paulino #23


The one and only thing that makes ppl play Private servers instead of official... Is NOT the cost. It's the soulless ppl on official, that do not exist on priv servers. Sad but true.
If only we could solve that probelm once and for all NCNA would have to open atleast 3 new servers for all the ppl coming here.



You have no idea what you are talking about.

1) Money is not an issue? Really? Get out of your little wrold. There is a huge number of players in private servers from countries that 15 $ might be a amount of their family monthly income (Latin America, Eastern European countries).
2) 30x servers ring a bell? People want to get fast to end game and enjoy it rather than grind to eternity. What options we have here? Let's see:
-Legit way. Make several toons (for money). Buy a second account(support toons). Play many hours or play for a really long time. Result: pay lots of money to NC Soft.
-Illegeal way. Bot for experience, ebay for money. Result: pay a lot of money to 3rd companies)
See any similarities to result?
3) There some other reasons of minor significance (e.g. the friend who introduced you to L2, plays on the xxxx private server)

Bots (and botting of normal players) is certainly a problem but you can't possibly suggest that it is the main reason for the existance of so many private servers.

I don't care if they shut down or leave alone the private servers. I couldn't care less. All I want from NC is to deal with the issues in our own backyard. Here I give my money to.

PS. Are you aware that many private servers try to implement anti-botting systems (mainly to prevent players from botting)? Why NC doesn't even try to do such a thing?


I agree, I'm from Argentina (Latin America).
I began playing L2 in Beta (Prelude) and thanks to god I have the money to pay for it.
Only 2 friends bought the game in that time and now they are playing on private servers (They became bored of the grind). The rest of my friends (cyber café friends) never thought to play in the official servers because $15 is a bit expensive (here), and they hate the grind too, but they don't like servers x1000, they play servers x5.
Also they said me that the private servers isn't infected of bots and they hate the cheaters.
They love the game but they can't pay for it. Some game distributors like EA drops the prices of their games according the national currency. I know that in China pay for WOW is more cheaper than in NA.
Personally, I had canceled my sub because I couldn't time to play and I started playing LOTRO (very casual friendly game). I returned to L2 because I left my work and I have more free time to play a game that requires 4 hours a day or more to progress and because L2 is the best PVP game. Ah! also thanks to Alyra and her great management of the community, of course.
At the moment I'm playing both games, one for lore (Quests) the other for PVP and old friends.

In conclusion, YES the money is an issue and the grind too!
Slayerized #24
basicly

private servers=
1:high lv pvp
2:dont worry about adena
3:dont worry about bots
4:pvp EVERYWERE
5:grind is no problem
down side
1:population
2:donators (thats a big - cause if you wanna pwwn you got to donate :<)

retail=
1:good population
2:you got the whole game
3:it actually means something if your 6x

down side

1:basicly no pvp under 6x
2:it aint strange if you play for a year and then got a 7x(and then i hope for your sake its the class you like)
3:90% dont wanna pvp they wanna grind
4:broken economy
5:bots in every **** cornor
6:uber long grind (nothing wrong with that but could be a lil less imo )
7:gear price is unbalanced

i might seem negative about retail but its deff better then retail
only you might have to play a year to actually enjoy what the game is about pvp/cool raids etc sieges
Venaja #25

I think private servers loophole is that they use java versions of older lineage 2 files. Also, not every country has strict regulations and laws about intellectual property (which current versions of lineage 2 would be), they stay under the radar basically because their code is fairly different that what older versions of Lineage 2 are. ie, Tetris for example... how many versions have you seen? They are different, whether they share the same theme/idea/concepts.



I don't see the private servers as a threat them selves. You could host one here in sweden w/o any probs too. I like our laws. And i am not against that private servers do exist for the few ppl that can't afford to play here. But those ppl are just a small percentage. Like i said before. We just need to concinve ppl that soulless are being dealt with as well as the ones using their services. Untill then priv players will laugh in your face when you say you even play here. :<
Zhelavar #26

basicly

private servers=
down side
1:population
2:donators (thats a big - cause if you wanna pwwn you got to donate :<)



Let's round that list out a bit better...

3: often unreliable and limited servers
4: blatant favoritism and aid to select people
5: common abuse of power (Staff/GMs)
6: no customer support
7: illegal

The 'no bots' issue is kind of funny because there is a false thinking that attributes the lack of bots to better policing on those servers. If there was a dime to be made on those servers, bots would be there. Currently, the L2 emulator servers are a step below Runescape in quality of playerbase, so there isn't much money to be made off of children, freeloaders, leeches, and the rest of the 'something for nothing' crowd.

.
Venaja #27
I don't know about the not lucrative part there.. I think ppl on private servers would pay the same ammount of money for the same ammount of adena. Just that the farmers would farm it mb 5x faster there. Like someoen said before. The priv servers use bot protection. It's almost become a standard. Ppl wont play if they can't keep bots out.

And to AndreasK: The bot/ebay problem IS a huge factor for ppl not coming here. I know alot of ppl who play priv servers, some even my rl friends. I get flamed for playing "on bot-paradise" or they say "ok, i'll come play official, if you gime some money so i can ebay, or else i wont ever have a chance".
That's how the majority does think.
Arriel #28
(deleted)
Venaja #29
Arriel, you are forgetting one thing.
Private servers are always behind official server.
Arriel #30
(deleted)
Zeracheil_BD #31
need to watch out, one of my friends happened to mention in passing on the forums a while back that he had played on a privet server at some point and they banned his account here on official. even though he played it before coming to retail and knowing the rules that privet servers were illegal. i know i heard about it for weeks afterwards.

i know alot of people that play and or run privet servers, and frankly i would rather have the drama of Official then the drama there and the over powered idiots that dominate the servers
Spudnik #32
why is this thread still going?
Slayerized #33

If there was a dime to be made on those servers, bots would be there[quote/]

actually there are compagnies for buying l2adena on private servers only for revenge like l2x and l2r etc

limited servers 1 is enuff :/ in c3 etc they were unstable
but a c4 server now with implented interlude files is stable

admin abuse ? hmmm maybe on a non popular server

6: no customer support
7: illegal

and those dont matter haha ^^

but i like retail way more
but i understand why ppl play on private servers and i dont really care i would be happy if they all closed and ppl go to retail but other then that i really dont mind about those private servers
Alyra #34
This thread started out with some valid questions that I was happy to answer. I feel the thread has run its course at this point. This wasn't meant to be a discussion about private servers (we don't allow that here on the official forums); rather, it was to address a question the original poster had about how we deal with them.