Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

 TheCustomLime wrote:
Can you please not respond in that patronizing tone? Okay, so, as a rebuttal let's play the numbers game. The article cites 800,000 accounts registered on the private server. But you know, maybe most of those people only played once, for a limited time, gave up, only because it was free, etc. So, maybe only 1% of that group would be willing to play on a actual Blizzard server.

8000*15*12=1.4 million dollars a year. This server would have to crash and burn harder than Alien: Colonial Marines to fail. Even if just 1000 people played that is still 180k a year. Unless Blizzard shovels Bald Eagles and Gucci bags into furnaces to upkeep their servers that should be enough to cover their upkeep.

I think you're overlooking the fact a lot of those accounts probably already have a WoW subscription, and would not generate nearly as many new sales. The people who play Vanilla are obviously hardcore WoW fans-it would make sense for them to also play on private servers in addition to the main WoW game(in my opinion anyway).

 Sinful Hero wrote:

 TheCustomLime wrote:
Can you please not respond in that patronizing tone? Okay, so, as a rebuttal let's play the numbers game. The article cites 800,000 accounts registered on the private server. But you know, maybe most of those people only played once, for a limited time, gave up, only because it was free, etc. So, maybe only 1% of that group would be willing to play on a actual Blizzard server.

8000*15*12=1.4 million dollars a year. This server would have to crash and burn harder than Alien: Colonial Marines to fail. Even if just 1000 people played that is still 180k a year. Unless Blizzard shovels Bald Eagles and Gucci bags into furnaces to upkeep their servers that should be enough to cover their upkeep.

I think you're overlooking the fact a lot of those accounts probably already have a WoW subscription, and would not generate nearly as many new sales. The people who play Vanilla are obviously hardcore WoW fans-it would make sense for them to also play on private servers in addition to the main WoW game(in my opinion anyway).

I believe I factored that in when I dropped 99% of the accounts in the calculation, no? Besides, they don't need entirely new subscriptions for it to be viable. There is value in retained subscription that would have otherwise quit. Plus I think a lot of people would prefer a legitimate server with Blizzard's blessing and support.

Exactly TheCusomeLime. That's just it. An actual advertised by Blizzard server actually has a much better chance at larger numbers than the Nostralius one. Not a lot of people are onboard with pirated sites. Or know where to find them or feel comfortable setting it up. But have Blizzard announce it and it's a totally different story.

Also consider that this server would serve to retain subscriptions during slow times between patches. People like me, who suspend our account when we've done the current content, would just switch over to the "Classic" server because that is where a lot more of a community feel is. Honestly because our guild fractured and split WoW now mostly feels like a solo player game anyway. Totally unlike the original.

Aye I should note I have no issue with the concept of the server might even give it a go if it was official and accessible as part of my sub, I'm just not seeing it ever happen Blizzard (more so Activision) end.

Well its back up today (having migrated onto the Elysium server).

The server promptly imploded though so I think i will be waiting a while to play

This looks like a healthy server population......



I finally got past the log in screen to find out I was in a queue of over 15000 to join the server....

Love the screenshot, it's the chat bubble that makes it great!

It's not mine, I found it on Reddit

I managed to get in this morning and its absolutely rammed, simply finding living mobs is a huge issue...

Once you get out of the 1-5 area it becomes doable.

I'm currently lvl 8 and I am still spending most of my time actively looking for stuff to kill.

A mobs life expectancy is literally measured in seconds

It will calm down though once the population drops a bit and becomes more evenly spread.

Which zone are you in? On horde side, Mulgore should be the least populated while Dun Morough should be the least populated alliance side.

Edit: Nevermind, misinterpreted the conversation.

 NinthMusketeer wrote:
Which zone are you in? On horde side, Mulgore should be the least populated while Dun Morough should be the least populated alliance side.

Dun Morogh, its easing off a bit but its still a fight to find living mobs.

I went to Goldshire for my Warlock class quest and now Dun Morogh seems positively desolate in comparison

Y'know , I was initially in favor of seeing these servers get annihilated via Blizzard's legal team, but now...*downloads vanilla client*

 Frankenberry wrote:
Y'know , I was initially in favor of seeing these servers get annihilated via Blizzard's legal team, but now...*downloads vanilla client*

Blizzard can't really do anything aside from make threatening noises.